As Old Mr. Blackwood entered the conference room and looked at the leadership team seated before him, he couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia. It had been about six months since helast saw them. Clinton thought that six months was too short, while Old Mr. Blackwood felt it was far too long."I've gathered everyone here today because of the shareholders' meeting at headquarters. You all know about it, right?"At this, the room erupted in chatter. They had always been under the thumb of headquarters, even if the oversight wasn't too strict. Still, discussing headquarters within the company had become something of a taboo, so bringing up the shareholders' meeting openly was quite unusual."Of course we know! You're back for the shareholders' meeting, so it must be temporary, right?"This comment was intriguing, leaving many wondering about its intent. A lot of eyes turned to Clinton, who managed to maintain his composure, hiding any signs of the humiliation he had once faced. Old

Ava looked around at the various vehicles, feeling a bit out of place. She had just spoken with the school, and her son was thrilled about their new home. The real estate agent stepped out, noticing her lost in thought. He worried that he hadn't provided good enough service and couldn't afford to mess things up."Ms. Ava, let's double-check everything here. If there are no issues, we can head out. If needed, we can always come back," he suggested. Ava glanced at him. "I'll check carefully; going back and forth is too much hassle." The moving company had really done a great job organizing everything. They had arrived early in the morning, and many items had already been packed up again, making things look quite efficient.However, the distance between the two houses was considerable, and making the trip back and forth had already taken up a good chunk of the day. Once everything was confirmed, they finally hit the road. Ava drove, following the moving company truck, with the real estat

"Alright, I got it. It's still early, so don't forget to pick up our son on your way back. I'm going to grab some groceries." For some reason, the thought of welcoming her first guest into their new home filled her withunexpected joy, as if her family had suddenly stepped into a warm and lively atmosphere. The advantage of living in this school district was that everything was conveniently located nearby.She didn't have to walk far to reachthe market. As she made her way with bags of groceries in hand, she spotted three familiar figures ahead, it was Thomas and his family.Kids really do have sharp eyes."Mom! Mom! We're over here!"Hearing the commotion, Thomas quickly approached his wife, who was struggling with her heavy bags.'I told you, you didn't need to buy so much. Perfect timing! I can start cooking as soon as we get home." Ava glanced at David, who stood nearby, feeling a bit awkward."Mr. David, I didn't know you were joining us for dinner today. I rushed to buy some gr

"This situation can't be taken lightly.I need to gather some information.There must be a few whispers at headquarters; knowing the reasons behind this is crucial." Lucas understood that once he had this information, he could leverage it to sway Old Mr. Blackwood's wavering thoughts."Right now, we can't get in touch with Clinton. I've heard that his company has completely shifted gears. He's stepped down, and his father is back in charge."When the Secretary heard this news, she realized everything was falling apart. That old man must have caught wind of what was happening. And that old man's temper was not something to be trifled with."Don't even mention it. Because of all this, my job just got a lot harder. If I approach him directly, given his son's situation, he might turn against me."Lucas felt a headache coming on as he thought about it. He couldn't help but curse Clinton for being so unreliable. He had initially used this situation to threaten herinto compliance, only to h

But now that things have come to this point, what else can he do? This kid's ability to make such a drastic move is truly impressive. Old Mr. Blackwood watched Lucas's expression, which seemed to be a mix of struggle and calmness, not as entertaining as he had imagined."So, have you had enough of the show? Are you satisfied with the answer?"Old Mr. Blackwood nodded."Yeah, I'm satisfied, but it lacks a bit of excitement. I thought the conflict between you and your mother would be more intense." At the mention of "mother and son," Lucas's face fell even further."Alright, enough with the teasing. Let's get straight to the point. Do you want to partner with him or with me?"Once this topic was brought up, the playful tone of the conversation vanished, and Ryan became serious."You need to understand that you lost the last bet, and now you're at a disadvantage in this one too." His words were direct and accurate, and Lucas nodded."So, what are you planning? You've completely decided t