The morning sun was bright when Richard’s car drove through the busy streets of New York.The traffic was heavy as usual. Cars moved slowly along the wide roads while people hurried along the sidewalks, each person focused on their own tasks and worries.Inside the black car, the atmosphere was quiet. Richard sat behind the steering wheel, his eyes focused on the road ahead.Beside him sat Michelle.She was dressed in a simple but elegant business outfit and her hair was tied neatly in a bun.The closer they drove toward the Donovan Group headquarters, the more silent she became.Richard noticed this immediately. He glanced at her briefly before returning his attention to the road.Michelle’s emotions were very easy for him to read. Her face was expressive. Even when she tried to hide her feelings, they often appeared in her eyes.Right now, he could tell exactly what she was thinking. She was nervous, not because of the meeting but because of the place they were going - Donovan Group

The tension near the entrance of the Donovan Group building grew heavier by the second. Several employees had slowed their steps. Some pretended to check their phones while secretly watching the scene unfold. Others stood a little farther away, whispering quietly to one another. No one wanted to miss what was happening.The mayor himself had ordered security to throw two people out of the building. That alone was enough to attract attention.The middle-aged security guard who had spoken earlier stepped forward with confidence. His chest was puffed out proudly, and his face carried the smug look of a man who believed he held power in that moment.Behind him, two other guards followed closely.They approached Richard and Michelle. The first guard reached out his hand. His intention was clear. He planned to roughly shove Richard aside and drag Michelle away from the entrance.His fingers barely touched Richard’s shoulder before something happened. A sharp sound suddenly echoed in the air

Meanwhile, the shareholders in the boardroom had started stealing glances at Richard. Many of them had never seen him before. Yet he stood there beside Michelle as if he belonged in the board room.Near the far side of the table, Denzel Washington sat quietly in his seat. His fingers tapped lightly on the polished table but his eyes never left Michelle.At first, when he had seen her enter the building, his anger had been strong. He had wanted revenge.But now a different plan had started materializing in his head. From the looks on the faces of Eric and Madeline, he knew that they were hiding something. He realized immediately that Michelle was actually the one whose name was in the will. Getting married to her would not only clean his record but also strengthen his influence in the city.A few days ago, Michelle herself had not been very valuable to him. She had simply been a tool. But now the situation had changed.If Michelle truly controlled over fifty percent of Donovan Group,

CHAPTER 36For several long seconds after Rico walked in, the entire boardroom remained silent.No one moved or even dared to cough.Every eye in the room stayed fixed on Richard. Just moments ago, many of them had mocked him and called him a nobody.But now the situation had completely changed.Rico was not just any man. Everyone in the city knew his name.He was famous both inside the country and outside it. People often whispered about his connections and his reach. Some believed he controlled several major businesses behind the scenes. Others believed he had influence in politics and finance across many regions.No one knew the full truth but everyone knew one thing - Rico was very powerful.There were also some rumors about him that he had ties with the Apex. However, they were all rumors. No one had proof.Still, even the rumors alone were enough to make people cautious when dealing with Rico.So when such a powerful man like Rico walked into the boardroom and bowed to Richard,

Michelle was still standing with her back toward the road as she had no idea what was coming. Inside the approaching vehicle, the driver’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly and the engine roared louder.The person behind the wheel leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed on the target ahead - Michelle Donovan.The distance between them grew smaller every second and the driver pressed harder on the accelerator.Back near the entrance, Michelle was still smiling and staring at a text on her phone. She had not noticed the danger behind her.But Richard had.Without thinking, he slammed his own car door shut and started the engine.The tires screeched as his car shot forward.Everything happened within seconds. The dark sedan rushed forward like a bullet.But then, another vehicle suddenly appeared. It came from the side road with incredible speed.Without hesitation, the vehicle turned sharply and rammed directly into the front of the attacking sedan.The impact was violent. Metal cra