The BMW remained parked beneath the bright lights outside the hotel, its polished body reflecting the golden glow spilling from the entrance. Adrian stood beside it, his hand still extended toward Margret. For the first time in three years, he wasn't lowering his head or quietly accepting whatever the Sterling family decided for him.Margret tightened her grip on the keys. “Why are you making such a fuss over a car? Your father-in-law should be the one driving it. He represents this family.”Richard shifted uncomfortably. “Margret, the car was given to Adrian.”“So what?” she snapped. “Would Victor Blackwell have given him anything if it weren't for the Sterling family's medical product? Adrian is only benefiting from something connected to our family.”Adrian listened without interrupting. He had already learned that arguing with people who had made up their minds was usually pointless. What mattered was that he knew the truth now. The BMW had been given to him, not the Sterling fami

The living room fell into an awkward silence after Mr. Walker's words. Liam stood in the middle of the room wearing the Armani suit with his hands frozen at his sides. A moment earlier, he had been admiring himself in the expensive clothing. Now, every eye was fixed on him.“What do you mean you're here to collect it?” Liam asked, forcing a laugh. “This suit was given to me.”Mr. Walker looked at him with polite confusion. “Given to you?”“Yes.” Liam glanced toward Margret. “My mother-in-law gave it to me.”Margret immediately stepped forward. “That's right. The suit belongs to our family. Adrian received it from Mr. Blackwell, and we decided Liam should have it.”Mr. Walker's expression changed slightly.“I see.”He opened the folder in his hands and checked the information inside.“May I ask who authorized the transfer of ownership?”Margret frowned. “Why does that matter? Adrian willingly handed it over.”“I understand, ma'am,” Walker replied calmly. “However, this particular suit

Richard lowered the phone slowly, his face drained of color. The anger in Eric's voice still seemed to hang in the room. Margret immediately noticed his expression and hurried over.“What happened?” she asked anxiously. “What did Grandpa say?”Richard swallowed hard. “The company's confidential medical formula has been leaked.”Margret's eyes widened. “What?”“The formula for the neurological drug. Someone apparently obtained confidential research information and used it to reproduce the formula without authorization.” Richard looked toward Evelyn. “Grandpa believes our branch may be involved.”Evelyn shot to her feet. “What? Why would he think that?”“I don't know,” Richard admitted. “He didn't give me any evidence. He only said that the company is investigating everyone who had access to the information.”Margret's expression immediately became fearful. “Evelyn, did you ever share anything about the company's research with Adrian?”Evelyn stared at her mother in disbelief.“No.”“Ar

Adrian barely slept that night.The image Stanley had sent remained in his mind. The same vehicle had appeared near Evelyn's workplace, the Sterling residence, and the hotel. Whoever was behind the surveillance had been following her long before Adrian realized she was in danger.By morning, Stanley had sent him another message.“The surveillance vehicle has been identified.”Adrian immediately called him.“Who rented it?”“A private security company leased it through an intermediary.”“The same intermediary?”“Yes.”Adrian's expression hardened. “Who paid them?”“We're tracing the account now.”Evelyn entered the room while Adrian was still on the phone. She immediately noticed his expression.“Another problem?”“Another clue,” Adrian replied.Stanley continued, “There's something else. The vehicle wasn't rented under the name of anyone from your family.”“Then whose name?”“We're still checking.”Adrian ended the call.Evelyn sat across from him. “Tell me everything.”This time, Adr

The ballroom fell into a stunned silence as the news continued playing across the large television screen. Nobody laughed anymore. The confidence that had filled the room only minutes earlier had disappeared, replaced by uneasiness as the broadcast confirmed that Prescott Pharmaceuticals was facing a severe debt crisis and had begun liquidation proceedings.Mr. Prescott stood frozen beside his chair. His face had lost all its color, and the hand holding his phone trembled slightly. The company he had proudly used to impress everyone during the auction was suddenly on the verge of collapse."This is impossible," he muttered.His phone rang again before anyone could respond.Mr. Prescott answered immediately. A woman's frantic voice came through the speaker loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. "What did you do? How could this happen so suddenly? The creditors are demanding payment, the banks have restricted our accounts, and the authorities are investigating everything!"Mr. Presc