The argument at the Sterling residence continued long after Adrian had left the living room. Margret remained furious that he had refused to explain how he acquired the controlling shares, while Richard insisted that Adrian had no right to keep such valuable connections to himself. Evelyn stood between them, growing increasingly frustrated with their accusations."Enough, Dad!" she exclaimed. "Adrian helped us when nobody else was willing to. He protected me when this family was ready to sacrifice me for business deals. How can you treat him like a criminal now?"Richard's expression hardened. "He helped us? What exactly did he do that we should be grateful for? Everything he obtained came through someone else's influence, yet he refuses to tell us what benefits he received.""Perhaps because you're more interested in his connections than in what he did for me," Evelyn replied.Margret scoffed. "Don't be fooled by him. He's hiding something, and we'll discover what it is. Tomorrow, yo

Adrian had barely settled into his new office in the Emergency Department when the hospital staff began discussing his appointment. Some questioned how a former cleaner could suddenly become a department director, while others believed Joseph Harrison must have arranged everything because of Adrian's connection to Evelyn Sterling. A few employees openly predicted that he would soon make a serious mistake, especially since the Emergency Department handled cases that demanded quick decisions and considerable medical experience.Adrian paid little attention to the gossip. Sitting behind his desk, he reviewed the department's patient records and familiarized himself with the available equipment. The knowledge inherited through his jade pendant had given him an extraordinary foundation, but he understood that theoretical knowledge alone could not replace practical experience. If he wanted to become a truly exceptional physician, he needed to treat real patients and learn to recognize the s

Evelyn Sterling had barely settled into her new position as Chairman of Sterling Pharmaceuticals when she realized that the title carried more burdens than authority. Although the shares had been transferred into her name, the company remained dominated by relatives who had no intention of allowing her to exercise genuine control. Several department heads ignored her instructions, while others openly questioned whether she possessed the experience to lead such a large organization.Her problems extended beyond the stubborn employees. When she attempted to enter the chairman’s office that morning, she discovered that access had been restricted without her approval. After demanding an explanation, she received nothing more than vague excuses from the administrative staff. Left with no immediate alternative, she arranged her documents on a desk in the corner of the general office and continued working.Charlie and Lily found the situation particularly amusing.“Look at our new chairman,”

The private dining room at Gracious Restaurant had barely settled into silence when Evelyn Sterling leaned forward, her anxiety becoming increasingly difficult to conceal. Across the table, Derek Vaughn wore a relaxed smile, while Adrian sat beside his wife with an expression that revealed little about his thoughts.“Derek, please tell me what you know,” Evelyn urged. “Seventeen companies canceled their orders in a single morning. If we cannot understand why this happened, Sterling Pharmaceuticals may suffer consequences we cannot afford.”Derek glanced at Adrian before answering. “The problem concerns Conrad Vale. Someone offended him, and he decided to make your company pay for it. Those cancellations happened because he instructed the companies to withdraw their business.”Evelyn's face lost some of its color. Conrad Vale was not an ordinary businessman. His influence reached across several industries, and few people were willing to challenge him openly.“Mr. Vale?” she repeated an

Evelyn sat behind her new desk at Sterling Pharmaceuticals, staring at the list of canceled orders spread across the polished surface. Seventeen companies had withdrawn their agreements within hours, leaving the company facing a crisis she had barely begun to understand. Although she had become Chairman, the people around her seemed determined to remind her that the title alone could not guarantee her success.Adrian stood beside the window, reading a message on his phone. His expression remained calm, but Evelyn could tell he was considering their next move. Derek Vaughn had made his intentions clear during their meeting, and the sudden cancellations were too coordinated to be a coincidence. Someone wanted to force her into submission, and Adrian's refusal to cooperate had made them more aggressive."Do you think Derek was telling the truth about the Vale family?" Evelyn asked, turning toward her husband. "He claimed Conrad was behind the cancellations, but why would they go this far