He could understand the desire to be respected. He also knew how painful it was when someone's efforts and abilities were dismissed. However, that understanding did not erase the crimes Celine had committed. There was a vast difference between fighting for recognition and deliberately destroying other people's lives to satisfy one's pride. Celine had crossed that line long ago. The recording continued. The woman stood up and opened a cabinet filled with liquor bottles. She poured herself another drink, but her hands were trembling so badly that some of the liquid spilled onto the table. "Are you cursing me from beyond the grave, Damian?" she laughed, raising her glass high. "I even miss those nights with you," she murmured. "The nights when we could still sit together and talk about anything. I miss the way you challenged my opinions, the way you looked at me whenever I said some

“Yeah.” Angelic tried to maintain her composure. “It's as if you wish she hadn't turned out the way she did.” Damian finally understood the source of the misunderstanding, although he still had no idea which part of the conversation Angelic had actually heard. “I don't regret my decision to stop her,” he explained. “Celine has done many things she must be held accountable for. However, people aren't always born evil. They have plenty of opportunities to choose a different path, and she still chose the one that brought her to where she is today.” Angelic fell silent. His answer made sense. She knew Damian wouldn't simply forget Celine's crimes. He wasn't the kind of man who would allow his feelings to override justice. Even so, his explanation failed to dispel the uneasiness in her heart completely. “Then I

Damian had not yet left his office when a thought occurred to him. He and his team had spent considerable time collecting transaction documents, financial reports, and testimonies from people who had once worked for Celine's intermediary company. However, all that evidence had only revealed part of her scheme. Celine was not someone who relied on luck. The asset takeovers, fund transfers, and attempts to bring Damian down must have required careful planning. If she had prepared everything in advance, there should be records showing how the scheme had been devised and who had been involved. Damian stared at the System panel, which was still displaying Celine Group's stock market data. "System, search for every record Celine made while deceiving me!" Ding! <Search for records related to the Host's deception?> "Yes! I want every detail!" 

"Yes. Acquire the shares, leaving that treacherous woman with only five percent." "Understood, Mr. Damian. I'll have the investment team prepare an analysis and monitor the stock price." "Make sure every purchase complies with securities market regulations. Use Whitewood Group's name. Don't spread any unverified information. We'll act based on actual market conditions. Do this without Celine finding out." "Ensure that every share purchase is legal and that we don't become entangled in any past cases or other existing legal disputes." "Understood, Mr. Damian," Marcus replied. After ending the call, Damian placed his phone on the desk. A faint smile returned to his face. There was no need to rush. If Celine Group still had sound business value, he could consider acquiring its shares when the price and risks were appropriate. If the company was too burdened by d

That afternoon, Celine received another report from the finance department. Her applications for additional loans from several banks had also been rejected. Meanwhile, the private financing institutions that had initially been willing to consider her requests were demanding collateral that the company could not provide without sacrificing important assets.Celine crumpled the report in her hands."How is it possible that they're all rejecting us at the same time?"No one dared to answer.She walked toward the window and gazed at the buildings in the distance. For years, she had believed that money and influence could open almost any door. Now, she was beginning to understand that once trust was lost, money alone was not always enough to restore it.Her thoughts immediately turned to George.The man had always promised to help her face anything that came her way. He had even been willing to take the blame to protect her. But now George was in custody, and Celine had no idea what he had