James nodded and told his secretary, "Go with him to get it."Back home, Lucy nervously approached James.“James, how did it go?""It's handled." James headed upstairs irritably. He couldn't stand to look at Lucy right now.In his room, he massaged his temples, exhausted.Charlotte walked into the study and placed her hands on his shoulders, gently massaging them. "What's wrong, James?""Keep a closer eye on Lucy from now on. Don't let her cause any more trouble," James said, his voice hoarse.Charlotte nodded. "I will."When Zachary returned to East Coast, Vivian stayed behind.She remained to continue negotiations with Vista International, but more importantly, to keep watch over Sarah.On the twentieth day, Sarah became the first person to submit her thesis. When Linda heard about this, she felt distinctly uncomfortable."Sarah, you're really something, being the first to submit your thesis."There was an unwritten rule in the Decker Competition: the first submitted thes
This was something she'd planned to do for a long time, and she finally got the chance."Sarah, I'm really afraid I won't make it to the next round," Linda said anxiously."Don't worry, you will." There wasn't much else she could say.While the competition rules required isolation, they weren't overly strict - casual conversations like this were still allowed.Five days after the thirty-day period ended, all participants gathered in the auditorium, waiting for their results.The top twenty would advance to the final round of oral defense, while the rest would be eliminated.Linda was clearly popular among the contestants, with almost everyone stopping to greet her.Sarah noticed Linda becoming shy when looking at a particular man, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed contestant."That's Eric. He's quite the gentleman," Linda explained to Sarah.Sarah noticed him glancing in their direction too.Everyone sat up straight as the panel of judges entered.Linda was especially tense. She'd
From outside the bathroom stall, she heard foreign voices. "That foreign woman is incredible, getting first place...""All those judges were so nice to her. They obviously favor her. I wouldn't believe these high scores if I hadn't read her thesis myself - I'd think she bribed the judges.""Is her thesis really that good?""Yes, it's excellent. The concept is profound."Listening to these scattered conversations, Linda felt even more confused. She tore her scorecard into pieces and threw them in the trash.She couldn't stop thinking about Sarah receiving first place, all the applause and praise, and the way Eric had looked at her.Eric had placed second. Knowing his competitive nature, Sarah's first-place finish must have caught his interest.After composing herself, she returned to the auditorium.Sarah was surrounded by people, all wanting to see her scorecard.Linda noticed Eric standing at the edge of the crowd, staring intently at Sarah with deep interest.Suddenly anxio
"Love isn't about grades or ability," Sarah said seriously."I know," Linda replied.The oral defense was scheduled for seven days later. During this time, all qualifying contestants could prepare for their presentations.Those who didn't make it would move out of the hotel within two days. The Decker Competition staff had already booked their flights.Even though they hadn't advanced, just participating in such a prestigious competition was something to be proud of.A few days before the defense, Linda suddenly asked Sarah if she wanted to go to a bar.Only after arriving did Sarah realize it wasn't just the two of them - all the finalists were there.Several people gave Sarah meaningful looks, while Eric sat quietly reading in a corner.Sarah noticed Linda's eyes hadn't left Eric since she arrived.But Linda wasn't the only one interested in Eric. Within half an hour, three different girls had already approached him for drinks.She noticed Linda's eyes flash with jealousy e
"Sarah, enough about the thesis. Let's have some fun," Linda said in a controlled voice.Sarah nodded, raising her glass to clink with Linda's.The party ended at midnight, and they headed back to the hotel together.When the elevator reached Sarah's floor, Eric called out to her as she was stepping out."Sarah."She turned back curiously. "What is it, Eric?""See you tomorrow," he said with a smile.Sarah was puzzled but nodded anyway.Linda clenched her fists, her face growing paler.Shortly after, Eric got off too, leaving Linda in the elevator.The others started gossiping again."Eric must really like Sarah, right?""Probably. Sarah's pretty, and I heard the judges were falling over themselves praising her thesis.""Really? That much?"...On the day of the defense, Sarah and Linda arrived early at Saint Nock Hall.The presentations were divided into groups of five, assigned by lottery. She and Linda were placed in the same group.While waiting, she received a str
Sarah searched frantically until she found a rickety ladder, propping it against the wall and slowly climbing up.“Eric?”The window was high up. When she finally reached it, she saw Eric waiting anxiously.While she had been searching for the ladder, Eric had already piled hay beneath the window."Quick! Jump down!"With no time to hesitate, Sarah took a deep breath and leaped.Pain shot through her body, and she felt small cuts on her elbows, but there was no time to check them.She struggled to her feet as Eric's warm hand grabbed hers, pulling her into a run.The wind whipped against her face as they sprinted. "Thank you."Her words scattered in the wind, but Eric still heard them.At the defense presentation.Linda watched the clock - 8:55.Sarah hadn't arrived yet. She probably wouldn't make it.She kept staring at the door nervously, feeling both anxious and afraid.Among the defense panel, Jane noticed Sarah's absence and tried calling her, but the phone was out o
Sarah froze, staring at Linda."It was you?" Sarah looked at Linda in disbelief, not wanting to believe it but unable to deny it.Linda glared at her angrily. "You're quite something. Eric's only known you for days, yet he risked missing his own defense to save you. I really underestimated you."Sarah gave a bitter laugh. "I guess I trusted the wrong person. When I thought you were in trouble, I rushed to help without a second thought. Linda, all this because he talked to me a few times?"Linda sneered. "A few times? Is that what you call it? You knew I liked him, yet you still flirted with him right in front of me. You have no idea how much I hate you!""We only discussed our thesis work, nothing else," Sarah frowned."Who would believe that? I saw you two laughing together, and you claim it was just about the thesis?""You can ask him if you don't believe me. But this isn't just about him, is it?" Sarah stared into her eyes.Linda didn't flinch. "Your thesis was brilliant, ev
Linda returned to her hotel room in panic, staying there for a long time before finally gathering the courage to seek out Sarah.Despite their many previous meetings, this was their first truly awkward encounter.She stood in silence, unsure what to say, until Sarah broke the tension. "What do you want?""Did you tell the coordinator...""No, I didn't say it was you. They'll find out anyway," Sarah replied coldly.Linda gave a bitter laugh. "Thank you. I made a mistake.""Linda, we're not friends anymore. If you came for forgiveness, you should leave," Sarah said icily, moving to close the door.Not naming Linda to the coordinator was the last favor Sarah would do for their friendship. From now on, they were strangers."Sarah, please come somewhere with me? Please?" Linda begged.Sarah eyed her suspiciously. "Where?"Linda smiled sadly. "Someone else suggested the idea to me. Don't you want to know who?"Sarah's brows furrowed. "Who?""Follow me and you'll find out."Linda
Her story seemed fine on the surface, but when examined closely, there were major holes. Sarah began to feel uneasy and was about to stop.The little girl immediately looked panicked and avoided Sarah's gaze. She clutched the edge of her shirt tightly and asked cautiously, "Are you not going to take me home anymore?"Those clear, innocent eyes were enough to make Sarah waver, and indeed, she felt her resolve weakening."Sweetie, tell me exactly where on the hillside your home is," she suddenly asked.The little girl's eyes darted around nervously. She lowered her gaze for a long time, thinking hard before looking up with tears in her eyes. “Missy, we're almost there. Look over there—where there's smoke rising, that's my home."Looking into the distance, Sarah could indeed see a wisp of smoke rising from partway up the hillside. Through the dense forest, she could only make out a faint white shadow.It wasn't too far from where they stood, but it wasn't particularly close either.
Even when mealtime arrived, not a single worker put down their tasks."Alright everyone, take a break. Today I'm treating you all to something special," Sarah called out, clapping her hands as she walked through the doorway. Several food carts loaded with sandwiches, pasta, and fresh salads followed behind her.The delicious aroma of hot food drifted through the air. Only then did the workers realize how hungry they were. They jumped up excitedly, shouting, "Thank you, Miss Sanders!"Seeing the joyful atmosphere in the factory, Sarah felt the tension she'd carried all day begin to ease.She wasn't very hungry, so she decided to step outside for some fresh air.While looking around aimlessly, she unexpectedly spotted a pair of timid eyes peering at her from behind a rock.Sarah walked over curiously.Behind the rock was a little girl with a dirty face and clothes that had been torn in several places by tree branches."Hello there, little one. What are you doing here?" Sarah crou
Sarah's lips curved into a slight smile. "Oh right, I almost forgot to tell you. I'm moving to the dormitory near the factory today, so you won't have to worry about me anymore.""You're moving out?" Charlie's eyes widened in surprise."No way." After processing what she said, he rushed over and forcefully grabbed the suitcase from her hands."What are you doing?" Sarah glared at him angrily. "Give me back my suitcase."Charlie laughed coldly. "I can give it back, but nothing in this world is free. You've lived here for so long—you should at least pay some rent."Hearing this, Sarah calmed down. "How much do you want?"Charlie thought Sarah had agreed, so he quickly held up five fingers. "At least this much."Sarah asked, "Five thousand?"Charlie shook his head. "At least fifty thousand."Sarah covered her mouth and laughed."What's so funny?" Charlie threw the suitcase to the floor, angry and impatient. "I'm telling you, don't think I'm joking. Today, if you don't pay up, yo
Zachary smirked as he watched Charlie, amused by his outlandish claims. The poor fool was so wrapped up in his fantasies of wealth that he completely missed the mockery in Zachary's eyes.But as they say, no plan survives contact with reality.Charlie never imagined his schemes would collapse before they even got off the ground."How could I lose?" Charlie stared blankly at the dice on the gambling table, unable to believe what was happening.The noisy sounds of the gambling den faded away as his mind blocked them out. His ears heard nothing, and everything around him became a blur."Hey, are you playing or not? If not, get out of the way. You're blocking the table," someone shoved him aside.Charlie was like a mad dog now, ready to snap at anyone.He turned around angrily, about to lash out, when he saw Zachary standing calmly in the crowd as if nothing had happened.That made sense—after all, it was his money that was lost.Realizing this, Charlie couldn't contain the anger
"Six million… Where the hell am I supposed to get six million?!"The factory’s demand had nearly scared Charlie senseless. But even faced with that staggering number, not once did it cross his mind to end it all. Guys like him—the ones who never took responsibility—were always the ones clinging to life the hardest, like their sole purpose was to drag others down with them.Suddenly, his bloodshot eyes lit up like he'd just grabbed hold of his last lifeline. He muttered to himself, voice shaky but growing in conviction, “Wait, no... there’s still one person. We’re brothers. He wouldn’t just leave me like this.”Zachary had seen this coming from a mile away—he just didn’t think it would take Charlie this long to show up.Now here he was, on his knees, groveling.Zachary leaned forward slightly, one brow raised, voice cold enough to cut glass. “Charlie. Give me one good reason I should help you.”Some people only learned when they were shoved to the edge. And with someone like Charl
After hanging up the phone, Manager Sullivan carelessly packed up a few of his things and left the factory.East Coast. Melvin sat in his office, staring at the email Mr. Lambert had just sent. The entire timeline was laid out—every detail, every suspicion, all the context. He read it twice, barely blinking.He never imagined his mother would go this far behind his back, meddling in the West Ridge factory like this.Then again, maybe he should’ve seen it coming.Three years ago, when Sarah handed him control of the Sanders Group, his mother had already started revealing her true intentions—dropping hints, making comments, all nudging him toward taking over. But there was no need to seize anything. Sarah never wanted power. From day one, she’d made it clear she had no interest in running the company. She wanted to be a psychologist. The company had been a burden she was more than ready to pass on.So what was the point? Did it really matter who held what shares?He’d fought bit
“Stop right there.” Manager Sullivan raised a hand, cutting Sarah off. “Miss Sanders, you can twist a story all you want, but you don’t get to throw around accusations like that. Damaging company property? That’s a serious charge—I won’t stand for it. I’ve worked at this factory for years, always by the book. You really think I’d sabotage the company’s equipment?”Sarah didn’t reply right away, but Mr. Lambert stepped forward, his tone sharp. “So you’re saying you had no idea this happened? That Charlie made it all up to frame you?”Manager Sullivan nodded eagerly, latching onto the narrative. “Exactly! Charlie’s got a long history in this factory. Always looking for shortcuts, always stirring up trouble. He’s hated me for years. I’ve been trying to fire him forever. It makes perfect sense that he’d want revenge. That man’s a mess—gambling, drinking, drugs—you name it. He’s up to his neck in debt. He begged me for money and I said no. So now he’s spinning lies to take me down? Please
Hearing Charlie’s threats, Manager Sullivan only laughed harder.“You really think someone like you could take me down?” he sneered. “I told you before—I’ve got people backing me. Did you really think I’d go into this without covering my own ass? Even if Sarah knows, so what? I’ll just laugh at your stupidity. You don’t even know who’s behind me, and you still dared to snitch? Don’t worry—you’ll find out soon enough. Some people aren’t to be messed with.”Charlie’s grin disappeared. “We’ll see.”Manager Sullivan gave him one last cold glance. “Here’s a piece of advice—watch your back. If you’d kept your mouth shut, you’d only have Sarah and Mr. Lambert gunning for you. But now? You’ve pissed me off too. Tell me—how do you expect to survive in West Ridge after this?”With that, he turned and strode back toward the factory, leaving Charlie standing there in the dust, rattled by what he’d just heard.Because the truth was… Charlie had no idea who Manager Sullivan’s backers were. And
“Did you tell them about me or not?!” Manager Sullivan’s voice dropped, sharp and cold.But Charlie didn’t answer the question. He just clung to him desperately. “Boss, you said you'd protect me! You promised! You have to help me! Sarah and Mr. Lambert are making me pay six million for the damages—six million! I can’t pay that! You have to save me!”“Six million?” Manager Sullivan’s face tightened. Even he had never touched that kind of money. His entire net worth wasn’t even half of that. Where the hell was he supposed to get six million for Charlie?Charlie’s eyes were pleading, frantic. His lips were dry and cracked from the panic, already bleeding slightly, and tears shimmered at the corners of his eyes. “Please, Boss. If I go to jail, it’ll be for ten years. I can’t survive that. Please…”He gripped Manager Sullivan’s arm like his life depended on it, fingers white from the force of it. But Sullivan pulled away coldly, avoiding eye contact.“I don’t have that kind of money,”