With Richard’s words, the entire meeting room fell into silence.


    Everyone lowered their heads, too intimidated to speak. Each person had their private reasons for wanting to remove rk from his position.


    After a long pause, a shareholder finally broke the oppressive silence.” Mr. Richard, we were simply too anxious… The Sumner Group lost billions in just one morning…”


    Richard scoffed. “Billions? Is that a significant amount? He can recoup that in less than a year. If anyone wants the CEO position, prove your worth!”


    Disregarding their reactions, Richard stood up and left the room, heading directly to rk’s office.


    “Grandpa…” rk began.


    “Shut up! If this happens again, I won’t step in to save you!” Richard snapped.


    Under Richard’s furious gaze, rk lowered his head, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. “I understand.”


    “By the way, Brandon will be returning to the country soon. When he arrives, arrange a position for him at the Sumner Group. Make sure it’s a challenging role, not something trivial where he won’t learn anything,” Richard instructed.


    A sh of hostility crossed rk’s eyes. It was clear Richard was preparing to groom Brandon Sumner and eventually choose between him and rk as his sessor.


    “Alright, I’ll handle it,” rk replied.


    Richard left with a dismissive snort.


    While the immediate crisis was averted, rk felt the weight of his precatious situation. With Brandon joining thepany, his position was at risk. He needed to ensure that he remained the sole heir to the Sumner Group.


    rk returned to the vi past midnight. He went to N’s room and found it empty, just as he had expected.


    Frowning, he hesitated before calling her, but her phone was off. His expression darkened, and he instructed Michael to find Vrie’s phone


    number.


    After receiving the number, he called immediately.


    Vrie answered after a few rings, sounding irritated. “Who is it at this hour? This better be important!”


    “It’s rk. Is N with you?” rk asked directly.


    Vrie, still half–asleep, replied curtly, “Do you even know what time it is? Of course she’s not here!”


    Vrie realized something was amiss and was about to say more, but rk hung up. Feeling uneasy, she tried calling back, but the line was busy.


    Meanwhile, rk was on the phone with Michael. “Find out where N went after work. I need the results in half an hour!”


    Sensing the urgency in rk’s voice, Michael immediately began the investigation.


    N was shivering uncontrobly, curled up in corner of the old wing.


    It was early fall, and the temperature difference between day and night.


    29


    was significant. In her rush to the house, she had forgotten to bring a coat, leaving her in only a short–sleeve shirt and pants, freezing and pale.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Her phone had died after the battery drained to 20%, leaving her unaware of the time.


    Without dinner, she felt cold, hungry, and miserable.


    As time passed, she grew colder, her consciousness fading. Her head. spun…


    Finally, she could hold on no longer and fainted.


    Some timeter, the doors of the old wing burst open with a loud bang.