?


    Karter glowered, not expecting Tom to have discovered that. He took a deep breath before asking coldly, "What''s your problem with the Sumner Group?"


    Tom simply replied, "Because I''m tired of always being in someone else''s shadow."


    Karter remained silent, scowling.


    Tom smiled. "You wouldn''t want your wife to keep controlling you, would you? Help me, and I can help you seize control."


    Although Karter was the CEO of the Basham Group, his wife held the shares. That was why he had gotten rid of his mistresses and begged her for forgiveness all these years after she found out about his affairs.


    Now that his current mistress was pregnant and he intended for her to keep the child, it was clear that he was nning to seize the shares.


    Tom watched Karter as if weighing his options, showing no rush for a response.


    Karter was silent for a long moment.


    Finally, he said, "Fine. I''ll do it. But if you cross me, I''ll make sure you regret it."


    "Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Basham," Tom replied.


    The moment Karter left the office, he immediately pulled out his phone and called Damon.


    "Mr. Sumner, Tom approached me today."


    "I know," Damon replied, his tone as calm as ever.


    "He wants me to swap the materials for your uing project. It seems like he''s nning to sabotage it somehow," Karter informed him.


    "Understood. Do as he says," Damon replied, his gaze cold.


    "Got it, Mr. Sumner," Karter answered.


    The call ended, and he wiped the sweat from his brow.


    He had been tempted by Tom''s offer of help to secure more power within hispany, but he knew better.


    Compared to Tom, Damon was a far more dangerous adversary. Even his so-called "mistress" was part of Damon''s n.


    Having persuaded Karter, Tom felt particrly victorious and went out drinking with friends that evening.


    Upon arriving at the club, he spotted Brandon and Vrie in the midst of a heated argument in the hallway.


    Raising an eyebrow, he strolled over


    and a


    Wsked, "Mr. Sumner, Vriene


    going on? You two seem


    y worked up." Content belongs


    Both turned to look at him.


    "None of your business," Brandon said coldly.


    Vrie nced at him briefly before looking back at Brandon.


    "I''m done arguing," she muttered, turning on her heel.


    Brandon reached out to grab her arm, but she shook him off with force.


    "Brandon, I need space! Stop hovering!" Her voice echoed down the hallway, leaving an awkward silence in its wake.


    Brandon''s face darkened as he exined, "Vrie, it''s not what you think. Nothing happened between me and her." Vrie nodded. "Sure. Whatever you say. I must''ve imagined what I saw. Happy now?"


    Had she not passed by


    coincidentally, she wouldn''t have seen Brandon''s friends egging him on to kiss Michelle. The recollection


    of the scene made her blood boil.


    UMS


    "Vrie, it was just a stupid game! Even if you hadn''t shown up, I 0 would''ve refused. I care about you, only you. If there were anything between me and her, do you think I''d still be with you now?


    "They crossed a line tonight, and I swear it won''t happen again. Please, don''t let this ruin us," Brandon pleaded.