?


    Gabriel looked at Jane and said, "That''s not what I mean. I''m just nning ahead. If the Wilkie Group does go bankrupt, at least we''ll have a fallback n."


    Jane scoffed. "The Wilkie Group will never go bankrupt!"


    "Maybe not," Gabriel said evenly. "But it''s always good to have a contingency n. After all, you and I can endure it, but I don''t want Wil to suffer."


    Upon hearing this, Jane''s expression softened slightly. No mother would want her child to endure hardship.


    "Fine, let''s go. Let''s try to get all the documents organized today," she said, briskly heading toward thepany''s entrance.


    She didn''t notice the sudden coldness that shed in Gabriel''s eyes.


    By the time they finished organizing the critical documents, it was nearing midnight.


    As they stepped out of thepany, Jane nced at the still-lit Wilkie Group building in the distance. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her expressionplicated, as if lost in thought.


    Gabriel put an arm around her shoulders and spoke softly. "Jane, this isn''t your fault. No one could''ve foreseen that the partnerpany would backstab the Wilkie Group."


    Jane shook her head. "If I hadn''t been so overconfident and persuaded Grandpa to partner with Starlite for that amusement park project, the Wilkie Group wouldn''t have sunk most of its liquid assets into it and ended up so vulnerable."


    "We''ll get through this," Gabrielforted. "Once the amusement park project gains traction, things will start looking up."


    She didn''t respond, letting out a soft sigh instead. The truth was, she wasn''t confident at all. She didn''t know if the Wilkie Group could weather the storm.


    "Let''s go. It''ste, and we have a lot to handle tomorrow," Gabriel said.


    With onest nce at the Wilkie Group building, Jane turned and left with him.


    The gamingpany had to be sold in a hurry, ultimately going for 340,000,0000 dors to a specialized gaming firm.


    With the funds in hand, Pedro immediately reinvested them into the Wilkie Group, barely resolving the immediate crisis.


    Once the Wilkie Group stabilized, Pedro called a board meeting to reassure the shareholders.


    Although thepany had been temporarily steadied, the shareholders remained dissatisfied with Jane.


    "Mr. Wilkie, if ?may speak freely, I


    net


    don''t think MS, Wilkie is suitable to manage apany asrge as the Wilkie Group. I suggest she step down as general manager and take on the role of deputy manager while we select someone more capable to take over," one shareholder said.


    "I agree," another chimed in. "Business is like a battlefield. Women should stick to raising families at home."


    "To be honest, I used to think Ms. Wilkie was capable and sharp. But this time, the Wilkie Group nearly went bankrupt because of her. If it had, we''d all be penniless!" yet another shareholder added


    While listening to the chatter, Pedro''s face remained unreadable.


    When the room finally quieted, he spoke in a low,manding voice. "Since you all think Jane is unsuitable, do you have anyone better in mind?"


    The shareholders exchanged nces, none daring to speak.


    They each had their own agendas, hoping to push their own children into the position. However, with their limited shares, they knew it wasn''t so they kept quiet.


    Finally, someone muttered, "I think Theo might be a good choice."


    Compared to the strong-willed and independent-minded Jane, Theo would be much easier to control.


    Pedro let out a coldugh. "Theo? Letting him take over would ruin the Wilkie Group faster than anything else."


    Since joining the Wilkie Group, Theo hadn''t managed to secure a single deal. Pedro was thoroughly disappointed in him.


    While the Starlite situation had shaken Pedro''s faith in Jane, he still preferred her to Theo.