Chapter 4

I had intended to use the incident to win Gavin over, but I didn’t expect my plan to go so well.

He went home afterward and told my parents everything.

That same evening, Dad called me into his study, transferred a villa under my name, and gave me five percent of the company’s shares.

“Not bad. You have brains, skill, and foresight.

“Henry told me you learn very quickly. We have a subsidiary, small in scale, but its sector is a major focus for future development. I’m handing it over to youas a learning opportunity.”

My eyes lit up.

After working hard for so long, I finally had shares and a company of my own.

I was one step closer to my goal.

Later when I was in my room, Gavin knocked on my door awkwardly and tossed a check onto my desk.

“Your thank-you fee.”

I chuckled: “Dad already gave me plenty. You can keep that.”

“This is from me. Just take it. Besides, you’ve suffered long enough. Stop acting like you don’t care.”

Seeing his awkward posture, I knew Gavin had fully accepted me.

Now, my only opponent left was Julian, who was also Dad’s intended heir to the family business.

Sure enough, after learning that I had received shares and taken over an important subsidiary, he dropped all pretense of being friendly.

At home, he was either making passive-aggressive remarks or trying to sow discord between me and my parents.

Unfortunately for him, with Gavin and Giselle speaking up for me, Mom and Dad’s favorable impression of me didn’t sour at all. Instead, they grew somewhat critical of Julian.

Seeing his plan of squeezing me out at home wasn’t working, he began making things difficult for me at the company.

It was either stalling my project approvals or snatching away my collaborations.

After I completed another major project, the subsidiary tripled in size, driving our stock up by several points and instantly making it an industry upstart. Julian could finally no longer sit still.

At the new product launch event, he stopped me to remark:

“I underestimated you. You play the long game.

“But I advise you to know your place. Too big an ambition, and you might end up with nothing in the end.

“If you step down now and hand over the company, you can live a life of leisure just like Gavin.”

I looked at him and smirked provocatively.

“But I just have to try. What if I actually pull it off?”

The bullet comments finally caught on:

“I think I know what MC is trying to do now! She doesn’t care about petty drama—girl’s going for the family business!”

“So that was what the disguise was for. It’s working out really well for her.”

Seeing that I had no intention of backing down, Julian’s expression turned dark.

“Don’t blame me for being ruthless then, brother. You forced my hand.”

My heart thudded.

Was he going to pull a dirty trick?

Throughout the entire launch event, I was exceptionally cautious.

I reviewed the presentation materials several times and double-checked every step of the event schedule.

Right up until the event was nearly over, no issues arose.

I glanced toward Julian. He was lowering his head and talking to someone, betraying no evil scheme in waiting.

Just at that moment, a woman covered in blood suddenly burst into the venue.

She charged toward the stage and slapped me across the face with a loud smack.

“Scumbag! Now that you’re a Morgan, you think I’m not good enough for you, huh?

“We already broke up. Why force me to get an abortion? The baby was already eight months old! You’re a monster!”

The audience below erupted into an uproar.

“I just want justice for my baby! Why should he not be born, just because his mother is poor?”

The media turned their lenses and microphones squarely on me and the upper management, questioning my morality one after another.

The event’s livestream chat was flooded with abuse.

Cornered by the press, Dad stumbled back, his face livid. He delivered a heavy slap across my face.

“You wretched thing! Look what you’ve done! You’re a disgrace to the Morgan name!”

He then turned to the press: “Effective immediately, Rory Morgan is stripped of all positions in Morgan Group! We will not tolerate such immoral behavior!

“All matters regarding the subsidiary will be handed over to my eldest son, Julian Morgan.”

A victorious smile spread across Julian’s face.

“I disagree.”

I walked to the front of the stage.

Catching my movement, the faces of Julian and the woman simultaneously turned pale.