"What do you mean by that?"Lucas met Mark's eyes, a flicker of interest glinting there, though hesitation still lingered.Lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear, Lucas laid out the plan in brief, watching closely as Mark's expression shifted, catching that telltale flash of light in his eyes.The corner of Lucas's lips curved into a satisfied smirk.When he finished, he didn't forget to add,"And more than that, to show my good faith, I'm also willing to offer you another advantage."Mark lifted his gaze, and Lucas smiled as he delivered the final lure."I can help you push Sigourney out of the corporation."From Savannah's account, Lucas already knew the dynamics within the Nichols family, and he understood precisely what Mark's true desire was.He didn't hesitate to dangle it as a bargaining chip.It was, naturally, enough to pique Mark's interest.Still, he hesitated; there was no solid proof yet for him to accept Lucas's words so easily.Lucas pressed on."That's n
While Sigourney and Theodore were tirelessly working to clear her name,A phone call came through, One that could almost be called a lifeline."Hello, is this the number for Mrs. Nichols?"A deep, steady male voice sounded on the other end, carrying an air of authority.Sigourney froze for a moment, feeling the tone was vaguely familiar, though she couldn't immediately place it."Yes, I'm Sigourney. And you are...?"She responded politely, hearing the faint exhale of relief from the caller."Hello, Mrs. Nichols. I'm the mayor of City Z.""Recently, I've been away on business in a neighboring city, which is why I've only just learned about the charity scandal involving you."The mayor repeatedly apologized for not reaching out to Sigourney sooner.Sigourney, in turn, assured him it was perfectly understandable, and there was no reason to blame him for it."I've read the so-called evidence published by the media. While I don't know where it was leaked from, it's completely false."The
The next morning was destined to be a stormy one.A series of new pieces of evidence was released to the media, once again stirring up public opinion.Those who had previously stood by Sigourney, who had believed in her and defended her,now found their trust shaken.Because this time, the evidence was far too clear to deny.It was about the quality of the charity housing project under the Nichols name.In photos and videos, the exterior of the houses appeared neat and proper,but the interiors were in shambles.The construction quality was abysmal, Just a single rainstorm was enough to cause mold, leaks, and dampness in the walls.In many households, the donated furniture looked as though it had been used for years, worn down, broken, and clearly not new.There was no need for further explanation.The public understood exactly what it meant.A wave of outrage spread like wildfire."Using your position as director to embezzle materials, even from charitable projects for the poor? T
Sigourney tried calling the remaining members of the construction team, but it was all in vain.What began as a sliver of hope now felt like complete despair.Theodore, seeing the exhaustion and dejection on her face, felt his heart ache as he gently tried to console her."It's alright, Sigourney.""We'll find another way, okay?""Don't worry, everything will be fine."Sigourney forced a smile, pushing herself to appear cheerful, if only to keep Theodore from worrying.But that night, she tossed and turned in bed,barely catching a wink of sleep....The next morning,when Sigourney arrived at the corporation as usual,Venus greeted her with some shocking news."Director, the General Director, he..."Venus hesitated, glancing uneasily at Sigourney, as if torn between speaking or staying silent.Sigourney, sensing something was off, felt a chill run down her spine. Still, she managed to keep her voice calm."What is it? What did Mark say?"Sigourney already knew what kind of despicable
With the fire of Mark's rage still blazing in his eyes, Sigourney began to calmly lay out her case."First," she stated evenly, "the so-called evidence published by the media has not been verified. It could very well be fabricated, or deliberately edited to tarnish my reputation."She didn't waver."Second, there has been no internal investigation to confirm any of it. Jumping to conclusions without verification renders all accusations and decisions baseless.""Third," her voice sharpened slightly, "even if I were at fault - which I'm not - then a decision of this magnitude should be discussed collectively by the executive board, not dictated unilaterally by you, Mark."Sigourney's composure didn't falter. She made her final point with clarity and resolve:"And lastly, I ask for one month. One month to prove the truth, clear my name, and protect both my personal reputation and the corporation's."Sigourney spoke fluently, every word and argument grounded in logic, leaving Mark with no
After returning from the ribbon-cutting ceremony,Sigourney and Theodore didn't linger in the city for long.That afternoon, they boarded the earliest flight back to their own city together.Naturally, Theodore sat beside Sigourney in the business class section.As the plane prepared for takeoff, Theodore pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and sent a message to Sutton Mark."This morning's ceremony went smoothly. Help me get in touch with a few journalists, let's put out some articles about the strong relationship between me and Sigourney."Sutton replied swiftly, assuring him that everything would be arranged properly, which left Theodore feeling quite pleased.Only then did he finally relax and tuck his phone back into his pocket with a contented expression.Though he wasn't the petty type,since Richard had already chosen to provoke him,he had no qualms about using Richard's own tactics to strike back.To show Richard that he and Sigourney were the truly perfect couple.Notic