Chapter 4

My mother finally relaxed and affectionately tapped the tip of my nose.

Now that I was home, both my parents were overjoyed. Even though it was still early, long before lunchtime, they had already started bustling around the kitchen preparing food.

At the dining table, I looked at the spread of dishes, every single one my favorite, and warmth flooded my chest. But almost immediately, my vision blurred with tears again.

I reached out and held my parents' hands, speaking with complete seriousness.

"Mom, Dad, don't pour all of West Corporation's capital into the partnership with the Dyke family. Keep some funds aside and invest in energy projects instead. That industry is going to explode in the future."

My parents exchanged worried looks.

"Naomi, what's wrong? Did John bully you?"

I could not blame them for thinking that way.

Every time I came home before this, all I ever talked about was how wonderful John was. I kept pushing for deeper cooperation between the Wen and Fu families so our engagement would become even more tightly bound together.

I ignored every risk assessment my parents gave me and stubbornly pressured them into investing more and more money into the joint projects.

In the end, I even demanded that they pour all of West Corporation's liquid capital into the partnership.

That was why, in my previous life, once the collaboration collapsed, West Corporation spiraled into bankruptcy almost overnight, and the three of us were dragged toward ruin along with it.

This was the first time I had ever told them to reduce investment instead.

I looked at them earnestly.

"Mom, Dad, I was immature before. I treated West Corporation like a bargaining chip for my own relationship games. I won't do that anymore."

To my surprise, tears welled in my parents' eyes instead.

"This is wonderful. Our Naomi has finally grown up."

I gently wiped away their tears and added, "There's one more thing. I want to come work at West Corporation. I'll start in the marketing department and help share the burden."

In my previous life, my parents had suggested countless times that I return to the company, but back then my entire world revolved around John. I never cared about our own business.

But now, armed with memories of the future and knowing where the market was headed, there was no way I would sit back and watch my family company walk toward disaster again.

My parents were shocked, but they had always supported every decision I made. Without hesitation, they agreed.

The three of us shared a warm, peaceful meal together.

Since I was supposed to report to West Corporation the next day, I decided to stay at home for the night.

Late that evening, while lying in bed, I unexpectedly received a message from John.

"It's already this late. Aren't you coming back?"

I stared at the screen for a moment, stunned.

Ever since our engagement arrangement began, this was the first time John had ever taken the initiative to message me.

Before this, I had been the only one desperately performing a one-woman show.

More importantly, was he still at the Moonlake Villa? Why?

The more I thought about it, the stranger his behavior seemed.

Had he fought with Claire? Was he trying to use me to make her jealous?

Yes. That had to be it.

I curled my lips in annoyance.

What a scheming man.

There was no way I was stupid enough to throw myself between the two of them again and suffer for it.

Having lived through everything once already, I was very clear about my role this time around.

I was nothing more than the tool connecting the Dyke and West families' business partnership. As for the engagement itself, I might as well just let it rot.

I ignored John's message, turned off my phone, and went to sleep.

The next morning, I officially reported to West Corporation.

Things in the marketing department did not go smoothly at first. Everyone assumed I was just another rich girl parachuted in for fun, and nobody allowed me to get involved in any real projects.

That only changed after I used memories from my previous life to produce a proposal for Sheldon Corporation's smart home project.

Only then did the entire marketing department finally start taking me seriously.

Honestly, it was almost funny.

Originally, I knew absolutely nothing about smart home systems.

But in my previous life, I had watched John struggle endlessly over this project. Wanting to help him, I forced myself to learn everything I could about the field and eventually created a proposal impressive enough to stun everyone.