Semua Bab Kicking Him to the Curb: Bab 531 - Bab 540

After dinner, Gregory personally walked Aspen and Aren out. He said with a warm smile, "Ms. Nicholls, Mr. Jefferson, I look forward to seeing you both again.""Goodbye, Mr. Mora," Aspen and Aren responded with polite smiles as they got into the car. Aren started the engine."Pen, it's been a long day for you. You must be tired," Aren said gently.Aspen smiled and replied, "Not at all; it's just part of my job."Aren looked at her with deep affection in his eyes....Meanwhile, online chatter about Aspen had once again reached a boiling point. Gwyneth continued to stir the pot, trying to paint Aspen as some manipulative woman hungry for power. She even exploited Sophie's death to attack Aspen, calling her an "unfit mother". Someone wrote, "Aspen is downright evil—she didn't even spare her own daughter!""I heard she used any means necessary to climb to the top, even causing her own daughter's death!" "How is a woman like that qualified to be a mother? She's scum of society!"

Colin listened to Riley's report, his expression growing darker by the second. His tone edged with irritation as he asked, "So you're saying we still can't figure out who's behind all this?"Riley quickly tried to explain. "Mr. Fuller, while we haven't pinned down the mastermind yet, I strongly suspect this is the work of a competitor trying to drag down the Nicholls Group while they're on the rise.""A competitor?" Colin muttered, frowning deeply as he sank into thought.Riley kept pushing. "Think about it, Mr. Fuller. Nicholls Group has been gaining massive traction lately, especially after the Aetheris partnership. That kind of success is bound to spark jealousy. They're spreading these rumors to smear Ms. Nicholls' name and damage the company's credibility."His words struck a nerve. Colin had already been uncomfortable watching Aspen and the Nicholls Group surge forward, and now Riley's theory fed perfectly into that unease."It's always the same type—people who can't stand t

Colin quickly noticed the unusual activity online as well. The overwhelming negative coverage that had been plastered everywhere suddenly vanished without a trace in just a short time, as if it had never existed at all."What's going on? How did all those negative news stories just disappear overnight?" Colin asked in shock, unable to believe what he was seeing.Riley feigned surprise as he responded, "You're right, Mr. Fuller. I find it strange too. Those stories just vanished like someone waved a magic wand and made them disappear. It's incredible."Colin's brow furrowed deeply, his mind racing with suspicion. He didn't believe for a second that the negative coverage would disappear without reason. Someone powerful had to be pulling strings behind the scenes. "Who could it be? Who has that kind of power to control everything from the shadows?" he muttered, his voice filled with confusion and disbelief.Riley suggested that perhaps since Aspen's company was thriving, it wasn't s

"Mhm," Colin replied dismissively, barely sparing her a glance as he went back to reading his files, as if Gwyneth were nothing more than a stranger.Gwyneth's heart instantly sank to rock bottom, and a chill ran from her feet straight to the top of her head. Colin's indifference made her feel anxious and terrified."Colin, I'm still not feeling well. The doctor said I need to rest, but... being alone in this big mansion scares me," she mumbled in a soft, fragile voice, hoping to tug at his sympathy.Colin finally looked up, but his eyes held no warmth or concern—only growing impatience. "Then have the caregiver stay with you. I'm busy, I don't have time to play nurse," he said flatly before lowering his head again to continue working.Gwyneth's face went pale, and her eyes welled up with tears. He was so cold to her; he wouldn't even give her a word of comfort.If Colin was so eaten up with jealousy over Aspen, then maybe she could use that to her advantage. She would make sure

"Clinging to powerful people—what a skillful tactic you have!" Colin's voice was thunderous, echoing throughout the entire garden and instantly drawing the attention of everyone around them.The resort's originally relaxed and pleasant atmosphere was completely shattered by Colin's roar, and the air became thick with tension. Aspen's face instantly turned pale. She hadn't expected Colin to humiliate her so publicly like this. Especially in front of Aren and the other resort guests, Colin's words cut like sharp knives, brutally wounding her pride.Embarrassment, anger, and humiliation all surged through her at once, causing her body to tremble slightly as her fingertips clenched tightly. Feeling Aspen's trembling, Aren's heart ached with pain, and his own anger began to rise. He stepped forward, completely shielding Aspen behind him as he stared daggers at Colin. "Colin, watch your mouth! Who do you think you are to slander Pen's character?" Aren growled, his voice low and firm,