All Chapters of The Intelligence Edge: From Zero to Billionaire: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The entire hall fell silent. So silent, a pin drop would have echoed.A few seconds later, the crowd collectively drew in a sharp breath, as though enlightenment had struck them all at once."Ohhh—!""So that's it!""No wonder! He's Gordon's father's benefactor!""Now it makes sense. Mr. Ford is just repaying a debt of gratitude.""Spending a little money to keep his benefactor happy—that's strategic thinking. That's the mark of a true business titan.""Twenty thousand might be life-changing for us, but for him, that's pocket change. Probably what he spends on a single dinner!"Convinced they had unraveled the mystery, the onlookers shifted their gazes toward Chris, now tinged with envy.'This lucky bastard! He saved the wealthiest man's father, and now even the city's richest man was willing to throw money away to indulge his whim.Just then, Chris's phone lit up. He glanced at the time, the corner of his mouth curving upward."It's about time."His eyes swept to Emma and

A curse lodged in Shawn's chest, festering like an internal wound. He swallowed his rage, forcing down the fire that threatened to consume him, and managed to pull his lips into a smile uglier than a sob. Straightening his shoulders, he walked toward Gordon, desperate to salvage a shred of dignity.But Gordon merely gave him a polite nod, his attention already elsewhere. Turning to Chris, he offered a courteous smile. "Chris, I still have matters to attend to. I'll take my leave. Let's meet again another day."With that, the city's wealthiest man departed with his assistant, slipping away under the respectful gazes of the crowd.The moment he left, the farce seemed to collapse with him. Guests quickly lost interest, drifting off in twos and threes. In an instant, the once-bustling corner was reduced to just four people—Chris, Emma, Evan, and Shawn, whose face had turned so dark and rigid he looked like a grim idol carved from stone.The air thickened with discomfort.Chris bro

Chris shrugged at her words. "Why throw it away? Such a waste."Emma lifted her head, cheeks puffed in indignation. "Because it's disgusting!"Chris's voice was unhurried, tinged with amusement. "Even if you don't like it, you could always sell it on a secondhand shop. Waste not, want not."He paused, his eyes glinting with suppressed laughter. "Think about it—if he ever found out the gift he used to curry your favor ended up on resale... just imagine the color his face would turn."Emma blinked in surprise.Then the image surfaced in her mind: Shawn's face shifting from green to purple, purple to black, until finally exploding with rage."Pfft—"She couldn't hold it in anymore. Laughter burst out of her, bright and unrestrained, her eyes crinkling as all traces of irritation melted away.Watching her laugh so openly, Chris's own lips curved into a smile. Then, curiosity gleaming in his gaze, he asked, "By the way, who exactly is Mr. Peyton?"The mention of the name dimmed Emm

Shawn listened to Katie's words on the other end of the line, the smirk at the corner of his lips growing more self-satisfied.The two exchanged a few more syrupy remarks before finally hanging up....Inside the banquet hall, the laughter that had erupted at Shawn's earlier embarrassment had long since faded.Chris stood with a glass of juice in hand, surveying the room.Silken gowns and tailored suits. Crystal chandeliers scattered light across glittering jewelry and polished cufflinks.Clusters of men in bespoke suits and women draped in gems stood in small groups, every word that passed their lips tied to venture capital, mergers, or IPOs.Each conversation represented the movement of millions, if not billions, in capital.Then he looked at himself.Anonymously dressed in casual clothes, flanked by his boisterous buddy, and accompanied by a wealthy heiress who had been forced into the role of his date.Earlier, he had only thought the Richmond Grand Hotel dazzling, and ha

"I've already said no, you can't join our table, and yet you insist on forcing your way over. That's just... plain rude," Chris said.The three girls' faces simultaneously shifted, pale and flushed like they'd been slapped in public.The lead girl, furious and humiliated, shot a sharp retort."Tch! It's just an Audi Q7! Big deal! What's with all the showing off here?"Chris let out a soft, almost mocking laugh, the sound carrying a clear, unhidden amusement."Who told you that car belongs to me?"The air seemed to freeze.Evan nearly sprayed his beer from laughing, barely able to hold back his admiration for Chris.The three girls, however, froze as if struck by lightning. They exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from shock to disbelief, and finally to deep contempt and disdain."So the car isn't even yours? Then what were you just showing off for?"They all rolled their eyes in unison, as if even looking at Chris any longer would dirty their vision."Pathetic."W