"Elena, now isn't the time. The internal chaos at the Liam Group is severe, and I’m afraid Liam can’t step away just yet."

Only then did Elena realize her emotions had spiraled out of control; after taking several deep breaths, she stabilized her mind.

"We’ll just wait for him to come to us. Besides, on the surface, he really did do you dirty and caused you a lot of harm."

When she said the last sentence, Clara paused and looked at her with heartache.

Elena smiled helplessly. She felt she could be a master of facial expression management now.

After all, most of the time, she relied on facial expressions to communicate.

Liam Group.

Board meeting.

Liam’s mother sat in the CEO’s chair, her face full of pride, her gaze sweeping across the people below.

"Do the directors have any more objections?"

The three directors who had transferred their shares lowered their heads, saying nothing.

So, she fixed her gaze directly on the final veteran director, Yuan Ming.

"So, Director Yuan, have you considered it clearly? Trade the five percent of shares in your hands for two hundred million in cash."

Director Yuan gripped his fountain pen tightly, looked down, and sneered: "The young master just left, and you’re in such a hurry to swallow the Liam Group? Aren't you afraid of retribution?"

Liam’s mother gave a disdainful scoff, elegantly fiddling with the emerald ring on her finger.

"Retribution? I am the least afraid of retribution. You had better worry about whether you can walk out of this conference room door today."

After saying that, Liam’s mother clapped her hands.

A group of bodyguards in uniform walked in, surrounding Yuan Ming.

Seeing such a show of force, Yuan Ming didn't panic at all. He capped his fountain pen and ripped the share transfer agreement into shreds right in front of her.

Liam’s mother’s eyes widened in anger, and she let out a sharp roar: "You old thing, I see you’re tired of living!"

Then, she signaled to the bodyguards.

Three burly bodyguards closed in on Yuan Ming. Just as they pulled out knives, the door to the conference room was kicked open.

Liam’s mother was about to curse whoever was so blind, but when she looked up, the person who had arrived was Liam himself!

Liam swept a cold gaze over the bodyguards surrounding Yuan Ming: "Are you tired of living?"

The bodyguards froze. Shaken by the chill in Liam’s eyes, they subconsciously retracted their knives and retreated to the side.

The moment Liam appeared, the air pressure in the room dropped to freezing.

Liam’s mother stabilized herself before meeting Liam’s gaze: "I don't care if you’re a ghost or a human right now, you have no say here."

A layer of frost covered Liam’s handsome face, and a mocking smile curled the corners of his lips.

"You really are the most shameless stepmother I’ve ever met."

Liam’s mother’s expression stiffened; she looked at Liam with a cold, hollow smile: "Say whatever you want, but now, please get out."

With that, she raised her hand toward the bodyguards.

Liam couldn't be bothered to deal with her; he threw the share certificate he was holding onto the table, his expression icy.

"As far as I know, all the directors sitting here joined when my father was here, and Uncle Yuan is a veteran who stood by my grandfather’s side."

As his voice fell, only Yuan Ming stood with his back straight. Though he was over fifty, it couldn't hide the wisdom in his eyes.

The other three directors kept their heads down in silence.

Liam’s gaze swept lightly over the directors who were looking down: "The Liam Group grew through everyone’s collective effort. I won't force anyone to stay, but I hope you all think carefully about your choices."

The directors who had sold their shares picked up their files and stood up silently, walking straight out of the conference room.

Liam’s mother glared at Liam: "Don't think that the twenty percent of shares you hold is enough to stand against me."

With that, she picked up her bag and prepared to leave.

As she reached the door, Liam chuckled, his voice neither cold nor warm.

"Do you really think that all these years, I haven't prepared for anything?"

Chapter 18: The Slap

Liam’s mother’s expression turned grim as she turned her head, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"What do you mean by that?"

Liam didn't even seem to hear her; he pulled out the main seat and sat down.

Liam’s mother huffed and turned away, her face twisted with indignation.

After she left, Yuan Ming finally stood up and walked over to Liam, taking out a patterned jade pendant from his coat.

Looking at the clear patterns on the jade, Liam was slightly startled. He had only seen his grandfather take this pendant out when he was a boy.

His father had often flown into a rage at his grandfather trying to obtain this piece, but until the day his grandfather died, no one had been able to find it.

"Uncle Yuan... is this the jade pendant that belonged to my grandfather?" Liam asked, hesitant.

Yuan Ming nodded and explained: "You guessed right. This pendant was indeed entrusted to me by the old master."

Liam’s eyes deepened, and he remained silent.

No wonder his father could never find it no matter how hard he searched.

"This pendant represents twenty percent of the hidden shares in the Liam Group. The old master had long anticipated a day like this, so he had me keep it to give to you at a critical juncture."

Liam pressed his lips together, his deep features showing a trace of contemplation: "May I ask Uncle Yuan one question?"

Yuan Ming nodded: "Of course."

"If I had truly died this time, what would you have done with this jade and the shares you held?"

Liam didn't hide anything, bringing the point straight out into the open.

Yuan Ming met Liam’s gaze directly and firmly: "If that day had truly come, I would not have thrown my lot in with anyone. I would have taken these items with me into the coffin to see the old master."

Yuan Ming’s integrity was something Liam had seen long ago; he was loyal only to his grandfather and the Liam Group.

After handling the shareholder matters, Liam called Xu Chen.

As soon as the call connected, Xu Chen’s wailing voice came through.

"Liam, you’d better come yourself. I just joked with your sister-in-law that I was you, and she chased me out with a broom."

Liam rubbed his temples in silence.

He had finally experienced what it was like to have a teammate who loved courting death.

"Come back now."

With that, Liam hung up the phone, grabbed his coat, and walked out of the Liam Group.

Along the way, his appearance stunned many employees.

Liam automatically blocked out their stares, walked to his private garage, and drove toward the Elena household.

Halfway there, he stopped in front of a flower shop. As soon as he stepped inside, he asked the proprietress: "Do you have blue roses?"

The proprietress was a glamorous woman, her slender fingers and keen eyes seeming to pierce right through one’s heart.

"Who is it for? Your true love?"

Liam didn't answer.

The proprietress didn't press her luck; she walked behind the curtain and retrieved nine blue roses.

Nine blue roses represent: "My love for you will last a lifetime, never changing with the passage of time."

After buying the flowers, Liam returned to his car and continued driving toward the Elena household.

Elena’s home.

Elena was pacing back and forth in her room, struggling to suppress her pounding heart.

Clara sat to the side, throwing her hands up in surrender: "Elena, stop pacing, you’re making me dizzy."

Elena gave an apologetic smile, sat down beside Clara, and took her hand.

Just as Clara was about to tease her, the doorbell rang.

Elena rose happily and ran to the door to open it. Just as she thought the person outside was Liam, she looked up and found it was Vivian.

In an instant, the blood in Elena’s body turned cold, and she reached back to shut the door.

But Vivian caught the handle first: "You damn mute, you dare to shut the door on me!"

With that, Vivian scowled and raised her hand, striking Elena across the face.

"Smack!" A sharp sound echoed; the side of Elena’s face where she was struck quickly turned red and swollen.

"You damn mute, you still want to fight me? You’re as disgusting as your beggar mother!" Vivian sneered, her eyes filled with disdain.

Hearing Vivian’s mocking laughter, a sudden surge of power ignited in Elena’s heart, causing her to raise her hand and slap Vivian’s face with one hundred percent of her strength.

"Smack!"

The clear sound of a slap echoed. Vivian’s face was knocked to the side, and a streak of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.