As everyone settled back into their seats, Lady Wilson gracefully walked onto the stage, hand-in-hand with Claire.

With a warm and sincere smile, she addressed the audience, saying, “I sincerely apologize for the earlier misunderstanding. I made an error. Claire here is a remarkable descendant of our Wilson family. Thanks to her dedication, we have secured a valuable contract with Emgrand Group. Her hard work has led to this incredible achievement.”

Nearby, Doris shot a disdainful glance at the elderly lady. With a dismissive wave, she interjected, “I need to clarify something. Miss Claire didn’t just contribute to this project; she accomplished it entirely on her own. No one else played a role in this.”

Though her tone was quite rude, the guests were used to Doris’s behavior. Given Emgrand Group’s prominent status in the city, even if Doris were to openly confront Lady Wilson, no one would dare intervene.

Lady Wilson quickly nodded in agreement. “Indeed, Miss Young is absolutely correct. Claire deserves all the recognition for her hard work. From this moment on, she will be the director of the Wilson Group! She will oversee the project with Emgrand Group completely!”

Doris finally smiled and extended her hand to Claire. “I look forward to working together.”

Claire, still in a daze, managed to nod in response. The applause that erupted throughout the hall was thunderous, and everyone regarded Claire with admiration and excitement. Who was this woman, and how did she manage to captivate the Emgrand Group?

Claire felt just as confused and intrigued. She glanced over at Charlie, recalling his words from earlier. This moment mirrored what he had described—the appointment as director was what she was meant for all along. Even after the banquet concluded and she returned home, Claire remained bewildered. Reflecting on Charlie’s recent behavior, she felt a strange sense of unease.

Over the past few days, he seemed different, as if there was something mysterious about him that she couldn’t quite grasp. Suddenly, Claire’s name began to circulate wildly across Aurous Hill. Everyone was aware that the Wilson family had an exceptional descendant who had caught the attention of Emgrand Group, a development that promised to rejuvenate the Wilson family!

***

The next morning, Claire awoke early, eager and full of energy as she hurried to the company. Today marked her first day as director, and she was determined to excel and see the project through. Meanwhile, Charlie went about his usual morning chores. Just as he was about to head to the market for lunch ingredients, his mother-in-law, Elaine, called him.

Upon answering, Charlie was met with Elaine’s frantic voice. “Charlie, you need to come to Pinnacle Avenue in ten minutes! If you don’t, just wait until I get home!”

Before he could respond, she hung up, leaving Charlie puzzled. His mother-in-law had left early in the morning, and her tone suggested something urgent had occurred. Despite his distaste for her demands, he knew he couldn’t ignore her. Quickly packing his bag, he rushed out, hopped into a cab, and headed for Pinnacle Avenue.

Upon his arrival, Charlie was met with a striking scene: a group of seniors menacingly surrounded the entrance of a closed insurance company. At the front of the crowd stood Elaine, brandishing a banner and shouting furiously, “You’re a liar, Axel! We demand our rights! Give me back my money!”

Charlie hurried over, anxious to understand, “Mom, why did you call me? What’s happening?”

As he spoke, the uproar from the protest filled the air, making it difficult for him to hear himself think. The seniors were voicing their frustrations so loudly that Charlie wondered if his ears could withstand the noise.

Elaine pulled Charlie into the fray, handing him her banner. “Here, take over for me! I’ve been shouting all morning, and my throat is killing me.”