CHAPTER 99: CHAPTER 99-TROUBLE

Charles didn’t explain Ivanka’s presence until they were already in the car. Janet couldn’t hold back the ache in her heart any longer and finally asked, "Why were you with her...?"

"Do you really care?" Charles’s tone was colder than he intended, but her repeated indulgences hadn’t made a dent in him. What he truly wanted to know was how much space he actually occupied in her heart.

Ivanka happened to be nearby shooting scenes and saw his car parked at the hotel. So she stopped by to say hello. After all, Charles had been the one to make her famous. It was her pure, untainted aura that had attracted him back then—much like Janet’s own rare, ethereal quality. Both women reminded him of a solitary snow lotus standing proudly in a hidden valley—strong, unique, and beautiful.

For once, Charles said nothing to explain. Watching Janet’s hurt and sorrow written all over her face, he suddenly felt a strange sense of balance. Maybe he had been too good to her, which made her think he was merely a convenience—a given. But all he wanted was for her to care, truly care.

Janet bit her lip and glanced up at him. His resolute profile gave her a perfect silhouette. He didn’t even meet her eyes, focusing instead on driving back to Black Rock Co.

"The land plot at ZT—we’re buying it," Charles announced.

ZT Group was now a blight no one dared touch. It had lost its former glory and was just a ruin cloaked in luxury. Charles had been waiting for this moment—when no one cared anymore—to swoop in and claim what once belonged to Manfred’s group.

"Yes, the police have issued an arrest warrant. August’s fate is sealed," Giles reported, already moving forward with the acquisition under Charles’s command. No company but Black Rock Co. wanted the hot potato that was ZT. And only Charles truly understood Manfred’s downfall—he was finished, incapable of fighting back.

Shang Nantian, former Chamber of Commerce chairman and Manfred’s father, had become a mere dog for the Shang family. Six years ago, father and son became enemies over a woman. Now, even with Shang Nantian on his side, Manfred stood no chance. Besides, Shang Nantian had been removed from his post due to misconduct and wouldn’t dare go against Black Rock Co. again.

"I’m going to find him. August—I won’t let you rot in jail!" Manfred hadn’t appeared in public for a week. He knew ZT was already Charles’s, and money alone couldn’t fix legal troubles anymore. Charles held the upper hand with a damaging secret about August, and no one dared risk protecting him without powerful government ties.

"No, Manfred, don’t go. I don’t care anymore. I’m sorry for dragging you into this," August said, knowing the bitter hatred between Manfred and Shang Nantian. He had cut all ties with his father to protect himself. Asking Manfred for favors now was a huge blow to his pride.

"Money can always be earned. If you get caught, how will you avenge your father?" Manfred was desperate to leave his apartment. He hadn’t been home in six years, and his mother still lived there. It was time to go back.

"Avenge? I have no chips left except this life..." August’s expression darkened. He recalled the day of Norman’s memorial when he and Charles had fought fiercely. Derrick had watched with a cold, mocking smile—uncaring about his downfall but fascinated by the clash between him and Charles.

That twisted man would make sure to take care of the old bastard before serving his own sentence.

As Manfred cautiously opened the door, a figure suddenly darted out. He thought it was paparazzi, but the police and reporters guarding outside had all been drawn away. He had to settle things with August quickly—even if it meant begging that man for help.

"Why is it you?" Manfred exhaled in relief after recognizing the visitor. With August now a top police target, security guards were stationed outside, and Peggy could only get close if they opened the door willingly.

"How’s August? Is he really going to jail?" Peggy had been desperate to find Manfred but hadn’t known where he’d moved. Hiding wouldn’t help—they risked longer sentences. She hurried here, worried sick to know how he was doing.

"No, August won’t get into trouble! You should stay with him. I’ve got some things to handle," Manfred said as he gently pushed Peggy inside, then pulled up his collar, put on his cap, and walked away.

"Why are you here?" August’s voice held a complicated mix of emotions when he saw Peggy appear at this moment. The farther he stayed from her, the better it was—for both of them—but now she had come looking for him herself. Should he call her foolish or just plain stubborn?

"I’m worried about you," Peggy said softly. "I asked my brother about the charge—industrial espionage isn’t a light offense. August, did you really do it?"

"Yes," August admitted openly, no longer needing anyone’s sympathy, nor willing to give up easily. "So stay away from me. I’m no good."

"No, I don’t believe that. The August I know is a good man!" Peggy hugged his arm tightly, admiring his frank confession even more. No matter what unforgivable things he’d done, in her heart, he was still perfect.

Good man—the first time anyone had ever used that word to describe him. From the moment he was born, August had lived only to seek revenge. No family, no childhood, no manly pride left—just a single life hanging by a thread.

Now, it was time to settle everything.

At that moment, August didn’t realize that when Peggy held him, he didn’t push her away. For the second time in his life, he felt no hatred toward a woman—but he also knew it was already too late.

Since that night, Charles and Janet still came and went together between the company and home, but the distance between them was obvious. Charles no longer looked at her with passionate tenderness. He stopped hugging or kissing her on impulse, and even at night, he no longer touched her once.

When Janet finally gathered the courage to apologize for what happened that day, Charles responded coldly, making her heart ache. Suddenly, she understood what it must have felt like when she once rejected, ignored, and even resented him in the past—back when she was still his sister-in-law. He had wanted to get close to her, but she kept pushing him away. That suffocating distance she now experienced again made her realize that compared to him, she had done far too little.