bChapter /bb217 /b

    Andrew was still shouting after him. “How dare you talk to me like that? Stop right there.”

    Anna quickly tried to calm him down. “Dad, maybe Max is just brainwashed. Who knows? Ste is probablyughing at us right now. We can’t lose ourposure.”

    Andrew snapped out of it and looked at Anna. “You’re right.”

    Ste thought Max was only joking. She didn’t expect

    really move into that in dorm and live with strangers.

    Ste never thought it was a bad thing. They distance.

    were all

    people, but in the past, Max didn’t like being around them and would always keep bhis /b

    She even heard he really started working.

    N said, “He still doesn’t look fully recovered, and work seems tough for him, but he’s willing to do anything. Looks like he really knows he was wrong

    Ste said, “Good. As long as he doesn’t mess up our work, let him do what he wants.” She knew N wasn’t sticking up for Maxb, /bbut for her.

    After all, seeing Ste like this weighed heavily on N’s heart.

    Ste nced at N. “I know what you’re thinking. Get back to work.”

    N nodded.

    When Ste went downstairs, she did see Max. He was a rich kid who wouldn’t do all the work alone, but his colleagues helped out, and he was seriously learning.

    Perhaps he was too focused to notice her presence. Ste didn’t say a word to him and just walked

    away.

    When she got home, the first thing Jordan did was check her leg. Seeing it much better, he breathed a sigh of relief.

    He said, “I was worried that the hospital wasn’t good enoughb, /bbut we needed to treat your leg soon, so I didn’t go anywhere else. I got the doctor there to do some quick care, and it actually helped.”

    “It wasn’t that serious. Don’t go looking down on clinics,” Ste ?aid with a shrug.

    Jordan said, “Yeah, I know. It’s my fault.”

    Ste reached over and pinched his nose gently. “Yep, that’s all on you.”

    Jordan smiled. “By the way, iI /iheard Max started working at

    urpany. What do you think he’s up to?”

    She said, “Not clear yet. Let’s wait and see. Even if he ns something, I’ll catch it eventually.”

    Jordan took her hand. “I’m a bit uneasy. Having him around you is like sitting next to a ticking time bomb. What if ne suddenly goes boff/bb?/bb” /b

    “Don’t you trust me?” Ste asked on purpose.

    Jordan shook his head. “Of course not. I’m just worried abou

    you.”

    Ste smiled. “I’m just kidding. I know you’re worried, but I can’t have you looking after me all the time.”

    Jordan said, “Alright, I’ll have someone watch him. If he makes a move, I’ll make sure to handle it before byou /bbhave /bbto/bb./bb” /b

    b14:12 /bbSat /b16 bAug /b

    Ste noddedb, /bbut what she didn’t expect was that on the fifth day of Max working at thepanyb, /bFlons showed bup /b

    Fiona used to visit the Hayes Group all the time, so she knew the ce well. She stood firmly at the garage entrance, bisecting stated’s pat

    The driver took a quick look while Ste said calmly, “Call security and have them drag her out. If she refuses, call the police immediately 3

    The driver made the call.

    Fiona came up to Ste’s car to say something, but the driver saw her and immediately drove away.

    Fiona chased after the car.

    Meanwhile, the driver called security. “Someone is causing trouble in the garage. Hurry and get her out. Ms. Hayes said if she doesn’t bcooperate/b, call the police.”

    Ste headed straight to the top floor of thepany. N told her that everything downstairs had been settled, and she didn’t need to worry

    Ste nodded.

    Around lunchtime, a client came by, and Ste took him out to lunch. She happened to see Le next to Jordan. It seemed Le noticed bher /bbtoo/bb, /bdeliberately moving closer to Jordan.

    The next second, Ste saw Jordan shove Le away. Seeing her all upset and frustrated, Ste smiled.

    Le was used to acting arrogant and putting herself first. Ignoring why Ste came over, she went right up to her and said, “Are youughing at me?

    Ste said, “I’m busy right now and don’t have time for you.”

    Le said, “Cut the act. I know the Hayes family’spany is on the brink. Don’t think you can save bit /bon your own.”

    As Le spoke, she gave a disdainful nce at the man opposite Ste and then looked smugly at her. “Believe it or not, I could shut down every supermarket your family owns in an instant.”

    Ste smiled at her client and looked Le straight in the eye. “This is Mr. Owen Griffin from the Griffin Group. You know what he does. If byou /binsist bon /bcausing trouble here, be prepared to face the consequences.”

    Owen Griffin ran a multinationalpany based in Jaloria. Hispany made huge profits every year. Even Le’s dad showed him a lot of respect.

    Le had indeed heard of him. She nced once more at the man opposite Ste, took out her phone to check some photos, and saw it really was bhim/bb. /b

    She red at Ste and said, “You’re lucky.” With thatb, /bshe walked away.

    Jordan joined them for lunch. He shook hands with Owen and sat beside Ste, chatting with them for quite some time.

    He still had work to do, so after half an hour, he left.

    Owen smiled and said, “I thought Mr. Erwin married you just because you’re a hot topic, but I can see he genuinely cares for you. Neel happy bfor /bbyou /b

    two.”

    Ste had known Owen for years. He was passionate about education and set up schrships at various schools.

    Owen handed out every schrship himself. He had known Ste since she was in middle bschool /band btreated /bher like amily

    When he heard she had taken over thepany, he immediately came to see if there was anything he bcould /bbdo /bbto /bbhelp/b. bAs /bthey btalked/bb, /bbthey /bbfound /bchances to work together.

    Ste said, “Mr. Griffin, you’ve always been kind to me, and I consider you family. Thank you bfor /balways bbeing /bbon /bbmy /bbside/bb. /b

    Owen said, “I wanted toe see you when you got back, but I worried I might disturb you. bSeeing /bbyou /bbhere /bbnow /bbmakes /bbme /bbvery /bbhappy /bSteb, /bbdo /bbwhat /b

    ???b. /b

    you want and don’t let anyone push you around.”

    Ste nodded.

    Owen wasn’t just here to see her. He had other things to take care of as well, but he still made it a point to visit Ste.

    With Owen’s support, Ste’s supermarket empire was set to be rock–solid.

    Just as Ste was about to head back, someone suddenly came up from behind, grabbed her neck, and held a knife to iti. /i