6:00 P.M., in Aurora Café.

Veronica Morrison sat by the window, anxiously watching the bustling crowd outside.

Warren Leonard had told her he'd arrive soon, but she'd been waiting for over 30 minutes, and he was still nowhere to be seen. Bored, she toyed with the black leather wallet he'd left behind at lunch, planning to return it later.

Her slender, fair fingers flipped open the wallet. It was a simple design, with a photo tucked inside the left pocket. In the picture, she had a bubbly smile and sparkling eyes; Warren held her close, his eyes full of affection.

A sweet warmth filled Veronica's heart. They took the photo on their college graduation day. The wedding was supposed to be held right after graduation, but something came up. Now, after being together for four years, they were finally getting married this July.

She beamed at the handsome man in the photo. Just as she was about to close the wallet, a pink receipt caught her eye. She casually pulled it out, and her breath hitched.

It was a receipt for a three-carat pink diamond.

A surge of excitement welled up in her chest. She had once told her best friend, Kayla Barrett, that she wanted a pink diamond as her wedding ring. Had he already bought the ring? Was he planning to propose to her tonight?

Although their wedding date was set, he had mentioned that he still owed her a proper proposal. That thought filled her with both sweetness and anticipation.

She then scrolled through her phone, hesitating whether to call him. Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a familiar figure passing by the window.

She stood up in glee, ready to wave, but the sight of Kayla in a silk dress made her freeze.

Kayla was clinging to Warren, her body pressed against his like they belonged together.

Veronica's gaze locked onto them, her lips pressing into a tight line.

Outside the window, Warren was smiling as he leaned down to whisper into Kayla's ear. The moment he looked up, he met Veronica's eyes. He paused for a bit, then slowly withdrew his arm around Kayla's slender waist.

Kayla, noticing something was off, followed his gaze.

Ten minutes later, the waiter came to serve the coffee. The tension at their table was so thick that he slipped away right after carefully placing the cups on the table.

"Should I thank you both for this wonderful 'surprise'?"

The initial shock had given way to disbelief. Veronica tossed the wallet onto the table in front of Warren, her icy gaze sweeping over Kayla's face.

Under the warm lights, Kayla's delicate face remained composed, with no signs of guilt.

Veronica was puzzled. If this were a typical TV drama, shouldn't Warren be scrambling to explain himself right now?

She could accept any excuse, even one as ridiculous as Kayla seducing him.

But Warren was just as calm as Kayla. "I have nothing to explain," he spoke.

A sharp pain shot through Veronica's heart.

"Really? Can you tell me when exactly did you hook up with my bestie? Have you no shame at all?" Her anger surged, her voice rising uncontrollably.

She couldn't understand how he could be so brazen about it.

The few customers at the café all looked their way, their eyes filled with sympathy.

Kayla finally piped up, "Veronica, you know what? Love isn't about who showed up first..."

"Shut up!"

Kayla appeared pitiful, pressing closer to Warren, her eyes welling up with tears.

She choked out, "Veronica, I understand how you feel right now..."

Like hell she did! Veronica had known Kayla for years. They shared everything, and she knew better than anyone that playing the victim was Kayla's specialty.

Warren should have known that too. So why the hell had he fallen for her?

"Veronica, I'm sorry..." Warren shrugged, but his arm remained around Kayla's waist.

His once-familiar face now felt repulsive to Veronica. She fought to keep her emotions in check, refusing to let herself break down. "You don't need to apologize. It's my fault. I shouldn't have fallen in love with you."

She grabbed her bag, ready to leave. Her mind was a chaotic mess, and she couldn't stand being around these two jerks for another second.

A buzzing sound filled her ears as a rush of heat surged to her face. Humiliation, fury, and heartbreak crashed over her like a tidal wave. Had they been together all along while she foolishly believed in their love?

What were her years of devotion for?

She was the victim here, so why should she hold back her anger?

Just then, a waiter walked past, carrying a cup of coffee. Without a second thought, Veronica snatched it and flung it straight at Kayla's face.

This shameless bitch didn't deserve any mercy.

Kayla's exquisite makeup was completely ruined. After a moment of shock, Kayla let out a scream.

All the people in the café were dumbfounded. Even the waiter stood frozen. Warren rushed forward, shouting, "Veronica! You've gone too far!"

Veronica ignored the chaos behind her and ran straight out of the café, sneering.

She thought, "I've gone too far? That's rich!"

She turned and saw Kayla crying her eyes out. Sticky coffee was tricking down her made-up face, leaving her disheveled.

Warren gently wiped her face and coaxed her, while Kayla adjusted her dress. A pink diamond ring gleamed on her finger.

Veronica bit her lip and walked away without looking back.

After wandering for a long time, she finally crouched down and burst into tears.

She tried to play it cool, but the pain in her heart left her breathless.

She always thought she had a perfect boyfriend, but reality gave her a slap in the face.

Had she been too naive and too blind to notice? Had Warren's love always been nothing but a performance?

It suddenly started to rain, from drizzle to downpour, like the sky had felt her pain.

Soon, Veronica was drenched. And her high heels got stuck in a storm drain. She crouched down, her vision blurred by the mix of rain and tears.

After the rain, the sky looked tranquil. In the hall of Golden Bay International Airport, Zackary Livingston stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows. His tall and upright figure exuded an air of authority, and not a single strand of his short hair was out of place.

"It's rare to see you take a vacation, Mr. CEO. Wish you a smooth journey!"

His deep black eyes remained as calm as a still lake. He lifted his chin slightly and replied, "Thanks."

He was handsome, yet reserved, even carrying a hint of cold indifference.

The friend who had just greeted Zackary had already jumped into a flashy sports car. Before leaving, he couldn't resist teasing him again, "Mr. Livingston, I'll be waiting for you to bring back our future Mrs. CEO!"

Zackary didn't feel like responding to his friend. He merely waved his hand before turning away. Under the glow of the lights, his all-black casual outfit made him look even more imposing.

Mrs. CEO? Veronica, you took my attention and my heart away. You would definitely be mine.

At the thought of this, he put on a faint smile. After all these years, it was time to return and see the woman he could never forget.

When Veronica opened her eyes again, she was already in her bedroom. As her sore eyes adjusted to the light, she slowly sat up in bed. She felt deflated. Her heart was drained, empty, and left with nothing but a shell that even she found repulsive.

The bright sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows felt like a cruel mockery. It was as if last night's heavy rain was only there to wake her up. Holding her toothbrush, Veronica lifted her head and caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her eyes looked puffy and red while sheer exhaustion was written all over her face. It was at that moment that she fully realized that her four-year relationship with Warren had come to an absolute end.

Once upon a time, she had been so determined to marry that bastard. Yet now, it felt like a dream from another lifetime...

"Veronica, are you up?"

Her father's gentle voice came from outside the door. Cristian Morrison was the chairman of the Morrison Group. Though the company didn't grow as rapidly as it used to, it hadn't stagnated, either. In his fifties, to Cristian, nothing mattered more than the harmony of his family.

When Veronica stepped out of her room, she hid all traces of sorrow from her face.

"Dad, why are you home today?"

She forced a smile, not wanting him to notice anything off.

"You put so much effort into dressing up yesterday. Don't you have some good news to share with me?" Cristian teased, but his eyes were full of concern. "I'm home only to see if you have any updates for me..."

She had originally planned to hold her wedding with Warren soon. She had been glowing with happiness every day, unable to hide her joy, so much so that even her father had noticed.

But now, at his question, she quickly lowered her head and forced a laugh. "There's no news, Dad. I've been busy. I should get going now."

Before Cristian could respond, she grabbed her bag and fled down the stairs.

She didn't see the thoughtful expression in her father's eyes. No one knew her daughter better than he did. How could she possibly hide her emotions from the person closest to her?

Recalling how Veronica had returned home soaking wet and utterly devastated last night, Cristian frowned.

Veronica headed straight to work. But the moment she stepped into her office, she felt something was off.

Sophie Carroll, with her keen eyes, rushed over to pull open the glass door for her. "What took you so long? I've been waiting for you to spill the inside scoop!"

Sophie was the ultimate gossip expert in the administrative building. She was always the first to leak internal news about the company. She worked as an assistant manager in the HR department.

"What news?" Veronica pulled out her chair and sat down, rubbing her temples in exhaustion. She hadn't slept well last night, and office gossip was the last thing on her mind.

It was rare to see Veronica looking so tired. Sophie sat across from her, studying her from head to toe. "What's going on? You don't look right."

She leaned in closer and took a better look at Veronica's face. That was when she noticed her swollen eyes. Sophie frowned. "Wait... Don't tell me you already knew the news last night! No wonder you look like a ghost today!"

Veronica, who had been lying against her desk, immediately perked up at those words. She couldn't help but think about the downsides of office romances. Had Warren already announced their breakup?

That seemed unlikely. She was still the heiress of the Morrison Group. Surely, he'd at least defend her dignity, right? But then she caught sight of the curious glances peeking through the glass door. Everyone was clearly watching her.

"You must have had too much chocolate from that big gift box yesterday," she quipped, pushing Sophie's face away.

"Oh? So you do remember the 'big gift box' Warren sent you yesterday." Sophie's eyes gleamed with mischief. With a smirk tugging at her perfectly made-up face, she was mocking Veronica.

"Tell me, did you realize that your 'gift box' got an upgrade?"

It hit Veronica like a splash of iced water. Sophie must have found out about Warren's affair.

She hadn't planned on keeping it a secret. After all, love wasn't the entirety of life. But Warren was not only her boyfriend, but he was also a core executive in the company. Now, their relationship had completely crumbled. What was worse, it was her “best friend” who had been the one to steal him away. No wonder people were giving her those looks.

Veronica's dazed expression made Sophie's eyes widen in shock. "Don't tell me you really don't know about the bombshell news this morning?! Look at your eyes! I bet you didn't sleep at all last night!"

"It's just a breakup. Not a big deal. Do you guys really need to be so dramatic?"

The smile at the corner of Sophie's mouth froze for a moment as she caught the key word. "Break up?! Damn it! That jerk! Not only did he secretly steal the company's bid documents and hand them over to the competitors, but now he wants to break up with you, too?!"

Veronica was shocked. She had to pause to think about it. Stole? The bid documents? Could it be...

"Are you saying Warren did it?"

"What the hell! Don't tell me you didn't know this yet," Sophie slammed her hand on the keyboard. "Stop playing dumb. Just take a look yourself!"

Sophie turned on the computer, and the screen was flashing with hot news. She pulled aside Sophie and sat down to take a closer look.

The huge headlines made her tremble: "Family business on the brink of bankruptcy!" "External forces rise to forcefully acquire the Morrison Group!" "Fire broke out inside the Morrison Group!" "A last-ditch bid ends in failure!"...

The colorful, eye-catching headlines were all about the Morrison Group. It seemed as though overnight, the entire company had been thrown into turmoil.

Just as Veronica thought she was the only one who got hurt, she realized that her entire family had already been pushed into the spotlight!

Sitting in front of the computer, Veronica felt she had returned to last night when she was overwhelmed by the cold rain and the entangled clouds.

Seeing Veronica's face turning pale, Sophie realized that she had indeed been kept in the dark about what was happening recently. Sophie immediately shut up, afraid that she would frustrate her more.

Clearly, the heiress of the Morrison Group had been kept in the dark. She was immersed in the shadow of her breakup, completely unaware that the whole company was about to collapse.

Those who were watching from outside the office all held their breath.

Veronica never saw herself as the chosen one. She didn't have a glamorous family background as her friend did, but she didn't think any less of her, either.

What she failed to understand was the impact of the bid documents. How could losing a project make the whole company collapse?

After reading through the news on the screen, she regained her composure and slowly spoke.

"Let's continue with our work. Don't look at me like that. Even if these rumors are true, we have to keep the norms until an official announcement comes to say no."

Hearing this, Sophie hesitated a bit. After all, the project bid had already been accepted, and the recent land acquisitions had cost hundreds of millions. After factoring in bank loans and stock liquidation, it was nearly the entire financial chain of the Morrison Group.

Ignoring the people around her, Veronica remained silent. Her heart had already sunk to the bottom. She pushed open the glass door and walked straight towards the elevator.

As she turned the corner, lost in thought, she collided with a garbage bin in the corner. The loud crash shattered the last bit of tranquility in her heart.

She ignored the stares from everyone, rushing into the elevator. Luckily, it was empty. She pressed a random floor and leaned against the metal panel, her heart pounding wildly.

Honestly, she knew all the executives very well. Except for Warren, who was a rising star, most of the people were from her father's generation, who had worked their way up from the grassroots level.

When she had dated Warren, her father, Cristian, had met him a few times. He was two years older than her, highly educated, and very gentle. That was why her father liked him.

Yet, if it weren't for her subtle suggestions, how could Warren have been promoted to an executive so quickly?

Whether it was regret or fear, thoughts of the news she had just read flashed through her mind. She thought about her father's gentle face from this morning, and she slumped helplessly in the elevator.

It was all her fault. She had let the wolf in and brought the company into such a crisis.

Tears slowly slid down her cheeks. After a long silence, when the elevator door opened, the first thing she saw was a pair of shiny leather shoes.

Looking up, Cristian, with his resolute figure, stood in the elevator's light with his back against the light, making him look fragile. He slowly crouched down. "Veronica..."

She then looked into her father's eyes. She glanced at the documents he handed her, and after just a glance, she immediately reached out to embrace him. "Dad, are we cornered?"

"Our financial chain is already broken. In this situation, who would vouch for us? No one is willing to offer a loan. I'm showing you this because I want you to know that some things have been planned for a long time. Failing in business is common, but this time, the fall is too hard. Maybe we don't have a way back!"

Cristian spoke these words flatly, yet coldly. Veronica released her grip and clutched the document about the overdue payments and the survey reports. She tore them apart in her hands. "You knew about this last night, didn't you? And about Warren..."

"It doesn't matter who caused it now," Cristian interrupted her. "A young man like Warren can make decisions for himself. He couldn't have planned this entire scheme by himself. He wouldn't have been able to pull off such a big plan in such a short time."

Even at this moment, her father was still trying to comfort her. Her heart felt like it was being tightly squeezed by an invisible hand, a wave of hatred and regret surging over her.

But her father was right. This entire plan had been carried out flawlessly from beginning to end. Without the experience of the business world, it would be impossible to control the whole situation. Moreover, the person who knew every step the Morrison Group would take, following the steps meticulously, was no one but Warren. His insight was far beyond her reach!

"I've always considered myself steady and methodical, using defense to attack. But I forgot that the best defense is offense. I'm telling you this because I want you to understand.

"Life is full of ups and downs, and setbacks are nothing to fear. What's terrifying is if you let it break you, and you lose the motivation to keep fighting."

Veronica listened quietly to her father's words. She gradually calmed down...

In the depths of night, Veronica, dressed in her cotton pajamas, stood on the balcony, her hair damp. She pushed aside the white curtains, opened the glass windows, and looked at the Morrison's villa under the night sky.

Meanwhile, she recalled the last-minute shareholders' meeting before she got off work. Sitting at the round table in the meeting room, she clutched her pen with great force, scribbling on the meeting notes absent-mindedly.

She now owned three percent of the company's shares. More than half of the shares and proxy holdings had been forcibly bought out, and after the backstage of the securities center was shut down, the continuously declining financial securities market once again verified Cristian's prediction—the Morrison Group had been totally targeted.

What was more, her gut told her this shocking news was just the beginning.

When she came back home at night, she panicked when she thought of facing Jenny. Unlike Cristian, who was positive and tough, Jenny was completely dejected. Yet Jenny still did as Cristian had said in the morning, liquidating all their savings.

Their plan was to mortgage all their assets, including two cars, the villa, the downtown apartment, which was meant for Veronica and Warren after they got married, and even the restaurant Jenny managed.

"Couldn't we just mortgage all the group's assets? Isn't that enough?" Veronica didn't get it.

Hearing this, Cristian set down the property registration form in his hand.

"No matter what, you have to remain rational. Though we can manage to keep hiding the fact that our land development has stalled, how long do you think we get to keep it under wraps?

"No secrets can stay hidden forever. You've learned about bank loans in Business School, and you know the bank can terminate the funding to us with whatever excuse they come up with. They can even urge us to repay previous loans and interest as soon as possible. It's all legit."

Veronica had studied finance systematically, and of course, she knew everything Cristian said was true. She had always been groomed as the heiress to the Morrison Group, and as early as she could recognize the face value of banknotes, she had started to get in touch with securities and equity.

The situation they were facing was severe. Let alone bank loans, as long as one of their real estate development partners took the chance to accelerate the construction progress, expanded the construction that hadn't been implemented, and demanded them to increase capital investment, things would be even more difficult to them.

The dilemma was harder to deal with than she had imagined. Her heart sank as she stared at the flickering lights outside the window.

Meanwhile, Zackary was in a suite at a luxury hotel downtown.

He tapped the table absent-mindedly while squinting at the news on the laptop screen with a lit cigarette between his fingers.

His assistant walked in with a cup of coffee and immediately knew something was bothering Zackary. He had stayed by Zackary's side for years, and he knew Zackary would only be like this when he was troubled.

Zackary said, "Find out the reason behind the Morrison Group's sudden downfall."

Though his tone remained as flat as ever, his eyes darkened. Facing such a severe change, what would Veronica do? She was just an inexperienced, innocent girl. His heartstrings were tugged at uncontrollably as her bright, gentle smile emerged in his mind.

At night, before going to sleep, Veronica habitually picked up her phone to check the time, but the wallpaper stung her eyes.

It was a photo she took with Warren. In the photo, he wrapped her slender waist with an arm, pressing his head against her ear while smiling happily. Yet now, as she looked at his face, she felt nothing but ironic.

The scene when she came to confront him during the day came flooding back to her.

"Warren, put our relationship aside, answer me this. Was it you who leaked the bid documents for the development of Gliyx?" she demanded, her eyes filled with fury.

"Veronica, would you please stop slandering me? Gee, I never knew you had such a rich imagination. The Morrison Group is facing an unprecedented crisis. Do you really think I could pull it off single-handedly? It's a business giant. Of course, this is a premeditated target. Even if I hadn't leaked the documents, the group would have still been caught up in this dilemma, OK?"

Warren didn't even lift his head when talking to her; he kept typing his resignation letter unhurriedly.

Recalling how stubborn Veronica was, he even added seriously, "We used to be an item, but not anymore. Kayla is the one I love now. Please stop pestering me with such childish excuses."

Standing next to his desk, Veronica stared at his fingers dancing on the keyboard and took a deep breath, barely managing to smash the ashtray in his face.

She had been with him for years and had no idea he was such a jerk. What was she thinking back then? She was like the biggest fool in the world.

"Yeah, I'm never as great as Kayla, that flamboyant phony. Now that my family's business is plummeting, of course, you're walking away from me. It's what people do."

She tried her best to pull herself together and force a smile. As she resolutely turned to leave, his cold voice rang out behind her.

"You're such a joke, Veronica. If it weren't for the Morrison Group's downfall, you wouldn't have put up with me at all. Perhaps you would have scolded me harshly already. You know what? You asked for it. The high and mighty Ms. Morrison, you finally understand this, don't you? This is how society works. Only those with money and power call the shots."

Warren put his hands away from the keyboard, a trace of mockery flashing across his shining eyes.

When they used to go out, she was always captivated by his demeanor like this. She even foolishly thought that the emotions that filled his eyes came from his feelings for her.

Yet now, upon seeing him like this, she felt nothing but chill.

She took a deep breath to suppress the emotions that surged within her while Warren stood up and approached her. She instinctively stepped back, bumping into the filing cabinet behind her.

"Veronica, I spent a great amount of time on you no matter what. Don't look so pitiful. Don't you know how attractive your eyes are to me?"

He leaned closer to her slowly with determination on his face, and the complacency in his arrogant eyes was palpable.

She suddenly kicked him in the groin, and he doubled over in pain. Taking the chance, she pushed him away and ran.

They broke up already, and he actually wanted to get fresh with her? How repulsive!

"You jerk, Warren!" She pursed her lips and smashed her phone onto the floor as Warren's disgusting face emerged in her mind.

At the same time, under the starry night sky, Warren parked his brand-new black Cayenne on the tree-lined avenue about five meters away from the Morrison's villa. After he hung up the call with Kayla's dad, he actually drove here before he realized it.

Every time he dropped Veronica off, he'd stop here. From this spot, he could see the balcony of her bedroom on the second floor. He'd always stay here, watching her go home. After the light in her room lit up, she'd lean out and wave at him...

But it was all in the past now. He sat in the driver's seat, placing one hand on the steering wheel and tapping it with his index finger from time to time elegantly yet with force.

He glanced at the time on the dashboard and saw it was already 11:15 p.m. However, Veronica's room was still lit up. It was just that he could no longer see her slender figure anymore. Her curse during that day was still echoing in his ears, and he smiled bitterly. Perhaps he was a jerk indeed.

After graduation, thanks to Veronica, he became a full-time employee at the Morrison Group after a probation period that was way shorter than anyone else.

He was clever, tactful, and decisive. Veronica was quite right—he was a jerk inside out. The first time he saw Kayla, he could tell what was going on in Kayla's mind.

The Barrett family was top-notch in the country, or he wouldn't have betrayed Veronica at all. To his surprise, though he had never been indecisive, he actually fell for Veronica.

He figured that it wasn't love; after all, there was no true love in this world. With such a thought, he took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it between his lips. Then he suddenly crushed it with his hand and threw it out the window. After that, he started the car and drove toward the apartment Kayla had just bought.

The always proud and arrogant Warren got a call from Kayla's dad at noon. Back then, he had just arrived at the restaurant with Veronica. Taking the chance that she had gone to the restroom, he picked up the phone calmly.

Soon, he confirmed that Kayla, the only daughter of the Barrett family, had convinced her family that she'd get engaged with him.

At that precise moment, his vanity was greatly satisfied. He had always been profit-driven and ruthless, and he felt closer to his ultimate goal. Unable to conceal his joy, he smiled complacently.

What surprised him was that he and Veronica received a prize for the activity held by the restaurant for couples. As he looked at the bright smile on her face, his heartstrings were tugged t. He wavered but only for less than a second.

He had been in collusion with outsiders to hollow out the Morrison Group's major real estate development rights gradually. Meanwhile, he had been obtaining classified files with the help of his status as the group's higher-up.

At the most critical moment, he stabbed the group's sore spot, delivering the fatal blow to the entire group. The second he made that decision, he cut off every possibility between Veronica and him.

He hurt her without any mercy and wanted to have the entire Morrison Group to his own with the help of the Barrett family ruthlessly.

It wasn't until this afternoon, when he faced her, that he realized something. Though he already obtained everything he had ever wanted, he inevitably had a little bit of regret.

Veronica, the only woman he had ever fallen for, was as tough as always. After kicking him, she turned to leave resolutely.

Before leaving, she said, "The Morrison Group won't go down easily. Someday in the future, you will regret the decision you make."

Would he regret leaving her or the Morrison Group?

Who could be so sure about what would happen in the future anyway?

Snorting, he drove into Crystal Estates.

Two days later, Veronica walked out of Valoris Bank with her bag in hand in the morning.

She didn't sleep a wink last night, liquidating all her private investments, funds, and even the stocks she owned. She hoped she could do something within her power for the family.

She even sold the birthday gifts Cristian had given her over the years, which were mostly branded jewelry. At first, she didn't get her hopes high; after all, they were second-hand. However, they were bought at an exceptionally high price.

She was almost slack-jawed when she got the money from the broker.

"Did the buyer leave any contact information?" she asked.

The broker shook his head, but she still didn't give up. Instead, she pressed on, asking, "What's the buyer like? Was it a man or a woman?"

She described the looks of Warren and Kayla, but the broker still shook his head. He said it was a tall, handsome, and almost overbearing man.

Veronica ran through everyone she had ever met, but none of them fit the description. She shook her head and decided not to dwell on it.

Even so, the money was nothing regarding the dilemma she and her family were facing. She sighed and stuffed the card in her bag.

Before she got home, she bought sandwiches, which were Cristian and Jenny's favorite kind. She was quick enough to warm up some milk before Cristian left, and when Jenny walked out of the room and saw the breakfast on the table, her eyes were filled with tears.

"Thanks, Veronica..."

"Mom, come on. You raised me up. This is nothing, OK?" Veronica smiled and set the table.

After breakfast, she was about to get up and clean up when they pulled her back to sit down. Jenny looked worried, and though Cristian remained calm, it was obvious that he was dejected, too.

She said, "Dad, Mom, tell me. What is it? We can face everything together. I'm already grown up."

Her words made Jenny swallow, and Jenny was even more hesitant to speak.

After a moment of silence, Cristian said, "The bank called us early this morning.

"The funding policies have changed, so they have compulsorily terminated our loans. They give us a month to repay the previous loans together with the interest. Veronica, you have to psych yourself up."

In fact, she had already expected this, but it was still a lot to take as she heard it from Cristian.

"Veronica, I'm afraid this crisis is fatal. We won't be able to see you take over the Morrison Group... We may really have to announce bankruptcy this time."

Veronica's heart ached so much as she saw the tears in her parents' eyes. The group was her lifetime goal, yet it was ruined so ruthlessly.

Ever since she was little, she had been dreaming of inheriting the Morrison Group, carrying forward Cristian's life's work. But now, her entire life was falling apart. She couldn't even deal with her relationship, let alone the entire group.

She knew she had to grow even more mature as soon as possible, trying her best to make herself stronger. Taking a deep breath, she put the cash she had withdrawn in the morning on the table.

"There's always hope. Dad, I won't give up on your lifetime hard work. Even if the group goes bankrupt, I'll start over and rebuild it. Consider this the first step I made independently," she said.

Hearing this, both Jenny and Cristian looked a bit relieved. They knew Veronica had indeed grown up; she wasn't that harmless little girl under their protection anymore.

Soon, it was time to liquidate their assets. Veronica tried to minimize their losses by using everything she had learned in school, and she spent every day shuttling between banks and shareholders.

That day, she sold her car and placed the check in her bag. Then suddenly, her phone rang. Under the pale blue light, she saw Kayla's name on the screen and sneered. Finally, her "bestie" decided to call her.

Veronica walked to the corner to avoid the crowd. After taking a deep breath, she answered the phone, saying, "Kayla, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.

On the contrary, Kayla's voice was affectedly sweet. "Gee, Veronica, what are you talking about? We're besties, right? Surely, you won't distance yourself from me because of a man. By the way, I'm calling you today to tell you that Warren and I have decided to get engaged on the 18th of this month. I've sent you the invitation already. Promise me you'll show up, OK?"

Veronica was so furious that she almost wanted to laugh. She thought, "Kayla is so shameless. After stealing Warren, she actually invites me to her engagement party? Those who don't know might really think we're besties."

"I'll pass. I've got no time for a despicable pair," she said decisively and was about to hang up.

Kayla immediately raised her voice. "Despicable? Are you referring to me? Veronica, don't tell me you're too scared to show up."

Before Veronica could respond, she added, "Well, that makes sense. Your family is broke, and if you come here, you'll be the butt of the joke. Who knows? Maybe those elders of those prestigious families will give you a few bucks out of their pity for you."

Kayla chuckled. Of all people, she knew how proud Veronica was. Veronica used to be the noble heiress of the Morrison Group, yet now, she had become a penniless wretch. Of course, she'd be too embarrassed to face those guests who had been close to the Morrison family.

Kayla figured being pitied would be the most embarrassing thing for Veronica.

But she was wrong. At first, Veronica wanted to hang up. However, upon hearing those last words Kayla had said, she had a change of mind.

In the early morning of the next day, Jenny gave Veronica an invitation covered in red hearts.

As she looked at the two lovey-dovey faces on the invitation, she fell silent, which was quite rare. Then she tugged at Jenny's clothes, pouting. "Mom..."

It wasn't that she refused to tell Jenny about her breakup with Warren. Over the years, Warren had visited Jenny and Cristian frequently, and Jenny had already treated him as her own son. Learning the news would break Jenny's heart.

Standing in front of Veronica, Jenny looked at her worriedly. As Veronica's parents, she and Cristian knew very well how much Veronica loved Warren. During this period of time, so many things had happened, but Warren had never visited them. Given that, they had a gist about what had happened between the two. The dejected look on Veronica's face was killing them.

"Enough. It's just a breakup. What's the big deal? Do you want me to pick out a dress for you? No matter what, you gotta look better than ever. Let them see how tough you are. Keep your chin up and go!" Jenny said.

Veronica was slack-jawed and said, "Mom, I'm your daughter, OK? The way you talk to me makes me feel you don't take me seriously at all."

Jenny poked her forehead. "I'm the only one you dare to make such jokes with, aren't I?"

The smile on Jenny's face lightened Veronica's mood. She linked arms with Jenny and said cutely, "Mom, pick a dress for me, OK? You've got the best taste."

Jenny sighed. Seeing that the smile on Veronica's face was genuine, she asked slowly, "Are you sure you're gonna attend their engagement party?"

"Of course," Veronica responded in a devil-may-care tone though she secretly had an urge to tear the invitation into pieces.

However, doing so was pointless. Since it was the engagement of the daughter of the Barrett family, there would be a lot of influential people there, which was a great chance for her. If she got lucky enough, she might run into some of the elders who could help them.

It was her only chance, and she absolutely couldn't do anything reckless.

"Mom, I'm gonna go take a shower. You've got nothing to worry about. Rest assured—I'll be dazzling enough to overshadow the despicable pair."

She pushed Jenny downstairs and walked into the bathroom quickly. Soon, the sound of running water rang out, accompanied by her humming.

Jenny, who was standing at the staircase, shook her head. She was finally relieved to see Veronica in such high spirits.

On the day of the engagement party, Jenny helped Veronica dress up.

Veronica's long hair, styled with a curling iron, was now cascading over her shoulders, making her look charming. In her favorite one-shoulder long dress, which was a mix of white and light blue, she gave off a fresh, natural impression.

Veronica was tall, to begin with. Now, coupled with her high heels, she added a special touch to the dress. Feeling quite good about herself, she adjusted the hem of the dress and twirled around in front of the full-length mirror.

"Well? I look great, don't I?" she deliberately leaned closer to Jenny's ear and whispered.

Her hair brushed against Jenny's cheek, and from her angle, she could see the satisfied smile on Jenny's face.

Jenny patted her hand. "Someone may say one's dignity matters more than anything, but all I want is for you to be happy. No need to care too much about what others think. Understand?"

In fact, Veronica did. Besides, as the heiress of the Morrison Group, it was only natural that she attended today's party. After all, Warren used to work for her. It was yet to determine whether he had betrayed the Morrison Group or not, so now that he and Kayla had invited her openly, she should go gracefully.

"Mom, I'll let everyone know how tough I am. No obstacles can bring me down. Chill. I'm not a fool, and I know what's best for me. I have my own plans," she smiled, cheering herself on.

Sensing her confidence, Jenny finally smiled, too.