Chapter 6

The celebration dinner ended on a sour note.

The next morning, the stock price of the Chapman Group plummeted as soon as the market opened.

Negative news about the land in the southern part of the city flooded the media.

Wilbur was overwhelmed with stress.

Meanwhile, I sat in the spacious and bright office of the Norris Group and leisurely sipped coffee while watching the red numbers flicker on the screen.

I felt exceptionally happy.

"Ms. Hayes, Wilbur is downstairs. He wants to see you." My secretary called me through the intercom.

"Bring him up," I replied, setting down my coffee cup.

He's fallen into my trap.

Ten minutes later, Wilbur walked into my office.

He looked haggard, with bloodshot eyes and rumpled clothes. He was a far cry from his usual confident demeanor.

"Alina," he said, approaching my desk and placing both hands on it. "We need to talk."

"Talk about what?" I didn't even lift my head as I continued to read the documents in my hands. About how you can give the Chapman Group to me?"

Alina, I know you hate me." Wilbur took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger. "But the Chapman Group is also your hard work. Do you really want to watch it fall apart?"

"My hard work?" I finally looked up and was amused by his words. "Wilbur, have you forgotten? You said that I was a useless spender three years ago and that the Chapman family didn't need me. And now you are saying it's my hard work. Don't you find that ironic?"

Wilbur was rendered speechless.

He bit his lip before softening his tone suddenly. "I was wrong about what happened back then. I was fooled by someone." Honestly, I haven't forgotten you these past three years. I was just to spite you when I was with Nora..."

I nearly spat out the coffee I had just sipped.

Could he be any more shameless?

To spite me?

So he forced me to leave with nothing and watched me struggle on the streets?

"Mr. Chapman, cut the drama." I interrupted his performance. "Just say what you want."

Seeing that I wasn't buying his act, Wilbur dropped his affectionate facade. "If you're willing to invest in my company and help it go through this crisis, I can offer you the position of Vice President of my company. Even... we could remarry," he added, and he looked confident that he would get what he wanted.

To him, all my efforts and scheming to return must mean I still had feelings for him.

He believed that I'd obediently return to him like before with just his beckon.

"Remarry?" I seemed to have heard the biggest joke and laughed so hard that tears fell down. "Wilbur, how are you so confident? Do you really think you're worthy of me now?"

Wilbur's face turned livid instantly.

"Alina, don't think highly of yourself. Do you really think Theo genuinely cares for you? He's just using you to take over the Chapman Group. Once I'm down, do you think you'll have a good ending?"

I stopped smiling, and my gaze turned icy. "I don't need your concern, Mr. Chapman. Goodbye."

Wilbur was escorted out by security.

As he left, he shot me a venomous glare. "Alina, you just wait. I won't accept defeat like this."

Watching him leave in disgrace, I picked up my phone and dialed Theo's number. "He's panicking. Proceed with the plan. Throw the bait of the Nirvana Project to him."

Wilbur was desperate for a turnaround opportunity, and the Nirvana Project I meticulously crafted was the grave prepared just for him.