Isadora curled her lips into a smirk and let out a short, mockingugh. "Prescott, the world of adults doesn''t revolve around you. So what if you don''t agree?"


    Prescott''s face turned red with anger at her words, the veins in his neck bulging.


    "Isadora! You wild little upstart. Do you really think you''re some precious daughter of the Vaughan family? Pearl is the only real daughter here. Mom and Dad only took you in out of pity. I never thought you''d be so ambitious-you want shares, and now you''re after a director''s position too!"


    Once, words like these would have cut Isadora to the core. Now, they just seemedughable.


    Prescott really hadn''t changed at all-he''d always treated her like an enemy.


    When she''d first joined the Vaughan family and learned she had a biological brother, she was overjoyed. In all those TV shows, big brothers were supposed to protect their little sisters.


    And Prescott did protect someone he just always protected Pearl.


    To him, Isadora was nothing more than an intruder, and his hostility toward her was relentless.


    She still remembered one particr argument she''d had with Pearl. The item in question was clearly Isadora''s, but when Pearl wanted it and Isadora refused, Pearl immediately burst into tears. Prescott came running over, shielding Pearl with a re that looked like he wanted to kill Isadora. Then he used his size and strength to shove Isadora hard to the ground.


    The small scar on Isadora''s back was from that day.


    Thinking about it now, her eyes went cold.


    “Ambition isn''t an insult, Prescott. If I''m ambitious, it just means I''m capable, doesn''t it?"


    "So you spent two years ''expanding the Vaughan Group''s business,'' huh? Funny, because from what I hear, your name''s been showing up in all sorts of nightclubs around the city. And Mandy-wasn''t she one of the girls who worked there? Didn''t she chase you for months, demanding you take responsibility for her?"


    How did she know about Mandy?


    He was sure he''d handled everything beforeing back-given Mandy enough money for an abortion and to keep her quiet.


    Had Isadora actually investigated him?


    A storm raged in Prescott''s eyes; his gaze was bloodshot, and a vein throbbed at his temple.


    "Isadora, what kind of nonsense are you spouting? Dad, do you see this? She''s gotten so full of herself. She''s already got thirty percent of the shares-once you and Mom are gone, the whole Vaughan Group could end up in her hands!”


    I''m not dead yet, Prescott!


    Richard''s face darkened immediately. His voice was thunderous:


    "I''m still alive! And you two are fighting over my legacy right in front of me. If this is what happens when I''m here, what''ll happen when I''m gone? The Vaughan Group will be ruined by you both!"


    Prescott fell silent at once, but his eyes remained locked on Isadora with open hostility.


    Isadora met his re, every bit as defiant.


    Richard fell silent, deep in thought.


    Now, with Isadora and Prescott at the same level within thepany, it was clear they''d never ept each other''s authority. Perhaps it was time to let thempete-let them sh and see who came out on top. He, after all, stood to benefit from their rivalry.


    "Prescott, if you''re not convinced, thenpete with your sister. You both hold the same rank. Over the next quarter, I''ll be watching the performance of the shopping centers each of you manage. Whoever does better gets the Vice President''s seat. Simple as that."


    As soon as Richard finished, both Isadora and Prescott''s minds were already spinning with new schemes.


    Richard could see they''d taken his words to heart, and his anger finally began to subside. He picked up his cup, took a slow sip, and continued,


    "Alright, that''s enough business for now. Let''s talk about something happier. Next week is Isadora and Pearl''s birthday, and since Ethan ising home this year, I want the whole Vaughan family to spend it together-peacefully, for once."


    *


    The Vaughan Group''s announcement that M Boutique would be opening in


    Vaughan Galleria sent shockwaves through all of Capitolion.


    How had the Vaughan Group secured such a coup so quietly?


    What kind of leverage did they have?


    And what was M Boutique''s owner thinking, agreeing to join up with the Vaughan Group without a fuss?


    The Harrison Group, in particr, was left utterly stunned by the news.