The meeting dragged on until ten at night, leaving everyonepletely drained. Even ra admitted that what Bradford Group desperately needed were


    profitable projects. Without them, thepany would just keep limping along until it finally went under.


    After all, there were thousands of employees depending on them, with huge monthly expenses. Once the money dried up, bankruptcy was inevitable.


    When ra finally got home, her eyes felt gritty, and she was beyond exhausted. All she wanted was to copse into bed and sleep.


    What ra didn''t realize was that someone had already set out in the dead of night to find Naomi.


    After Johnny''s funeral, Naomi had retreated to a secluded convent. It was a four- hour drive from the city, and someone had driven through the night, twisting the truth with every mile.


    "Your beloved son was led astray by her," the visitor imed. "All those loyal executives who stood by Johnny were fired. Don''t you want to fight for justice? Don''t you want to see your son, who''s been through so much?"


    Naomi clutched her prayer beads, eyes closed, reciting her prayers. The visitor''s tone remained calm and deliberate.


    "Naomi, you were Johnny''s first wife. People believe you. If you tell everyone that ra did all this out of greed for the Bradford fortune, then Ryan could be saved. Everyone would pity him for being betrayed by his own sister."


    Naomi kept murmuring her prayers, hands sped, undisturbed by the visitor''s words.


    The visitor''s patience wore thin. "Naomi, I''ve been talking for ages, and you haven''t even opened your eyes. Isn''t that a bit rude?"


    Naomi had shaved off her beautiful hair and wore simple, coarse clothes. When Johnny was alive, he spoiled her with designer clothes and fine dining. They had risen from poverty together, and he had never let her down.


    She loved Johnny more than anything. Now that he was gone, life felt pointless. And after seeing Quinn''s true colors, she couldn''t tell what was real anymore. The solitude of the convent brought her peace.


    She lit some incense, bowed with respect, and finally spoke.


    "I know why you''re here. I was foolish, blinded by my own biases, forgetting ra is my daughter too. Our estrangement is my fault. I tried to make her life hard to make up for neglecting Quinn. But Quinn''s words were all lies. I''ve been deceived for so long, losing my husband, my father, and even my daughter. If my own daughter can deceive me, why should I believe you?"


    Her voice was calm, as if she''d truly seen through life''s illusions.


    The visitor grew anxious. "Don''t you care about your son? Ryan is confined, and only you can save him."


    Naomi finished lighting the incense and resumed her prayers, smiling slightly. "Why save him? What he did was wrong. He should face the consequences. I know my son; if he felt wronged, he would crawl here toin. If he''s hiding, it''s because he''s guilty."


    The visitor, at a loss for words, grew angry and knocked the sticks onto the floor.


    “Ha, Naomi, you might have given up on life, but when you lose your son too, you''ll regret it. ra is ambitious and ruthless, and if you ignore her, you''ll end up alone!"


    But Naomi remained unshaken, continuing her prayers, beads slipping faster through her fingers.


    Thete-night visitor was Megan. Ovee with anger, she stormed out, but just


    as she was about to leave the hall, Naomi''s voice called out behind her.


    "Those who do wrong will meet their end. That''s my advice to you."


    Megan froze, gripping the doorframe tightly.


    "Naomi, there are no gods. I control my fate, not the heavens. I''ll make sure I have a good life, and no one will stop me. You''ve given up, relying on nonexistent gods. If there were gods, the Bradford family wouldn''t be in this mess. Your husband was always doing good deeds, wasn''t he?"


    Even as she left, Megan tried to shake Naomi''s faith.


    Naomi merely swayed slightly, then resumed her prayers with renewed vigor.


    As Megan got into her car, anger still simmered. She had nned to reveal that Ryan was detained, dragging him and the Bradford Group into ruin. But ra had defused the situation, even turning public sympathy toward Ryan.


    Taking a deep breath, Megan mmed the steering wheel.


    But she wouldn''t let this setback get her down. Within ten minutes, she was calm again.


    She looked down on Naomi, believing Naomi''s enlightenment was just an escape. Megan always knew what she wanted and how to get it.