Just a door away, Serena decided to take a break from her work.


    She opened the door to the rest area and was stunned-it looked like a suite straight out of a five-star hotel.


    "Is this the standard treatment at the studio?" she wondered.


    If it was, she feltpletely at ease to settle in.


    For several consecutive days, Serena left right after work and returned the next morning looking refreshed and full of energy.


    She handled her work efficiently, but there was no progress in her attempts to win over Foster Group.


    Frustrated, Howard turned to Sarah. "What''s Serena up totely? She''s been leaving early, and she hasn''t even had dinner with Zach. You''re always here at the office-why aren''t you pushing her to get things done?"


    "How would I know what she''s doing..." Sarah responded meekly, her irritation growing.


    Since her run-in with Regina, Howard had be increasingly cold toward her.


    Rachel had told her to keep acting submissive in front of Howard, which was why she''d been spending a few hours every day assisting him at the office.


    But now, with Howard upset over Serena''sck of progress, he had begun to take his frustration out on her as well. It felt unfair.


    "Go get Serena for me!" Howard''s temper red.


    The moment Serena stepped into the room, he mmed his hand on the table and sprang to his feet.


    "You''vepletely neglected the task of winning over Foster Group! Do you still want to keep your position as assistant general manager?"


    Despite Howard''s outbursts, Serena remained calm and unfazed. She held his gaze steadily.


    "Previously, due to our partnership with Larson Group, Foster Group and Jansen Group became directpetitors. So, even if we manage to win over Zach, Foster Group won''t easily agree to a coboration.


    "Business requires patience. If you''re too hasty, it could backfire. Don''t you understand that, Dad?"


    Serena''s words instantly cooled Howard''s anger. He had clearly forgotten about the past rivalry between thepanies.


    Howard tried toe up with another approach. He was about to suggest that Serena use personal connections to win over Zach first when Sarah suddenly interrupted.


    "Serena, why haven''t you changed your clothes in the past few days? I haven''t seen you workingte at the office either. If you can''t make time to win over Foster Group, does that mean you have time to party all night?"


    At Sarah''s words, Howard''s expression instantly darkened.


    "Now that you''re Hugh''s wife, if people find out he''s away on business and you''re out partyingte every night, it''ll make it look like you''re neglecting your duties as a wife! If this gets out, people will say the Jansen family raised a daughter with no sense of decency!"


    Serena let out a coldugh. "I just find it convenient to have a few identical outfits for easy changes. Sarah, the fact that you''re thinking like that probably reveals more about your own mindset. No wonder you had the audacity to cause a scene in front of Cole''s fiancée."


    Turning to Howard, she said, "Dad, handle her first before you start picking on me."


    Sarah''s face darkened with fury, and Howard found himself momentarily speechless.


    At that moment, Howard''s secretary, Nathan Logan, was opening the door.


    "Mr. Jansen, Mr. Foster from the Foster Group is here to visit."


    Why was he here now? Serena frowned.


    Howard quickly grasped the situation. He set aside his anger toward Serena and forced a smile.


    "Zach is here. Nina, freshen up ande with me to greet him. And don''t forget what I just told you-we need to win over Foster Group."


    Serena shot him a cold, indifferent nce. To Howard, she was merely a pawn in his efforts to forge business alliances.