Leonard said, "Aurora, you''re overthinking it. I''m just using this to stall Ste, that''s all.


    Doesn''t she have an important contract to sign tomorrow?


    If she can''t show up in person, the deal is dead in the water.


    Right now, she doesn''t just own shares in the Pearce Group—she''s also bought out Israel''spany at rock-bottom prices. She''s on a roll, and nothing''s slowing her down.


    She''ll use this momentum to keep building her empire.


    If we let hernd a few more major contracts, her position in the Williams Group will be unshakeable.


    Aurora, you know as well as I do-business is war.


    Ste yed dirty from the start. She tricked Israel and swooped in when hispany was at its weakest.


    Are you telling me we can''t use a little strategy to slow her down?


    You talk about family and loyalty, but has Ste ever cared about any of that with you?


    Look at what she''s done these past few months. Has she shown the slightest bit of consideration for family?"


    Aurora fell silent.


    Leonard continued, "That''s enough, Aurora. Leave it to me. Don''t worry I know what I''m doing."


    Aurora didn''t argue further. She just asked, "How''s Simone Lerman doingtely? Did you catch the person who leaked that video?"


    A cold glint shed in Leonard''s eyes.


    "We haven''t caught them yet, but we know who did it."


    Aurora asked, "Who?"


    "Rachel."


    Aurora was startled. "Rachel? I can''t believe she had the guts."<fnb3d1> The rightful source is F?ndNovel</fnb3d1>


    Leonard''s voice was low and hard. "Jasper Wilkinson''s littlepdog probably helped her behind the scenes.


    As for the Wilkinson family, I''ve already set a trap for them. It won''t be long before the Wilkinson Group goes under."


    Aurora sighed. "At least that''s a little justice for Simone."


    Leonard was about to say something else when he suddenly noticed a slender figure standing behind him-he hadn''t heard her approach at all, as silent as a ghost.


    He said, "Aurora, something just came up. I''ll have to call you back when I''m free."


    Aurora replied, "Okay."


    After hanging up, Leonard turned to Simone.


    "Simone, when did you get here?"


    He wasn''t sure when it had happened, but Simone''s face no longer had the healthy flush it used. to Now it was pale as paper making her dark eyes look unnaturallyrge and unsettling.  s


    Simone''s lips curled into a faint smile, but it didn''t reach her eyes. "Big brother, are you having someone hunt down Joshua?"


    Leonard said, "No."


    "I heard everything you said to Aurora just now," Simone replied.


    Leonard was silent for a moment. He knew that with things so hostile between him and Ste, even if wn agenda for


    Joshua had his


    staying by Ste''s side, conflict was


    inevitable.


    s


    But Simone was determined—she refused to marry anyone but Joshua.


    He realized he''d have to let Simone give up first.


    Leonard said, "Simone, it''s not me going after Joshua. He''s made enemies, and now they''reing for him."


    Simone''s smile was tinged with irony. "But you tipped them off, didn''t you?"


    Leonard replied, "Someone as ruthless as Joshua has probably wiped out all his old enemies by now. Don''t you find it odd that all these people are suddenly after him?"  s


    Simone said nothing.


    She wasn''t as open with her feelings as she used to be, but after growing up


    together, Leonard could still read her easily.


    He could tell she didn''t buy a word of it.


    Leonard said, "Simone, I know you care about Joshua, but he''s not right for you.


    Recently, I found out some things about him.


    Simone, he''s already been married."