"This is the equity transfer agreement. You can all take a look."


    The three Williamses exchanged nces.


    Just a moment ago, Leonard Lerman seemedpletely unwilling to get involved. How had he suddenly be so agreeable?


    Handing over three percent of thepany just like that.


    For a corporate giant like The Lerman Group, three percent of the equity was an astronomical sum!


    They''d assumed his earlier evasiveness was just posturing, a tactic to pressure them into marrying Aurora off to him.


    Leonard handed the contract to Skyler Williams. "Mr. Williams, please have a look."


    Skyler gave Leonard a long, hard look before taking the document and reviewing it carefully.


    For Skyler, a veteran of the corporate world with decades of experience, spotting a fake or fraudulent contract was second nature.


    After about ten minutes, Skyler finished reading.


    He flipped to thest page and saw that Leonard had already signed it.


    Skyler knew better-nothing in life was free. Not even from Leonard, a man who was supposedly head over heels for Aurora.


    For him to offer up three percent of hispany, there had to be strings attached. He said in a low voice, "If you have conditions, just state them."


    Seeing this, Israel shot Coleman an "I-told-you-so" nce, a smug look on his face. Israel and Coleman had already agreed: if Leonard really wanted to marry Aurora, he''d have to offer at least ten percent of the equity. Anything less was a non-starter. Leonard produced another contract and handed it to Skyler.


    Skyler took it, surprised.


    A few minutester, his expression changed.


    He looked at Leonard, his eyes filled with a mixture of shock and uncertainty.


    "Leonard, are you sure about this?"


    Skyler''s expression was so odd that even Ste Cameron couldn''t help but wonder what he had read.


    Leonard nodded. "As long as you agree, I will immediately transfer five percent of the equity to Aurora."


    Israel couldn''t stand the suspense. "Dad, what did Leonard ask for? Does he want to marry Aurora?


    "If he genuinely wants to marry her, that''s not impossible, but three percent is too little. It has to be ten percent.


    "Everyone knows the precarious situation the Lerman family is in right now.


    "After Aurora marries you, the Williams family will have to back you to solidify your position Givinge Aurora ten percent of the equity is a fair trade..."


    Israel was about to continue, but Coleman kicked him under the table.


    Skyler''s reaction made it clear that Leonard''s condition wasn''t marriage.


    Only an idiot like Israel would still be trying to haggle with Leonard.


    Aurora seemed to sense something was wrong, too, and shot a sharp nce at Leonard.


    Leonard didn''t look at her. Instead, he said, "I can agree to help you quell the rumors about Aurora.


    "I can also give Aurora three percent of the equity aspensation.


    "But in exchange, from this day


    forward, the Lerman family and the Williams family, including Ms.


    Williams, will have no further


    rtionship."


    Ste was stunned.


    Leonard, the man who hadmitted countless evils for Aurora''s sake, now wanted to cut all ties with her?


    Ste found her gaze drawn to Leonard''s prosthetic arm.


    Leonard was an extreme and dark person. He had sacrificed so much for Aurora.


    After losing his power, he''d been callously discarded, left with nothing.


    A man like that would surely resort to desperate, reckless measures.


    The Williams family had counted on this. They figured that if Aurora married him, given his feelings for her The Lerman Group would


    eventually fall into the Williams


    family''s hands.


    But Leonard, it seemed, wasn''t ying by their script.


    His purpose for offering the equity wasn''t to be with Aurora, but to break away from


    her entirely.