Though Joshua''s words were harsh, he often hit the nail on the head.


    Everyone suddenly realized that throughout their entire discussion, Aurora had remained silent.


    Jonathan looked at her. "Aurora, what are your thoughts on this?"


    Whatever Leonard''s true motive was, the final decision rested with her.


    A shadow of gloom hung over Aurora''s features.


    For a wealthy family with many children, a three percent stake in a major corporation was a significant amount.


    Not to mention, she and Leonard were not rted, nor had they ever been a couple. To receive three percent would make countless people green with envy.


    In the past, Aurora would have been thrilled.


    She had wanted to be free of Leonard, so gaining an additional three percent of hispany would have been a pleasant surprise.


    However, Leonard''s eagerness to be rid of her left Aurora with a stinging sense of rejection.


    A phrase popped into her head.


    Paying to make a problem go away.


    And she was the problem.


    When had she be someone people were desperate to avoid?


    Now, all eyes were on her, waiting for her to speak.


    Even Ste looked at Aurora, curious to see what she would decide.


    Aurora took a deep breath. "Leonard doesn''t owe the Williams family anything. In fact, our family has received a great deal of help from him over the years.


    "I think, regardless of his decision, we shouldn''t ept this three percent stake." Israel disagreed. "He and Simone ruined your reputation. This is what you deserve. "You treated Simone like your best friend for years, and she plotted against you like that. As her brother, isn''t it right for him topensate you?


    "Who knows if Leonard even had a hand in it!


    "If it wasn''t Simone who did this, would we be sitting here calmly negotiating with him?"


    At this, a calcting glint appeared in Israel''s eyes.


    "Leonard is offering this three percent aspensation for the damage to your reputation. What''s the harm in epting it for now?"


    Hearing this, Ste shot Israel a nce, already guessing his unspoken intention.


    They wanted Aurora to agree now so they could continue to bleed Leonard dryter.


    At that moment, Ste finally


    realized Leonard had been


    farsighted all along. He had seen the


    true nature of the Williams family.


    long ago.


    Israel''s words acted like a trigger, and the Williams family plunged back into discussion.


    Aurora, after her initial statement, fell silent once more.


    Ste and Joshua exchanged a knowing look and also remained quiet.


    Another half an hour passed before the Williams family finally called Leonard back


    in.


    This time, Coleman spoke first. "Leonard, we ept your offer ofpensation for the damage to Aurora''s reputation..."


    Coleman was about to say more, but Leonard cut him off coolly.


    "Coleman, you''re mistaken about one thing. This three percent isn''t justpensation for Aurora''s reputation. It''s also the condition for myplete separation from the Williams family and from Aurora."


    Leonard was never one for euphemisms. He was brutally direct.


    "Aurora''s reputation isn''t worth that much."


    The expression on Aurora''s face visibly soured.


    Israel was not pleased.


    "Leonard, what''s that supposed to mean? Now that you can''t have Aurora you''re going to belittle her? Trying to PUA her into satisfying your own twisted desires?!"


    Leonard nced at him, his tone casual.