"Evadne?!"


    Aviana was gobsmacked when Evadne suddenly showed up.


    She was the kind of tough-as-nails woman who could take three bullets and not shed a tear. Yet, seeing her unexpected savior, she was deeply moved, tears welling up in her eyes.


    The elders also noticed Evadne''s entrance, feeling a sense of familiarity.


    But most of them were rough and tumble types from the wrong side of the tracks, far removed from the untouchable heiress of a billionaire. To them, she seemed


    like just a pretty young thing, a little girl out of her depth.


    Some even startedughing with suggestive undertones.


    Aviana clenched her fists in anger, a towering rage building inside her!


    She could take being bullied, but they were crossing a line messing with Evadne. She was ready to throw down with them!


    However, before Aviana could make a move, Evadne, with ice in her gaze and unruffled poise, walked up to the man who had been disparaging Aviana.


    She casually tucked one hand into her pants pocket while the other delicately held the still-hot pot of soup.


    In the next second, the crowd was shocked, followed by a scream. Evadne had flipped the entire pot over the man''s head!


    "Ah!" The man jumped up, his scalp burning.


    "You were the one saying women have too much to worry about?"


    Evandne, arms crossed, her luscious red lips curved in a devilish smirk, exuded an air of authority. "Not only do women ''worry too much,'' but when pushed, they can hit back hard. Consider this a warning. Remember, never mess with a woman."


    The room was full of seasoned yers who had been wheeling and dealing for decades, each with their own alliances and understandings.


    Seeing their associate humiliated by a young woman, they were incensed, mming their hands on the table and standing up, ring menacingly at Evandne''s calm demeanor.


    "You dare to smash me like that!" The man threw the pot to the ground angrily.


    Before Evandne could speak up for herself, Aviana stepped forward, protectively positioning herself in front of her, her gaze fierce:


    "This is Ms. Ashbourne, the daughter of Chairman Emeric of the KS Corporation! If anyone dares toy a finger on her, even before Chairman Emeric; I''ll fight you myself!"


    The room fell silent, the earliermotion vanishing as if it were never there.


    The man''s lips trembled, unable to utter a single dirty word.


    The greasy hot soup sttered all over the table and floor, staining Evadne''s clothes as well.


    She casually took off her expensive but now ruined suit jacket and threw it at the man''s face:


    "Clean yourself up, let''s get on with the meeting."


    Her casual dismissal was surprisingly intimidating!


    The executives, their appetite lost, slouched back into their seats.


    Aviana took her ce at the head of the table, with Evandne sitting calmly by her side, providing a strong sense of security.


    "Miss, today''s meeting is an internal affair of the S-Star Group. Bringing an outsider here isn''t appropriate, is it?" The man who spoke was addressed as Brook, indicating his importance within the S-Star Group.


    Evandne remained silent, hershes lowered.


    "Oh, you turn our boardroom into a diner, serving up dog meat soup like it''s going out of style, and that''s following the rules?" Aviana shot back coldly, silencing them for the moment.


    "Today, I have two announcements to make—"


    Aviana paused for emphasis, her gaze piercing, "First, as of today, I''ll be taking over control of S-Star Group and its thirteen branches in Elmsworth from Lionel.


    Second, effective immediately, S-Star Group is going clean. No more drugs!" The room erupted into chaos!


    This move was as impactful as a historic crackdown!


    In just a few months, the drug trade had nearly consumed S-Star Group, touching every level from top to bottom.


    And the profits from this trade were staggering. Aviana''s decree threatened the interests of many entrenched yers.


    "I disagree!"


    "So do I!"


    Dissent filled the air!


    Aviana''s hand, once resting calmly on the table, clenched into a fist, her eyes reddening with anger.


    By contrast, Evandne, sitting beside her, seemed unnaturally calm amidst the


    storm.


    "Miss, your ordercks rationale! The rule of S-Star Group is against narcotics, but what we sell is medicine! Why can''t we sell it?!" The man named Brook, a major yer in drug sales, immediately objected, his voice resounding with authority. "By banning drugs arbitrarily, you''re cutting off our brothers'' source of ie! Business is already bad now, and relying on drug sales is the only way some of us can survive. If you suddenly cut that off, how are we supposed to make a living?!"


    "Yeah! Cutting off our source of ie is akin to killing our parents!" The crowd echoed his sentiments!


    "Even though it''s not a narcotic, it''s still a banned substance! There have been several deaths rted to this stuff in Elmsworth, and some of them implicate our S-Star Group!" Aviana''s throat felt dry as she spoke, every word carefully chosen. "The people behind the drug development have ulterior motives. They might have even darker intentions! If we don''t stop now, the entire S-Star Group will be consumed, and it will be toote to regret! This matter has drawn the attention of the authorities, and S-Star Group is under scrutiny. If we don''t act now, it will be the end for us all!"


    "That''s their own fault for being weak! Don''t me it on the drugs!" Brook was adamant, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Right now, this drug is in high demand even in other provinces. Its price keeps soaring, making it a prime opportunity to make money. Tightening the screws from the cops'' side? I see it as a good thing! As the saying goes, the bigger the storm, the higher the fish prices!"


    Aviana felt her stomach twist with anger. She finally understood why her father''s health had been deteriorating over the years. Just sitting here for less than an hour made her seethe with frustration!


    "Miss, since you want to ban drugs, then there''s no need for us to discuss further!" Brook stood up, his face dark with fury, the others rising with him in open defiance. "As of now, I''m officially out of S-Star Group''s business and S-Star Group won''t have any say in my affairs! We won''t be supplying to the Griffith family anymore! From now on, my business is my own to run, profit or loss. The Griffith Family can forget about my existence, and my crew and I won''t be paying tributes to you anymore!"


    Aviana''splexion went noticeably pale!


    "So are we!"


    In the blink of an eye, seven or eight leaders of different factions stood up in rebellion. "In this day and age, missing out on money is idiotic! If the Griffith Family wants to leave us out in the cold, then we see no reason to stick around!"


    It was clear that more than half of the top brass had flipped sides, a move that seemed premeditated!


    Their presence today wasn''t for a meeting but for a coup!


    As everyone was about to leave the conference room, Ms. Evadne, who had been silent, finally spoke slowly:


    "Think carefully, gentlemen. Once you walk out that door, you''re no longer part of S-Star Group.


    From this moment forward, you can no longer use S-Star Group''s name for profit, and our protection ends the second you step out."


    Evadne slightly squinted her eyes, her arms elegantly resting on the armchair, and with a tip of her toe, she spun her chair to face them, "The underworld isn''t just about brute force; it''s about connections and understanding human nature. You don''t really think you''ve gotten this far unscathed solely because of your own influence, do you?"


    The crowd exchanged looks.


    Some of the less influential leaders, upon hearing her words, shifted their gaze guiltily.


    "Ms. Evadne, what exactly are you trying to say? Are you threatening us?" Brook narrowed his eyes menacingly.


    "The reason why S-Star Group has been able to survive until now, and why you still have businesses, is because my father has been supporting S-Star Group behind the scenes. Yet, you naively believe that S-Star Group''s prosperity is entirely of your own making. Isn''t thatughable?"


    The crowd was stunned.


    The Ashbourne family had been investing in S-Star Group behind the scenes? They had no clue!


    "Each of your factions has been receiving ten million a year from the Ashbourne family to sustain your businesses, all documented and traceable. Not me making things up here."


    Evadne, supporting her head with her fist, smiled, "Since you no longer wish to stay with S-Star Group, then our support from the Ashbourne family will also


    cease.


    As for the ''medications'' you rely on... well."


    Her coldughter made the older leaders'' skin crawl!


    "Our family''s Captain Aaron of the police force, well-known among you, I''m sure. Imagine if I ask him to asionally inspect your operations, dig into your pockets, and perhaps close your businesses for a couple of weeks every month on the grounds of illegal substance distribution. How will your businesses survive then? He''s quite the perfectionist, never letting go until he''spletely taken someone down."


    At this, two or three of the less influential ones quietly took their seats again. Brook red at Evadne, his look almost tearing her apart! However, with the y at this point, backing down would be too embarrassing!


    Others might shamelessly return to their seats, but he couldn''t swallow his pride! "Ms. Evadne, I''m not someone who scares easily. I''ve been with Mr. Mark Griffith for decades, and I can say I''ve contributed to half of S-Star Group''s sess! Everyone in the underworld gives me some respect, including Mr. Mark Griffith himself!


    We''ve paid enough tributes over the years! You say you spend ten million a year on us, but what we''ve given the Griffith Family is far more! Squeezing us dry and not even letting us enjoy the basics, we''re done with these unbearable days!"


    Brook knew how to stir the pot.


    After all, who wouldn''t be upset at the mention of being denied even the basics?


    "Let''s go!"


    Though three had returned to their seats, five still followed Brook out.


    Just then-


    Jason burst through the door, his gaze icy as he walked in, followed by a procession of ck-suited bodyguards who surrounded the conference room! The S-Star Group executives looked on in astonishment, their expressions a mix


    of surprise and apprehension. Evadne and Aviana, too, wore expressions of


    surprise.


    Suddenly, Jason stepped aside, bowed slightly, and gestured "please."


    A man with broad shoulders and a cold, stern demeanor strode into view, his eyes


    narrowed with a hint of cruelty!