"We will table the discussion on the new pharmaceutical institute for now. Meeting adjourned."


    Chad''s elegant, pale face was as cold as frost. Unable to maintain hisposure to run the meeting, he dismissed the board. He stood alone against the backlight of the window, staring at the dark screen of his phone with a sharp, chilling re.


    A few minutester, the private number called again.


    His jawline tightened like a drawn de. Swiping the screen, he slowly brought the phone to his ear.


    "Nephew, I thought you were too scared to answer your uncle''s call." Mason Austin''s voice dripped with mockery.


    The stiff smile that curled on Chad''s lips looked as if it had been carved into cold, white ster with a jagged knife. "How could that be, Uncle? You are my mother''s only remaining rtive in this world.


    I was just leading a meeting at thepany. It wasn''t convenient to answer."


    "You''re a very busy man now, juggling a million things a day. It''s just that your uncle


    is quite worried. Can you really hold onto a stolen empire?"


    A suffocating darkness pooled in Chad''s eyes, an ocean of murderous intent threatening to spill over.


    "I stole it with my own abilities, and I will hold onto it with my own abilities. You don''t need to worry about that, Uncle."


    "Good, good, good. You truly are my sister''s son. The Austin bloodline is certainly not to be underestimated."


    Mason''s tone remained yfully ambiguous. "At this very moment, sitting on a sofa in the ground-floor lobby of your Abernathy group headquarters, is a man. He''s a generous gift from your uncle."


    The man''s brow twitched. "Who is it?"


    "An old friend of yours. You''ll know when you go down and see him."


    Before Chad could spond, Mason abruptly ended the call.


    Shortly after, Alexia was summoned to the CEO''s office.


    "Sir, what are your orders?" Alexia kept her head bowed, as submissive and deferential as a dutiful servant.


    Following the exposure of the Genesis Lab, her terror of Chad had vastly eclipsed any lingering sense of guilt. In the past, she had faced this man with ambitious drive, idolizing him, wanting to repay his kindness, and eager to prove her worth.


    Now, all those foolish, naive thoughts had vanished into thin air.


    She was trembling, walking on eggshells, focused solely on keeping herself alive.


    The man gave his order in an icy tone. "There''s a man sitting on the sofa in the ground-floor lobby. want your to sneak down and take a few photos of him from the shadows. Don''t let anyone see you."


    Alexia was thoroughly confused, but she obeyed without question.


    Ten minutester, she returned to report, cing her phone in front of Chad.


    "Sir, take a look. Is this the man?"


    The man''s lowered gaze cast two dark, heavy shadows over his face. Suddenly, his pupils constricted violently, and he shot up from his chair.


    "S-Sir... what''s wrong?" Alexia was dumbfounded. She had never seen this man so visibly rattled and terrified.


    Who on earth was that ordinary-looking man?


    Chad stared fixedly at the screen. The man''s face was unremarkable, yet lined with a harsh, rigid edge. A tempest of shock and dread churned in Chad''s profound gaze.


    That kidnapping case had happened twenty years ago, but the moment he saw that face, the dead memories wed their way back, vivid as yesterday.


    His face ashen, Chad rose and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, turning his back to Alexia as he dialed Mason''s number.


    "Calling me back so soon. It seems my dear nephew has seen the surprise his uncle left for him. Oh Isnt your birthdaying up? Let'' just consider it an early birthday present," Masonughed raucously, refishing the schadenfreude.


    "What do you mean by parading that man right under my nose?"


    Chad''s expression was carved from stone, his throat tight. "I''m still young. My


    memory is perfectly fine. You didn''t need to go out of your way."


    "Ever since you returned to Elmsworth, your ns have moved at a cial pace.


    You know I''m not a patient man. I''m tired of waiting."


    The amusement vanished from


    Mason''s voice, reced by a sinister chill. "Don''t forget the promise you


    made me. You swore tonery


    devour the Abernathy group,


    eliminate that old man Hamilton, destroy Frederic-the scumbag who killed my sister and your


    mother—and get rid of Thaddeus, the bastard he had with that whore. Then, you were supposed to hand over the chairman''s seat and control of the board to me.


    It''s been so long. Look at what you''ve actually aplished. You haven''t even managed to deal with that Ashbourne girl. I''m starting to seriously doubt yourpetence.


    Or have you just been stringing me along this whole time, nning to cut ties with your uncle?"


    "How could that be possible, Uncle? If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t be where I am today." Chad offered a stiff smile, his chest feeling so tight he wanted to vomit.


    "If you really care about your uncle so much, then show me some genuine sincerity." Chad''s gaze was ice-cold, though his verbal response was prompt. "Whatever you need, just say the word. I will do everything in my power to make it happen."