<h4>Chapter 384: My Career Is Ruined</h4>


    It was Natalie’s first day at the Harper Group as the new CEO—the Global CEO who would be overseeing the entire Ford Group across the world. It was the highest position, one thatmanded respect from everyone in the business world.


    As she was getting ready to leave home, she asked, feeling a little nervous about her role, "Justin, you’reing with me on my first day, right?"


    Justin walked over and gently caressed her cheek. "It’s a special day for you, and everyone in thepany should focus solely on you, without any distractions. If Ie with you, they’ll recognize me as Justin Harper and might think I should be the one leading. They won’t give you the importance you deserve. The first day is when you set your image—and you need to show authority over everyone. Just being James Harper’s daughter or Aiden Handrix’s wife isn’t enough. Understood?"


    She nodded. "I still feel like I snatched away what belonged to you."


    "It never did," he replied calmly. "If your father had known about your existence earlier, everything would’ve belonged to you long ago. I was just a substitute—holding things together until you showed up."


    Natalie hugged him. "I feel like I’ve never really done anything for you. I’m always the one receiving. I wish I could do something for you."


    "You can," he said.


    She lifted her head and looked at him, hoping he’d finally ask something—something real. "What?"


    "You can continue to satisfy me every night. Only you can do that," he said, a mischievous smile on his lips.


    She chuckled softly. "Alright."


    "You shouldn’t bete on your first day," Justin added, slipping out of his yful mood.


    Natalie hummed and asked, "Now that everyone knows you’re Aiden Handrix, how long are you going to keep working from home? As far as I know, NextEra already built one of its head offices here in Imperial City."


    Justin nodded. "It won’t be long."


    "By the way, where <i>is</i> the main head office of NextEra?" she asked.


    "In the Eastern country," he replied.


    "How did you end up there?" Natalie asked, shocked. "Of all the ces in the world, you had to start your business from <i>there</i>?"


    "Maybe my roots belonged there, so I was led by destiny," he answered.


    "I’ve heard it’s a dangerous country—full of mafias," she said worriedly. "When I was in Xyros, I heard the most dangerous mafia family came from an Eastern country. They rule over the underworld. Even the Castellos don’t mess with them."


    "Would you be scared if I told you... the family I said I belonged to is the one you’re talking about?" Justin asked.


    Her eyes widened. "You mean...?"


    He nodded. "And I’m going back there soon. But I’ll make sure you’re protected here, even when I’m away."


    "You don’t have to worry about me," she said softly. "Just take care of yourself and return to me unharmed. Who knows... I might just show up there and be your strength. I’m not scared of mafias."


    "You’re already my strength," he murmured, cing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Now go. We’ll talk more when you’re back."


    She hummed in response and left. As usual, John and Ryan followed her as her bodyguards.


    When Natalie reached the Harper Group’s head office, reporters were already swarming outside.


    She pressed her temple. "I created a distraction for them to chase, and they’re still here. Seems like they haven’t found Briena yet."


    "She’s at her usual hotel," Ryan informed her.


    "Leak her location," Natalie ordered calmly and stepped out of the car.


    The reporters, though held back by security, called out to her. "Ms. Natalie, please answer our questions!"


    "It’s my first day in the office, and I don’t want to bete," she replied with a polite smile. "You might want to check your phones," she added, then walked away.


    All of them instantly checked their phones—finding a piece of explosive news—and immediately rushed toward the hotel where Briena was staying.


    Natalie smirked as she stepped into the office building. <i>My dear Briena, you can’t hide from the precious fame you’ve always craved. You should thank me for letting you experience it so soon.</i>Her expression then turned serious. <i>The biggest mistake of your life was when you tried to harm Justin.</i>


    She remembered that evening clearly—when Briena had nned to drug Justin and make him sleep with that disgusting woman, Lily. Justin was the smartest of all; he’d never fall for such a cheap trick. But still, Natalie couldn’t forgive Briena.<i></i>


    <i>What if Justin had been an ordinary person? What if he had fallen into that trap?</i>


    Natalie clenched her fists. <i>Briena Ford, that day you crossed my bottom line.</i>


    As she entered the grand reception area of the Harper Group’s head office, the entire staff—from the higher-ups to the lower-level employees—were waiting to wee her.


    A middle-aged man in a sharp suit stepped forward. "Ms. Natalie, I’m Silvas Grant, the head of this branch. On behalf of all the employees, I wee you as our new leader." He handed her a beautiful bouquet of flowers.


    Natalie epted it with a smile and passed it to Joan, her assistant. She looked around and spoke confidently, "Thank you so much for the warm wee. I look forward to working with all of you and taking the Harper Group forward through our joint efforts."


    The employees apuded her short but powerful speech as she walked toward the VIP elevator.


    She reached the top floor—an entire level dedicated solely to the CEO’s office. As she stepped out, she couldn’t help but think, <i>Being the wealthiest business group, they sure live in luxury.</i>


    The floor was decorated with dozens of flower bouquets, sent by prominent figures and businesspeople from across the city.


    A beautiful woman in herte twenties approached Natalie. "Ms. Natalie, I’m Avery, your personal assistant. Wee to the Harper Group."


    Natalie observed Avery carefully. She wore a white shirt and a pencil skirt, paired with ck heels. Her hair was tucked neatly at the back of her head in a sleek hairstyle, giving her an elegant and highly professional appearance—the kind of woman who clearly excelled at her work.


    "Thank you, Avery," Natalie replied.


    "Let me guide you to your office." Avery led the way toward a grand door with its own personal reception area outside. Natalie immediately understood—this was where Avery sat and worked.


    The door had a distinguished namete:


    <strong>Natalie Harper</strong><strong>Global CEO – Harper Group</strong>


    Reading her name—<i>Natalie Harper</i>—filled Natalie with unexpected emotion. For the longest time, she had been a woman without ast name. After the truth came out that she wasn’t really a Ford, she hadn’t used her mother’sst name, Shaw, either. To assert her identity, she went simply by <i>Natalie</i>, until Justin dered himself as Aiden Handrix and called her <i>Mrs. Aiden Handrix</i>.


    But that was still a title tied to her husband—a name that, while precious, didn’t speak of her origin.


    Now, finally, she had ast name that was truly hers. <i>Harper. </i>A name that reflected her bloodline, her identity, her worth.


    She was not a bastard.


    Natalie stepped into her grand, luxurious office. A sophisticated décor in gray and white greeted her eyes—a sleek work desk positioned before a tall ss wall, a white leather sofa paired with a crystal center table, a few expensive art pieces hung with precision on the walls, and minimalistic but tasteful decorpleting the space.


    She settled into the chair behind her desk. Outside, Ryan and John stood guard, continuing their duty as her personal bodyguards.


    Inside, Avery began briefing her on the day’s schedule.


    "There’s a wee meeting with all the board members in an hour. Then we have a press conference, which Mr. James Harper will apany you to..."


    Natalie continued listening as Avery walked her through the packed agenda, slowly realizing—her life was about to get <i>he</i> busy.


    ----


    Meanwhile, at the hotel where Briena was staying, ra arrived to console her daughter.


    "Your grandma is very angry, and it’s better if you stay here for a while," ra said. "Once she calms down, I’ll figure something out. For now, you can’t even show up at the Ford Group to work as CEO."


    "Mom," Briena cried, "It’s all Natalie’s doing."


    "I know. Don’t worry—I’ll take revenge for you soon. If she’s disturbed our peace, I won’t let her live in peace either."


    Just then, Ana rushed in. "There’s news spreading about Briena staying in this hotel. Reporters will be here any minute."


    "We have to leave," ra said quickly, and they began to prepare their escape.


    But just as they reached the parking lot, reporters had already surrounded them.


    "How did they even get in here?" Ana said in a panic.


    ra immediately assessed the situation. Seeing no escape, she said, "Briena, stay calm and act normal. If you look guilty, they’ll exploit it even more. Act like you did exactly what the role required of you."


    Briena worerge, dark-tinted sunsses that covered most of her face. She nodded at her mother’s advice.


    "Ms. Briena, why are you hiding here? Are you ashamed of the role you yed?"


    "What are your thoughts on your role in the movie? What made you take on such bold scenes in your debut film?"


    "Do you think it’ll help yound more roles like this? Are you leaning toward bold characters now?"


    Briena kept herposure and replied, "I did what was required by the script. And it was NovaFrame—a well-known production house—so I fulfilled the demands of the character. Going forward, I won’t be working with smaller productionpanies. I’ll focus on my responsibilities as the CEO of the Ford Group."


    But the reporters barely let her finish before bombarding her with more questions.


    "Many fans are curious—how did you manage to act so realistically? Were you given special training for such scenes?"


    "Fans are also curious—did you actually <i>do it</i> with the actors for the sake of making the scenes look realistic?"


    "It’s said that the director behind those scenes is a specialist in adult film direction and is known to be harsh with actors to pull out the desired performances. Did he make you do it <i>for real</i>?"


    "How was your experience working with him?"


    "The director has openly expressed his desire to work with you again. Are you going to coborate with him in the future?"


    The questions were getting more and more ridiculous.


    Briena couldn’t control her anger anymore.


    "Shut up! Stop asking me these ridiculous questions and leave me alone!" she shouted,pletely losing her usual calm and elegantposure. "Get lost—all of you!"


    ra tried to calm her down, but it was already toote.


    "Briena is not feeling well. Please let us leave," Ana stepped in, trying to handle the situation. With the help of two bodyguards ra had brought with her, they got into the car.


    As soon as they drove away, Briena broke down in the back seat, unable to control her emotions anymore.


    "My career is ruined. There’s nothing I can do now..."


    "You’re still the CEO of the Ford Group," ra said, trying to console her. "Forget about acting for now. Just focus on business."


    But her words offered littlefort.


    ra took Briena back home—there was no other ce to go to avoid the reporters.


    The moment they came across Sephina, the furious old woman couldn’t hold back her anger and stormed toward Briena.


    <strong>p!</strong>


    A loud, crisp pnded on Briena’s cheek, the impact so strong it nearly made her taste blood. That alone told her just how furious Sephina was.


    It was the first time ever that Sephina had pped Briena.


    "Mother—" ra tried to intervene, but Sephina snapped, "Shut up."


    Her furious gaze returned to Briena, zing with rage. ra and Briena both realized—they were done for.


    "You mongrel," Sephina growled. "You finally showed you are <i>not</i> my blood. Is this what I raised you to be?"


    Briena’s heart pounded in her chest.


    "You can never be my granddaughter. I’m revoking all your rights in this family and in the business!"


    A chill ran down both ra and Briena’s spines.


    If Sephina truly threw them out... what were they going to do?