<h4>Chapter 328: The Deal</h4>


    E nced at the two bodyguards and calmly instructed, "Wait for me outside. I’ll be fine."


    The bodyguards hesitated. "But, Young Madam, Mr. Nelson told us to stay outside only if..."


    "If Mr. Nelson holds anyone ountable, I’ll take full responsibility," E said with a light smile.


    Even though E wasn’t the one paying their sries, she was still their master, so they had no choice but to quietly leave.


    Leah looked around. "Are there any other guests here?"


    The balcony on the eighteenth floor was quite spacious, with private rooms on both sides, all of them luxurious and elegant.


    At that moment, a server arrived with tea. E smiled and asked, "Miss, are there any guests in the private rooms on either side?"


    The server replied with a smile, "Miss, the private rooms on both sides are typically empty."


    Hearing this, Leah and Julia finally rxed.


    Once the server left, Leah eyed E’s handbag suspiciously. "E, we’re having a private conversation, and I don’t want you recording anything."


    Leah was sharp—Rachel had tried to frame E in the past, but E had caught her by recording a video.


    E chuckled. It seemed they were nning to discuss something very private, likely about shares. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so cautious.


    E opened her small handbag and emptied its contents onto the table. There were only a pack of tissues, a phone, and a wallet—nothing else.


    Julia smiled gently. "Miss Davis, I’d like our sincere conversation to remain private. I wouldn’t appreciate it being recorded."


    E unlocked her phone and handed it to Leah. "Miss Carter, check if it’s recording."


    Leah inspected the phone carefully. It wasn’t recording—typically, when a phone is recording, a status icon would appear at the top of the screen.


    E set the phone aside and confidently faced Julia. "You can speak now."


    Julia gracefully sipped her tea, then said, "The Nelson Group’s eco-friendly project was exposed for having quality issues. Miss Davis, what are your thoughts?"


    E calmly replied, "Mrs. Carter, do you have any evidence to support such ims? Those faulty materials were swapped out by someone else."


    Mrs. Carter shook her head gently. "It’s possible that other Nelson Group projects werepromised long before this. After all, not everything passes through Mr. Nelson’s hands. Some greedy individuals might have taken advantage of the situation for personal gain. Even if Mr. Nelson wasn’t responsible, any exposure would still throw the Nelson Group into crisis."


    E blinked. What did Julia mean by that? Was she suggesting there were other problems elsewhere? That was impossible. Eric was so meticulous—there was no way he would overlook such a thing!


    She trusted him.


    "Impossible. I trust my husband. This incident is a first, and it hasn’t even affected the project yet!" E responded confidently.


    Leah couldn’t hold back anymore and sneered. "E, you’re so confident. Since this scandal broke, do you even realize that Nelson Group’s stock price has dropped by eight percent? How much time has passed since this morning? Do you know how many billions Nelson Group has lost in the stock market? And you’re still so confident? If Mr. Nelson had a solid n, he would have acted by now!"


    E shook her head. "This wasn’t done by anyone within the Nelson Group’s leadership. It’s a setup, and I believe that one day, Nelson Group will clear its name."


    Julia’s smile grew even softer, her voice almost hypnotic. "Miss Davis, as far as I know, Mr. Nelson hasn’t rested since this morning. He’s been tirelessly meeting with executives, trying to resolve this issue."


    E fell silent.


    Seeing the dimming light in her eyes, Leah couldn’t help but feel triumphant. "If no evidence is found, Nelson Group will likely go under! E, can you really stand by and watch Mr. Nelson’s hard work go to waste?"


    E remained quiet.


    "I’ve heard that Mr. Nelson skipped lunch today. He’s exhausting himself trying to save thepany. Don’t you want to help him?" Julia’s voice was calm as she took a graceful sip of tea, her wrinkled hand holding the cup steadily.


    The aroma of the tea filled the air as E lifted her gaze, looking at Julia with curiosity. "Mrs. Carter, do you have a solution? Let’s hear it."


    Juliaughed coldly inside.


    People often said that E was a clever woman, and bringing her down wasn’t easy.


    But now, it seemed E was tempted by her enemy’s words.


    Did she really think someone would offer her help out of kindness?


    "There is a way," Julia said lightly, her eyes fixed on E. "But we would need to make a deal, Miss Davis."


    E appeared hopeful, seemingly eager to relieve Eric of his burdens.


    "Speak inly, Mrs. Carter. If the terms are reasonable, I might consider it."


    E chuckled inwardly. This old woman really thought she’d fall into such an obvious trap?


    "A friend of mine stumbled upon some documents that could prove Nelson Group’s innocence," Julia said with a softugh. "But in exchange, we would like the 15% of Carter Group shares that you hold."


    E stared at Julia in disbelief. "Mrs. Carter, are you serious?"


    "Of course she is!" Leah chimed in, looking smug. "E, you’re Mrs. Nelson. Can you really stand by and watch Mr. Nelson run himself ragged over this?"


    E’s expression darkened slightly. "What kind of documents are these? Can I see them?"


    Julia quickly shook her head. "I’m afraid not. These are confidential. We can only exchange them after you transfer your shares to us."


    E’s lips curled into a cold, sarcastic smile. These people were unbelievably greedy. They were trying to trick her into giving up 15% of Carter Group’s shares!


    "E, Mr. Nelson adores you. Making this deal for the evidence is the right thing to do. If you’re unwilling to give up the shares, it shows that Mr. Nelson means nothing to you. You care more about your shares than about him!" Leah, seeing E hesitate, grew both angry and frustrated, pressing her further.


    Julia, on the other hand, remained silent, calmly sipping her tea, as if waiting for E to fall into her trap.


    E let out a softugh, her eyshes fluttering like butterfly wings.


    "That’s fine too..." E stretched her words, and Julia and Leah’s faces lit up with excitement.


    "But... I’ll only consider the deal once I’m sure there’s no other way. For now, I still believe my husband will find the mastermind behind this."


    The final part of her sentence made Leah leap to her feet in anger.


    "E! What do you mean? Are you saying you won’t go through with the deal?" Leah asked urgently.


    Julia’s face darkened as well. At her age, she couldn’t believe she had been yed by E!