?Chapter 353:


    Marisa bit down on her lollipop and smirked. “A bet’s a bet.”


    Meanwhile, Maia had only just left the teaching building when she caught the sound of Hurst’s voice behind her.


    “Ms. Watson, could I ask you to wait a moment?” he called out.


    Maia spun around.


    The hot sun hammered down, and sweat dotted Hurst’s forehead. Standing behind him was his assistant, Lionel.


    Maia stepped into the shade. Her voice was t and detached as she asked, “Mr. Cooper, what more do you want?”


    Hurst followed her into the shade. He took a tissue from Lionel, wiped his forehead, exhaled a hot breath, and finally spoke.


    “Miss Watson, you’ve already helped me twice. I didn’t expect my daughter to pull a stunt like that today and hurt your brother. I feel awful about it.”


    He paused, then continued, “I own a winery, and it could really use someone with your expertise. I want to put it in your name as a way to thank you for what you’ve done and to apologize for today.”


    Maia raised an eyebrow at his words, clearly taken aback. She hadn’t seen thising — Hurst was offering her an entire winery?


    “Mr. Cooper, I really appreciate your kindness,” Maia said with a soft chuckle. “But I can’t ept it. I’m far too tied up to run a winery.”


    Hurst stood still, clearly shocked by her blunt refusal.


    Thinking Maia didn’t understand the worth of the offer, Lionel jumped in. “Miss Watson, Mr. Cooper’s winery brings in over fifty million dors a year. Are you really sure you want to pass up on this opportunity?”


    Maia didn’t flinch. “I’m sure.”


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    Lionel was taken aback by how resolute she was.


    Her cool demeanor only strengthened Hurst’s belief that Maia was no ordinary woman. She must be someone who had experienced real power, someone who wouldn’t think twice about turning down a fifty-million-dor winery.


    For Hurst, that winery was just a side project. Sure, it was one of thergest in Wront, but when stacked against his real businesses, it barely made a dent.


    With that thought in mind, Hurst’s tone turned more serious. “Ms. Watson, I know this small gesture doesn’t evene close to showing how much I appreciate your help or how sorry I am about today. If you don’t have time to run the winery, that’s—”


    “Fine. You can just have your name on it, pop in now and then. I’ll make sure the profits go straight into your ount every year.”


    Maia took her time to respond. Honestly, she had never encountered anyone so keen to give their business to others.


    Before she could utter a word, Hurst, anxious that she might decline again, hurriedly pulled out a ck-gilded invitation from his pocket and handed it to her.


    “Also, in two days, the Cooper family is hosting their annual private g. I would be thrilled if you coulde. Are you free?”


    The Cooper family’s g?


    Maia looked at the sleek ck invitation in Hurst’s grasp. She had heard of it before. The Cooper family’s private g was a high-profile event, strictly by invitation, filled with the most prominent figures in business from across the nation.


    Though called a g, it resembled more of a high-stakesworking battleground. It revolved around investment opportunities, exchanging information, forming partnerships, and merging resources. Every year, numerous people plotted and nned just to get their hands on that coveted ck invitation. Yet, only a handful ever gained entry.


    Now, Hurst, who organized the g, was extending a personal invitation to Maia. Such a gesture carried a lot of weight.


    Maia took a moment to consider it, then epted the invitation without turning it down this time. She quickly checked the time and venue printed on the card. This could be her golden opportunity to uncover the Cooper family’s real influence.


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