?Chapter 407:


    Mariana, seemingly lost in her thoughts, allowed the attendants to guide her out of the hall.


    Rosanna and Jarrod watched the unfolding drama, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.


    Even Mariana, with all her resources and cunning, hadn’t managed to outmaneuver Maia. What transformations had Maia undergone during her four years behind bars? She was no longer the person they once knew.


    Maia had changed profoundly; she had be a figure of both fear and respect.


    Rosanna’s hands tightened into fists. She had believed that sending Maia to prison would neutralize her as a threat. Yet now, a sense of unease washed over her.


    The time Maia spent in prison must have been transformative.


    Jarrod, who had dismissed Maia’s earlier sesses as mere flukes, was forced to confront a new reality. Maia had proven him wrong time and again. Now, he had to ept a harsh truth.


    The Maia standing before them now was so formidable that the Morgan family found her too intense to face directly.


    She had clearly moved beyond the Morgans.


    But how had she done it? She had only recently been released from prison!


    Jarrod was perplexed. How had Maia, once a clumsy troublemaker shadowing him, evolved into such an impressive figure?


    As Mariana was escorted away, Maia calmly approached Kolton. Her expression remained calm andposed, just as it had been throughout thepetition, revealing no signs of excitement despite her recent victory.


    “Mr. Cooper, since you have agreed to honor the bet, please sign this contract.”


    She presented Kolton with the acquisition contract she had prepared in advance.


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    Kolton epted the contract, his expression serious. As he scanned the document, a slight smile appeared on his lips.


    “Miss Watson, your audacity is quite remarkable. Have you considered a future coboration with the Cooper Group?”


    Maia returned a courteous smile. “I’ll think about it, but I have no immediate ns.”


    Kolton’s smile vanished. Silently, he signed the contract and handed it back to Maia. As he did so, he rxed his grip, allowing the papers to drop to the floor.


    The documentsnded with a distinct thud.


    Maia’s frown was subtle yet noticeable as her eyes met Kolton’s. Kolton, undeterred, met her gaze with an intense look of his own, his eyes sharp. He shrugged slightly and walked away, his actions leaving a silent but clear warning. The message was unmistakable.


    He had pledged not to retaliate against her, yet Kolton knew the threat a woman as influential as Maia could pose. If she couldn’t be a true ally of the Cooper Group, he was convinced that eventually, he would see her, like that contract, toppled into the dirt.


    Maia quickly discerned the underlying message in Kolton’s actions. She gazed at the contract on the floor for an extended moment before stooping to pick it up.


    Brushing it off, she released a cold, mockingugh.


    Kolton believed he was sending her a warning, but what he didn’t realize was that Maia had already been through the worst. She had nothing left to fear now.


    Maia turned around, clutching the signed agreement. Around her, business moguls who had been eager to strike up conversations and explore potential deals paused, respecting the Cooper Group’s presence. Instead, they signaled their teams to initiate formal discussions with MCN.


    One after another, influential figures approached Maia with smiles, toasting to her sess, each aiming to make a memorable impression. Meanwhile, the socialites who had previously sneered at Maia now exchanged nervous nces. Gathering their courage, they approached her, one clutching a hastily found notebook.


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