?Chapter 442:


    Marianapleted the final brushstroke, a sense of aplishment settling over her. She smirked to herself and whispered, “Maia, I’ll make sure your birthday gift is unforgettable — for all the wrong reasons!”


    Kolton exited the art studio and made his way directly to the study. He often read to help himself think, and this asion was no different. As he delved into a book about economics, a sudden thought struck him.


    He promptly called his assistant and asked, “Have you found anything about the woman financially backing Chris?”


    His assistant answered cautiously, “I’m sorry, Mr. Cooper. I’ve tried my hardest, but she keeps everything close to the vest…”


    “Idiot!” Kolton shouted in fury. “How could you mess up something so simple?”


    “I know I messed up, Mr. Cooper, but the other party is very private and keeps things hush-hush.” The assistant felt the weight of failure pressing on him. He had searched for days and found nothing. The silence on the other end of the line only made him more anxious. Was Kolton going to fire him?


    Kolton fell silent as he mulled over the situation. This woman had deliberately concealed her identity, likely because she was already married and didn’t want her husband finding out about her involvement with a man like Chris. But if she was truly married, maybe it was just a fleeting affair with Chris that wouldn’tst.


    After a long pause, Kolton pressed again, “What’s going on with Chris?”


    The assistant wiped the sweat from his brow anxiously. “He hasn’t changed. It’s the same old story.”


    “As expected, just a deadbeat,” Kolton scoffed. “I’ve wasted too many resources trying to keep tabs on him all these years. I really overestimated him. Withdraw everyone from watching him and focus on Maia Watson instead.”


    “Got it, Mr. Cooper.”


    Feel the thrill at g aln  ov el s .


    Kolton narrowed his eyes, his expression sharp and calcting, like a hawk preparing to strike. Chris’ actions at the recent banquet had led Kolton to believe that Laurence had seriously misjudged him in the past. Someone as aimless andcking in ambition as Chris posed no threat to him or to udius.


    Maia, however, was a different story. She filled Kolton with a sense of unease, especially after she had snatched Aurora Apparel Company from the Cooper Group. His anxiety had only grown since then. Maia was young, and…


    Smart, talented, and able to stay calm under pressure, Maia handled situations with remarkable poise. If Kolton couldn’t win someone like her over to his side, he’d have no choice but to eliminate her before she became a threat.


    The assistant hesitated before speaking up again. “Mr. Cooper, are you nning to go after Maia?”


    “She had the nerve to go against Cooper Group,” Kolton sneered with disdain. “And I’ll make sure she pays for it. But I’ve already made a public promise not to touch her, so this can’t involve anyone from Cooper Group, at least not directly.”


    Kolton clenched his fists, his tone cold and resolute. “Just wait until the merger dust settles, and then we’ll make our move.”


    That night, Kolton slept deeply. In his dreams, he saw Maia meet her end.


    Suddenly, a violent shaking jolted him awake. His phone was ringing incessantly beside him. Irritated, he grabbed it and barked, “What’s going on? It’s five in the morning.”


    His assistant’s voice came through, panicked and hesitant. “Mr. Cooper, something major has gone down! Our delivery bound for Geshuania was intercepted on the open water. A few ships took it right after it set sail.”


    “What?” Kolton gasped in disbelief. The shipment wasn’t just valuable; it was critical to Cooper Group. It contained theirtest research prototypes, along with a significant stash of smuggled goods.


    If things went south, the impact on Cooper Group wouldn’t just be financial—it could spiral into much bigger trouble.


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