Chapter 1411:


    Kolton crossed his legs with casual authority and scrutinized the agreement with painstaking thoroughness while Kiley maintained her position beside him.


    Time crawled forward, second by agonizing second.


    Without warning, Kolton tossed the agreement onto the desk’s surface. “Impressive. Bring me a pen.”


    He epted the pen from the covert operative’s outstretched hand and inscribed his name with confident, flowing strokes. “I’ve encountered references to this oil field, and Granger Sparrow, the oil tycoon, is undeniably a legitimate figure,” he observed. “In this particr matter, you’ve exceeded expectations.”


    Kolton offered his approval, and then pivoted toward Kiley, adding, “Within the next few days, arrange a flight to the site and conduct a personal inspection. Assess what resources arecking and whether operations canmence smoothly.”


    “Yes, Father,” Kiley acknowledged.


    Then, with a trace of nervous anticipation coloring her words, she ventured, “Father, regarding tonight’s fire and its ramifications…”


    “No ramifications.” Kolton dismissed her concern with a careless wave, his tone radiating indifference. “I’ll manage the fallout. You only need to project profound grief and publicly denounce the arsonist responsible. Regarding the reconstruction of the banquet center following the fire, I intend to orchestrate another charity event, soliciting donations while employing the pretext ofpensating the victims’ families to mobilize even greater participation.”


    Kolton’s features arranged themselves into a sly, fox-like expression of satisfaction. “Charity amounts to aplishing one’s ambitions with other people’s currency. You didn’t actually believe I was reprimanding you, did you? I simply wanted to evaluate your capacity to withstand pressure. You’re destined to be the captain steering Cooper Group, that mighty vessel.”


    “Thank you for your confidence, Father,” Kiley responded softly, concealing the turbulent emotions churning beneath herposed exterior.


    Kolton’sughter erupted, rich and self-satisfied, before he continued, “Kiley, I’m now assigning you a task of paramount importance. Locate Chris with all possible speed and retrieve your grandfather. Whether breathing or otherwise…”


    Latest stories on gα?ησv???s


    Kiley’s eyes narrowed into calcting slits.


    Did her father care so little for Chris’s survival, or was it her grandfather’s fate that left him unmoved?


    A sudden realization struck her—Kolton possessed a cold-blooded nature, regarding everyone around him as instruments to be wielded for his purposes. And instruments deserved no emotional investment whatsoever.


    She couldn’t suppress the creeping question of whether she, too, existed merely as another tool in his collection.


    As for assumingmand of Cooper Group, that mighty vessel?


    Kiley shook her head with quiet resolve. The prospect held no appeal for her whatsoever.


    Everything she desired now centered on excavating the truth, on discovering the secret encrypted within that USB drive.


    After Kolton departed from the office, Kiley expelled a prolonged breath of relief.


    She sank into the chair, rotating it in leisurely circles, her gaze drifting through the floor-to-ceiling window toward the night stretching beyond.


    .


    .


    .