?Chapter 245:


    Neil stood in the doorway, his gaze cold as he looked at Lise, uncertain of which emotion to express in facing her.


    Today’s press conference had triggered an unexpected wave of public scrutiny.


    Shares in thepany had plummeted, there was a flood of negativements online, and Katelyn had even used their new jewelry line of being a direct rip-off of her designs. It was clear that this jewelry line would struggle to attract buyers.


    This meant that all the time and money invested had been wasted. While the financial loss was bearable, the damage to their reputation was far more severe.


    The crisis had escted rapidly, resembling a wildfire. Numerous international partners had terminated their contracts with the Wheeler Group, not to mention the local business partners. All these disastrous oues traced back to Lise.


    Neil masked his true feelings with a nk stare, while Lise seemedpletely unaware of it.


    She moved forward and embraced Neil tightly, her tears soaking his suit.


    Through her tears, Lise managed to say, “Neil, you’re here atst. I was afraid I’d lose you forever.”


    From his angle, Neil could see the cold detachment and the brief flicker of disgust in his eyes.


    Neil understood Lise’s superficiality and her aspirations to match Iris’s status.


    She knew how vital this press conference was for the Wheeler Group. Yet, she chose to lie tantly, twisting the narrative to her favor and using the Wheeler Group as a stepping stone.


    And the moment she tried to climb higher, she was knocked down hard.


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    Lise had managed to fool everyone at first, including him.


    Had he known earlier about the giarized designs and Lise’s deceit, he would have never lowered himself to such disgraceful acts.


    Unfortunately, life didn’t offer second chances.


    “Let go,” Neil said, his voice chillingly steady and emotionless.


    Lise held on tighter, shaking her head.


    “NO, I’m scared that if I let go, you’ll vanish from my life forever.” She cried harder, deliberately positioning herself so her tearsnded on Neil’s neck.


    “Neil, this disaster is my fault. You have every right to be angry with me, but please, don’t leave me. Don’t vanish from my life. Do you have any idea what I’ve been through this afternoon?”


    A slow, mocking smile appeared on Neil’s lips.


    In the span of a single afternoon, a devastating defeat hadpletely changed him.


    His feelings for her had shifted, along with his entire demeanor.


    He pushed Lise away. “I said, let go.”


    “No way.”


    Neil’s patience snapped. He firmly grasped Lise’s arm, pulling her away, and then pushed her onto the couch.


    The usual gentleness he showed Lise had vanished. This was the first time he had physically pushed her.


    Though he pushed her onto the couch instead of the floor, Lise looked at him in shock.


    “Neil, are you trying to cut ties with me? Have you given up on us?”


    Looking down at Lise, Neil’s face was expressionless and cold. “Your single lie cost the Wheeler Group over 20 billion today, and that’s just the local impact. Internationally, it’s even worse.”


    Hearing this, Lise felt her heart sink.


    She had only recently rejoined the Bailey family and hadn’t realized the massive financial impact a scandal could have on a major publicly tradedpany.


    Stock losses ounted for half of that enormous amount. A foreignpany had faced a simr crisis, losing 17 billion in one day due to a PR disaster.


    Neil wasn’t exaggerating; it was all because of Lise’s dishonesty.


    Realizing the full extent of the crisis, Lise’s face turned pale. She broke down crying.


    “Neil, I didn’t realize it would escte to this. I just wanted to cheer you up, to ease your stress.”


    Neil’s expression remained unchanged.


    Lise’s tears no longer moved him.


    “Is that how you justify lying to me?” he asked.


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