?Chapter 177:


    Joseph frowned, his expression not particrly pleasant. “How many times have I told you to focus on your career and not hang out with those people all the time?”


    Theo remained silent.


    “Do you n to sit by and do nothing, letting Wesley run the Spencer family?” Joseph asked.


    “He’s the CEO of the Spencer Group,” Theo replied quietly. “What can—”


    Gerald gave Wesley that position. Didn’t I tell you to visit Gerald more often? You’re part of the Spencer family. He won’t leave you with nothing.”


    Joseph took a measured sip of wine, his displeasure evident. “Gerald had already agreed to give me the duty-free zone project on the ind, but Wesley ruined it. Theo, you need to put more effort into winning Gerald’s favor. You and Wesley are both his grandsons. Why should thepany go to Wesley?”


    Theo nodded. “I understand, Joseph. I’ll make a good impression at Gerald’s uing birthday.”


    Joseph’s expression softened slightly. He patted Theo’s shoulder. “I’m doing this for your own good. Once you be the head of the Spencer family, opportunities will open for you.”


    Theo didn’t respond. These conversations were nothing new—he had heard simr words since childhood.


    Elena hailed a cab and arrived at the Empire. The moment she entered, her gaze locked onto Lydia at the bar.


    Weaving through the pulsing crowd, Elena approached Lydia, carefully assessing her from head to toe before settling beside her and ordering a drink.


    Lydia’s face lit up. “Elena, you’re here!” She threw her arms around Elena.


    Elena peeled away Lydia’s hands. “You can stillugh? The organization is hunting you. What’s your n?”


    Unruffled, Lydia shrugged. “Who cares? Let’s drink. We’ll figure it out.” In one smooth motion, Lydia emptied her transparent ss of strong liquor. With a provocative nce, she signaled the bartender. “Another.” Mesmerized, the bartender blushed and refilled her ss to the brim.


    Lydia dispatched the second drink just as quickly.


    Elena watched, her concern evident. Lydia only drank like this when something was terribly wrong.


    Your imagination thrives at  punt


    As Lydia reached for a third ss, Elena intercepted her hand. “Enough. I’m not babysitting a drunk.”


    “You always say that,” Lydia said with a knowing smile. “But we both know you’d never abandon me.”


    Elena replied, “I don’t take care of drunks. What exactly happened?”


    Lydia’s smile dissolved. “Six S-level assassins from the Shadow were dispatched to go after me.”


    The Shadow’s assassination ranks ran from A to S, with S representing their most lethal operatives.


    Lydia had once led the elite killers before her defection.


    A bitterugh escaped Lydia. “Earle must think I’m quite the target.”


    Years ago, Lydia had murdered her adoptive father, Adolf Miller—the Shadow’s previous leader—and fled to Houis. Earle Miller, Adolf’s son, had since seized control of the organization.


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