N let out a shortugh. "Wow, I really dide here to serve a sentence, didn''t I? A strict wake-up time, a rigid schedule-should I get a sewing machine while I''m at it?"


    Emerald''s eyes hardened. "I''m not joking. You signed that agreementst night. As of today, you are the owner of Kajer Tech. You have one month to learn how to run


    it."


    "Sorry, not interested," N said, refusing.


    "If you refuse, you''ll never see Harrison again," Emerald threatened.


    N''s expression changed, her jaw tightening. "I knew I shouldn''t have trusted you. You have no integrity whatsoever."


    Emerald sneered. "Did you really think you could just sign a piece of paper and be done with it? You have three minutes to decide. Either follow my orders, or forget about seeing Harrison ever again."


    Taking a deep breath, N clenched her fists. "Fine. I''ll do it."


    Emerald didn''t look surprised. This was the oue she had expected.


    "You can go eat breakfast now," she said. "Since today is your first day, your lessons will start at 8:00 a.m. But starting tomorrow, they''ll begin at 7:00 a.m. If you''rete, you won''t be allowed to see Harrison for a week. So if you''re nning to pull any stunts, I suggest you think about the consequences first."


    N turned and left without responding.


    ...


    After breakfast, it was nearly 7:40 a.m.


    A maid led her to a study next to the main hall.


    Inside, there was a desk with two chairs and a full wall of bookshelves filled with business-rted books. One nce at them was enough to make her lose interest.


    "Ms. Kinsey, Madam said you are to wait here for your instructor," the maid reminded.


    "Got it," N replied.


    Once the maid left, N sat down and started counting the books on the first shelf out of sheer boredom.


    Business didn''t interest her in the slightest, and waking up so early had left her exhausted. Before long, she had dozed off, her head resting on the desk.


    Meanwhile, Brian had stormed into Emerald''s study, demanding an exnation: "Mom, you told me Kajer Tech would go to me or Defia! Why did you go back on your word and give all the shares to N? You know how much Kajer means to me!"


    Among all thepanies under the Nixons, Kajer Tech was the one Brian wanted most. He firmly believed the future belonged to Al


    its


    and Kajer Tech was famous top GPUs an essentialponent for Almodelputations.


    He had always assumed that even if Emerald wanted to put on a show and give


    N apany, it would never be Kajer Tech.


    Today''s news had been a p in the face.


    Worse, he hadn''t even heard it from his mother—his friends had told him. Was he really thest to know?


    Emerald set her papers aside and


    looked at Brian, reading the resentment and frustration in his eyes. "Brian, I''ve told you


    swhow


    before everything in the Nixons belongs to you in the future. But not


    yet.


    "I don''t need to exin my decisions to you. Just know that one day, Kajer Tech will


    be yours. For now, all you need to do is follow my instructions."


    Brian''s expression darkened, his voice turning cold. "One day? When? In a year? Two years? Ten?


    "Mom, I know you want people to believe you''re grooming N to take over the family, but there are otherpanies you could''ve given her. Why Kajer Tech?"