"Look at that,n. You went to all this trouble to bring Eleanor in, hoping to use this contract to prove you had no choice, to rify the nature of our rtionship. And what was the result? Eleanor doesn''t care in the slightest."


    The corners of Vanessa''s mouth twitched, threatening to curve into a smile. Finally, with a mocking tone, she looked atn. "See,n? Even when youy the evidence of our dealings on the table, she can''t be bothered to give it a second nce. Why do you even bother ttering yourself?"


    After a moment, she turned to Smith. "Dr. Smith, could you given and me a moment alone?"


    Smith looked ton, who gave no indication either way, but Smith decided to give them their privacy.


    He stood up and left.


    As soon as the conference room door closed, Vanessa shifted her chair closer ton, her voice turning soft and gentle. "Ian, I know I was emotional just now. We can discuss the contract civilly. But can you please continue to help my father''spany? The orders from InnoMind are incredibly important to him."


    As she spoke, she reached out, instinctively trying to grab his sleeve, but a pair of icy eyes stopped her hand mid-air.


    She awkwardly withdrew her hand, her expression pleading. "Please,n. If you just help my dad this one time, I promise I''ll do whatever you say."


    Vanessa bit her lip. "But... you helped my family willingly before-"


    As the conference room door clicked shut, Vanessa''s head shot up. Her pupils constricted as if she''d been struck by lightning, and in that instant, everything became clear.


    So that was it.


    She had always wondered whyn had suddenly been so kind back then, not only agreeing to her outrageous demands but also


    proactively helping her father


    injecting capital to help it go public.


    Now, she finally understood. It had all been a carefullyid trap from the very beginning.


    From the moment he took over the


    mess that was Yeaton Holdings, it was never about affection or


    goodwill. It was about seizing


    control of its fifeline, turning her


    father''spany into a sword


    hanging right over her head.


    the contract and his control.


    So, not only did he help her father go public, but he also entangled him in a deep partnership with the InnoMind Group, making it his biggest client. He wasn''t helping her at all he was using a colder, more effective method to keep her, the donor, firmly in his grasp ensuring that for the sake of her family, she would remain at his mercy and never dare to breach the contract.


    As the realization washed over her, a chill ran up her spine, leaving her ice-cold.


    For the first time, she truly understood how terrifyingn could be. His schemes, his methods-they were far more calcting and ruthless than she had ever imagined.


    She had turned her own family''spany into his coteral.


    Vanessa gasped for air, clutching the edge of the table to keep herself steady.