Hu Corporation Building
Sergio clutched a document, his knuckles white, veins bulging on his forehead, and his breathing heavy. His secretary, rarely seeing him like this, was too scared to even breathe.
After a long while, Sergio relaxed his grip, a smile creeping across his face, though his eyes glinted with coldness. "Aaron, that old fox, he's quite something."
He had thought that old man who favored sons over daughters couldn't possibly care much for a daughter he'd only recently acknowledged. In the end, that old fox was simply trying to break the partnership.
A perfectly good project, clearly a moneymaker—how could Aaron give it up just like that?
Sergio narrowed his eyes, tapping the pen in his hand lightly against the document on the desk. He looked up, his eyes sharp. "Secretary Zhang, find out what's wrong with that piece of land in the western suburbs."
"Yes, sir." Secretary Zhang couldn't help but ask before leaving, "Mr. Hu, what about our dealings with the Lin Corporation?"
"Stall them. We'll deal with it in a few days."
He needed to get to the bottom of things before making a decision.
Sergio was quick to react, but Aaron wasn't foolish either. He immediately sent evidence of Hu Corporation's substandard practices and forced demolitions to Sergio's email, along with a final deadline.
In his office, waiting for the secretary's findings, Sergio saw Aaron's blatant threat and laughed in anger.
"Fine, fine, fine. I really underestimated that old fox."
If Aaron wanted to break ties, so be it. Sergio noted this debt and vowed to repay it double in the future.
He pressed the intercom, instructing the legal and business departments to resolve the contract termination with the Lin Corporation.
The Hu and Lin families, once close, were now on the brink of estrangement. Before understanding the full situation, neither wanted to give the impression that there was an issue with the land.
The Lin family, in turn, had a similar stance, as if both parties had pre-agreed on a unified front: it was all about standing up for their children.
The city's elite were surprised to see Aaron care so much for a daughter he'd just acknowledged, willing to forfeit a billion-dollar deal. This signaled Zuri's extraordinary status.
Soon, they instructed their children to cultivate good relationships with Zuri and warned them not to cross her.
This news quickly spread through Windsor Academy, making Zuri the center of attention, while Saira was ignored.
Meanwhile, Aaron announced plans to hold a birthday and recognition banquet for his biological daughter Zuri.
"Zuri, what do you like? I'll get you a gift you like," a classmate asked after school, surrounding Zuri.
"Do you like bags, Zuri? Or jewelry?"
"Zuri, how are you so good at everything? You're amazing."
"You must be a genius to already understand calculus."
Saira and her friends, Natalie and others, noticed the commotion as they passed by the door. Natalie sneered.
"Just a bunch of bootlickers."
"They used to hang around Saira, and now they've switched sides. It's disgusting," Samara added.
In reality, Natalie's group had been told by their parents to get close to Zuri, but their pride prevented them from doing so, considering it beneath them.
"I only need you guys. The world is fickle; it's not worth getting upset over," Saira said nonchalantly, her gaze filled with gratitude for her friends.
"Farida seems to be getting close to Zuri lately," Naya noted as Farida and Azura walked in together.
"Farida is just an opportunist."
"Let's not talk about them," Saira said weakly.
Naya, seeing Saira's forlorn look and then Zuri being surrounded, felt a twinge of jealousy. "For the upcoming birthday party, I have a plan to make Zuri really stand out."
The emphasis on the last words piqued the interest of the other three.
"What's your plan?" Natalie asked eagerly.
Naya led them to a corner and whispered. Natalie and Samara grinned maliciously, faces flushed with excitement.
"Naya, you're brilliant. After this, she'll be the biggest joke in high society."
"I can't wait to celebrate her birthday," Samara laughed.
A flicker of excitement flashed in Saira's eyes. She had thought of this plan before but couldn't bring herself to suggest it. Now, with Naya voicing it, it was perfect.
"Isn't this a bit much? I'm afraid Dad will be, well, really mad," Saira said, biting her lip with a show of reluctance.
"They've treated you like this, and you're still worried about them? Haven't you seen how Uncle Lin treats you? Stop considering the Lin family."
"The Lin family doesn't see you as a daughter, so don't bother preserving their face."
Under their persuasion, Saira silently agreed to the plan.
After they left, a shadow fell from above them. Kaden, his eyes cold, watched their departing figures, a playful smile on his lips.
While Saira was secretly plotting, the Hu family also refused to let things rest.
Hector, having been beaten, had no evidence, so legal means were useless against Zuri. Zuri had struck too discreetly.
Some things Sergio couldn't do, but Mrs. Hu could.
At a tea party one day, Mrs. Hu declared that anyone attending Zuri's birthday party would no longer be her friend.
The socialites understood the implication.
The Hu and Lin families were at war. This was a signal for Oceanic City businesses to choose sides: Lin Corporation or Hu Corporation.
You can't please both.
"Honey, I just heard that Mrs. Hu is telling people not to attend our party. This whole thing is blown out of proportion. If we had just had Zuri apologize back then, we wouldn't be in this mess, losing billions," Dalia complained, looking worried. "Should we have Zuri apologize to ease the tension?"
"What do you know? Don't meddle," Aaron scolded.
Dalia, feeling wronged, didn't understand what spell Zuri had cast on her husband to make him ignore billion-dollar projects for her.
"The Hu family may be the wealthiest, but we Lin's aren't far behind."
He refused to believe no one would come to their party. In this situation, whoever bowed first would lose.