Dalia's face remained expressionless. "No comment. Move aside!"
Zuri shrugged and stepped out of the way.
Dalia got into the car with her two children and drove away. As she watched the car disappear into the distance, her cold eyes narrowed slightly.
She was merely seeking the truth, yet it was proving to be so difficult.
The more she tried to keep things secret, the more she wanted to uncover the truth.
Brayden stepped forward. "From now on, this is your territory. Guard it well—it has great potential."
"Thank you," Zuri replied.
"No problem, just lending a hand."
Brayden got into the car heading back to the city and dialed Nolan's number.
"Nolan, that girl is tougher than you imagined. I hardly had to lift a finger," Brayden said.
"Oh?" Nolan replied.
"Really. You should have seen her—she reminds me a lot of you back in the day," Brayden teased. "Why are you so invested in her?"
"You already said it—she reminds you of me."
Brayden chuckled, teasing Nolan a bit more before hanging up the phone.
He rubbed his temples and sent a message to Owen.
[Checked in on your little friend. She's doing well.]
These two brothers sure were concerned about this girl.
They had never shown this much care for their own pampered little sister.
#### Windsor Academy
"Have you heard? Zuri has become the chairman of the Lin Group!"
"It's now renamed Jinxiu Group."
"How did she pull that off?!"
"She's no longer the Lin family's pampered daughter—now she's a self-made rich woman."
The moment Zuri entered the classroom, all the previously disdainful, pitying, or gloating glances vanished, replaced by shock and admiration.
Admiration for her capabilities, admiration for her tactics.
Running a company wasn't something to be taken lightly.
Jason walked into the classroom. "Review your work on your own, and don't disturb others."
After saying that, his gaze fell on Zuri. Seeing her still focused on her studies, just as diligently as ever, he felt a sense of relief.
Meanwhile, Dalia and her group headed to the detention center to visit Aaron.
Aaron looked somewhat fatigued, but overall, his mental state appeared stable.
"How did things go?"
The three people before him remained silent.
"Answer me," Aaron's voice deepened, his expression darkening. "Did things not go well?"
Dalia spoke up, "Honey, we can discuss the company's matters later. Let's focus on getting you out first."
Christian echoed, "Dad, the company's not our top priority right now—you are."
Aaron's face darkened further. "Tell me! What happened at the shareholders' meeting? Did they force the Lin family to step down?"
Faced with Aaron's piercing gaze, Christian reluctantly nodded.
"And the result?"
Before Christian could speak, a news report on the hallway TV caught their attention. The local station was airing a story.
"According to reports, the well-known local company, Lin Group, has officially been renamed Jinxiu Group. The chairman, formerly Mr. Aaron, has been replaced by Ms. Zuri..."
Hearing this, Aaron's body swayed, and he pointed a trembling finger at the three of them. "Is it true? Is the Lin Group gone?"
The three remained silent, their heads lowered.
Aaron's gaze swept over them, and suddenly, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed backward.
The three were shocked and panicked.
"Honey!"
"Dad!"
"Dad!"
Their cries filled the chaotic scene.
Aaron was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
As the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. While Christian and Saira returned home to fetch some clothes, they found court enforcement officers surrounding the villa. Several officers, sealing orders in hand, were preparing to confiscate the property.
"What do you think you're doing?" Christian charged forward, shoving one of the officers aside.
"Are you the owner of this house?" the officer asked.
"Yes."
"Here are the seizure documents, detailing the reasons. If you have any objections, you can appeal."
"How can you just seize our home without notifying us first? This is completely against the rules—I'll sue you!"
The officer, remaining calm and professional, replied, "Mr. Aaron, the owner, was notified about this two weeks ago. Today is the final deadline. Please step aside and do not obstruct our duties. If you persist, we have the authority to detain you."
Christian was unwilling to back down, but Saira pulled him back.
"Brother, don't be impulsive."
Saira turned to the officer. "May we at least go inside to grab some clothes?"
"Yes, but only clothes. Everything else has been seized as collateral."
"Thank you."
Two officers followed them inside, monitoring their every move.
Christian looked around, seeing seals plastered on the furniture—the tables, chairs, sofas—and he struggled to contain his frustration, wanting to tear off the infuriating stickers.
As he noticed the officers watching them like hawks, as if they were thieves, his anger flared.
"You can't take that," one officer barked at Saira.
Saira looked innocent. "But this is my personal belonging."
"These items are no longer yours; they've been recorded and are part of the seizure."
Seeing his sister being treated this way, Christian could no longer hold back his rage.
"Why the hell not?"
"If you have any questions, Mr. Lin, you can appeal," the officer calmly replied.
"Appeal my ass!"
Christian lunged forward, landing a punch square on the officer's face, knocking his glasses to the ground. The others quickly stepped in to restrain him.
Christian, like a mad dog, fought back fiercely.
It took three or four people five minutes to finally subdue him.
"Take him away," the officer ordered, rubbing his bleeding lip.
Saira, carrying her suitcase, watched as they took Christian away.
As the car drove off, Saira's face darkened. "What a useless idiot!"
Back at the hospital, Dalia noticed that Saira had returned alone and asked curiously, "Where's Christian?"
Saira briefly explained the situation.
"How could he be so reckless at a time like this!"
Staring at Aaron, still unconscious on the hospital bed, Saira's expression turned even darker. "Mom, the Lin family has fallen. All the properties, the Lin Group shares, and even the shops have been seized. We have no ties to them anymore, so why should we stay here and suffer?"
She was dying for Aaron to die—there was no way she would willingly stay and take care of him.
Looking at her husband on the hospital bed, Dalia hesitated. "Saira, I..."
"Don't tell me you still have feelings for him?! Look at Christian—he existed before you even had me. For all these years, he's had woman after woman outside. Has he ever thought about you? A man like that—what's there to hold on to?" Saira urged.
Leaving him here to fend for himself would be so much better!