Chapter 193
Daryl frowned, his expression extremely unpleasant.
Michael at his peak?
With a cold laugh, Daryl spoke again, "Looking at Michael's current situation, his only private asset is Starshine Entertainment. Once he loses his shares in the Smith Group, he'll be kicked out of the Smith family. With just an entertainment company, he'll basically have nothing."
Michael's entertainment business was indeed an industry leader, but it still couldn't compare to the Smith Group.
Once Michael was expelled from the Smith Group and kicked out of the Smith family, it meant he'd go from being the high-and-mighty president of the Smith Group to a startup entrepreneur with nothing.
With the Smith Group's capabilities, crushing Michael's Starshine Entertainment would be too easy.
Moreover, once Nolan took that final step and started settling scores with Michael, he would definitely be wary of his son climbing back over his head.
Because Nolan knew exactly what Michael was capable of, Nolan would definitely go after Michael's personal businesses to make sure Michael could never rise again.
Nora clenched her fingers, "He's Michael. The Smith Group is what it is today because of Michael. Without Michael, what is the Smith Group?"
Nora had great confidence in Michael, but she was afraid he would really face all this.
He was the son of the legitimate wife, and the heir named in Vance's will. These things should have belonged to Michael, but if Nolan was determined to use his methods, he could completely take them away.
At least until Nolan died, Michael would be forever suppressed by Nolan.
Taking a deep breath, Nora clenched her fingers.
She needed to clear the obstacles for Michael as soon as possible. Nolan was just warning Michael for now.
That's why he suspended him for this so-called rest.
If Michael still wouldn't obediently listen, then the next step would be for Nolan to take away his shares and seize everything that belonged to Michael.
"You certainly have confidence in Michael, but unfortunately Michael is isolated and helpless. I'm waiting to see what happens to him." Daryl leaned back in his chair, his voice indifferent.
"What do you want to do?" Nora looked up at Daryl, her breath tightened.
These rich people always seemed to have this attitude, looking down on everything from on high.
As if having money, power, and status meant they could trample on others' dignity at will.
Then again, in the face of money, what was dignity worth?
"Right now, Michael hasn't reached a dead end yet." Daryl tapped the table, "Since Milo likes you, I hope you can let Milo stay with you for a while. After the wedding banquet, I'll be living in Emerald City long-term, and I hope you can come work for me by taking care of Milo."
"Impossible!" Nora snapped. "I'm Mr. Smith's personal assistant, and I have my own son." Nora refused directly.
"Do you think Michael has any chance of returning to the company?" Daryl laughed, "You don't understand the unwritten rules of the business world. Did you see the news the Clark family leaked to the media today?"
Nora nervously took out her phone, she hadn't looked at the news all day.
On the trending topics, the media had posted photos of Nolan meeting with Pearl's parents, with a caption saying the two families' marriage was imminent.
Clearly, Nolan was making it obvious he wanted Michael to give in and marry Aria.
Once Michael insisted on not marrying Aria.
The consequences were obvious.
Taking a panicked deep breath, Nora actually felt suffocated for Michael.
This so-called vacation might be her and Michael's last celebration.
After the vacation, either Michael would compromise, end this brief and ridiculous marriage with her, and marry Aria or Michael would persist in fighting to the end, completely break with Nolan, leave the Smith Group, and start his own business.
But if he really took the second path, it meant Michael would face unprecedented challenges and storms.
Very likely, his own businesses would also be severely affected.
Taking a deep breath, Nora slowly put down her phone and spoke with her head lowered, "What does Mr. Fields mean?"
"You know Michael's situation very well. I'll give you time to think about it. It's your luck that Milo likes you. Come work for me, and I can give you all the treatment Michael can give you. Leave Michael." Daryl handed Nora his business card.
"Compared to the Clark family, I believe the Fields family would be a better choice for Nolan. After all, businessmen care more about profit, and the Fields family can offer Nolan higher value and benefits." Daryl could help Michael, but Michael wouldn't marry Aria—he would marry the Fields family's daughter.
"You want Michael to marry your sister Tessa?" Nora looked at Daryl.
This brother really broke his heart for a sister with no blood relation.
"Michael can choose—either choose my Fields family's real daughter, or choose Tessa. I'm being generous enough with him." Daryl put on a very magnanimous appearance.
It seemed like he was giving Michael two choices.
But everyone knew the Fields family's real daughter couldn't be found.
"Isn't the Fields family's real daughter lost?" Nora asked quietly.
"One year deadline. If we can find my sister, and she hasn't married or had children, Michael marries her, the Fields family connects with the Smith Group through marriage, and if Nolan wants to take Michael's shares, he'll have to think carefully." Daryl spoke again.
"If within a year we find my sister and she's already married, or if we haven't found my sister within a year, Michael must marry Tessa either way."
In reality, Daryl just wanted Michael to marry Tessa.
His real sister was just an excuse.
"You're really such a good brother." Nora laughed sarcastically.
Reaching out to pick up the business card on the table, Nora looked down at Milo sleeping in her arms, "Take good care of Milo. Children need to be coaxed."
"I'll give you time to think about it." Daryl carefully took Milo. He was waiting for Nora to come find him.
It wouldn't be long now.
Whether Michael compromised and agreed to marry Aria, or fought Nolan to the end, Nora would come begging him.
Because Aria wouldn't tolerate Nora.
And if Michael had nothing, he couldn't protect Nora either.
If Nora wanted a new backer, the Fields family was definitely a better choice than Walter.
"Mr. Fields, aren't you being too polite to her?" As soon as Nora left, an assistant came over and handed Daryl the investigation materials.
Daryl didn't know why either, but he was so interested in Nora that he had people investigate everything about her in detail.
"Michael is no ordinary man. If he's interested in Nora and treats her so specially and protectively, it's definitely not just because of her body and face." Daryl said lightly, carefully reading through Nora's resume and experiences.
As he read, Daryl's expression became frighteningly dark.
Even though he didn't like Nora, he still felt regret and sympathy.
A woman who fell from high places into the mud—the former talented woman of Emerald City, what a waste.
Such a waste it made people sigh.
The former Nora had grades that were jaw-droppingly good, first place in everything.
With such good conditions, she should have been a shining star, but forced by life's circumstances, she became what she was now.
And she even went to prison for five years for extortion.
What a waste.