Chapter 12
"I know the competition is fierce, but Mr. Wilson, you also know how I work."
Ophelia smiled, playing the relationship card. "Back when I helped the Moore Group optimize the supply chain and saved quite a bit of costs, didn't you praise me at the meeting? The Brown Group's products have advantages in both quality and price. With me handling this, I can definitely make the Moore Group satisfied."
Daniel was silent for a few seconds, probably weighing his options. After a moment, he said, "Alright, tomorrow morning at ten, the café downstairs from the Moore Group building. Let's talk. But I'm telling you upfront - I only look at capability, not favors."
"No problem, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I'll definitely be there on time tomorrow!" Ophelia was thrilled inside. The first step was done.
After hanging up, she had just leaned back in her chair to catch her breath when her phone rang again - another unknown number.
Ophelia frowned, hesitated for a moment, but still answered.
"Ophelia, it's me." Jeffrey's pleading voice came through, with a hint of urgency. "I'm calling from a different number. You blocked me before."
Ophelia's expression instantly turned cold. "Jeffrey, I've made myself very clear. We have nothing to talk about. Are you ever going to stop?"
"Ophelia, I know you're still angry, but Jeffrey Technologies is about to collapse!" Jeffrey's voice was begging. "The internet is full of negative news about us, we've lost more than half our clients, our cash flow is about to break - please help me! If you come back and return the client resources to me, I'll give you half of Jeffrey Technologies' shares. Can we just make it work?"
"Jeffrey, is your brain broken?" Ophelia laughed in anger. "You tricked me into marriage, made me raise your illegitimate daughter, drained my savings and connections, and now that Jeffrey Technologies is failing, you want me to come back and clean up your mess? Impossible!"
"I didn't trick you!" Jeffrey quickly defended himself. "It was all Freya manipulating me. I've always had feelings for you! Ophelia, give me another chance, okay? Kaida needs a mother, too!"
"Don't mention Kaida to me." Ophelia's tone was ice-cold. "She has Freya, her real mother. She doesn't need me, an outsider. Last warning - sign the equity transfer agreement and send it to me within three days, or I'll tell your parents about your bigamy and marriage fraud, and let the media report it properly. I'll make sure you're completely ruined."
With that, she hung up directly and blocked this number too without hesitation.
Looking at the street scene flying past the window, Ophelia felt no emotion, only finding Jeffrey increasingly ridiculous - even at this point, he was still trying to scheme against her.
Ophelia went straight back to the villa William had rented for her.
As soon as she walked in, her phone received an email from Chase - it was the cooperation proposal from the Brown Group for the Moore Group.
She opened her computer and started reading carefully.
The cooperation proposal was very detailed. You could tell the Brown Group had really put in the time.
Ophelia read while taking notes.
Before she knew it, it was evening. Her stomach was growling, and she realized she hadn't eaten all day.
Walking into the kitchen, she opened the fridge. Inside were plenty of fresh ingredients - vegetables, meat, fruits, all well-stocked. Nolan must have prepared them in advance.
Ophelia smiled. She rolled up her sleeves, made a few simple dishes, and that was dinner sorted.
After eating, Ophelia casually piled the dishes in the sink, wiped her mouth, and sat back down at the computer.
The cooperation proposal still had a few details to revise. For tomorrow's talk with Daniel, she needed to anticipate all possible questions in advance.
She rubbed her slightly sore eyes, picked up her phone to check - no important messages - then tossed it back on the desk and continued typing away at the computer.
Meanwhile, in Jeffrey Technologies' CEO office, Freya was anxiously scrolling through her phone.
She had asked her assistant to check on Ophelia's whereabouts, but there'd been no reply for ages, making her increasingly panicked.
That maintenance worker had taken the money and said he'd definitely make something happen to Ophelia, but it was already afternoon, and there was no news at all.
Had something gone wrong?
The more Freya thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She picked up her phone and called the maintenance worker again - still no answer.
"Useless! All useless!"
She cursed under her breath, threw her phone on the desk, her chest heaving violently.
She couldn't accept Ophelia being alive. Once Ophelia came back for revenge, she and Jeffrey would be finished.
"Freya, what's wrong? You look terrible."
Jeffrey pushed the door open, holding a document. Seeing her like this, he asked casually.
"Nothing." Freya quickly composed herself and forced a smile. "Just a bit worried about the company."
Jeffrey sighed and put the document on the desk. "Don't overthink it. If it really comes to it, we'll just transfer the company and protect our principal."
"No!" Freya immediately objected. "We worked so hard to build this company. How can we just transfer it out?"
She knew clearly that without Jeffrey Technologies, she'd be nothing, and Jeffrey might not treat her so well anymore.
Jeffrey frowned. "Then what do you want to do? Ophelia is pressing us at every turn; we've lost more than half our clients - we can't hold on anymore."
"There'll be a way," Freya said through gritted teeth, a hint of ruthlessness in her eyes. "As long as Ophelia is gone, everything will get better."
Jeffrey didn't catch her implication, just thought she was panicking, and shook his head. "I'll go handle some things. You calm down."
After Jeffrey left, Freya sat in her chair, the unease in her heart growing stronger.
She took out her phone, found a long-buried number, hesitated for a few seconds, then dialed it.
"Hello, I need you to check on someone." After the call connected, Freya lowered her voice. "Ophelia - find out if she was in a car accident today and how she is."
"Also, keep an eye on her. Where she goes next, who she meets - tell me everything."
After hanging up, Freya leaned back in her chair, her fingers unconsciously tapping the desk.
Not long after, the other party sent back a message with a photo - it was Ophelia getting out of a Maybach, with the caption: "She's fine. Was picked up by a Maybach, suspected to have gone to a villa in the suburbs."
Seeing the photo, Freya's eyes instantly turned red, jealousy and anger gnawing at her heart like venomous snakes.
Not dead! Ophelia really didn't die!
And Ophelia was picked up in a Maybach - clearly she had found a new backer!
Why? She, Freya, had been so careful, schemed so much, yet ended up living in constant fear, while Ophelia always managed to turn danger into safety with someone protecting her.
This wasn't fair!
Freya suddenly stood up, her eyes frighteningly vicious.
Since the car accident didn't kill you, then I'll ruin you!
She dialed that number again. "Find me someone reliable to follow and photograph Ophelia. Whoever she meets, get pictures - the more suggestive, the better."