Chapter 166

ARIA

We rushed through Grant Group's lobby, my heart pounding. Emma had gone too far this time. Not just showing up with my parents, but doing it at this critical moment.

The elevator doors opened, and I heard laughter from the executive floor—totally different from the usual serious atmosphere. What the hell? This wasn't the Grant Group I knew.

I stepped into the conference area and stopped dead. Richard and Elaine—my birth parents—stood in the center, surrounded by smiling board members. Emma hovered beside them, wearing that smug smile I wanted to slap off her face.

Then I saw him. Matthew.

"Oh my God," Olivia whispered behind me, voice breaking. "That's my brother!"

Blake's hand tightened around mine. Matthew, my ex-fiancé who'd been missing for six months, stood there looking completely fine. No signs of captivity. No brainwashing. Nothing.

"Our Emma has always been exceptional," Richard announced, beaming with pride. "Everyone, please support my daughter!"

My daughter. Those words cut deeper than any knife could. My own father, calling her his daughter right in front of me.

The directors nodded eagerly. Even those who'd previously supported me were changing sides right before my eyes.

"Miss Grant is brilliant and extremely capable," a silver-haired director said. "We're confident with her taking the helm."

I couldn't move. A few days ago, these exact people had pledged their support to me. Now, seeing the Grants backing Emma, they jumped ship instantly. Bunch of spineless jerks.

Emma spotted us and her smile widened. "Aria! You're just in time. I was introducing everyone to the Chief Medical Officer of Redwood Medical Center, Mr. Matthew Redwood."

Olivia pushed past me, storming straight to Matthew. She planted herself in front of him, arms crossed, tears streaming. "You disappear for months and this is how you show up? With her?"

The room went silent. Everyone watched, hungry for drama.

"Hello, sister," Matthew said coolly. "Still so emotional, I see."

"Stay away from that woman," Olivia warned, clearly meaning Emma. "She's not who you think."

Emma's fake smile faltered, annoyance flashing across her face.

"Miss Grant isn't what you describe," Matthew stated firmly. "I've been with her these past six months. She's genuinely kind. Richard and Elaine made the right choice selecting her to lead the family business."

Six months. The entire time he was "missing," he was with Emma.

Matthew turned to me, his eyes cold as ice. "Aria, you already own Nouvelle Group. Why are you so greedy, trying to grab Grant family assets too? Don't you think that's excessive?"

His words hit hard. I stood there, feeling the blood drain from my face. Who was this person? The Matthew I knew would never speak to anyone this way.

Emma gave me a sympathetic look so fake it made me sick: "Aria, I understand your position. You want to prove yourself. Maybe we should let a fair competition determine who's more qualified?"

"Enough!" Blake cut in sharply, pulling me behind him. "Emma, drop the act. It's disgusting."

Emma's face paled momentarily before she recovered, putting on a hurt expression.

I straightened my back while supporting Olivia, who was shaking. My voice came out tense but steady: "Matthew, did you really mean what you just said?"

Matthew looked straight at me: "Every single word."

He continued addressing the board: "Redwood Medical Center will fully support Emma. Board members shouldn't worry about consequences for backing her. As the top medical institution on the East Coast, we have enough power and influence to ensure your safety."

The directors whispered excitedly. I caught someone saying: "Emma must be something special, winning over Aria's fiancé too."

"Ex-fiancé," another corrected, "but yeah, when your own parents and ex choose someone else over you... that says something."

Their words stung. I bit the inside of my cheek hard.

Olivia completely lost it: "Matthew, what the hell! Do you not want me as your sister anymore?"

Matthew responded coldly: "I make my own decisions, Olivia. We should go our separate ways."

I squeezed Olivia's trembling hand: "I won't come between you two. But today makes everything clear." I turned to Emma and the directors: "When the results come in, we'll see who's really qualified."

I had to get out of there before I fell apart: "Blake, we're leaving."

Outside the building, Olivia couldn't stop crying, constantly looking back. "I can't just walk away! Matthew must be under some spell, just as Richard and Elaine are!"

"Olivia," I said, my eyes burning, "Matthew is helping Emma on purpose. What I saw in his eyes wasn't confusion—it was cold calculation. He knows exactly what he's doing."

This devastated her even more: "How is this happening? He's my brother! I thought Emma might be controlling him, but he seems happier with her than he ever was with us!"

Suddenly, Olivia broke free: "I don't care, I'm going back right now!" She wiped her tears and started marching back toward the building.

"Olivia, stop," I grabbed her arm. "Going back will only humiliate you more."

Kevin appeared out of nowhere and caught Olivia firmly: "She's too upset right now. I'll take her somewhere to calm down before bringing her home."

I nodded gratefully: "Thanks, Kevin. Take care of her."

With Olivia still protesting, Kevin led her to his car and drove off.

I slid into the car beside Blake. He opened his mouth to speak but stopped when he saw my face. I closed my eyes, leaning back, my mind racing.

Why was Matthew acting this way? Even when he opposed me before, he maintained basic decency. It was his mother who tried to destroy me, not him.

I remembered how he saved me from freezing to death, helped me at the Scott family dinner, and secretly supported me and the twins when Blake shut me out.

Was it because I ended up with Blake? But before our wedding, neither of us had wronged Matthew. So where was this hatred coming from?

I felt something nagging at my subconscious when my phone rang. Unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Aria! You picked up!" Emma's voice came through. "You left without saying goodbye, and you looked so upset. Are you okay?"

I said nothing. Emma continued: "I just wanted you and Matthew to reconnect. I never thought he'd say such harsh things. Don't take it personally."

Emma's voice dripped with fake concern: "I only wanted to help rebuild your relationship. We all know how close you two were."

I let the silence hang for a moment, then: "Emma, cut the crap. We both know what you're doing."

I laid it out: "You arranged this meeting to throw me off before the LG-Nouvelle negotiations. You wanted to upset me and cause problems between Blake and me."

"If you actually cared, you would've arranged for me to meet Matthew privately six months ago, not ambush me in public today."

I felt stronger with each word: "But your plan backfired. This only makes me more determined to beat you at everything—business and personal."

Emma's sweet façade shattered, her voice turning sharp: "You? Beat me? Have you forgotten how pathetic you looked just now? Have you forgotten three years ago when I nearly destroyed you?"

"I remember everything you did," I replied calmly. "Back then, I didn't want to fight you. Now, you don't stand a chance against me."

As she started screeching, I hung up and tossed my phone aside.

Blake watched me carefully: "You okay?"

"No," I admitted, taking a deep breath. "But I will be. This war has just started."

I stared straight ahead, jaw clenched tight enough to crack teeth.