Chapter 154: Her Decisive Act

Meanwhile, Su San remained alone in her office.

Silence settled over the room after Richard’s departure.

She lowered her gaze to the stack of documents on her desk.

For a long moment, she simply stared at them, her fingers resting lightly on the cover page as though weighing an invisible choice.

Then, without a trace of hesitation, she rose from her chair.

She walked to the shredder tucked discreetly against the wall.

One page.

Then another.

The machine came alive with a low mechanical hum, greedily devouring each sheet she fed into it.

One by one, the pages disappeared between the spinning steel blades before spilling into the collection bin below as countless white ribbons.

No matter how thoroughly she destroyed these copies, it would change nothing.

If Richard truly intended to bring her down, all he had to do was hand the digital copies to Morgan Foster.

The evidence would speak for itself.

A faint, weary sigh escaped her lips.

Richard had always been a contradiction in her life.

He admired her. He hated her.

Perhaps both with equal measure.

When his parents were still alive, she had been the aunt who indulged his whims, celebrated his victories, and quietly spoiled him whenever his mother wasn’t looking.

But after tragedy left only her branch, and Richard, she had no choice but to harden her heart.

Kindness could no longer shelter him. Softness would have destroyed him.

So she became the villain in his eyes, bearing every ounce of his resentment if it meant forcing him to become strong enough to survive the world waiting outside her protection.

Her gaze lingered on the last slivers of paper as they disappeared into the shredder.

Only when the machine fell silent did she press the concealed button beneath her desk.

The office door unlocked with a soft click.

Her secretary stepped inside almost immediately.

"Madam Chairman."

"Stacey," Su San said evenly, "schedule a meeting with Morgan Foster."

"Yes, Madam Chairman."

After Stacey left, the office fell silent once more.

Su San leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

She had made her decision. She would not leave Novare. The time wasn’t right.

Reaching for her phone, Su San dialed a number she had long since committed to memory.

The call connected on the second ring.

"Sandra."

For the briefest instant, a ripple disturbed her otherwise impassive expression.

Only one man in the world still addressed her by that name.

Max.

Years ago, fate had crossed their paths when she had unknowingly saved his life. In return, the man had pledged his loyalty to her—a life repaid with a life.

He had never broken that promise.

"Max."

His voice was as calm and steady as she remembered, carrying the quiet confidence of a man who had seen violence so often that very little could unsettle him.

"I was expecting your call."

"Explain what happened with Isobel."

There was no anger in her voice. That made it all the more dangerous.

"The police arrived earlier than expected," Max replied matter-of-factly. "The men I hired panicked. The moment the officers moved in, they assumed they were being set up. The firefight wasn’t part of the plan."

Su San’s eyes narrowed.

"I listened to the recording."

Her voice turned colder.

"They intended to harm her."

A brief silence followed.

"I’m sorry," Max admitted. "My instructions were clear—frighten her, restrain her if necessary, and bring her back alive."

His tone remained steady, devoid of excuses.

"But panic makes fools of men. Once bullets started flying, survival became their only priority. Cornered men don’t think. They shoot."

Su San’s hand tightened around the phone until her knuckles turned white.

"Morgan Foster and Kristoff Dalton are investigating the incident."

"I know."

She frowned.

"Tell me, Max... why would men like Morgan Foster and Kristoff Dalton go to such lengths to protect one girl?"

Another moment of silence.

"Isn’t she just an orphan?"

"That’s what we believed."

Su San’s gaze drifted toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the glittering skyline.

"But ordinary orphans don’t attract men like them."

Her voice grew thoughtful.

"They don’t risk their lives for an ordinary girl."

"No," Max agreed quietly. "They don’t."

"There’s something about Isobel we don’t know."

"And until we find out what that is," Max said, "every move against her becomes a gamble."

Su San slowly exhaled.

"What are your orders now, Sandra?"

Her answer came without hesitation.

"Nothing."

She looked out over the city, her expression unreadable.

"Don’t do anything. Don’t touch her."

A faint smile tugged at one corner of her lips.

"Not until we know exactly who she is."

...

That afternoon, Morgan Foster received an unexpected visitor.

The moment his secretary informed him who it was, even he looked mildly surprised.

"Send her in."

A few moments later, the door swung open.

Su San entered with her usual quiet dignity, dressed in an impeccably tailored charcoal-gray suit that reflected neither extravagance nor modesty—only authority.

Morgan rose from behind his desk.

"Madam Su San." A courteous smile crossed his face as they exchanged a firm handshake. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Once they were seated, he added with genuine curiosity,

"As far as I can recall, the only business between our companies is the collaboration Richard has been handling on your niece’s behalf."

"This isn’t about business."

Her voice was calm. Almost too calm.

Morgan’s brows drew together slightly.

"Then what brings you here?"

Su San did not answer immediately.

Instead, she lowered her eyes to the untouched cup of tea Morgan’s secretary had placed beside her.

Her fingers lightly traced the rim of the porcelain cup without lifting it.

Morgan felt that she appeared to be searching for the right words.

That alone made him uneasy. Silence stretched between them.

Morgan was not a man who rushed conversations.

Years of negotiating billion-dollar deals had taught him that silence often revealed more than words.

Still...

When several more seconds slipped by, he instinctively glanced at the watch on his wrist before returning his attention to her.

Su San finally spoke.

"You’re investigating Isobel Lancey’s kidnapping."

It wasn’t phrased as a question.

Morgan slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers.

How could she knew about that incident?