Chapter 263 Shifting Currents

Scarlett’s voice was calm, unhurried.

Finished

“The Joyner family is bankrupt. Everyone else is drowning in debts and ridicule–yet somehow you, Oliver, stand unscathed.”

Oliver’s

eyes widened.

“So you think I was hiding on purpose?”

Scarlett’s lips curved in a cold smile. “Isn’t that exactly what you did?”

The words cut him to the bone.

So in her heart, he had already been sentenced long ago.

Scarlett watched his face crumple, watched him teeter on the edge of copse, and found it almostughable. To her, it was nothing but an act.

She lifted her foot and walked away, unwilling to waste another word.

Oliver moved to chase her, but the guards barred his way. He could only watch helplessly as she disappeared into the distance, never once looking back.

That simple fact struck harder than any words.

Now he understood.

When Scarlett said she had severed ties, she had meant it.

She truly wanted nothing more to do with the Joyners.

June in Jandale brought a growing heat, but nothingpared to the inferno of the business world.

Scarlett sat in the top–floor office of Star Corp, a Lane Group subsidiary. Her fingers brushed across the Kramer family’s preliminary proposal for the new energy project, her gaze steady with quiet calction.

The rift between the Kramer and Fletcher families had been her move–a brilliant one.

The Kramers now needed powerful allies, and Star Corp, under her direction, was the perfect

fit.

Chapter 263 Shifting Currents

Everything was falling neatly into ce.

Until her fingers stilled.

Finished

Her brows drew together as she recalled what she had seen at the banquet–Aurora chatting warmly with Roberto, the adopted son of Samuel Kramer.

Roberto was not blood, yet he held weight in the family, especially in the energy sector.

Scarlett had only just begun pushing the project forward herself, and Owen had spared no resources for her. Enough to draw envy.

But envy was nothingpared to sabotage.

A knock at the door.

Her assistant entered, face taut.

“The Kramer family… something’s off. Mr. Zander, who’s been our contact, suddenly turned vague today. He mentioned Mr. Samuel’s health isn’t well. A lot of decisions are now in the hands of Mr. Roberto and… Ms. Aurora.”

Scarlett’s heart sank.

Samuel unwell? Impossible. She had just received his firm, lucid emails days ago. She had personally guided his recovery—his health should only be improving.

The assistant hesitated, then added, “And the Madam asked me to tell you… Aurora has been meeting the old matriarch frequently these days.”

Scarlett leaned back, her eyes sharp as des.

“They want to steal the project? Then they’d better prove they have the ability.”

She pulled out her phone, fingers flying.

First, a message to her brother, Taylor:

“The Kramer project is shifting. Aurora’s involved. Watch Roberto closely and keep an eye on Grandmother.”

Taylor’s reply came instantly:

“Got it. Whoever dares touch what’s yours, I’ll make him regret being born.”

Blunt, but it warmed her chest.

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Chapter 263 Shifting Currents

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Finished

Then she wrote to Jack: “Check two things: one, whether Samuel’s been manipted; two, who Aurora has been using, who she’s approached that could sway the Kramers.”

Jack replied in seconds: “Rx. With me on the job, I’ll strip it all clean in no time!”

A momentter, he called, chuckling.

“Not that I doubt you, but someone here is breathing down my neck, insisting I ask how you’re doing.”

Scarlett smiled despite herself.

“I expected this. I’m not worried.”

“Pass a message to Mr. Fletcher,” she added softly. “The Fletcher family’s medicine should re in about a week. If he wants answers, that’s when he’ll

that’s when he’ll get them.”

Jack sighed. “Even now, you worry about others more than yourself.”

Then he teased, “Oh right—your Mr. Fletcher isn’t really ‘others,’ is he?”

The lightness in his voice eased the tightness in her chest.

But that afternoon, the real blow came.

Her phone rang. Roberto’s voice was polite but distant.

“About the project… my foster father’s health isn’t great. I’m handling many matters in his stead. Ms. Aurora has also presented some new proposals. We thought… perhaps a fairpetition would be best.”

“Fairpetition?” Scarlett’s smile sharpened.

“Mr. Roberto, in all my exchanges with Mr. Samuel, the words ‘fairpetition‘ were never once mentioned. And Ms. Aurora–she isn’t a Kramer. Whichpany exactly do her proposals represent?”

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