CHAPTER 478: JUST AS EXPECTED

Selina went straight upstairs after speaking, sitting down in a chair and taking several deep breaths.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she frowned.

For the past few days, everything she’d eaten or drunk had been provided by Jacob. She worried that if she kept consuming Jacob’s food, her appearance would never return to normal.

Jacob wanted her to wear Sophia’s face for the rest of her life—but Selina refused.

She had to find a way to leave. But if she left, where would she go...?

Pressing her lips together, Selina’s eyes suddenly lit up. She opened her laptop and logged into a dark web hacker hub under her Luna identity.

...

Meanwhile, over at the Foster Family estate, Aiden’s phone buzzed twice.

He glanced down, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Selina had asked him to come to Sapphire Valley Villa tomorrow afternoon... What for? Couldn’t she just say what she needed? Why the mystery?

...

The next morning, just as Jacob had predicted, the headlines of every major news and finance outlet were plastered with phrases like "Logan to Step Down" and "Logan Removed from Office."

Jacob handed over a newspaper, and after skimming it, Selina said flatly, "I’m going out this afternoon."

"You want to go out, of course you can. I haven’t restricted your freedom these days."

Selina replied casually, "I’m going to Sapphire Valley Villa."

Jacob’s gaze darkened sharply, then he smiled. "And under what identity are you going?"

Selina blinked innocently. "Hmm, that’s true—it wouldn’t be appropriate if I went as Selina. But what if I went as a Carter Family member?"

Her tone was light, almost playful. "I’ve heard Old Mr. Carter wants to reconcile with Logan. Tsk... does he know you’re still scheming against him behind the scenes? Oh, of course he does—because you couldn’t pull off all this on your own. You must be working with Grandpa Carter."

"But no matter how you conspire in secret, appearances must still be kept. Logan’s been removed from his post, and as his former family, it would only be proper for me to visit him on behalf of the Carter Family. Any problem with that?"

"In fact, it makes the Carter Family look good. Shows they haven’t forgotten the foster son who lived under their roof. A nice gesture, wouldn’t you say?"

Jacob’s smile vanished completely. "You’ve thought this through."

Selina smiled sweetly. "So, Carter sir, do you approve of me going to Sapphire Valley Villa tomorrow afternoon?"

...

Meanwhile, at Sapphire Valley Villa—

Jaxon’s face was dark. "Sir, the Reid Family has made their move. They’ve officially removed you, paving the way for Owen to step into the role."

Jack stared at the list of those who had voted in support of Logan’s removal—many of them were people Logan himself had cultivated over the years. He never imagined they would betray him so openly.

Logan, however, didn’t look the least bit rattled. He glanced lazily at the list and said, "Some of these people I suspected from the start. Now they’ve all exposed themselves. Isn’t that convenient?"

"But..." Jack bit back the rest of his words.

But sir, you’ve been removed! You’ve been removed—how can you do anything about them now? That’s why they’re so bold, why they’re not even pretending anymore—they’ve shown their true faces.

"So, sir, what’s your plan now?" Jack finally asked.

Logan gave a slow, almost amused smile. "No rush."

Let them trip over their own lies. What’s the hurry?

Jack frowned. "Sir... do you know something?"

Logan’s eyes dropped slightly.

Jacob had gone to great lengths to put that imposter at his side. If it were only to steal Selina away, that would be child’s play.

No—Jacob’s true goal had always been the behemoth that was Reid Group.

That imposter, posing as Selina, had supported the board of directors—and surely fabricated lies: that Logan had disgraced himself, that he was unfit to lead, that his "mistakes" had caused major losses.

And for every alleged "mistake," there was a scapegoat conveniently lined up.

Soon enough, Logan’s suspicions were confirmed.

"Sir, three members of Reid Group’s board are here. They’d like to... discuss something with you," Miller Butler’s face was tight with discomfort, his voice strained as he forced the words out, "Discuss when you plan to step away from Reid Group."

Logan’s smile cooled.

...

The three board members stepped into Sapphire Valley Villa, exchanging wary glances. Fear flickered briefly in their eyes, but the promise Owen had made them steadied their nerves. They swallowed their unease and walked deeper inside.

Logan was sitting calmly in the reception room, sipping tea.

That composed, unhurried posture made it impossible to tell this was a man who’d just been suspended from his own company.

Reid Group was his life’s work. And yet now, he’d been sidelined, his authority stripped, everything meant to be handed over to someone else.

But on his face—not a flicker of anger.

"Sit," Logan said lightly, as though these three weren’t here to push him out. His tone was casual. "Miller Butler, make some tea. What would you three like to drink?"

The board members glanced at one another. "Just water will do."

Then they turned back to Logan. "Logan, we’ve watched you build Reid Group step by step over the years. We know the company is your blood and sweat."

Logan’s expression didn’t change, and they couldn’t tell if he was even listening.

One director carefully continued, "When Reid Group was smaller, we let certain... indulgences slide. But now Reid Group is one of the top enterprises in the country. If you keep running it like a one-man show—isn’t that a bit inappropriate?"

At first listen, the words almost sounded like well-meaning advice, spoken for the sake of the company.

But in truth, every sentence was a trap.

"Yes," another director chimed in. "Mr. Reid, three years ago, Manager Lewis made a major mistake that cost Reid Group a 3-billion-yuan partnership. It all ended with Lewis resigning, but in reality—that mistake was yours. Lewis was nothing more than the scapegoat you pushed forward."

"We know all about these things now."

"There are plenty more, Mr. Reid. Are you sure you want us to go through them one by one?"

The reception room fell into heavy silence.

Logan slowly set down his teacup and let a faint smile tug at his lips.

"I wonder," he said evenly, "who told you all of this?"

The directors exchanged looks.

"That’s something we can’t disclose," one finally said. "But these things are true, Mr. Reid. That’s not something you can deny, is it?"

"If I didn’t do it," Logan replied, his fingers lacing together as he leaned back on the sofa, utterly relaxed as though he wasn’t the one being cornered, "why would I hesitate to deny it?"

"Since you’re all so certain," his tone was cool, unhurried, "what evidence do you have?"

The directors frowned.

All of this had come straight from Mrs. Reid’s mouth—so even if there were minor inaccuracies, the core of it had to be true!

Besides, Owen had promised them plenty. If Logan refused to step down, how could they explain themselves to the Reid Family?

Thinking this, one of the directors’ tone hardened. "There will be evidence!"

"There will be?" Logan chuckled softly.

Then his eyes drifted upward—catching sight of someone coming down the stairs.

His gaze sharpened, voice curling with meaning.

"Selina," he said, "you’re awake?"