Gavin was practically tearing his hair out. "Every single one of you is useless! This is a huge deal, and not one of you can handle it...?" His assistant just gave a sly smile.


    A shiver ran down Gavin''s spine as realization hit him. His sharp eyes widened in shock, and his old body slumped into the chair.


    Nathan and the bigwigs at Rond Inc had teamed up to take over the Rond Corporation. How could he have missed such an obvious y?


    His gut told him Nathan had others in his pocket too.


    For the first time, the usually unppable Gavin felt the full weight of Nathan''s threat.


    "Nathan, Nathan."


    "Your ns are ruthless."


    Meanwhile, Nathalie swung by her local diner, picking up Nathan''s favorite vegetable and lean meat soup, plus a few boxes of pastries, before heading to the hospital.


    But as she turned a corner, someone jumped out of the shadows. Before she could even scream, they mped a hand over her mouth and knocked her out cold with a blow to the head. Her phone started ringing just then.


    The attacker picked it up and tossed it into a trash can nearby.


    The soup and pastries were left scattered on the ground.


    Nathalie had no idea how long she''d been out. When she came to, she found herself tied to a chair, her legs and arms bound, mouth taped shut.


    Standing in front of her was a familiar face.


    Nathalie tried to yell through the tape.


    The man turned, ring at her with pure malice. "Nathalie, do you know? The Rond family''s hundred-year legacy is about to go bankrupt." Benjamin looked like he was on the edge,ughing and crying all at once.


    Nathalie''s eyes were full of


    confusion. The Ronds were the richest family in the Capital. If they were going down, it should have been a slow decline, not this sudden crash.


    It was mind-boggling.


    a


    "It''s all Nathan''s doing. Maple Company, the Yasso Group-they were both his. He controlled everything, from raw materials to finished products, ying me like fool with his information and timing. How could he be so heartless? The Rond family is his family too, right?"


    Nathalie felt like the Ronds had iting.


    They had bullied Nathan, after all.


    The hardships Nathan went through as a kid were now being repaid by the Ronds. It seemed fair. Benjamin ripped the tape from Nathalie''s mouth. "Tell me, why does Nathan hate us so much?"


    "Your mom sold Nathan. It was a terrible thing to do. You guys deserve everything you''re getting."


    Benjamin snapped back, "My mom never sold him. Nathan got severe depression and anorexia after he saw his mom jump off a building. My dad sent him to live with


    rtives in the countryside toel


    got


    him heal. After a few years, he better, and my dad brought him back. How can you be so sure my


    mom sold him?"


    Nathalie chose to believe Nathan, to trust what she had seen with her own eyes. She didn''t buy a word Benjamin said. Benjamin got desperate. "You don''t believe me?"


    He pped his hands, and a kind-looking elderly woman walked in, holding a photo album.


    "Nathalie, this is Aunt Yan. She took care of Nathan in the countryside. If you don''t believe me, ask her if I''m lying."


    Nathalie looked at the gentle old woman. "Do you know Nathan?"