I stood there. It felt like the world had decided to turn against me. Even the temperature in the room was merciless—it was oppressively hot.

I began to stare at the board of directors. They all had different gazes; some were filled with pity, others mocking, and some guilt-ridden. But one thing was for sure—none of them was willing to help.

Saving my father was the most important thing. I took a deep breath, suppressing my anger, and spoke softly, “Appointing a new president has nothing to do with my father's bank card. Why was it frozen?”

I stared directly at Uncle Ryan, like a lawyer interrogating a culprit.

My uncle rubbed his beard, his lips curling slightly as he said, “The company is in trouble. We can't afford to waste money on unnecessary things.”

“What?!” I stumbled backward, my eyes wide open, my chest heaving. I pointed an accusing finger at him.

“Unnecessary things? My father is lying in the hospital, battling for his life. How is that a waste of money?”

Ryan, as if my father were a stranger to him, positioned himself comfortably in his seat and said indifferently, “Of course, it’s a waste of money. I heard the surgery costs seven million cedis. Do you know what that amount could do for the company?”

I squinted my eyes in frustration. “When my father took over the company, it was on the verge of collapsing. If not for him, would it have gotten this far?”

One of the shareholders, Mr. Jude—my father's trusted friend—chimed in. “Seven million cedis is a lot, but saving Mr. Blay is priceless. Why not release the money to her?”

Ryan sighed in frustration, feigning a worried expression. “It’s not like we’re disregarding his life,” he said. “But now the stock has fallen greatly, and withdrawing this amount of money could put the company at risk.”

He gestured with his hands, mimicking the company’s condition, then paused and continued, “How about this? Let’s wait for the company to stabilize; then, we can withdraw the money.”

He stared at me. His tone wasn’t suggesting; his words were final.

His words shattered all my hope. He wasn’t willing to help. Did he actually want my father dead?

“He is your brother,” I couldn’t help but blurt out.

“It’s because he’s my brother that I said he should wait until the company becomes stable. I know my brother well enough to believe he’d want us to focus on saving the company. He’s strong; he won't die,” Ryan said. His face was full of concern, but I could see the coldness beneath his eyes.

The board of directors agreed with him. They all suggested waiting until the company became stable. I clenched my fists, scanning the room as I gritted my teeth. “Very good. Very good,” I said, my voice cracking as I struggled to hold back tears.

I couldn’t stand their hypocritical faces any longer, so I left the hall.

---

…Ryan’s POV…

Staring at Jasmine’s retreating back, my eyes grew cold. It was like a devil staring at his prey. I felt delighted. For once, the spotlight would be mine. Without him overshadowing me, they’d finally see my worth.

My younger brother had always outshone me, dimming my light and making it difficult for people to notice my capabilities and strength.

Now I could prove to the world how capable I am.

Oh, Father, how I wish you were alive to see my strength. Don’t worry. Your son will soon join you, and he will tell you everything.

I once loved my brother; he was my everything. But the constant comparisons made me develop hatred towards him. It grew stronger when I noticed he was surrounded by people, constantly praised.

We were born on the same day. We were both bright. Why was he constantly praised, while I was always scolded? Finally, I can prove to the world how capable I am.

I am sure he will not be alive by the time the company gets back on track. I heard he has no more than a month to live. I didn’t want the shareholders to know my intentions, so I suggested this delay.

Right now, I feel happy seeing his daughter suffer. This is just the beginning.

---

…Jasmine’s POV…

As I walked out of the conference hall, I could feel the strange gazes and hear the soft whispers surrounding me. I had always been surrounded by employees who flattered me, licking my boots so I would say good words to my father on their behalf.

Now, they all stared at me disgustedly, as if I were a rotten fruit. I could feel the discontent in their eyes.

Hmm, I don’t blame them. Who would have thought this could happen to me, the envy of all women?

I stood outside the company and lifted my gaze to the giant building in front of me.

I felt like David staring at Goliath. This building had once been a place of comfort. When I was bored, I’d come here to mingle with the employees. Now, I couldn’t step inside; the people wouldn’t welcome me.

Suddenly, the giant building felt so new to me.

I took a deep breath. Now, where am I supposed to go? I looked into the sky and saw the clouds darkening. The rain started drizzling, but where should I turn?

My life had become so miserable that even the rain seemed to mock me.

Very soon, it began to pour. I didn’t move; I stood still, like a fool who didn’t know what was going on around her.

My eyes were filled with emotion, and the rain beating down on my body felt like a punishment—a punishment for a great crime.

A car screeched to a halt in front of me, breaking through the rain and my spiraling thoughts.

“Are you going to just give up so easily?” I heard a deep, indifferent voice. I turned toward the direction of the voice.

It was him.

That handsome man who had helped me escape. What was he doing here?

I scrutinized his face. He had a high, pointed nose and very sexy red lips. His cold, deep eyes could make anyone lose themselves.

Gosh, he looked like he had just walked out of a painting.

“Do I look handsome?” he asked in a teasing tone.

“Narcissist,” I muttered, looking away.

“Are you just going to stand here?” he asked again. Gosh, even his voice could turn someone on.

“What do you expect?” I asked, raising my eyes to meet his.

“Get in,” he said flatly.

“Why should I?”

The surroundings became silent. The only sound was the rain. I stared at his handsome face as he stared at mine. Gosh, I was so lost in his eyes that I couldn’t look away.

Time seemed to stop, giving us a chance to appreciate each other.

I stood still, not knowing what to do. Should I or shouldn't? What exactly does this man want?”