Hearing this, a look of pure humiliation crossed Jonathan's face.

As the eldest son of the Williams family, he had been groomed as the heir since childhood. In both The Williams Group and the family itself, he commanded immense authority, second only to Skyler.

Even the shareholders of the Nora faction used to give him a wide berth.

Previously, although Stella had garnered half the support within the company, Jonathan still held the upper hand when it came to decision-making and execution.

But now, having to operate under Stella's thumb was something the once all- powerful Jonathan simply couldn't stomach.

He was the legitimate, rightful heir, not some criticized illegitimate child.

His actions and demeanor had always been honorable and upright. Forcing him to swallow his pride and bow down to Stella felt worse than death itself.

Aurora took in every shift of his expression.

She continued, "Jonathan, it's our only option right now. You just have to endure it a little longer."

"Stella will inherit Leonard's shares in three months," Jonathan said coldly. "At that point, we'll be even more powerless against her.

Am I just supposed to keep enduring forever?"

Aurora offered a cunning smile. "Jonathan, Joshua and Stella broke up, and he's left Solmaris. Without him backing her, taking back what she stole will be easy.

Even if she inherits Leonard's shares, the Lerman family is a complicated mess. How could an outsider like her possibly control them?"

She gently caressed her pregnant belly, her smile widening. "There are no eternal enemies in this world, only eternal interests.

Stella and Leonard used to be at each other's throats, yet she still accepted his shares, didn't she?

Once she takes them, she immediately puts herself at odds with Harland Lerman.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

We can absolutely ally ourselves with Harland."

Jonathan frowned. "Harland and Stella have worked together before. Do you think she might abandon Leonard and continue her alliance.

alliance

with Harland? content

Aurora chuckled and shook her head. "Stella only teamed up with Harland to exact her revenge on Leonard.

Now that Leonard is crippled,

stripped of his position, and

gripe

struggling to maintain his grip as the family head, Stella's a's goal has been achieved.

Since Leonard is willingly handing his shares over to her, her alliance with Harland loses all meaning.

Leonard has surrendered to her, her revenge is complete, and she has no reason to make another enemy out of him.

By working with Leonard, she gets shares and tangible benefits.

By allying with Harland, she'd have to help him rise to power and fight Leonard.

Even if Harland successfully took over and remained friendly with her,

whatever she got out of it would entirely depend on Harland's mood.

Would Harland give her shares? Absolutely not.

True freedom only comes when power is in your own hands.

If Stella actually chooses Harland now, she really is a fool."

Jonathan's gaze shifted. He dropped his dismissive attitude and, for the first time,

looked at Aurora with an appraising stare.

"Aurora, your analysis makes a lot of sense."

Unfazed by his scrutiny, Aurora kept smiling. It's just a shame Joshua left. Otherwise... we could have tricked him into seeking revenge against Stella.

If Joshua had made a move, we could have just sat back and reaped the rewards."

Right now, Aurora was essentially stripped of everything and utterly isolated.

Even if it meant exposing her own raw ambition, she had to prove her value to Jonathan.