Chapter 1611:
Corrine was left utterly speechless.
Was he serious? What bizarre notions filled his mind?
She reached for a tissue, dabbed at her lips with composure, inhaled deeply, and responded, “Mr. Cooper, please don’t joke about such matters.” Her tone hinted at veiled caution.
Zeke gave a nonchalant shrug. “If you find it hard to believe, perhaps you should discuss it with Jules once you’re home.”
Corrine’s expression tightened slightly at this. “Should you persist with these irrelevant matters, I will have to excuse myself.” Rising from her seat, she made to leave.
Yet Zeke called out again, “With the fall of the Holland family in Pinetree City, the old balance is shattered. Everyone’s scrambling to exploit the situation, and many eyes are on the Ford family now.”
Corrine stopped, her steps halting midway. She took a deep breath, reconsidered, and returned to her seat.
Seeing this, a sly smile crept across Zeke’s face.
He clasped his hands together, leaning forward slightly. “To call the Ford family the wealthiest in Lyhaton would be an understatement. Your family is a magnet for envy, and I suspect the first moves against the Fords will come within days.”
“So soon?” Corrine’s voice sharpened, her eyes narrowing with frosty alertness.
A strategic assault would likely come when the Ford family least expected it. She quickly deduced that Jules’ impending nuptials might provide just such an opportunity.
Zeke watched her closely, his eyes discerning the shift in her demeanor, aware that she might have pieced together his hints.
After such an exchange, Corrine found herself staring blankly at her plate, the food no longer appealing.
Upon Zeke’s departure, she retreated to her office.
𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢: ⳑ𝖺𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗍𝖊𝗅𝘀﹒𝖼𝗈𝗺
“Why would Mr. Cooper say such things?” Natasha, observing Corrine’s concerned look, ventured a question. “With the Cooper family leading Pinetree City’s elite, wouldn’t they be displeased to see the Ford family’s predicament benefit others?”
Corrine met her gaze. “Go on.”
With a thoughtful frown, Natasha speculated further. “It seems like Mr. Cooper is offering a friendly caution, yet something tells me he might also be positioning to gain from these events.”
Corrine delineated the undercurrents of regional politics with clarity. “Although Pinetree City and Lyhaton have presented a facade of peaceful coexistence…”
Through the years, a persistent rivalry had simmered just beneath the surface. In Pinetree City, the major families firmly held their territories, effectively keeping Lyhaton’s influence at bay. Likewise, Pinetree City’s influence did not extend into Lyhaton. Within the upper echelons of Lyhaton, the Ford family dominated. They believed that by undermining the Ford family, they could expand their influence into Lyhaton. This belief, however, was quite naive.
Even without the Fords, the Seymour, Hoffman, and Brooks families remained. It would never be Pinetree City’s chance to dominate.
“The Coopers sending Zeke is merely an attempt to ingratiate themselves, knowing well that the Fords are not so easily toppled,” Corrine added. Her tone, composed yet impactful, resonated deeply with Natasha, as she felt the weight of each deliberate word.
With a slight tremor of resolve, Natasha responded, “Now that we are aware, inaction isn’t an option, is it?”
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