Chapter 659:
“That’s all?” she asked evenly.
Melany blinked, startled. “Isn’t that bad enough?”
She then quickly realized this was just like Rylie—never losing her composure.
“I’ve heard even worse,” Rylie said, her voice steady. “Let them talk. The celebration was postponed because I’ve been injured, and my grandfather understood. As for business sense…”
Her tone shifted, now precise and assured. “Sweetberry’s future will be decided by the market and the data, not by rumors. The money being lost is mine, and I have more than enough to invest. No one can dictate otherwise.”
Leaning on her cane, Rylie walked slowly toward the bedroom door. “Results are the only proof that matters. Time will tell who the real fools are.”
Melany felt certain: following Rylie meant sharing in her eventual success.
After hanging up, Rylie stepped into the quiet hallway.
The silence made Felix’s low, angry voice from the next room stand out. His door was ajar. Rylie paused, seeing him half-reclined on the bed with an IV drip in his arm, a table in front of him, and a video meeting on the computer.
“Price isn’t the only problem!” Felix’s voice was tight with anger. “Cutting off our supply of commercial chips is unacceptable. We’re still under contract—you’re violating it.”
Whatever was said through his earpiece darkened his expression.
“I understand cutting military chips with tensions at the Strait of Emerald. But cutting commercial chips is unreasonable. I’m a businessman—I want profits, not national politics!”
Another remark from the other side ended the call abruptly. Furious, Felix ripped off his earpiece and hurled it to the floor. It skidded toward the door.
Only then did he notice Rylie standing there. Quickly softening his voice, he said, “Rylie, what are you doing here? It’s not time to change the dressing yet, is it? Is there something you want to say?”
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Both Rylie and Felix had been recovering at Serenity Manor in recent days. Rylie often checked on him, worried that the toxins might leave lasting harm.
She pushed open the door and stepped inside. “Are you still bothered about the chip issue, Felix?”
Felix already knew the risks she had taken for him, even gambling her life. He didn’t want his burdens to weigh her down, so he said lightly, “It’s nothing serious, just a deal that fell through. What about you? Is your leg healing?”
“It’s almost fine. The medicine and supplements worked well. I’ll be walking without trouble in a week.” Rylie smiled, taking a seat beside his bed. “Tell me more. I want to know what’s troubling you.”
Felix hesitated. He still didn’t want her to know the full truth, but with one meeting over and another board meeting about to begin, she pressed further.
“Can I sit in?” she asked.
He couldn’t turn her down. Since listening wouldn’t cause harm, he nodded and logged into the next online session.
The screen lit up with several windows, each showing a director or executive of the Owen Group. Their grave faces filled the virtual room, and tension hung thick in the air.
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