The torrential rain poured down, with bean-sized raindrops hitting the floor-to-ceiling window, making a crackling sound.
The crystal chandelier swayed slightly in the storm, casting shadows across the hall, lighting it up intermittently.
"Carlos! Do you know what you’re doing?!"
Evan Palmer slammed his palm onto the huanghuali tea table, making the teacups clatter.
"Years of Carter Automotive’s reputation, destroyed by your hands just like that!"
Old Lady Carter’s thin fingers clutched the dragon-headed cane tightly, her knuckles turning white:
"I said long ago, we shouldn’t let an outsider meddle in the Carter Clan’s industry."
Her sharp gaze swept like a blade toward Emily Parker sitting nearby,
"You and your grandfather were deceived, saying she was a designer and even gave her some shares. It turned out to be all lies, buying foreign designer works and pretending they were her own."
"Mom, there must be some misunderstanding here,"
Mrs. Carter hurriedly stepped forward, "Emily isn’t like that."
Emily Parker sat quietly in the armchair, her light blue maternity dress appearing exceptionally soft under the light. Her slender fingers rested on the armrest, her knuckles slightly pale.
The vicious comments online flashed through her mind, yet her gaze remained calm as water, with even a faint, elusive curve at the corners of her lips.
"This matter has nothing to do with Emily." Carlos spoke, turning as the light illuminated his chiseled profile,
"It’s all my idea. I’ll find a way to calm this storm."
"Your sole responsibility?"
Evan Palmer sneered, pulling a document from the inner pocket of his suit,
"Fine, then you take on the burden. From tomorrow, you’re not allowed to step into Carter Automotive again! The reporters are all there now, waiting to see our joke."
He smugly adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, "Adam Willow will temporarily handle the affairs there."
"He’s no longer an employee of the Carter Clan,"
Carlos looked up sharply, coldness flickering in his eyes, "He doesn’t qualify to replace me."
He had long seen the DNA test results, both were sons; why was Evan Palmer so biased?
"He’s representing Imperial Motors in cooperation with us."
Evan Palmer leisurely adjusted his cuffs,
"With such a big incident, the Carter Clan has no choice but to merge with Imperial Motors. That’s the wish of your grandma, me, and the board."
A victorious smile curved at his lips; after all, ginger gets spicier with age. Trying to fight me, Carlos is still too green.
Carlos’s gaze almost shot fire; Mrs. Carter quickly grabbed her son’s arm,
"You both go back and rest now."
She turned and signaled to Emily,
The sky was especially blue after the rainstorm, with the sunlight reflecting off the glass curtain wall of the Carter Automotive building, creating a blinding brilliance.
Early in the morning, the entrance of Carter Automotive was crowded with reporters, their cameras focused on the arriving luxury cars.
Sophie Parker held Adam Willow’s arm; today, she wore a beige professional suit, her meticulously styled wavy hair gleaming gold in the sunshine.
She smiled slightly with red lips,
"Secretary Charles really values you, actually letting you take charge of Carter Automotive directly."
Adam Willow adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes behind the lenses.
At this moment, a stretch Rolls Royce slowly approached.
Old Lady Carter and Evan Palmer got out of the car and were immediately surrounded by reporters.
Old Lady Carter wore a dark green qipao today, with jade earrings glinting coldly in the sunlight, and the sound of her dragon-headed cane tapping crisply on the marble floor.
"Old Lady Carter, is it true that Carter Automotive will merge into Imperial Motors?"
"Regarding the Deity Owen design issue, do you have any response?"
Evan Palmer stood in front of his mother, smiling: "Media friends, we will explain in detail at the press conference later."
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the R&D center’s office area was dead.
A dozen engineers were huddled together, everyone with dark circles, obviously sleepless all night.
"How could it possibly be designed by Deity Owen?" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NovelHub(.)net
A young engineer with black-rimmed glasses exclaimed excitedly,
"I clearly saw the boss’s wife personally modifying the design drawings!"
"I clarified online," another engineer scratched his messy hair,
"But I was quickly hit with online abuse and my account got suspended."
Just then, the office door was pushed open.
Evan Palmer, with Adam Willow and his entourage, walked in, the sound of their leather shoes on the floor particularly harsh.
"Now announcing some news,"
Evan Palmer surveyed everyone, his voice cold,
"All staff in the R&D center are dismissed due to major errors, effective immediately."
The entire office area fell silent suddenly, everyone frozen in place.
When Carlos woke up in the morning, he found the spot beside him already empty. He picked up the tablet on the nightstand, the top ten hot searches were all negative news about Carter Automotive.
The comment section was filled with vicious remarks.
"Fake national enterprise! Get out of China!"
"Turns out the car champion was designed by a foreigner, and Carlos is just a puppet!"
Carlos’s gaze deepened, his red lips pressed into a thin line.
"Imperial Motors... Charles Smith..." He silently repeated the two names in his mind, a flash of sharpness in his eyes.
At this moment, Carlos’s phone rang.
"Master Carter! Quickly check the news! Sister-in-law she..."
Faye Manor’s anxious voice came from the other end.
Carlos was taken aback.