Carson Flores woke up to realize it was already ten o’clock in the morning.
He checked his phone and found a message from Shirley Miller.
"Did you sleep in the guest room last night?"
Leaning against the headboard, Carson Flores replied, "Yeah, I was out dealing with some trouble last night. I got back too late and didn’t want to disturb you, so I didn’t return to the master bedroom."
Shirley Miller: "Trouble with the company?"
Carson Flores thought for a moment, deciding to have an open and honest conversation with Shirley Miller. He could help her as a way of repaying the debt he owed to his master, but first, he needed to understand the truth.
"I received information that the Woolery Family was instructed to harm you, so I went there last night. From what I learned from the Woolery Family, the person behind the scheme is Oscar Miller from the Miller Family of Seashore... are you also a member of the Miller Family?"
Thirty seconds after Carson Flores sent the message, his phone rang.
"Was it Oscar Miller?"
Shirley Miller’s voice carried anger yet lacked much surprise or shock.
"Yes, can you tell me what’s going on?"
After a two-second silence, Shirley Miller’s calm voice began, "Yes, I’m from the Seashore Miller Family. The Millers are strong and numerous, a large family rife with internal strife. My father, Hayes Miller, was quite outstanding among the second generation. He was a hopeful successor to the Family Head of the Millers, and his biggest competitor was the current Miller Family Head, Knox Miller, Oscar Miller’s father."
"My father went against the family’s wishes, forgoing the marriage to the Woolery Family’s young mistress, marrying my mother instead, which resulted in the failure of the marriage alliance. Many in the family who supported my father shifted their support to Paul Miller, leaving my father without backers and at a disadvantage in the power struggle with Paul Miller."
"Seeing no chance of victory, my father decided to give up, planning to leave the Miller Family with my mother, but during a trip, they were attacked and both lost their lives."
Carson Flores frowned: "Paul Miller’s doing?"
Shirley Miller shook her head: "That’s what I suspect, as long as my father was alive, he posed a significant threat to Paul Miller. Considering his nature, eliminating threats by rooting them out completely would have been his inevitable choice, but we have no concrete evidence."
Carson Flores asked, "If your parents are both dead, why won’t they leave you alone?"
Shirley Miller chuckled bitterly, "Our branch was originally a direct line of the Miller Family, but after my parents’ deaths and being a woman myself, I faded from the Millers. Additionally, my grandfather had an agreement with the Millers that they could no longer target me. If I were just an ordinary woman without any talents, perhaps they wouldn’t care, but I took over the Miller Group and demonstrated exceptional business acumen, which might make them see me as a problem again, thus repeatedly instigating others to come after me, wanting to destroy me thoroughly."
Hearing about the Miller Family’s feuds and grudges, Carson Flores felt a twinge of sympathy for Shirley Miller.
Being born into a large family is not always a blessing.
Even having a normal life becomes impossible.
Carson Flores asked, "So you’re working so hard to manage the Miller Group because it’s the only legacy your father left you, his only gift to you, or do you have other plans?"
Shirley Miller sighed softly: "Both, I guess. The Miller Group was founded by my father after he left the Miller Family, and I don’t want it to disappear or be taken over by someone else. Also, I hope someday to make the Miller Group powerful enough to investigate what happened in the past and avenge my parents."
Shirley Miller finished, then laughed self-deprecatingly: "Actually, I know this goal is nearly impossible to achieve. The power of the Miller Family can’t be solved with just money. It would be easy for them to erase me. The best choice for me would be to sell River Miller, take the money, leave Polgel, even leave the country, and never deal with the Miller Family again."
Carson Flores smiled in understanding: "But you won’t do that because you’d be left with a lifetime of regret and dissatisfaction, right?"
Shirley Miller hummed affirmatively: "Yes, indeed, I can’t bear it, but the incidents that have happened recently made me reflect. Perhaps my abilities are enough to lead a company to grow, but I lack the skills to handle the schemes and conspiracies and the power to break free. If it weren’t for your help, I’d probably have been destroyed by now."
"I now know that Oscar Miller is the man behind the scenes, meaning I’d have to confront the Miller Family head-on. I’m not afraid of them, but I also know very well that I don’t have the strength to fight against the Millers..."
Carson Flores sensed Shirley Miller’s struggle. Reason told her to give up the fight, grab a bucket, and run, choosing an easier life, but emotionally she couldn’t accept being a deserter, torn and indecisive.
Carson Flores thought for a moment: "We have quite some time before the three-month deadline. During this time, do whatever you want to do. I’ll do my best to help you, and whether or not we succeed, let’s try to live without regrets."
Shirley Miller whispered her thanks, hesitated, and then couldn’t resist asking, "We’re just a couple by agreement, and we might go our separate ways after three months, strangers again, so why are you taking such a huge risk to help me?"
Carson Flores chuckled, answering nonchalantly: "I’m an orphan, so I guess I can relate to some of your obsessions. Just consider it paying back the old man’s favor. As for the danger, haha, compared to what I’ve been through in the past few years, this really isn’t much..."