Chapter 5: The Woman in White

Upon hearing that, Dad's hooked whip froze in the air, only inches away from my cheek.

I could feel the rush of air from the whip's tip grazing my ear, sending a cold draft across it.

In that instant, everyone turned toward the entrance, where a woman in a white suit walked in, followed by a group of black-suited bodyguards. They lined up across the entrance, blocking the doorway and the light from the hallway.

Simon scoffed. "You're quite impressive, Daniel. You're already this pathetic, yet you still have people willing to stand up for you?"

The woman in white ignored him.

Her cold gaze swept across the room before finally landing on me.

Then her expression changed.

For the first time since she entered, the woman looked genuinely surprised.

"Daniel?"

I looked at her quietly.

"You came after all."

Her voice was calm, but there was a trace of anger underneath it.

Dad lowered the whip slightly and frowned. "Who are you?"

The woman slowly turned toward him.

"You don't recognize me?"

Dad's expression darkened.

She smiled faintly and pulled a black card from her pocket.

She tossed it onto the desk.

The card landed beside the documents from the failed Q Holdings project.

The room fell silent.

Simon picked it up and glanced at it.

His face changed instantly.

"Q Holdings..."

The woman folded her arms.

"That's right."

Simon stared at her in disbelief.

"You're the representative of Q Holdings?"

"I'm not a representative."

She paused.

"I'm the person who makes the decisions."

A wave of shock swept through the room.

Even Dad's expression changed.

I watched silently as Simon's confidence disappeared little by little.

The woman looked at me again.

"I warned you not to let them push you this far."

I gave her a faint smile.

"I wanted to see how far they'd go."

Her eyes narrowed.

"And now you've seen it."

Simon suddenly stepped forward.

"Wait. If you're from Q Holdings, then the project—"

"Was never canceled because of Daniel."

Simon froze.

She continued, "Your company failed our evaluation before Daniel even submitted the proposal."

Stella's face went pale.

"That's impossible."

"No. What's impossible is believing Daniel was responsible for your failure."

She pointed toward the bound wrists.

"You were beating the only person who could have saved your company."

Dad's grip tightened around the whip.

"This is a Fullerton family matter. You have no right to interfere."

The woman smiled coldly.

"Normally, I would agree."

She took one step forward.

"But Daniel isn't just your adopted son anymore."

Everyone stared at her.

She reached into her folder and pulled out another document.

"Three years ago, Daniel founded a private investment company under a different name."

Simon's eyes widened.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the company that acquired controlling interests in twelve overseas businesses."

She placed the document on the table.

"The company currently has assets worth more than eight hundred million dollars."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Stella stared at the document as though she couldn't understand the words.

Dad slowly picked it up.

His eyes moved across the pages.

Then his face turned rigid.

I finally spoke.

"You told everyone my company was worthless."

I looked directly at Simon.

"You were right about one thing."

Simon swallowed.

"I'm not worth ten million dollars."

I smiled faintly.

"I'm worth much more than that."

The woman in white stepped beside me.

"Daniel never needed the Fullerton family fortune."

"The Fullerton family needed Daniel."

Simon's face twisted with anger.

"You're lying!"

He suddenly grabbed the document and tore it in half.

"There is no way he could build something like that without us knowing!"

I looked at the torn pieces falling to the floor.

"That's because you never bothered looking."

Simon lunged toward me.

Before he could reach me, two bodyguards stepped forward and blocked his path.

Simon stopped abruptly.

The woman in white looked at him coldly.

"Touch him again and you'll answer to me."

Simon clenched his fists.

"Who the hell are you to protect him?"

She smiled.

"Someone far more powerful than you."

I glanced toward Dad.

He was no longer looking at me with contempt.

For the first time in twenty-six years, there was uncertainty in his eyes.

I slowly loosened my wrists after the bodyguards cut the restraints.

Then I picked up my jacket from the chair.

"I'm leaving."

Dad suddenly called out.

"Daniel."

I stopped but didn't turn around.

"Where are you going?"

I smiled.

"Somewhere I belong."

I walked toward the entrance.

Behind me, Simon's voice suddenly rang out.

"You can't leave!"

I stopped.

Then I turned my head slightly.

"Why not?"

Simon opened his mouth but couldn't answer.

I looked at him for a few seconds.

"You already chose the heir."

"Now live with your choice."