Back at the villa, Henry Lawrence shut himself in his study.

Ethan and I returned to our room.


As soon as the door closed, Ethan's tall figure swayed slightly, his face paler than before.

I quickly supported him: "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." He waved his hand and sat down on the bed. "After not moving for two years, my stamina isn't what it used to be."


Just now at the reception, he maintained a powerful presence throughout, appearing flawless. I almost forgot that he had only just awakened.

"Then you should lie down and rest." I went over to help him take off his suit jacket.


He didn't refuse and obediently lay down.

I tucked him in and turned to get him a glass of water.

But he caught my wrist again.

"Jade Johnson."

"Yes?" I looked back.

"Thank you for tonight." He looked at me, his dark eyes filled with profound emotions I couldn't quite understand.

"We're allies, aren't we?" I smiled. "Besides, I'm not helping for nothing."

I waved the black card in my hand.

"This card, I don't plan on returning it."

He was amused by me, and a hint of life returned to his pale face.

"What's mine is yours," he said.

These words, though clearly romantic, sounded more like a business partnership commitment coming from his mouth.

But my heart, still betraying me, skipped two beats.

I brought water over and helped him drink it.

"What do you plan to do next?" I asked.

"Zachary and his mother are not worth worrying about, but the people behind them won't be so easy to take down." Ethan Lawrence's eyes grew cold. "My mother, that is, Victoria Lawrence, comes from the Woods Family. Over the years, the Woods Family has made a fortune by relying on the Lawrence Group as their big tree.
Now that I'm back, they won't let go easily."

"And the Johnson family too." I added, "The Johnson family bet everything on Luna to get close to Zachary Lawrence. Now that Luna has fallen, they will definitely think of other ways."


"Exactly." Ethan Lawrence nodded, "So, our next step is to remove these two tumors together."

I looked at him as he strategized with such confidence, suddenly feeling that this was somewhat surreal.

Just a few days ago, I was just a fake daughter at everyone's mercy.

And now, I've become involved in the most high-level power struggle within the Capital Elite Circle.

"Scared?" He seemed to see through my thoughts.

I shook my head: "No. I was just thinking, when all this is over, we..."

What are we to each other?

This marriage that began for revenge, where should it go from here?

I didn't ask out loud.

He didn't answer either.

The room fell into silence.

The next day, the news of Ethan Lawrence returning to the Lawrence Group swept through the Capital Elite Circle's financial news like a hurricane.

The Lawrence Group's stock price hit the daily limit immediately after the market opened.

Everyone knew that the true king had returned.

And I, as Ethan Lawrence's wife, saw my status rise accordingly.

Those socialites and wealthy ladies who previously avoided me began finding various ways to send me invitations, asking me to join them for afternoon tea.

Following Ethan Lawrence's instructions, I accepted all invitations.

I needed to extract more information about the Woods Family and the Johnson family from these people's conversations.

That day, I was invited to attend a jewelry appreciation event.

At the event, I "accidentally" encountered my former mother, that is, Luna Johnson's birth mother, Olivia Johnson.

When she saw me, her expression was extremely awkward, but she still forced herself to walk over.

"Jade Johnson... no, Mrs. Lawrence." She squeezed out a smile that looked worse than crying.

I gave her a cold glance: "Something you need?"

"I... I came to apologize to you." Olivia Johnson adopted a very humble posture. "We were wrong before, we treated you badly. Look, Moon is still young and
immature. Could you... speak to Lawrence and ask him to let her off?"

I almost laughed out loud.

Let her off?

When they threw me away like garbage to a man in a vegetative state, did they ever think about letting me off?

"Mrs. Johnson," I raised a glass of red wine, gently swirling it, "have you forgotten that you and I have no relationship whatsoever anymore? My surname being Johnson is merely a coincidence. But now,
I am a member of the Lawrence family."

I deliberately emphasized those four words: "a member of the Lawrence family."

Mrs. Johnson's face turned pale.

"I know, I know." She nodded hurriedly, "I just... Moon is still your sister after all..."

"I don't have a sister," I coldly interrupted her. "My mother only gave birth to me. As for Miss Johnson, I don't know who she is."

After saying that, I ignored her and turned to leave.

I knew that the Johnson family had reached a dead end.

With Zachary Lawrence's downfall, they had lost their biggest backing.

Luna Johnson had also offended Ethan Lawrence and was blacklisted by the entire Capital Elite Circle.

Their only hope now was me.

Unfortunately, I'm not a saint.

I returned home and told Ethan Lawrence about this incident as if it were a joke.

He was reviewing documents and without looking up, said: "The Johnson family has a shipment arriving at the port next week. Find a way to ensure this shipment doesn't clear customs."

I was taken aback: "What shipment?"

"A shipment that can't see the light of day," he said concisely.

I immediately understood.

He was cutting off their lifeline.

"How... how do I do that?" I felt uncertain.

"I've already arranged the people," Ethan Lawrence finally looked up at me. "You just need to find an opportunity to place this in the Johnson family chairman's briefcase."

He handed me a miniature GPS tracker.

"The rest, leave it to my people."

I took the items, feeling somewhat nervous, but more excited.

"Alright."

The opportunity came quickly.

After I rejected Olivia Johnson, William Johnson, Luna's biological father, actually called me personally.

He invited me to meet him at an upscale club.

I brought along the bodyguards Ethan Lawrence had assigned to me and kept the appointment.

William Johnson was more patient than his wife. Upon seeing me, he didn't immediately plead for mercy, but first reminisced about our past.

He talked about how much he loved me back then, treating me like his own daughter.

As I listened to his hypocritical performance, I was secretly sneering.

"Jade," he finally revealed his true intentions, "let bygones be bygones. Luna has already been... punished by the Lawrence family. Our Johnson family also acknowledges our mistakes. Do you think we could..."
"..."

"Mr. Johnson," I interrupted him, "is this what you wanted to see me about today?"

His expression froze.

"Of course not." He took out a document from his briefcase and pushed it in front of me. "This is ten percent of Johnson Corporation's shares. If you're willing to help, it's yours."

Ten percent of the shares.

Such a grand gesture.

It seems that shipment is critically important to them.

I picked up the document, pretending to read it carefully.

While he was pouring tea for me, I quickly attached the miniature tracker to the inside of his briefcase.

The movement was small and discreet.

"Well, what do you think?" He looked at me expectantly.

I put down the document and smiled.

"Chairman Johnson, do you think I would care about these shares now?" I stood up. "My husband is Ethan Lawrence."

After saying that, I left the private room without looking back.

Leaving Chairman William Johnson sitting there alone, his face ashen.

That evening, I received a call from Ethan Lawrence.

He rarely called me, usually preferring to give instructions in person.

"Did it work?" His voice came through with a hint of amusement.

"Yes."

"Well done," he praised, "check the news tomorrow."

Early the next morning, bombshell news rocked the entire business world.

"Johnson Corporation suspected of smuggling prohibited goods, Chairman and several executives taken away by customs for investigation!"

In the news footage, William Johnson wore handcuffs as police escorted him to a police car, his face filled with defeat and despair.

The Johnson family was finished.