But that had been three years ago. Cosmos Group's operations spanned the globe, with numerous consortiums operating under its banner. Its remarkable achievements had firmly established Cosmos Group at the pinnacle of the international business world. Landon was merely the head of a regional Capaville branch of Cosmos Group, yet he carried himself with notable prominence. One could only imagine the stature of the Group's Chief Agent. That Chief Agent was Lawrence. Aside from executing the directives of Eric, the billionaire founder, Lawrence was the embodiment of authority within the organization. Lawrence had announced his retirement three years prior, stating he would withdraw from all management duties to enjoy his private life. So what did his appearance here now signify? As the room watched in stunned silence, Landon escorted Lawrence to the negotiation table. Lawrence's gaze fell upon Arthur, who had remained seated throughout. His eyes darkened slightly, a faint hint of disdain flashing across his expression. Landon, ever polished, acted as if Arthur were invisible. He calmly fetched another chair and set it down beside Arthur. Leaning on his cane, Lawrence seated himself directly across from Chloe. He paid Arthur no further mind, treating him as though he were mere background noise. Once settled, Lawrence looked at Chloe. "Ms. Lewis, my apologies. I had the group's corporate seal specially dispatched from our global headquarters. The flight experienced some delays—I nearly didn't make it in time. I sincerely apologize." Chloe responded with a light smile. "It's quite all right. The timing seems perfect, wouldn't you agree?" Lawrence broke into a genuine laugh. "Perfect indeed, perfect!" he chuckled. The entire room was frozen in confusion. What was happening? What had they missed? Lawrence's presence alone was shocking enough. But the familiar, almost casual tone he used with Chloe—what did that imply? Had they known each other for some time? Since when did Chloe have connections at the highest levels of Cosmos Group? And this wasn't just any senior executive.Lawrence's authority was second only to Eric himself. In many respects, he represented the billionaire. This was... staggering. Had Lawrence come here to...? No, that couldn't be. It was hard enough to believe that a regional Cosmos Group branch would consider investing in Lewis Group. But for Lawrence to appear personally for negotiations—that seemed almost farcical. They didn't want to believe it. They didn't want to witness something so surreal. Yet the evidence was right before their eyes. If Lawrence wasn't here to discuss cooperation, why else would he come? To make small talk? Hardly. As all eyes remained fixed on him, Lawrence gave a subtle signal. Landon produced a sealed document, holding it up for everyone to see. "This is an agreement personally signed and authorized by Mr. Meader, President of Cosmos Group," Landon announced. "Lawrence brought it with him from overseas." He placed the document respectfully in front of Chloe. "Ms. Lewis, this reflects Cosmos Group's sincerity. A partnership between our companies holds clear and promising potential. We hope you will consider Cosmos Group." Chloe glanced at the document. The envelope still bore the gilded corporate seal—untampered, unopened. Cosmos Group wanted to cooperate with Lewis Group. The revelation left the room in a state of collective shock. Even Ernesto, who had maintained an air of smugness throughout, looked utterly stunned. This was unprecedented. The global headquarters of Cosmos Group was seeking a partnership with Lewis Group? The two companies weren't even in the same league. Why would Cosmos Group extend such an offer? Lewis Group was a minor player even within Capaville's business scene, let alone on an international scale. Was this a genuine olive branch from Cosmos Group? Was it some kind of joke? Or was there another motive at play? Ernesto's expression darkened. He stepped forward, moving closer to the table.The document remained sealed. No one knew the terms of the proposed cooperation, nor the amount of funding involved. What figure would Cosmos Group put forward, if they were making a move? Could it meet Chloe's earlier demand for a minimum one-billion commitment? The Lewis Group shareholders were thunderstruck. Cosmos Group investing in them? It seemed too good to be true. "Ms. Lewis, this is a profound gesture of sincerity," Landon said smoothly. "I'm confident you'll make the right choice." As he spoke, he cast a dismissive glance toward Arthur, who was still seated nearby. That ex-husband of hers was becoming a nuisance. Why did he have to be everywhere? Did he really have such a need to insert himself?