As Mr Sinclair was about to nod in agreement, Albert waved his hand dismissively. “That’s completely absurd. Liza is the eldest daughter of the Sinclair Family, the child of your first wife. How could you allow her to ride in some cheap car that costs less than 200,000 yuan? And worse, you let the illegitimate daughter of the Sinclair Family ride in a world-class luxury car? Such a decision would surely anger the heavens.” With a sharp, meaningful smile, Albert added, “If I’m not mistaken, that luxury car originally belonged to Liza’s mother. When her mother customized it years ago, she specifically stated it was a gift for her daughter. President , surely you wouldn’t be so brazen as to hand over the inheritance of your late wife to an illegitimate daughter, would you? If word of this gets out, people might start calling you heartless and inhumane.” Though Albert’s words were biting, his stature and influence left Mr Sinclair no room to argue. Swallowing his discomfort, Mr Sinclair forced a sheepish smile, though his palms had started to sweat. He had indeed gifted the luxury car to Serena, even planning for her to use it to make an impression at the Reed Family’s banquet. But now, this situation had spiraled out of control. Victoria and Serena, standing to the side, exchanged uneasy glances. Their faces darkened as Albert’s words sank in. Serena’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, her mind swirling with disbelief. Why was Albert, who she thought was on her side, standing up for Liza? That wretched girl didn’t deserve this attention! Neither Victoria nor Serena dared to speak, their silence making them seem frozen in place. Albert glanced at them, growing visibly impatient. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice laced with mockery. “No rebuttals? Is it because I hit the nail on the head? Are you really trying to say this car was intended for the second daughter of the Sinclair Family, while the eldest daughter isn’t even allowed to keep her late mother’s belongings? Were they taken by an illegitimate child instead?” His last remark was pointedly directed at Liza. Before she could respond, Mr Sinclair hurried to defend himself. “President Albert, there’s clearly been a misunderstanding. It’s true that the car originally belonged to Liza’s mother, but I’ve always believed that in the Sinclair Family, assets should go to the most capable. Serena has consistently shown kindness, talent, and grace, so she has every right to this car…” Before Mr Sinclair could continue his justification, Albert raised his hand, cutting him off. “Enough. I’ve heard all I need to,” he said coldly. “If that’s your logic, then there’s no point in discussing further collaborations between me and the Sinclair Family. A person like you, who can’t even differentiate between right and wrong, has no place in any serious partnership. Handing over the rightful assets of your legitimate daughter to an illegitimate one? You’ve shown a lack of integrity that’s impossible to overlook.” Albert dusted off his shoulders, as though shaking off the taint of dealing with Mr Sinclair. “President , this conversation is over. Goodbye.” Without sparing another glance, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Mr Sinclair, Victoria, and Serena standing in stunned silence.Mr Sinclair was thrown into a state of panic. The collaboration with Albert was worth a staggering 200 million—a deal that had the potential to save the Sinclair Corporation from its financial struggles. Losing Albert's support would mean plunging the company into ruin, leaving no avenue for recovery. Yet Albert only seemed to acknowledge Liza’s position as the rightful daughter of the family, entirely ignoring what Mr Sinclair perceived as her troublesome nature. In his eyes, Serena was the ideal daughter—intelligent, capable, and considerate—qualities that, in his mind, made her far more deserving. In contrast, Liza had always been a thorn in his side, stirring up trouble and bringing him nothing but headaches. He had chosen to favor Serena because of her so-called "excellence," leaving him with no room for compromise on Liza. As Albert’s figure retreated further into the distance, Mr Sinclair felt a deep sense of dread. He had gambled everything on this investment—assets, reputation, and the very future of the Sinclair Family. If Albert truly walked away, it would all collapse, dragging them into financial ruin.Steeling himself, Mr Sinclair cast a quick glance at Serena. Her expression was one of disbelief, but he had no choice. His company’s survival was at stake. Ignoring the stunned look on Serena’s face, he hurried after Albert, lowering his voice to a pleading tone. “President Albert, please wait! You’ve misunderstood. I would never act so unfairly as a father,” Mr Sinclair said, forcing a fawning smile. “This car… it originally belonged to Liza. Serena was merely curious and wanted to take it for a ride. If you think this is inappropriate, I’ll have her step away from it immediately.” Serena’s face turned ashen. “Dad, how could you…” she stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief. The car had been her prized possession, a symbol of her status and elegance. In her mind, it had rightfully been hers to flaunt. How had it suddenly become Liza’s property in an instant? But Mr Sinclair was in no mood to appease Serena. His thoughts were focused solely on salvaging the deal with Albert. Without it, Serena’s privileges—her luxury lifestyle, chauffeurs, and social standing—would crumble, along with the family’s fortunes. To preserve everything, he needed to prioritize Albert’s goodwill. With a nervous chuckle, Mr Sinclair tried to sound convincing. “President Albert, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. The truth is, both the luxury car and the more modest vehicle—yes, even the one under 200,000 yuan—belong to Liza. She simply doesn’t feel comfortable using the limited-edition luxury car because of how extravagant it is. That’s why she prefers the simpler one. I assure you, the situation isn’t what it seems.” Albert raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk. “Is that so? Are you certain you’re telling the truth?” Mr Sinclair’s eyes darkened as he shot a sharp glance at Liza, silently urging her to go along with his narrative. His look carried a veiled threat, warning her not to contradict him. At the same time, he maintained his deferential tone toward Albert. “Yes, yes, absolutely,” he insisted. “No matter how accompliSerena is, she’s still an illegitimate child. Her mother… well, she was a mistress, and that’s an undeniable fact. The Sinclair Family’s assets and the company will always be passed down to Liza. Perhaps that’s why I’ve been more strict with her—I want to prepare her for her responsibilities. Serena, on the other hand, has had more free time and has spent more of it with me. I suppose that’s why I’ve grown a little indulgent with her.” Albert regarded him for a moment, the faint smirk never leaving his face, as though he saw through every word. Meanwhile, Serena’s hands clenched into fists at her sides, her face a storm of humiliation and rage. Her father’s words had publicly stripped her of the position she so desperately fought to maintain. Still, she dared not speak, knowing her father’s actions were motivated by sheer desperation.