Julie sighed and said, “Maybe we’ve all misunderstood him for years.” This time, neither of them refuted her. Raelynn took the declaration of estrangement in her trembling hands, her eyes welling up with tears. But she didn’t know what to do. Maybe Zac saving her three daughters had been a lie, but he was still the child they had cherished for so many years. How could she bear to see him hurt? The air in the living room was heavy with silence. After a long while, John let out a deep sigh. “This matter… don’t let Zac find out. As for the company, I’ll figure something out.” Zac was his son. He had already failed him in so many ways. No matter what, he had to protect Zac, to make sure he was never hurt. As he thought of that gentle, delicate face and those expressive eyes, John’s resolve only strengthened. He couldn’t let down that woman any further. Days passed, and Julie never came looking for Arthur. Meanwhile, Arthur’s bank account balance had skyrocketed beyond his expectations. He checked the amount—finally, it was enough. Wasting no time, he grabbed his bank card and rushed out to hail a cab, his heart racing. He was running out of time. In his past life, another businessman had acquired a small company on this exact day. Arthur slid into the backseat of a taxi, pulling out his phone to check the time. “Mister, can you hurry up a bit?” Arthur urged. “Young man, safety first,” the driver, a middle-aged man with a round belly, replied smoothly. Years of driving taxis had taught him to stay level-headed. Arthur’s patience was wearing thin as the car crawled along the road. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out some cash. “Get me there in twenty minutes, and I’ll give you an extra two hundred.” The driver’s eyes widened, his grin stretching across his face. He flashed a set of yellowed teeth. “You got it! Buckle up, kid.” Before Arthur could react, the driver slammed his foot on the gas. The car shot forward like an arrow, racing through the streets.Arthur lurched backward, slamming into the seat. But he didn’t care about the jolt of pain. Watching the scenery blur past the window, he felt nothing but satisfaction. This money was well spent. The driver was a local veteran, familiar with every shortcut and back alley. Left turn, right turn, another sharp corner—just eighteen minutes later, the taxi screeched to a stop in front of a remote office building. Arthur checked the time. Only eighteen minutes. Money really could make the world turn faster. Grinning, Arthur pulled out two crisp hundred-dollar bills and handed them over. “Mister, thanks a lot.” Being on time was worth every penny. The driver beamed as he pocketed the cash. “You heading back after this? Want me to wait?” Arthur shook his head. “No need.” Without another word, he hurried toward the entrance, following the path etched in his memory. In his past life, before Arthur’s death, this small, unremarkable company had risen in just eight years to become one of the top publicly listed corporations in South City. Its wealth and influence had even begun to surpass the Gray family. This company had incredible potential, possessing key technologies that could reshape the industry. Its only problem was poor management, which had led it to its current struggling state. The businessman who had bought it in Arthur’s past life had done nothing but focus on operations. And yet, the company had skyrocketed to become one of South City’s most dominant enterprises. Arthur stepped inside. At the front desk sat a receptionist, a bright smile on her face. Arthur had left in such a hurry that he was still wearing his school uniform. Though tall, his face still carried traces of youthful innocence. A high schooler, unfamiliar and alone, walking into the office? The receptionist was surprised.Still, she kept her professional smile and asked politely, “Hello, how can I help you?” Arthur nodded slightly in greeting and got straight to the point. “I’d like to speak to your chairman. I want to acquire your company. Please let them know.” The receptionist’s eyes widened in shock. She stared at Arthur, this teenager in a school uniform, as if she had misheard him. “You… what did you say?” she stammered. Arthur calmly repeated, “I’m here to acquire your company. Please inform your chairman.” This time, she heard him loud and clear. The receptionist gasped, covering her mouth. Their company had been up for sale for a while now, but no one had been willing to buy it. And now, out of nowhere, a kid had waltzed in and announced he was here to purchase their company? She forced a smile and said patiently, “Buddy, you’re joking, right? Buying a company costs a lot of money, you know.”