Ch. 471..475: Inherit Billions Chapter 471-475

Chapter 471 Admitting Defeat

Thomas had reserved a table at the upscale Frencette restaurant. As was their usual custom, he had booked the whole place for their private dining experience. Seraphina had no intention of letting anyone see her dining with Orion.

With a simple wave of her hand, she ordered her meal and handed the menu to Orion.

He barely glanced at it before saying. "Same."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow and shot him a look.

All she had ordered was a single fruit salad.

Orion settled into his chair, appearing relaxed and somewhat indifferent. "What's next? When are we heading back?"

Seraphina smiled wryly and said, "Soon. If all goes well, we should be back by tomorrow morning."

If everything went smoothly, once Seth and Blake were captured, she could return to the company and leave Joseph to discuss the acquisition.

Orion seemed pleased by her words. He assumed Seraphina had taken his advice.

His expression softened, and he said, "Don't worry; you've done well for your first time handling this."

Now, the real showdown was between him and Senator Long.

He had no intention of getting directly involved in negotiations with Blake.

To test Blake's limits, pressure was necessary, and that pressure would have to come from Senator Long.

The best way to deal with a rogue was to be even more rogue-like.

He wouldn't throw too much money at Blake; he aimed to cut the root of the problem instead, and everything was already arranged.

Lost in thought, his phone rang.

It was Senator Long.

He glanced at Seraphina, who seemed unbothered.

Orion answered the call without hesitation

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Chapter 471 Admitting Defeat

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finished

As he listened to Senator Long, his expression shifted from shock to something darker, deeper, as he locked eyes with Seraphina. Finally, the look in his eyes settled into a calm demeanor as he exchanged a few pleasantries before ending the call.

From his reaction, Seraphina understood Senator Long's message loud and clear.

She had won this round.

Three seconds passed in silence.

Orion opened his mouth, suddenly letting out a low laugh, his narrow eyes glinting with intrigue.

"Seraphina, you always manage to surprise me!"

Surprised enough to win while he was distracted.

Seraphina smiled at him, her voice slow and teasing. "Was it a surprise? Or a shock?"

Orion's attitude was unexpectedly calm; he neither appeared flustered nor pretended to be magnanimous.

Just a normal reaction.

After a moment of contemplation, Orion asked, "Do you know what Senator Long said?"

"I can guess," she replied honestly.

After making significant progress, she should hand over the project to the Crosses. Otherwise, it would imply private dealings between Senator Long and Orion.

If Orion's opponent had been someone else, Senator Long might have considered lending him a hand.

But the Cross Group had just as strong a background as the Dros Group. Once accusations of unfair insider trading came into play, the repercussions could threaten Senator Long's future. Thus, he had to play fair.

Orion rubbed his forehead, chuckling softly, his admiration unmasked in his eyes.

"We've caught Seth, and we're already sending a team to capture Blake. The Griffin Corporation is gearing up for a major overhaul. In less than a day, you've turned Eldoria Bay upside down. You've won." He had underestimated Seraphina all along.

Chapter 471 Admitting Defeat

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Finished

While he had spent four hours preparing ingredients to cook, she had been organizing everything behind the scenes.

He had expected her to be fearful, fatigued, or in need of a break.

But she hadn't paused for a moment.

Her actions were astonishingly quick, her responses calm and sharp; no one could match her efficiency.

This was the girl he admired-outstanding, bold, intelligent, and unyielding.

He willingly admitted his defeat.

Seraphina lowered her gaze, a soft smile gracing her lips. "I know. Thank you for the compliment."

Orion's eyes narrowed, a playful smile curling his lips.

"Seraphina, if you ever come to Droses, I'll make sure you get the best treatment."

What a worthy opponent!

Seraphina raised an eyebrow in challenge and said, "If you come to Cross Group, you won't get the best treatment."

A sudden bitterness washed over Orion. She used to belong to him; it was he who had let her slip away.

Now, with the Cross Group in her corner, she would never again rely solely on him.

"Your meal is served; please enjoy," the waiter announced as he pushed a cart to their table, setting down the fruit salads before discreetly stepping back. These two had spent a fortune renting the entire place, but they only ordered two fruit salads.

Indeed, wealthy people dine for the experience.

Orion stared at the fruit salad before him, his expression frozen in disbelief.

He hadn't quite caught what Seraphina had ordered-he only wanted to have the same thing. And this was all they had?

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Chapter 472 Clueless

In the end, Orion managed to finish that plate of salad, but once he returned home, he called Ken to deliver a steak.

Back at the hotel, Seraphina began to pack her bags.

She briefed Joseph on the remaining tasks and prepared to catch her flight home the next day.

Everything went smoothly on Joseph's end; perhaps Senator Long had given a heads-up. The investigation team officially took over the company's affairs after Blake's arrest. Once the accounts were in order, talks about the acquisition could begin. Blake didn't put up much of a fight either. After a few days of intense questioning, the evidence was so compelling that he had no choice but to confess.

Seraphina had deliberately arranged for herself a two-day break, passing all company responsibilities to Sivir.

She went to see Olivia. The two had a beauty treatment. After shopping for a while, they finally sat down to rest.

When Olivia heard about Seraphina's experiences in Eldoria Bay, she was utterly impressed.

Especially the part where Seraphina had won against Orion; it filled Olivia with envy.

"If this gets out, Orion will never live it down!" Olivia exclaimed.

Seraphina shot her a glare and warned, "Don't go spreading that around. Our families still maintain a balanced relationship. If that changes, some people with ulterior motives will definitely take advantage of it."

She didn't want to expend more energy maintaining the balance between them-just enough to keep things steady.

"Is Orion genuinely willing to accept his defeat?" Olivia pressed further.

Seraphina smirked slightly and inquired, "So what if he's not happy about it? A loss is a loss. Given Orion's stature and character, he wouldn't throw a tantrum just because he lost a project."

The worst that could happen was that he might have lost his appetite a bit.

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Olivia couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe he's sad inside, but can Orion even lose? I think if his opponent wasn't you, he wouldn't have lost so easily."

With that comment. Seraphina was momentarily iolted.

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Chapter 472-Clueless

Her presence alone diverted much of Orion's attention; he worried for her safety and therefore couldn't fully focus on the project.

If it had been someone else, the outcome might have been entirely different!

Unfortunately...

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Olivia thought for a moment and concluded, "He's utterly captivated by your beauty; he can't break free from your charm."

Seraphina rolled her eyes and said, "Being careless is also a lesson. There will be plenty more situations like this in the future; consider it a way for him to get used to the feeling of losing ahead of time."

Olivia couldn't help but give a thumbs up. "Ms. Cross is always impressive! The things you say could drive someone insane!"

Suddenly, a thought struck her. She looked at Seraphina and asked, "Why did I always run into Justin when I see Sarah? Has he given up being an actor?"

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, realizing Olivia was even slower than she thought-she didn't know about Sarah and Justin.

"Filming isn't as important as dating," she replied.

Olivia gasped and stood up in shock. "Holy crap!"

Seraphina raised her finger to hush her.

"Keep your voice down! Your reaction is so over the top!"

Olivia sat down in a daze and said, "Never in my wildest dream would I dream of Justin seeing Sarah."

Seraphina sighed and said, "They're probably in the pursuing stage; they still haven't gotten together yet."

Olivia clicked her tongue. "No wonder. Every time I have dinner with them, Justin looks like he wants to bore a hole through my face! And every time I invite them to a movie, Justin only buys two bags of popcorn. Was he hinting for me to leave?" Seraphina couldn't help but laugh. Olivia was such a clueless third wheel; she must be driving Justin up the wall after all this time.

Just as she was about to say something, Seraphina's phone rang. It was Emeris.

He urged her to return home, as Wilson had arrived to collect little Dani.

Chapter 472 Clueless

Seraphina frowned and simply said okay as she prepared to leave.

After parting ways with Olivia, she headed straight home.

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Chapter 473 Tough Love

Justin and Emeris were with Wilson in the living room. Emeris had always admired Wilson's noble demeanor, which made him seem incredibly reliable.

As Seraphina entered, she spotted little Dani dragging his small suitcase down the stairs. His eyes were red-rimmed and unwilling.

"Ms. Lovely!"

Dani ran over to her, looking pitiful, and hugged Seraphina tightly.

She returned the embrace, her heart aching at the thought of him leaving.

After living with them for a long time, the boy had truly become a part of their family.

Yet she knew that Wilson's feelings for Dani were even more profound.

Wilson stood up and smiled at her.

"Because of issues abroad, we've already delayed for quite some time. Dani's school is about to start, and we can't hold things up any longer."

Emeris sighed, clearly reluctant.

"There are plenty of good schools in Ascotia. Why does he have to go to school in Oflar?"

Wilson patiently clarified, "We specially tailor his courses in Oflar; this service isn't available domestically. Dani has adapted to the pace of learning abroad, and if we suddenly switch him to a local school, it would derail his studies." Wilson had arranged Dani's education with expert guidance, securing the best school and the finest teachers-far superior to what an ordinary institution could offer.

Emeris looked at little Dani with sadness. Dani, ever the sensible child, walked over and hugged Emeris around the neck.

"Emeris, I'll visit you often! I'll finish all my courses quickly and inherit my dad's entire estate. Then I'll return in style, and we'll be together forever. No one can separate us!"

Wilson inhaled sharply at this declaration. Wow, what ambitious dreams!

He might as well wish his old man kicked the bucket earlier.

Emeris chuckled helplessly, comforting Dani with a few words before they were sent off at the door.

Wilson stood by the car. He glanced at Seraphina and had something to sav With so many

Chapter 473 Tough Love

people around, he hesitated. Finally, he lowered his gaze and smiled softly.

"Goodbye, Seraphina."

Finishert

With outstanding grace, Wilson bid Seraphina farewell, then grasped Dani by the collar and ushered him into the back seat.

He resolved to adopt the Astren family's educational methods so that this boy would learn what paternal love truly meant.

Within a week, Joseph had good news.

The court had formally charged Blake, Seth, and others with asset misappropriation and falsifying accounts, resulting in a three-year prison sentence.

Following this, the Cross Group officially acquired Griffin Corporation.

At the outset, the employees at the company had united against the Crosses, so Seraphina felt little sympathy for them.

They received unemployment benefits while still coming to work, having no legitimate employment relationship with the company-merely trying to profit from Blake's misdeeds. As a result, only ten employees genuinely belonged to Griffin Corporation.

Those who stayed would remain as the lowest-ranked staff, while those who chose to leave received a substantial severance package.

Ultimately, everyone opted to depart.

With the major issues settled, Seraphina exhaled in relief.

Once the project started, she would monitor the progress and manage the remaining tasks.

In the Cross Group's office, Seraphina sipped her coffee while reviewing a report from Joseph. Suddenly, her phone chimed.

It was Sarah.

"Seraphina."

On the other end, Sarah hesitated, seemingly unsure of how to continue.

"What's wrong, Sarah?"

Bruce came looking for me again."

Seraphina's heart sank at this.

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Chapter 474 Justin Has a Long Way Ahead

Seraphina and her friends visited the bar that they frequented.

As Seraphina stepped out of the car, she quickly scanned the crowd and spotted Sarah, who had just arrived.

"There you are!" Sarah exclaimed, wrapping an arm around Seraphina's shoulder. "I've missed you so much! I was about to swing by your house!"

Seraphina clicked her tongue and playfully teased her friend.

"Are you here to see me, or is it my brother that you're after?"

Sarah shot her a playful glare and pinched her gently, a warning glimmering in her eyes.

"Don't sprout nonsense!"

Seraphona's smile broadened. Sarah didn't seem to mind the banter, which was a good sign- Lit meant there was hope for them.

"I'm serious! I can't wait for the day you become part of our family!" Seraphina declared, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

A smile flickered on Sarah's face but vanished just as quickly.

Something appeared to be troubling her, with a hint of anxiety creeping in.

"Is Bruce trying to get back together with you?" Seraphina asked after a brief pause.

Sarah sighed, a cold smirk forming on her lips.

"He's digging his own grave. If he had just used his little bit of influence to navigate his way through that minor model industry, he might have been fine. But can you believe he took drugs during a major show? Haha! They kicked him out on the spot! He's been blacklisted abroad and has nowhere to go. Now, he is actually crawling back like a loser, begging me to forgive him."

Seraphina shook her head, feeling a cold indifference settle in her heart.

One wrong step could lead to disaster.

Bruce had once had a bright future ahead of him, and now it was all gone.

"Don't waver, okay? A man like that will only drag you down!" Seraphina seized the opportunity to warn her.

No one was going to steal Justin's girl! She had to make sure of that

manter i Simon Hes & Long Way Ahead

Sarah rolled her eyes at her.

+8 Posts.

"He's worth nothing now! Am I stupid? I'm not foolish enough to waste my money trying to mend someone else's problems. Do you have any idea how many people were envious of his success over the past few years? Once his scandal is exposed, his rivals will jump at the chance to take him down. He won't be able to hide his scandals. His only way out is to quit the industry.

Sarah spoke with an easy tone, lacking any sympathy.

Seraphina finally felt a sense of relief wash over her.

Justin's constant eagerness to spend time with Sarah made sense-was he concerned about the resurgence of their past romance?

Seraphina smiled and asked, "So, what do you think of Justin?"

Sarah paused for a moment, then replied, "Seraphina, I won't lie to you. I still have feelings for Justin, but you know what? It feels like standing on the edge of a cliff with a sword hanging over my head, waiting for it to drop. I can't lose him again, so I'd rather never have had him at all."

This desire was different from what she felt for Bruce.

With Bruce, she had always maintained a sense of coldness and vigilance, fully aware that their time together would eventually end.

However, she had feelings for Justin.

Seraphina fell silent, smiled, and nodded in understanding.

She knew that for Sarah, a partner was the utmost important.

That person would be her family for life.

But there was no guarantee that the charming and flirtatious Justin would always offer her warmth and love.

A person without any sense of security would never easily trust or invest their heart.

She couldn't face another abandonment.

Taking a deep breath, Seraphina noticed that the elevator had arrived.

They stepped out together.

"No matter what, I'm always on your side, Sarah Just follow your heart."

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Chapter A ha Justin Man & Long Way Ahead

No one else's opinions or feelings should influence you.

Sarah nodded, and they shared a knowing smile

She was feeling down because of Bruce's visit, which was why she had asked Seraphina to join her for drinks.

Since Sarah wasn't particularly low-spirited, Seraphina's worries were eased.

At the same time, she couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for Justin.

Apparently, her brother still needed to keep pushing forward.

Chapter 475 Protest Rally!

Not long after worrying about Sarah and Justin's relationship, Seraphina received a phone call from Joseph.

There was trouble in Eldoria Bay.

Some employees of Griflin Corporation, along with contract workers who hadn't signed labor agreements, were dissatisfied with the compensation offered by Cross Group and had resorted to protesting! Without wasting a moment, she rushed over to Griffin Corporation.

Upon seeing the crowd of protesters gathered at the entrance, her head felt dizzy with the impending trouble. Seraphina's expression darkened.

The situation was far worse than Joseph had described.

Bodyguards hired by Joseph surrounded the building, ready to step in and prevent any violence.

Nearby, police cars and ambulances stood by, prepared for any potential conflict.

Taking a deep breath, Seraphina remained seated in her car, hesitant to get out.

Thomas made a call to summon Joseph outside.

Ten minutes later, Joseph emerged in casual attire, wearing a mask to avoid being recognized.

"Ms. Cross," he said, feeling utterly useless as he failed to handle the situation.

Now, this young woman had to step in to clean up his mess.

Seraphina nodded, her voice calm.

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"You don't need to blame yourself; both I and the company understand the current situation."

Joseph felt a wave of gratitude wash over him as he quickly replied, "It was all under control until Blake stirred things up. He incited a few loyalists to create a ruckus, insisting that they receive the same compensation as the full-time employees. That's impossible for us to agree!"

Seraphina pursed her lips; her tone turned cold. "Didn't you talk with them?"

"When they heard they could get more money, they jumped at the chance to cause trouble for a better deal. What's there to discuss? We already offer generous compensation; they're

just being greedy!"

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