Angela knew about the setback Earl had suffered. Using her connection with Debra, she managed to obtain the company’s secret key — a credential that allowed an immediate bypass of the firewall. She had never intended to tamper with confidential data or to harm the company. Her confidence was real: her hacking skills had been trained by an international cybersecurity expert. Though she had never displayed them, they were certainly superior to Earl’s. She believed she was far from risking failure.
Yet clarity eluded her. What had once seemed certain now threatened to become a police investigation and possible imprisonment. Debra sighed, “We’ll seek a solution.” Angela wiped away her tears; she had no answer. The humiliation was too great to bear.
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“Mom…” Angela realized this was not something her mother could resolve. Debra spoke slowly, “Ultimately, it’s up to the technical department.” Angela immediately grasped the implication. “Are you suggesting I apologize to Sandra?” Debra nodded. “Securing her forgiveness is essential. Whatever it takes, make Sandra downplay the incident to the authorities. That way Angela might escape with a verbal reprimand or, at worst, a brief detention.”
Biting her lip, Angela protested, “Mom, if I apologize to Sandra, how can I possibly maintain my standing within the family?”
Debra asked, “Do you recall Zachary’s granddaughter?”
Angela flinched. Of course, she remembered. But that girl had since emigrated, never to return. Why did her mom bring her up?
“Not being a part of the Coopers, she was easily sacrificed during a crisis.”
Angela was still perplexed. “But I am your biological daughter!” She believed herself to be held in high esteem, even likely to inherit a significant portion of the company in the future.
Debra rose and approached the window, a cool breeze lifting her long hair. “Have you ever considered whether your grandmother would have been so resolute if Zachary’s granddaughter were integral to the company?”
Fresh stories here gα?ησν?s?c?m
Angela had an epiphany. In essence, she faced the same vulnerability as Zachary’s granddaughter. The difference was that she had Debra as her mother. But if her mistakes surpassed her mother’s ability to conceal them, she too would be sacrificed.
Angela conceded, “I’ll apologize to that bitch!”
Debra returned a cold sneer. “An apology is not enough.”
Angela, utterly astonished, asked, “You can’t possibly mean to cede our shares, do you?” She had heard from Hailey of Sandra’s desires to usurp shares. “Grandma was always on guard against her. And now we are just giving our shares to her?”
If not for her own foolishness, Sandra would never have found a pretext to claim the shares.
“Mom, I’m sorry.”
Seeing Angela come to this realization, Debra found a small ounce of solace. She gently patted Angela’s shoulder. “You must act nice to her, regardless of how she responds. Understand?”
“Yes,” acknowledged Angela. Thinking of her predicament, she resigned herself to swallow her pride.
After Sandra returned to the office, she joined the police in the conference room. She presented her accounts with clarity and conciseness, and the transcript proceeded smoothly.
The police instructed, “Please remain within the company premises, as further inquiries may arise. Your cooperation is appreciated.”
Sandra smiled assuredly. “I promise to comply.”
“Next.”
Sandra left the conference room and found Debra and Angela at the end of the hallway. Debra approached briskly, a semblance of a smile on her face.
“Sandra, may we have a word?”
Sandra gestured behind them. “I must discuss with my husband first.”
Debra turned, noticing Wesley accompanied by Joey not far off. Her smile faltered. “I’ll wait for you.”
Sandra nodded. “Very well, please wait.” She walked toward Wesley.
Angela’s rage was palpable. “Mom, is she not becoming insufferably arrogant?”
Debra was also seething with fury. But what choice did they have? Angela’s fate was firmly in Sandra’s hands. Regardless of humiliation or even physical retribution, they had no recourse.
Sandra smiled slightly. “Are you concerned I might be oppressed, Mr. Cooper?”
Casting a glance at Debra and Angela, then back at Sandra, Wesley remarked, “It seems others are more likely to suffer oppression.”
“You show such concern for them.”
“No, I show more concern for you.”
Sandra said, “They want to talk to me now.”
Wesley’s eyes deepened a little when he heard this. She added, “You ordered Joey to reprimand Angela, and I reap the benefits today.”
Wesley fixed his gaze upon her. “Given the firewall was your handiwork, you would’ve sensed her tampering immediately, wouldn’t you?”
If she had reported it earlier, Angela’s transgression would have been minor, meriting no punishment.
Sandra’s silence was strategic. She awaited Angela’s fall into the snare she had laid.
Sandra lifted an eyebrow. “I’m sensing our similarities now.”
Joey chuckled. “You two old foxes.”
Wesley inquired, “What do you want from them?”
Sandra replied, “You’re well aware that your company holds no allure for me.” She emphasized “your company.”
Joey was stirred with sentiment. Sandra did all this for Wesley?! Their love was so real.
Driven by her affection for Wesley, she willingly forsook her rights and endured the provocations from Angela.
“Madam, you make me weep,” Joey commented.
Debra, impatient to wait any longer, approached with Angela. “Can we talk now?”
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