As soon as Sharon answered the phone, her father’s voice boomed across the auditorium, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Idiot! What the hell have you done? If I had known you would cause such a disaster, I should have suffocated you at birth! The Sullivan family is ruined because of you; it’s all over!”

Sharon trembled. “Dad, what are you talking about? How can our family be over? What’s going on?”

“Are you seriously asking me? Do you know who’s targeting us? It’s the Sunrise Group from Betrico. In their eyes, we are nothing. They said this is because you’ve crossed someone you shouldn’t have. You need to apologize to that person immediately and beg for forgiveness, whatever it takes. Hurry up, or you’ll be kicked out of our family!” The phone clicked dead.

Terror washed over Sharon as she looked at Yvette and Jeremiah, unsure which held such power. She subconsciously believed it was the man standing beside Yvette.

Everyone heard the conversation and stared at Yvette and Jeremiah in disbelief. Few in the country were unfamiliar with the Sunrise Group, the largest technology company, a leader in the domestic tech industry within just five years. Its owner remained mysterious, never appearing publicly; only the general manager attended events. Speculation about the head of the company was rampant but remained unsubstantiated. The Sunrise Group’s action against the Sullivans left them with no recourse; the disparity in power was too vast.

Now everyone knew Yvette and Jeremiah were telling the truth. Within half an hour, the prominent Sullivan family of Seacrity was finished. But how could Yvette and Jeremiah have compelled the Sunrise Group to act? After all, Yvette was just a girl from the countryside, and Jeremiah a librarian.

“Is the Sullivan family really bankrupt?” someone asked.

Simon scrutinized Jeremiah, a sudden familiarity striking him. The man resembled a prominent figure he knew. If Jeremiah were indeed that man’s son, everything would make sense. But why would he come to Seacrity? Simon dismissed the thought as improbable.

Winona and Victor were nervous, sensing Jeremiah’s true identity was far from simple. They believed Yvette’s arrogance stemmed from Jeremiah's support.

Victor scoffed. “Hmph, relying on a man isn’t a real accomplishment!”

Winona, envious of Yvette and Jeremiah’s apparent compatibility, knew Victor wouldn't support her similarly. She couldn't understand Yvette’s luck. Jeremiah’s handsome face stirred her imagination; she envisioned herself in Yvette's place. Winona believed herself superior to Yvette in every way. She glanced at Victor, then back at Jeremiah, quietly plotting.

After hanging up, Sharon rushed towards Jeremiah, trying to grab his sleeve. He kicked her.

Sharon fell, her outfit in disarray, her hair disheveled, looking almost mad. The Argrol University students were stunned.

Jeremiah’s kick shattered Sharon’s pride. Surrounded by pity, disdain, and amusement, her emotions spiraled. Realizing her mistake, she crawled towards Jeremiah, no longer daring to touch him. “I’m sorry. Please spare my family! I’ll do anything you ask, please…”

The last two sentences revealed her intention: seduction. The crowd observed the disheveled Sharon; despite her questionable character, her looks were undeniably appealing. They wondered how Jeremiah would react.

Jeremiah grinned slightly, his cold eyes fixing on Sharon, giving her a flicker of hope. His smile hinted at interest.

She quickly tidied herself, flashed a flirtatious smile, and threw a provocative glance at Yvette. Yvette remained unmoved. Winona felt a pang of anxiety, fearing Jeremiah's interest in Sharon.

Jeremiah’s voice was slow and relaxed. “You don’t deserve that. The one you owe an apology to isn’t me; it’s Yvette.”

Sharon’s face paled. Murmurs rose again. She desperately looked around, hoping Simon would intervene, but he ignored her, lost in thought about Jeremiah. Panicked, she saw no one to help: Tobias, Bonnie, John, even students from the Frixyia department looked on with disdain. Patrick cowered.

Finally, she spotted Winona and Victor. “Winona, please help me! Tell your sister not to do this, okay?”

Winona, annoyed at being noticed, replied gently, “Sharon, since you lost, you should apologize to Yvette. Isn’t that how it should be? I can’t help you, even if you beg me.”

This was the final blow. Sharon had acted as Winona’s pawn and now faced disgrace alone. She remembered Victor.

Victor, feeling guilty, knew he couldn’t offend the Sunrise Group. He avoided her gaze.

Sharon’s despair turned to manic laughter, her eyes locking onto Winona. “You know what, Winona? You are the most hypocritical person I’ve ever met. You still don’t know that Victor and I slept together behind your back, do you? He held me close, saying he was forced to get engaged to you. If you weren’t Ms. Winona Chambers, Dennis Smith’s beloved granddaughter, he wouldn’t even be with you. Oh, by the way, I had an abortion because of him; it was a baby boy who never got to be born.”

Her biggest regret was her two-year affair with Victor, culminating in an abortion that ruined her health. Victor abandoned her when she needed him most.

Sharon’s words exploded like a bomb in the crowd.