Chapter 167:

Jayden Owen stepped from his car at the Owen Group, greeted by a man wearing sleek, black-rimmed glasses. "Lukas," Jayden said, his voice deep, "it's been a year. Why a demotion instead of a promotion?"

Lukas Sugden sighed, his gaze downcast. "Mr. Owen, please don't tease me. You know the challenges I faced."

A glimmer of hope appeared in Lukas's eyes. "Are you considering returning to lead the Owen Group?" he asked cautiously.

A smile touched Jayden's lips. "No," he said. "You're overthinking. I'm here to see my brother."

The hope in Lukas's eyes dimmed. He knew Jayden's return wouldn't be easy; his disability had effectively ended his corporate career. He'd been sidelined.

"Mr. Owen," Lukas said with a forced smile, "I welcome your return. Your brilliance is undeniable. With my support, you'll thrive."

Jayden ignored the comment. "Move aside," he said calmly. "I'm going in."

Lukas silently stepped aside.

Despite his year-long absence, Jayden's presence still resonated with the company's employees. His reappearance caused a stir.

"That's Mr. Jayden Owen! He's back! It's been ages."

"He's as handsome as ever. Such a shame about his accident, though."

"What's he doing here? Is he coming back?"

The employees buzzed, reminiscing about Jayden's decisive leadership and the lucrative projects he'd spearheaded—each yielding over one hundred billion dollars in profit. His contributions were undeniable.

Walking with Jayden, Lukas overheard their conversations, a mixture of emotions swirling within him. During Jayden's tenure as CEO, Lukas had been a pivotal director in the project department. However, he'd considered Jayden impulsive and reckless, often opposing him. Jayden's departure revealed that not everyone possessed Jayden's sharp judgment and vision.

Brook, attempting to emulate Jayden's assertiveness, signed contracts rashly, incurring losses due to a lack of foresight. This led to repeated clashes with Lukas, resulting in Lukas's demotion to the service department, where he largely spent his days drinking coffee.

While Lukas hoped for Jayden's return, convincing him proved difficult. As they approached the design department, Jayden witnessed a heated argument. A man was berating Bryce, whose irritation was evident. The man's anger escalated, but Bryce remained defiant.

"You fail even at simple tasks!" the man shouted. "Leave! This isn't for you!"

Bryce retorted, "I couldn't care less. I don't want to work for you! Stop this nonsense!"

Lukas intervened, knocking on the door.

"Mr. Owen!" the man exclaimed, surprised.

"Are you the design department director?" Jayden asked, his memory failing him. He suspected Brook had purged senior staff.

"Yes," the man replied, adjusting his attire. "Mr. Jayden Owen, it's a pleasure. How can I help you?"

A sneer flickered across Lukas's face. Jayden stated simply, "I need to speak with my brother."

The man readily agreed. "Of course."

Bryce, disgusted by the hypocrisy, resolved to leave. He followed Jayden into the adjacent conference room.

"What do you want?" Bryce demanded impatiently.

Jayden met his gaze. "Stop damaging your reputation here. You lack the business acumen to succeed. Go home."

...