Chapter 581

The project manager had already verified the consent form and found no major issues. "As we agreed, Turner Group, Wilson Group, Diamonde Group, and Bree Technology—whoever settles the relocation first, by any means as long as it’s legal and compliant—gets the project. Currently, it appears that Turner Group is in the lead."

“I’ve already checked with Wilson Group and Diamonde Group, and they have no objections for now. Ms. Miller, if you don’t have any issues either, this project will go to Turner Group,” the project manager added.

Aubree didn’t reply. Instead, she glanced at Josephine.

Alvin had noticed Josephine the moment she arrived.

‘Does Aubree really think Josephine can turn things around? Even her family has already signed the consent form. What could she possibly do now—take it back?’ Alvin thought as a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

“There’s a problem with this consent form,” Josephine said.

Recalling everything Aubree had done for her, Josephine gathered her courage and stepped forward, stating, “If I’m not mistaken, this is the consent form the village chief made us sign back then. It has my son, Mattias’s name on it.

“The village chief pretty much ran the place like his own little kingdom. We didn’t dare go against him, but I was worried he’d pocket everything in the end. So, when it came time to sign, I played it smart and I signed my son’s name instead of mine. But the property is actually under my name.”

As such, Josephine’s consent on the form did not hold weight.

The project manager frowned as he uttered, “If that’s the case…”

Aubree jumped right in and handed over the agreement she’d collected. She announced, “Here’s the agreement I got from the villagers. All the ones who agreed to the relocation signed it. And that’s not all…”

Ever since she decided to redevelop Ridgehaven Town, she’d had her team put together a full project proposal and sent Vincent to do some groundwork in the village. Now, she handed all those documents to the project manager.

“From what we’ve found, a lot of the elderly in Ridgehaven Town have kids who aren’t around, and honestly, most of those kids aren’t too keen on taking care of them. After the demolition, what happens to these seniors is a real problem. We’ve already talked to them and done our research to figure out a solution,” Aubree explained.

The Turner Group had a project plan, too, of course, but Alvin hadn’t thought things through as thoroughly as Aubree had, and he hadn’t prioritized the elderly issue as prominently.

On this point, he was already at a disadvantage.

“I need to go back and think this over,” the project manager said, giving a noncommittal answer. Both Aubree and Alvin nodded in agreement.

But Alvin knew deep down that he had lost.

The project manager had other things to attend to, so after a quick goodbye, he left.

“Turns out, I really shouldn’t have underestimated you,” Alvin said with one hand in his pocket.

Aubree felt a bit conflicted inside. She wasn’t the type to tell Alvin to just let it go. Instead, she replied, “Back at you.

“Honestly, you almost had it. Guess luck was on my side this time!”

To be honest, Aubree felt her win had a lot to do with luck. If Josephine hadn’t kept that ace up her sleeve, and if Aubree hadn’t helped her at just the right moment, things could’ve gone either way.

Alvin gave a short laugh in response, “Luck counts as strength, too.”

He didn’t argue anymore. A loss was a loss—no point making excuses.

Alvin didn’t stick around after that, and he went straight back to the hotel to pack up and prepare for his return to Rithol City. This project might be over, but things between him and Aubree were far from finished.

Carmen had been waiting at the hotel entrance for a while. The moment she saw Alvin, she rushed over and exclaimed, “Alvin! How could you do this?”

He’d tricked her, made her ruin her own brother’s plans, and then just kicked her to the curb.

Alvin didn’t even blink before responding, “Get out of my way.”

After all, only a fool would believe their opponent would help them.

Carmen’s eyes reddened with emotion, but Alvin just walked right around her and into the hotel.

Watching his back as he left, Carmen’s eyes filled with a trace of hatred. She’d loved him so much, trusted him completely, and she could not believe that he would lie to her like this.