Chapter 274: The Four Strong Powers are Targeted

Silence hung over the dinner table. Manuel and Susan ate quietly.

"Sir, don't you like the stir-fried matsutake? Let me get you some," Tia offered, noticing Manuel could only reach the closest dishes.

"No, thank you. I'm not very hungry," Manuel replied gently. "Tia, please sit and eat with us."

Usually, they ate together. Susan's presence, however, made Tia hesitant. She glanced nervously at Susan.

Susan's annoyance flared. "Why are you looking at me? I'm not going to hurt you!"

Tia felt unjustly accused. She merely wanted to gauge Susan's opinion; some families didn't permit servants to dine with their masters. Even with her high salary, Tia knew proper etiquette. Susan's sharp temper, in contrast to Manuel's kindness, surprised her. No wonder they clashed.

"Please sit," Manuel repeated softly.

Tia complied, taking a seat beside Manuel. Susan ate with apparent relish, finding the maid's cooking palatable, though somewhat bland—a concession to Manuel's dislike of spice. She rarely shared meals with them and made no demands. Looking up, she saw Manuel and Tia eating together, Tia attentively serving him. Susan lowered her head, resuming her meal. It was as she'd thought; Manuel was undeniably irritating. She avoided his gaze.

That afternoon, the Miguel Cooper case and its impact on the Cooper Group became a trending topic. Headlines blared:

Chairman of Cooper Group was wrongly accused and released

Roger Cooper convicted and imprisoned

Oscar's stunning court debut

Oscar thanks Charles for not marrying Hannah

Hannah and Oscar: A perfect match

The Cooper Group's stock price fluctuated wildly that afternoon, swinging from its daily low to its daily high in a matter of minutes.

Oscar watched the news, then saw an incoming call. Hannah, exhausted from the previous day's worry and an early start, was asleep after a late lunch. He picked up his phone, stepping onto the balcony and closing the floor-to- ceiling windows.

"Hi, Theodore."

"Dore is dead," Theodore stated bluntly.

Oscar had anticipated this. He'd sent Theodore to discreetly observe Dore after the trial, hoping to uncover clues. They might not have saved him, but they could find evidence.

"Dore was shot by a sniper outside the detention center. The attack was so brazen, I couldn't locate the sniper and, fearing exposure, didn't pursue the investigation further," Theodore explained.

"I understand."

"Oscar," Theodore said, his voice serious. "I think Hannah is being targeted."

"Yes," Oscar agreed. "More precisely, the Four Strong Powers are all being targeted." The aristocratic families, having seized control of the royal family, aimed to dominate Northfield's finances. Controlling the Four Strong Powers was the fastest route to that goal. The Sawyer family, likely bribed, was using seemingly legitimate business practices to dismantle the remaining three families. Their first attempt, against the Coopers, had failed. This time, they'd resorted to more extreme measures, again unsuccessfully. Oscar was uncertain if this failure would lead to a pause or escalation. He needed to accelerate his preparations, for himself and Hannah's safety.

Meanwhile, Charles, leaving the courthouse, witnessed the throng of reporters surrounding Hannah and her team. He was stunned by her newfound prominence as a Northfield influencer; any news involving her became instant trending. He clenched his phone, staring at the headlines, consumed by resentment. Oscar's words, thanking him for not marrying Hannah, stung. It felt like a blatant provocation. He scoffed at the notion of any merit in their actions. In his mind, his future wife would far surpass Hannah in every way. Numerous women desired to be Mrs. Charles, but the time to reveal his choice wasn't yet ripe. Only then would Hannah grasp her insignificance, and Oscar realize his own disdain for her. Their current public displays only served to humiliate themselves.

His phone rang. He composed himself before answering.

"Dore is dead," the voice on the other end declared.

Charles was taken aback by the swiftness of the action.

"Dore's quick thinking prevented exposure; we can't use that method again," the voice continued callously, focusing on future plans. "But I must control the Four Strong Powers."

"I will do my best," Charles responded quickly.

"Your performance has disappointed me. Hannah's situation was an accident, though I don't know why she's changed. But I expect you to seize control of Cooper Group," the voice pressed.

After a brief pause, the voice continued heavily, "Charles, I invested years in you, and I don't want it wasted."

"For Sarah, I won't fail you."

"Secure Cooper Group, and you'll have Sarah's hand in marriage, and half my country."

Excitement surged, but Charles maintained his composure. "I won't let you down again."

"I hope not." The call ended.

Charles hung up, a cruel glint in his eyes. He would bring Hannah down, removing her from his path to power.