Wayne could barely contain his joy. He had never fully trusted Charles Sawyer before, but witnessing Charles's tutelage in exposing Hannah's failings had solidified his confidence in Charles's abilities. Wayne firmly believed he would eventually win control of the Cooper Group.

He stood abruptly, declaring, "I'm not qualified for this position, and I never intended to pursue it."

This was his stand.

Hannah glanced at him, suspecting Charles's influence. It was a strategic retreat, she thought—a step back to leap forward later, making him more trustworthy.

As expected, Simon Moss quickly praised Wayne, "Wayne disappointed us before, but he's matured significantly since his father's incident. He's far more responsible and grounded, with a clearer sense of self. Instead of aiming too high, he's taking a practical approach. I believe he'll achieve great things."

"I'm grateful for your guidance," Wayne replied humbly, skillfully winning Simon's favor.

"You may sit," Simon said earnestly. "If you continue to develop, the board will see your progress."

Wayne sat, his heart overflowing with an indescribable happiness. He was rarely praised, yet he was now recognized for Hannah's failure, attributing the credit entirely to Charles.

He felt fortunate to have disregarded Jane Cooper's prejudice against Charles and chosen to trust him. Reflecting on it, he suspected Jane's demise was self-inflicted; she likely attempted to seduce Charles. Otherwise, a man as strong as Charles wouldn't have become involved with such a foolish woman.

In the conference room, Wayne's quiet satisfaction didn't escape Hannah's notice.

Simon continued, "You can't judge people solely by appearances. We all saw Hannah as a dark horse, bringing excitement to the company. But she couldn't handle setbacks and fled when faced with trouble. She won't achieve anything significant, I'm sure. Wayne, in contrast, learns from his mistakes. A man like that will accomplish great things!"

Hannah offered no rebuttal. Some executives agreed, while others remained noncommittal.

Simon affirmed, "I'm not one hundred percent certain, but based on my experience, I'm eighty percent sure he'll outperform Hannah."

Hannah simply stared at him. She didn't suspect a secret alliance between Simon and Charles; he likely wouldn't act prematurely, revealing himself only with a successful collusion. Charles wasn't foolish; his past arrogance had been his downfall. A wiser Charles would be difficult to manipulate.

Simon's harsh criticism stemmed from his desire to vent his frustration over the failed project. He conveniently used Wayne to discredit Hannah, creating a justification for his anger. Wayne, however, seemed to take his words seriously.

"I won't belabor the point," Simon stated directly. "I strongly disapprove of Hannah as the future vice-president; she lacks the capacity for such a role. We've never hired an external vice-president before—it's traditionally a Cooper family member. But rules are made to be bent. Currently, it's difficult to identify a suitable Cooper family member, so I suggest we recruit externally."

"I agree," a shareholder said. Others raised their hands in agreement.

"I agree. The company shouldn't stagnate due to the Cooper family's shortcomings!"

"Yes, don't be a dog in the manger!"

The room buzzed with loud voices, Simon leading the chorus. The atmosphere became unruly, Miguel visibly agitated.

Just as his anger was about to erupt, Hannah intervened.

"I disagree," she stated firmly, rising from her seat.

"You disagree? You rely solely on being the president's daughter…"

"You've had your say," Hannah interrupted with a steely gaze. "Now it's my turn."

Hannah's forceful demeanor silenced her critic; he hesitated to offend the president's daughter.

"Regarding the project, I apologize for nothing. I used the best plan and most accurate offer; I did nothing wrong!" Hannah emphasized each word. "If you disagree…"

"If it wasn't your fault, whose was it? The competitors? The Sawyer Group?" Simon retorted sarcastically.

"Will you let me speak!"

"I don't want to hear it! I can't accept someone as irresponsible and arrogant as you running the Cooper Group! Even if we don't hire external presidents, I'd rather choose Wayne over you!"

"You mentioned Wayne?" Hannah smiled sarcastically.

"What's that look?" Simon's face reddened. "You look down on him? You're not qualified to look down on anyone! At least he's learned his lesson—what about you? You're so arrogant!"

"You think he's better suited to be Cooper Group's vice-president?" Hannah asked.

"Yes! We should either hire an external candidate or appoint Wayne. I won't accept you." Simon declared, turning to leave, his defiance and determination to bring her down evident.

Hannah watched him storm out. Suddenly, three uniformed men entered.

"Kensbury City Supervisory Department," one announced, displaying his badge and a warrant. "We're arresting Wayne."

Shock rippled through the room.

"He's charged with revealing trade secrets. We need to detain him for investigation."

They approached Wayne. "Wayne, please come with us."

Wayne, stunned and bewildered, had no idea what law he'd broken.