Chapter 490: A Great Victory

In the luxurious office, only Hannah and Charles remained.

"Can we begin?" Charles asked.

Hannah eyed him skeptically. "Tell me the price," she said, her voice betraying her distaste for the man.

"Three point eight billion," Charles replied directly. He eschewed circumlocution, knowing he could no longer charm her. She seemed to see through his machinations; honesty was the best policy.

Hannah countered with, "Two billion."

Charles' displeasure was evident. He'd suppressed his anger until now. "Don't push me," he warned, his voice tight with barely controlled fury. "Mutual destruction is a risk we can't afford. You can't afford to offend Bills."

A sneer touched Hannah's lips. She understood; he was using Bills as a shield.

"Isn't Bills more afraid of me?" she retorted.

A tightness gripped Charles' chest. "I'm leading the event planning project; I'm the only qualified person. If I quit, Bills Group suffers. Do you think he'd care about my feelings? You could take the project, or I could. The Bead Chain e-commerce platform is small now, but would Bills choose me to develop it, or would he let me go?" His words dripped with sarcasm.

Charles clenched his fists, struggling to maintain control. From the outset, Hannah hadn't just sought to benefit; she aimed to make Bills understand the Northfield e-commerce project belonged solely to her. This entire scenario was part of her plan—a plan orchestrated by the woman he despised, the woman who had repeatedly bested him.

He glared at her, his hatred barely concealed, while Hannah remained calmly composed, enjoying her victory. The thought of a more fitting punishment than skinning him alive even crossed her mind.

After a brief pause, she said, "Go home and think about it. If you refuse, we'll pursue legal action to recover the debt."

"Fine," Charles readily agreed.

Hannah was surprised by his adaptability. She'd always considered him arrogant and unwilling to accept defeat. She found nothing admirable about him; he was the type of man who would commit murder or arson to achieve his goals.

"Sign the contract," she said, handing it to him.

He took it, his face grim at the two-billion-dollar price. Hannah had anticipated his compromise; the contract was meticulously prepared. The thought of being consistently manipulated by her only fueled his mounting rage. Nevertheless, he had no choice. He summoned Martina.

Martina appeared subdued, tears still in her eyes. This day, she sensed, would forever scar her. As Sawyer Group's legal representative, her signature was required on all contracts.

"Sign it," Charles commanded coldly. Martina, teeth clenched, read the contract, her fury flaring at the two-billion-dollar price. She looked at Charles with suspicion.

"Sign it!" he snapped, his displeasure intensifying under her scrutiny.

Martina signed. Hannah signed and had Rose affix the seal. Four copies were made. "The two billion can be transferred through business accounts," Hannah stated, handing Charles two copies.

Charles, speechless with anger, had suffered a significant loss. The project was worth four billion, yet Hannah had secured it for two. While Cooper Group had invested two billion, Sawyer Group still lost substantially—effort wasted, and the Collins family profiting by a billion.

Charles stormed out, Martina trailing behind him.

Outside, Martina cried out, "Charles, Dad will go insane if he learns we sold the e-commerce platform so cheaply!"

He remained aloof. "Sawyer Group wouldn't survive if we hadn't sold. Forget it. Focus on other projects."

"I understand, but Dad and you… you're not here for me."

"I have other things to do."

"All right," she said, suppressing her anger. "I can handle anything, as long as you kill Hannah."

Charles, his displeasure unwavering, intensified at the mention of Hannah's name. He entered his car and drove away.

Many believed Hannah had vanquished him, but Charles was far from defeated. He had Sarah, his ally in his comeback. He’d received a message from her earlier, during the negotiations, and now called her.

Sarah was pregnant—a stroke of luck. He hadn't used contraception during their first encounter. At his lowest point, he saw a path to redemption. He would force Hannah to her knees, begging for forgiveness. This time, the humiliation would be doubled.

He answered the phone. "Are you pregnant, my dear?"

"Are you unhappy?" she asked.

"No. I want to see you."

"But my father…"

"I'll come even if your father kills me. Wait for me," he said firmly.

Sarah, deeply moved, whispered, "Okay."

Charles hung up, a cruel smile twisting his lips. Hannah would pay for everything she had done.