Chapter 371
Lemira let out a scoff. “Only those who feel guilty need to make such a show of it.” She couldn’t care less about the Langstons’ so-called forgiveness, especially since she hadn’t done anything wrong. “Lemira, just come back to the Langston family, take over Lucian’s company. Together, we can make our AI project bigger and stronger. It’ll take the Langston family to new heights. This is good for you, and for the Langston family. What do you say?”
Asher was brimming with confidence, as if certain Lemira would yield this time. The person beside Lemira spoke up, “Mr. Langston, you’re really playing a clever game here. When you kicked Lemira out, you didn’t consider her family then. Now that she’s proven herself, suddenly she’s family again? Is that how family works in your book?”
Asher’s expression soured. He said to Lemira, “Staying with the Langston family is the best option for you. Do you know how ruthless Orvin can be? Small companies like Maple Group, they get crushed every year. Against power, you’re as insignificant as ants.”
Lemira’s expression turned icy. Asher targeting Maple Group because of her had put her in a foul mood. “Maple Group goes under, I won’t let you off easy,” she retorted.
“Really? A little girl like you, what kind of storm do you think you can cause? You can’t even afford a lawyer. I thought you’d realize by now how insignificant you are.”
“Mr. Asher seems so confident. Have you forgotten the Langston Group’s firewall fiasco, scrambling to fix everything? Or does that not count?”
Asher remembered the incident and snorted coldly, “You think you can threaten me with that? Naive! You’ll see.”
Lemira watched as Asher and his entourage walked away, her emotions turbulent.
Alaric lagged behind, approaching Lemira with a haggard look and a hesitant expression. Lemira turned away to speak with her team, clearly uninterested in engaging with him. But Alaric stayed put, making it awkward for everyone to discuss the case. Lemira turned to him, annoyance clear in her eyes. “What do you want now?”
“Lemmy.”
“Don’t call me that. We’re not that close.” Her tone was cold and distant, treating Alaric like a stranger.
Alaric seemed unsteady. “I know Asher pulled some strings to make sure you couldn’t find a lawyer. You know how he operates. Can’t you just make peace with him once? Coming back to the Langston family, Maple Group wouldn’t suffer because of you.”
Hearing Maple Group might suffer because of her did make Lemira feel a bit guilty. The person in charge spoke up, “What do you mean ‘suffer because of Lemira’? Our AI project is a hot commodity; competitors would kill to see us fail. This has nothing to do with Lemira. Without her, our project wouldn’t be where it is today.”
Lemira didn’t expect her colleague to defend her like this. After all these years, she had grown accustomed to being misunderstood.
Alaric’s face fell slightly. “Lemira, that’s not what I meant. I just think coming back to the Langston family is the best solution.”
“That’s what you think is best. It’s all beneficial for you, not for me!”
“I’m genuinely worried about you.”
Lemira snorted. “You’re worried about yourself, aren’t you? If I really agreed to return to the Langston family, you’d be the one off the hook first, wouldn’t you?”
Alaric looked uncomfortable, his personal agenda partially exposed. Sure, he had his own reasons, but more than anything, he wished for a reconciliation between the siblings.