Chapter 172

At Watson Group headquarters, Brandon pressed his fingers to his temples, his eyes fixed on Vivian acroSS the desk.

Brandon's voice was ice-cold as he asked, "What were you thinking?"

Vivian blinked at Brandon, bewildered. What was the problem?

Wasn't it her livestream that had supposedly turned things around, saving the company's stock from total collapse?

She was certain she'd done the Watson Group a favor.She was the reason for the sudden recovery,not Millie or anyone else.

All these years, Millie had never wielded this kind of influence. Only Vivian managed to stir up such a dramatic effect.

Still, she couldn't say that outright, so she masked herself with a pained, innocent expression. "Brandon,when I saw the Watson Group's market value nosedive this morning, I thought I had to do something fast to help."

But Brandon's frosty glare didn't soften.

Eugene,standing to the side, finally spoke up, unable to stay quiet. "Miss Simpson, you can't just act on your own. These are major company decisions. You need to coordinate with us first."

A flicker of irritation crossed Vivian's face, but she quickly hid it. She'd harbored a grudge against Eugene for ages, and once she secured her place as Brandon's wife, she fully intended to make him pay.

For now, however, she had to play along.

"I... I saw the news and just went live without thinking,"Vivian stammered, dropping her gaze and biting her lip."Anyway,everything turned out fine, didn't it?"

Eugene cast a frustrated glance her way. "That's only because the entire company worked through the night, and Mr. Watson never left the boardroom. We had a plan from the start."

Vivian fell silent, her eyes downcast.

No one seemed to notice the bitterness simmering just beneath her meek facade.

Brandon, however, never looked away, his cold stare stil locked on Vivian.

It dawned on him that he'd acted without thinking things through.

He'd grown used to the effortless partnership he shaed with Millie, where every project ran smoothly,their instincts perfectly in sync.

Half the time, a single glance or a brief smile was enough for them to understand each other's thoughts.

Moments like today's fiasco simply never happened when Millie was around. Because she knew that, when it came to a public company, nothing mattered more than building trust through dependable, high-quality products.

Sure, Watson Group ran flashy ad campaigns and brought on big-name endorsements, but at the end of the day, their technology was their real backbone.

Brandon noticed the dissatisfaction in Vivian's eyes,feeling under pressure. But in the end, he decided to let it slide.

Vivian just didn't get how these things worked.

Still,something nagged at him.

"Do you personally own any Watson Group stock?"Brandon asked, his tone cold.

Huh?" Vivian stared,puzzled.

Eugene cut in, his voice serious, "Miss Simpson, this is a serious matter. What you did could be viewed as manipulating the stock price, especially if you purchased shares when they were at their lowest..."

Eugene trailed off, but the threat was obvious.

"This could have major legal consequences," he added.

Depending on the circumstances, she could be facing jail time or at least a hefty fine.

Vivian shot Eugene a sharp look, but quickly replied,"No, I didn't buy any shares."

Brandon didn't take her at her word. Instead, he looked straight at Eugene. "Double-check it for me."

"Understood," Eugene answered at once.

"Brandon, I already told you l didn't buy any. Don't you trust me?" Vivian's voice edged with panic.

But Brandon met her gaze with a chilling calmness,so unlike the man she thought she knew.

The eerie composure in his eyes only made Vivian bristle with frustration. She continued, "You really don't have to go this far. I said on the livestream that I acted on my own, and you had no idea what I was doing."

Eugene let out a weary sigh. "Miss Simpson, do you honestly think anyone will believe that? You've brought up your relationship with Mr. Watson on public platforms more than once. The damage is already done, no matter what you say now."

"You-" Vivian shot him a glare, her patience fraying.

Yet in the end, she held her tongue.

At last, she threw up her hands in exasperation. "Fine,do whatever you need-I'll cooperate, all right?!Satisfied?"

She stormed out of the office, her angger trailing behind her.

Eugene hurried after her, leaving Brandon standing by the window, silently watching her retreat.

Just as Vivian reached the doorway, Brandon spoke,his tone flat. "From now on, Vivian, leave Watson Group matters to me. Don't get involved ever again."

That stung. Vivian stiffened, her back still to him.

"So, that's it? You're cutting me out?" she asked.

Brandon didn't bother to answer.

Eugene cut in, hoping to smooth things over, "Miss Simpson, that's not what Mr. Watson means. The company's business is complicated, and he's only looking out for you."

Vivian stayed silent, her hand tightening on the doorknob, the tension hanging in the air.

"Brandon, I just want to help you," she pleaded,turning around, eyes bright with tears. "If she could manage it, then why can't l? Maybe | made mistakes this time, but I'm still willing to do whatever it takes."

Brandon didn't meet Vivian's gaze. His eyes dropped,voice steady but distant. "Let's have dinner tonight."

A flash of satisfaction flickered across Vivian's face.

So this was how he chose to handle her, by giving in,yet again.

It was clear he still didn't know how to say no to her,so he let things slide.

Vivian gathered herself and, without another word,trailed after Eugene to take care of the verification.

Brandon was left alone in the vast CEO's office.

His eyes wandered to a small table in the corner.

Back then, whenever there was business to sort out, Millie would claim that spot, settling in with a neat pile of paperwork at her side.

Now it sat empty and silent.

Then, the persistent buzz of his phone pulled him back.

Brandon checked the caller ID and picked up.

"Brandon!" Derek's voice exploded through the line,anger clear. "I put my neck on the line, making calls all night and smoothing things over for you, and this is what I get? You need to get Vivian out of Watson Group,now!"

One call ended, only to be followed by another. And another.

Brandon pressed his fingers to his temples, his gaze lingering on the empty side table nearby, a constant reminder of the mounting pressure he felt.

Elsewhere, Millie had watched the entire livestream unfold with steady composure, and then tracked the wild swings of the Watson Group's stock price on her screen.

After a moment's consideration, she dialed Charles.

He picked up quickly, and Millie got straight to the point. "What's the latest news?"

Excitement charged Charles's voice. "My contact confirmed it. He used several accounts to scoop up Watson Group shares at rock-bottom prices. The moment he finished, Vivian started her livestream. The timing lines up perfectly!"

Everything clicked for Charles at last.

Vivian and Oakley were definitely working together.They'd crossed paths in private several times even during the show Heavenly Melody.

If they could catch this ongoing scheme and nail down the evidence, it could finally give Charles the upper hand against Oakley.

Charles could finally deal a significant setback to Oakley!

Millie gave a soft laugh.

"We'll need hard evidence," Millie said, her tone steady. "Charles, track his finances and monitor any linked accounts for suspicious activity."

Charles agreed immediately.

They didn't need to say more. Their unspoken understanding was clear.

They knew that,even with concrete proof of Oakley and Vivian's collaboration, the punishment would probably amount to littlemore than a fine. Still, it would deal a heavy blow to both their reputations.

Millie never set out to go after someone already on their way out, but the moment she agreed to that wager with Vivian, a clash became unavoidable.

Truth be told, Vivian had brought all of this on herself.

After ending the call, Millie glanced once more at the fluctuating stock chart on her screen.

Her father's advice drifted through her thoughts."Millie, until you have the power to make the rules,your job is to follow them and turn them to your advantage."

Millie's gaze dropped, her eyes softening.

For a moment, she found herself missing her father all over again.