Reborn From Oblivion

Plaintiff Dean and the rest of the elite families looked like they'd just been through the wringer. Nathalie couldn't help but poke a bit of fun at them: "If your business tanked, maybe it's time to rethink if you're really cut out for it. Don't jump to the conclusion that just because someone else is cashing in, they must've swiped it from you. And remember, back when you were riding high, all your families combined barely scraped together a few billion. My brother Nathan paid back every cent not too long ago. What makes you think any of this new billion is yours?"

The McCoy, Rowland, and Dawson families were fuming, shooting daggers at Dean.

Dean, glaring at the root of his troubles, Ashley, demanded, "Ashley, what on earth is happening here?"

Ashley, saddled with the greed of these vultures, could only hang her head and cry.

Dean, swallowing his pride, told the judge, "I withdraw the lawsuit."

The other families, suffocating from embarrassment, made a hasty exit.

Scottie, however, stayed put, lost in thought.

Nathalie approached him, her victory not tainted with arrogance. She humbly remarked, "I never imagined running into the famous Scottie here. It's truly an honor."

Everyone loves a bit of flattery, especially when it's as smooth as Nathalie's. Scottie smiled warmly, "Ashley, if you're free, I'd love to take you out for dinner."

Nathalie laughed, "I'd be delighted."

Scottie nodded, sealing the plan.

As Nathalie and Scottie stepped out, Ashley was waiting by the door, eyes red with anger and resentment.

"Nathalie, you're a piece of work. Morris is my fiancé. How dare you hold onto his money?"

Nathalie was taken aback.

She felt a twinge of guilt, as if Ashley was the rightful partner and she was just a shadowy affair.

"Ashley, this wasn't my call. It was Nathan's. Honestly, I only recently learned I'm in charge of Maple Company."

Ashley muttered, "No way. How could he trust you like that? You were just a childhood friend."

Nathalie gently reminded her, "We're more than friends. We're family. We're siblings."

"Who'd buy that?" Ashley shot back.

Nathalie just shook her head and moved on.

At the diner, Scottie deliberately chose a modest spot to gauge Nathalie's character. A seasoned observer, he knew a person's true colors often emerged in simple settings.

"Ashley, sorry, I've got stuff to deal with later, so I could only bring you here for a

quick bite. Next time, I promise to take you somewhere nicer."noveldrama

But Nathalie had a soft spot for this little diner, filled with echoes of her childhood. She eagerly shared with Scottie, "When I was a kid and had nothing to eat, I'd come to places like this to scrounge for foodSome s would order more than they

could handle, and I'd get lucky with a free meal. I'd even take leftovers

home."

Scottie was floored.

A girl willing to lay bare her past like that was clearly grounded and genuine.

"No wonder my wife thinks so highly of you," he said with a smile.

Nathalie beamed, "I've worked hard to win her over."

She showed him her hand, "See, the needle marks are still there."

Scottie teased, "Winning her over with a hidden agenda, huh?"

Nathalie laughed openly, "He's my brother; can't just turn my back on him. Scottie, if you help lighten his sentence, I'll practically worship you daily offerings, incense, the whole nine yards..."