The Return Of the Invincible Heiress

The dim light obscured Alexander's face, revealing only the sharp yet elegant lines of his silhouette. Isaac could see him reclining on the sofa, his long legs stretched out, idly petting the green-eyed cat in his lap. He exuded an aura of both laziness and aloofness.

"Sic," Alexander said, his gaze fixed on Isaac, his voice calm and commanding.

Under Alexander's scrutinizing gaze, Isaac felt like a lamb being watched by a well-fed leopard—safe for the moment, but aware that the leopard could pounce at any time. Instinctively, Isaac wiped his forehead, though there was no sweat.

"Thank you, Mr. Moran." He sat down on the sofa opposite Alexander. A spotlight above illuminated Isaac—not too brightly, but enough for Alexander to see him clearly.

Alexander spoke again. "I have a few questions for you. If you answer truthfully and in detail, without hiding anything, I might grant you a reasonable request."

Isaac was taken aback. Wasn't Mr. Moran supposed to discuss a collaboration with him? Despite his thoughts, he cautiously replied, "Go ahead."

Alexander's eyes were sharp enough to pierce the darkness. "Six years ago, did V Group approach the Murphy family for a partnership, or was it the other way around?"

The Murphy family claimed that V Group had approached them, but Alexander had his doubts.

Isaac hesitated. "My wife and I tried to reach out to V Group's manager to express our interest in a partnership. We didn't have high hopes, but after talking with Harry Freeman, he agreed to give us the exclusive agency rights."

"What did you discuss?" Alexander asked.

"Just some ordinary questions, nothing special…"

Alexander's tone turned cold. "Be specific. The more information you provide, the more I'll reward you."

Isaac obediently answered, "Well… Six years ago, the Murphy family was merely moderately wealthy, far from their current status. During the meeting with Harry, I was extremely nervous, feeling as if each question was like a major exam question that could determine my future."

Alexander listened intently, though he was disappointed. The meeting seemed perfunctory, with Harry lecturing like a professor, not even glancing at Isaac, who took notes like a struggling student. Alexander smirked, cutting to the chase.

"Did you ever ask V Group why they really chose you?"

Although the Murphy family profited greatly from representing V Group's products, it was widely acknowledged that they hadn't performed well. A more capable agent could have increased the profits several times over. There had to be an undisclosed reason for V Group's choice.

The room's temperature was comfortable, yet Isaac still felt a bit warm, wiping cold sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

"I asked Harry about it, and he jokingly said I was lucky, like I had saved the world in a past life."

Harry's response did seem like a joke. Alexander, however, wasn't amused.

"What do you think?"

Under the dim spotlight, Isaac's well-maintained face looked pitiable, like a student called out by a teacher, unable to answer.

"I—I honestly don't understand," he stammered. "I thought it was because of my good character."

Alexander gave a mocking smile. "Why did V Group suddenly terminate their contract with the Murphy family then?"

Isaac remained silent, unwilling to answer, at least not truthfully.

Alexander said casually, "That plot of land in the east looks promising. I'm considering buying it."

Isaac's expression changed drastically. "I'll tell you."

The Murphy Group had already signed a letter of intent to purchase the land and paid a deposit. Normally, anyone trying to outbid them would have to pay a hefty compensation to the Murphy Group. But for the Moran Group, money was never an issue. Having lost V Group, Isaac couldn't afford to lose this land too.

He covered his eyes with his hand, embarrassed, and confessed, "Harry said he'd had enough of the Murphy family. He said we were incompetent and didn't deserve the exclusive rights. They wanted to drop us for a while, but we were just lucky."

In truth, the Freeman brothers' words were harsher, but Isaac chose not to repeat them all.

Alexander continued petting the green-eyed cat in his lap and, after a few seconds, asked, "What do you really think? Be honest, or you'll get nothing."

Isaac felt paralyzed under Alexander's gaze, unable to think of a tactful way to respond. He had no choice but to speak.

"Yesterday, when I went to see Harry, I saw my former foster daughter getting along well with him. I suspect she used her charm to persuade Harry to take revenge on the Murphy family."

He thought he might have heard a faint scoff from Mr. Moran in the darkness, though he couldn't tell if it was directed at him, Avery, or Harry.

In the dim light, Alexander asked with a probing tone, "Did you do something to wrong your foster daughter?"

Isaac nearly jumped out of his seat. "No! Absolutely not! My wife and I treated Avery very well and never mistreated her. If there's any blame to be had, it would be on her side."

Alexander seemed amused. "How do you plan to win back V Group?"

A truly vexing question… Isaac had enjoyed smooth sailing for so many years that he hadn't had to think critically in a long time. After pondering for a while, he finally said, "I thought about approaching my foster daughter to see if she could help persuade Harry. I'm willing to accept any conditions to make that happen."

That night had started with a clear sky and a bright moon. But by the early hours, strong winds had picked up, and a torrential downpour began, continuing intermittently until dawn.

Avery opened her window, finding the morning breeze refreshingly cool—perfect for going out. After leisurely finishing her breakfast, she received a message from Claire:

[Avery, there will likely be many homeowners picking up their keys at Bard Garden today. Since we're closer, we'll head over to get in line. Take your time getting here.]

She smiled and replied: [Okay.]

Then she went into her studio, retrieved a prepared gift from a drawer, placed it in her bag, and left.

An hour later, she arrived at Bard Garden. The entrance was bustling with people, filled with laughter, music, and the sound of drums, as if a grand celebration were underway. Today, four buildings were being handed over, with five to six hundred units in total. Many owners had brought their families, and several media outlets were there to cover the event, making it lively and festive.

However, Bard Property had organized everything well, with dedicated staff at each building entrance to ensure order and minimize wait times for the owners.