With that single sentence, the air in the hospital room completely froze.
In the eyes of the outside world, Old Mr. Wilkinson was the absolute embodiment of justice and impartiality. Having held a position of ultimate authority for decades, he had never once shown favoritism or bent the rules for anyone.
Yet here, in this exact moment, the granddaughter he respected and relied on the most was looking him dead in the eye and calling him "unfair."
Old Mr. Wilkinson stared blankly at her. It was impossible to read his exact emotions, but his overwhelming, terrifying aura radiated a silent, crushing pressure. "So you are saying that I am wrong?"
The calmer the old man appeared, the more dangerously he was suppressing his explosive rage.
No matter how stellar Laurel's corporate achievements were, she was nowhere near powerful enough to go head-to-head with him yet.
Rex, fully understanding the catastrophic risk she was taking, took a few quick steps forward, positioning himself to shield his older sister.
Unlike Laurel, who had flawlessly built her career and was currently rising to the absolute pinnacle of power, Rex—the designated family rebel—was the perfect target to absorb the old man's wrath.
His reputation was already completely in the gutter anyway. A little more damage wouldn't hurt.
To his shock, Laurel simply raised a hand, stopping him from stepping in front of her. Breaking entirely from her usual calculated diplomacy, she looked her grandfather right in the eye.
"If that's how you want to interpret it, then no, I won't deny it."
She thought he was wrong.
Old Mr. Wilkinson slammed his hand against the hospital bed, his eyes blazing with fury. "Do you have any idea what you are saying?!"
While the old man adored Rex the most, Laurel was the one he valued above all others.
From the time she was a child, she had been brilliant, incredibly composed, and socially flawless. She was a master at calculating risks and always prioritized the family's survival above all else. She was the undisputed heir to the Wilkinson empire.

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