Chapter 425
Chapter 425:
Though she had every faith in Maia’s talent — her design skills had never failed her — seeing her return not only victorious but with the official acquisition agreement for Aurora Apparel Company, and all for the symbolic price of one dollar, went beyond anything that she could have imagined.
“This is something I wouldn’t have dared dream, even in my wildest fantasies. Maia, you never fail to amaze!” Pattie exclaimed, practically bursting with excitement over the windfall.
As for the potential backlash from the Cooper Group? Pattie couldn’t care less.
She had already vowed to stand against them — sooner or later, the clash was inevitable.
Maia raised her index finger and said with a glint in her eye, “First target, accomplished p>
Pattie gave her a thumbs up. “You’re unbelievably fast! Maia, I always knew you were brilliant — self-taught, winning national design competitions in high school — but somehow, it feels like prison forged you into something even more extraordinary. Four years behind bars… how did you come out stronger than before p>
Pattie knew that someone had supported Maia while she was in prison, but the specifics of those years remained shrouded in mystery. Leaning in with curiosity, she asked, “Come on, be honest — did you gain superpowers in there, like in those comic book tales p>
Maia offered a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. The truth of those four years was far more harrowing than any fantasy. Her transformation had been the product of Zoey’s relentless training — discipline carved into her with sweat and sheer grit. It wasn’t just a matter of pushing limits; it was a matter of survival.
That description, though still softened, barely scratched the surface. To put it plainly, what she endured was harsh — bordering on the inhuman.
She had been thrown into a nightmare — an abyss with no bottom, hurled there by the very family that was supposed to protect her.
Feel inspired on gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s．cо𝗺
In those four long years, she had lived a life of perpetual motion — studying and training with Zoey without pause, rarely getting more than four hours of sleep a night. She had collapsed from exhaustion more times than she could count, even lost consciousness.
Maia had clawed her way through each day, barely hanging on, dancing on the edge between life and oblivion.
But she had kept all this from Pattie. There was no need to burden her with pain from which no comfort could be drawn.
“Pattie,” Maia said, lifting her gaze, her voice firm yet gentle, “over these past four years, I’ve learned one vital truth: if I don’t become strong enough to protect myself, then I’ll always be at the mercy of others. So I worked harder than most — because I never want to be betrayed or discarded again p>
Tears welled up in Pattie’s eyes almost instantly.
She stepped forward and wrapped Maia in a heartfelt embrace, the sorrow in her chest spilling over. “You’ve suffered more than anyone ever should. If anyone dares hurt you again — I don’t care who it is, even if it’s your husband — I’ll make sure they regret it and pay the price p>
Maia chuckled softly. “I know, Pattie. You’ve always been the one who cares the most. But for now, let’s focus on the real priority — finalizing the acquisition of Aurora Apparel Company and managing everything that comes after. You’re far better at that side of things than I am p>
Pattie gave her a light punch on the shoulder, half-laughing through her tears. “You just had to ruin the mood, didn’t you? Had me on the verge of crying, and now you’re already giving me orders. Fine, fine! You’re the queen of delegation. Consider it done, boss p>
Maia grinned. “You’re the one who truly runs MCN. Don’t kid yourself. Now get to it p>
“Right, there’s something I’ve been meaning to bring up,” Pattie said, her tone shifting back to business. “We’ve clearly ruffled Cooper Group’s feathers this time. I have no idea what move they’ll make next, and I’m racking my brain trying to figure out how to get ahead of them p>