Chapter 984
Chapter 984:
His mistake had put Melanie’s life at risk.
Had Maia not shown up… had she not known how to fight… things could have ended in disaster.
And all of it had happened in Wront — right under the Cooper Group’s jurisdiction.
Something about it didn’t sit right with Hurst. An underground fighting arena couldn’t possibly run undetected unless someone influential was backing it. Kolton immediately came to his mind. He couldn’t name anyone else in Wront with the kind of influence to pull something like this off.
To Hurst, it seemed likely that this underground fighting arena was just one of Kolton’s dirty ventures. Framed in that light, the situation became even more bizarre.
Hurst had always believed he deserved to lead the entire Cooper Group, not just oversee one of its branches. For years, he’d been quietly building his influence, laying the groundwork to take control. But if he were to marry Maia, would that move expose his quiet rebellion against Kolton?
By the following morning, the Cooper Group had organized a press conference at Wront’s largest convention center. Whispers were already circulating, not only about the Cooper Group’s newest venture but also about Claudius finally speaking up regarding the gossip surrounding him and Maia.
The buzz drew a massive crowd of reporters to the venue. From national outlets to social media personalities and niche bloggers, everyone had shown up.
Behind the scenes in a private lounge, Claudius sat quietly, a speech resting in his lap. He scanned the lines Kolton had prepared for him. After a brief read, his face hardened. Without a second thought, he ripped the paper to pieces.
“Is this what Dad expects me to say? What does he think I am?” His voice was low and bitter as he flung the torn pieces into the bin.
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The trash lid slammed shut with a loud bang.
Rage surged through Claudius as his fist crashed down on the table. His father wasn’t just lying — he was deliberately smearing Maia’s and MCN’s reputation.
A knock interrupted the tense silence in the room.
“Mr. Cooper, it’s time for the press conference. Should we head out?” Kolton’s assistant stood outside, his voice polite as ever.
Still, Claudius had no illusions. The assistant wasn’t just there to help — he was planted to keep an eye on him, to make sure he didn’t walk away.
“I’m coming,” Claudius said, forcing a smile, fully aware he was playing the role of a pawn.
But this time, he wouldn’t follow his father’s plan anymore.
Inside the MCN headquarters, the conference room felt like the air had turned to ice.
At the head of the long table, Pattie sat, clutching her phone so tightly that her knuckles had turned pale. She had already tried calling Maia three times, but every attempt ended the same way — Maia’s voicemail urging her to leave a message.
Smack! Pattie slammed the phone down on the table. She shot to her feet and began pacing the room, her temper boiling over.
“What’s happening here? You’d better not disappear on me now, not when everything is hanging by a thread!” she shouted, her voice trembling with raw fury and fear. “The Cooper Group has crossed the line this time p>