Chapter 545

The moment those words left Hackett's lips, everyone stiffened except Winslow. His eyes stayed vacant, his expression detached, as if he were still half-asleep.

Hackett swept his gaze across the room. "Look for yourselves. If you're truly fine with this, let's just act like this meeting never took place."

Saying no more, he turned to leave.

Farley quickly got to his feet,blocking him."Hackett,take a breath. We haven't even started talking, and you're already fired up. That's not like you. We've always had each other's backs, and now you're making it sound like we're strangers. Come on, we need to stand together, don't we?"

Marc rose as well. "Exactly! With something this serious, none of us can afford to stay out of it."

Tripp Morris furrowed his brow. "We've already tried everything, and none of it worked on Daniela. What's left?"

"We've imposed sanctions, we've reasoned with her,but nothing gets through. What else is there?" A heavy silence settled over the room.

By the time Alexander returned from abroad, fresh from his plastic surgery, the entire domestic landscape had changed.

Wasting no time, he absorbed the market shares that once belonged to Bruno and Huey.

Within just two weeks, Bennett Group successfully integrated the assets of Fairburne Group.

Capitalizing on this golden opportunity, Bennett Group skyrocketed into the market's spotlight.

Richard's face lit up with excitement as he watched Bennett Group's stock rise steadily. Turning to Alexander, he said, "Alexander, we've officially made it onto the world's billionaire list. We may not be at the top yet, but it's a solid beginning."

Alexander's eyes traced the latest rankings, drifting from Bennett Group's position to the undisputed leader-Elite Lux.

Richard let out a light chuckle. "We can take our time catching up, but honestly, I don't think you need to wait until your wealth matches Daniela's. Everyone knows how effortlessly she makes money. And once you're family, does it even matter? There's no need to compete. Your wealth will end up in you children's hands anyway." Alexander nodded; the logic made perfect sense.

When lovewas genuine, wealth became irrelevant.

And Daniela wasn't the type to care about money anyway.

Alexander studied his reflection, his gaze scrutinizing the freshly refined features.

"Dad, check my left side. Does it still look uneven compared to Cedric's? It doesn't seem as seamless to me."

Richard examined him briefly. "Not atall. It's flawless.If you and Cedric walked side by side, I wouldn't be able to tell you apart."

Alexander's lips curled into a faint smile at those words.

He glanced at the inside of his arm,where there was a faint scar. With it, Daniela would never be able to tell him apart from Cedric.

"If a fake is convincing enough to fool the world,it becomes real!" Alexander mused as he kept looking at his face in the mirror. This face would be his key to winning Daniela back.

His eyes flickered to Cedric's schedule displayed on his tablet. His plan was simple--slip into Cedric's world piece by piece until he became Cedric entirely.

Hackett made his way to Richard again.

The moment Hackett placed a check for eight hundred million in front of Richard, Richard's eyes gleamed.

"No hidden agenda here. I'm getting old, and I can't hold on to this seat forever. We've all witnessed the Bennett family's rise. We believe Alexander should take over as the new president of the commerce association," said Hackett.

Richard barely contained his delight.

It was common knowledge that the association's membership fees were exorbitant.

The association's membership fees alone were enough to support countless individuals for ten lifetimes.

And the presidency? It carried perks far beyond what met the eye. In the corporate world, it was akin to holding a crown.

"A golden opportunity, huh?" Richard's gaze lingered on the check, his grip on reason hanging by a thread."But why Alexander?" Hackett flashed a knowing smile, producing an antique he had long cherished. "Come on, Richard. We're all friends here. No need for questions.Leadership should be in the hands of the capable. And with Alexander's talent, isn't he the natural choice for the top spot?"

Hackett had his eyes on Alexander because of Daniela's years of attachment to Alexander. Once Alexander took the presidency, Daniela wouldn't have the heart to move against him.

More importantly, Alexander understood Daniela better than anyone.

It was said that the closest people knew each other's weaknesses best. Compared to anyone else,Alexander had the upper hand when it came to understanding Daniela.

As for the presidency-once the dust settled, Hackett had every intention of taking it back.

For now, Alexander would be his pawn, paving the way for his true ambitions.

Hackett's scheme was meticulous. He had a knack for reaching his goals without breaking a sweat.

Hackett departed Richard's office brimming with confidence. After all, who in their right mind would turn down the presidency of the association? Hackett strode away, his confidence unwavering.

This time, Daniela dealt with Farley first, then Tripp,and finally Marcus.

After that, their reputations were left in complete shambles, and unrest spread like wildfire throughout the association.

For the first time, the association was flooded with an overwhelming number of refund requests.

Desperate, Hackett and the remaining seven rushed to the Bennett family's.

Up until this point, everyone-except for Hackett and Winslow-had suffered major financial turmoil.

Hackett, gripped by anxiety and fear, stole a glance at Winslow's unwavering calm.

A chilling realization crept in-he was next.

The looming uncertainty, paired with the certainty of his downfall, nearly shattered him.

In desperation,he gathered his people and sought out Alexander.

But this time, Richard didn't invite them in. Instead,he handed back the check and gift Hackett had previously offered. "Sorry, I spoke with my son. He told me that Daniela isn't someone who loses her temper easily or acts out of arrogance. If she's coming after you now, it means you must have done something to provoke her. We're staying out of this mess."

Hackett's expression darkened with unease. "But this is the presidency of the association! Are you saying Alexander truly has no interest in it? You might want to reconsider!"