Venice arrived home safely, her earlier unease already dissolved into smug confidence.
Thinking of Hadi's wife, she smiled to herself.
It wouldn't be long before that woman was replaced. Soon enough, Venice would be the one standing atop the pedestal, looking down at everyone else.
And now that her father was the new CEO of Zhi Corporation, she could lift her chin even higher.
She checked the company's official page on her phone. There was no update yet, but she dismissed it easily. Announcements took time with trivial details.
"Have a good day, Miss," the driver said as he opened the door for her.
Venice snorted lightly. At least he knew how to please his employer.
Balancing her shopping bags, she practically floated into the villa.
Since her parents' marriage, her father had moved them into a larger residence and even assigned a couple of maids.
Venice had originally wanted them to relocate to the same neighborhood as Yeri's family, but that district was infamous for its old-money residents and sky-high property prices. Even with her father's income, it was still beyond reach.
Besides, it would be a waste of money when they could simply move into the Zhi manor instead.
After all, it was an unspoken rule that the head family resided in that grand, aging estate. With her father now the CEO, that manor would naturally become her home.
"Dad!" Venice spotted her parents chatting the moment she entered. "Congratulations! I even brought you a gift to commemorate your new position."
Linda's expression flickered before she forced a smile. "My dear, don't run. Don't you know you're pregnant?"
Venice didn't notice the heaviness in the room, nor the grim expressions on their faces. She eagerly presented her spoils, bragging animatedly about how well Hadi had treated her.
The tension eased, if only for a moment.
The instant Nolan saw the gift, greed flashed unmistakably in his eyes.
"Haha!" he laughed. "My filial daughter, you really know how to make your father happy. This is exactly the style I like."
He slipped the watch onto his wrist at once. Even without expertise, he could tell it was worth at least six figures.
Venice watched him with deep satisfaction, her smile stretching wider as her chin lifted higher.
Hadi hadn't even known what she bought. But the fact that he had handed her a card with free rein was all that mattered. With that, she could buy whatever she pleased.
"Venice, what did you buy for Mom?" Linda asked, picking up a few of the shopping bags and peering inside.
"Ah, Mom, can you be more careful?" Venice cried, stomping her foot in alarm. "What if you dirty them?"
Linda froze, then frowned. "What do you mean by dirty? Are you looking down on your mother now that you're about to marry into the Keir family?"
Venice nearly rolled her eyes but caught herself just in time. She quickly put on a look of exaggerated contrition.
"That's not what I meant. I'm talking about the shopping bags. Don't you know that besides the items themselves, the bags are valuable too? What if you scratch or tear them?" She waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, I bought you a new set of clothes."
Linda's face brightened instantly, the earlier disagreement forgotten as though it had never existed.
But as Venice continued, criticizing her mother's taste and questioning how such cheap and inelegant fashion choices could ever be worn in public, Linda shot Nolan a resentful glance.
"If I had enough money to spend on myself, would I be wearing such cheap clothes?" Linda said aggrievedly before turning to Venice. "Besides, the money your father gives isn't even enough to send you to school and provide you with healthy, nourishing food. If not for my careful and loving upbringing, do you think you could have succeeded in catching that young master's attention?"
Sensing her mother was about to launch into her emotional blackmail about sacrifices and hardships, Venice swiftly redirected the conversation.
"Dad, now that you're the new CEO, we should ask Uncle to move out of the old manor. After all, it's the ancestral residence of the main family."
At the mention of it, Nolan's expression darkened. Memories of defeat and humiliation at the board meeting surfaced, draining what little color remained in his face.
"Dad?" Venice asked, frowning. "Is Uncle giving you trouble? You don't look so festive."
Nolan let out a heavy sigh and finally explained what had happened, carefully stitching together truths and lies.
He avoided sounding outright pathetic, determined to preserve what remained of his dignity and pride as a man.
Unfortunately, Venice and Linda understood nothing about company affairs. Nor did they care. To them, only the result mattered, and that he had failed.
"So… you didn't become the CEO?" Venice asked, stunned. "Isn't it just temporary? Just call for another meeting. Be better prepared next time."
Linda dabbed at her eyes, her tears as convincing as stage props. "I'm the one who's been with you the longest, ever since we were young. For twenty years, I've supported you and watched you work so hard. How could they fail to recognize your talent? That scheming brother of yours, Klaus, must have too many tricks up his sleeve. Don't worry, he'll get his comeuppance."
Listening to the two women who contributed nothing but nonsense, Nolan nearly lost his patience.
Linda especially irritated him. Already old to know better, yet still pretending to be some fragile, delicate girl. The sight of it just disgust him.
Still, he swallowed his frustration and spoke gently to Venice instead.
"Daughter, I would have succeeded if Shin Keir hadn't shown up. Who would've thought he's now one of the board directors? It's outrageous. That man must be plotting- "
"Shin Keir?!" Venice blurted out, cutting him off.
"Hmm," Nolan said with indignation. "People like him only move for profit. Klaus must have struck some kind of deal with him. Otherwise, why would he even spare a glance at a company like Zhi Corporation, let alone side with Klaus?"
The more Nolan thought about it, the more the outcome lodged in his throat like a bone he couldn't swallow.
"I knew it," Linda chimed in. "Your brother must have realized he was losing to you and resorted to underhanded tactics. What other benefit could Klaus possibly offer? I'm afraid he's already used the company as collateral!"
Nolan ignored her absurd speculation. At the very least, he understood how much his brother valued the company.
There was no way Klaus would hand it over in exchange for some vague favor.
"Daughter," Nolan said, his tone shifting, "why don't you speak to your boyfriend? Isn't he also a Keir? He can approach Shin Keir far more easily than I can. Besides, you're carrying his child. We'll be family soon. Even if Zhi Corporation isn't on the same scale as KGG, having your father as CEO would benefit both you and him."
He spoke as if already painting a glossy, triumphant future for Venice.
Venice, however, was lost in thought and didn't seem to hear him.
"Also considering Hadi is still married, I can't openly mention your relationship to his cousin," Nolan continued. "And I wouldn't dare gamble on Shin Keir's stance in all this."
"Dad…" Venice said hesitantly. "Do you remember the eldest young master Lin's birthday banquet? Shin Keir and Yeri, they…" Her voice dropped to a near whisper, her heart tightening.
Nolan paused.
At that banquet, many people had indeed seen Shin Keir approach Yeri. The two had even left together.
But Shin Keir's reputation as a notorious misogynist had kept tongues from wagging.
He himself had brushed it off. After all, he had attended Yeri's debut banquet and seen Shin Keir there as well, introduced as Jj's friend.
"Are you saying there's something between them?" Nolan asked slowly.
"Then how else do you explain Shin Keir suddenly showing interest in Zhi Corporation?" Venice pressed. A sharp unease pricked at her chest.
Nolan scoffed and waved his hand dismissively. "Do you even hear yourself? You, of all people, know Yeri. Such a useless girl. Unless- "
Even then, he couldn't convince himself. If Shin Keir merely wanted a toy, there were countless women available.
Most importantly, didn't KGG recently confirm his engagement?
"Enough of these assumptions," Nolan said firmly. "Don't mention this again. If word gets out and we offend Shin Keir, forget your relationship with his relative, even that man of yours might turn against you. Ask him instead to talk some sense into his cousin. And if that fails, at the very least, make sure Shin Keir stays out of Zhi Corporation's affairs."
"What are you two talking about?" Linda suddenly cut in. "What about Shin Keir and that dead girl?"
Annoyed, Nolan pointed at her sharply. "Are you stupid? Why are you sticking your ears into this? With your brain capacity, it's better if you know nothing at all."
Linda, however, was no longer the woman who had to bow her head. They were legally married now, and she could claw at him if she wanted.
"What did you just say?" she snapped, springing to her feet. "Nolan Zhi, you'd better watch your mouth. You wouldn't even have such a capable daughter if it weren't for me!"
She leaned forward, eyes blazing. "And don't think I don't know you're still in contact with that wretch. If you want to climb the ranks without more trouble, you'd better cut her off completely. Otherwise, that wretch will ruin your precious dream!"
Seeing the two on the verge of tearing into each other, Venice had no interest in playing mediator. She turned and went straight to her room.
The moment the door closed, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number.
The call rang longer than she liked before it was finally answered.
With a cold sneer, she launched in, "Yeri, you bitch. Don't celebrate just yet. My father is simply too honest and conscientious to resort to dirty tricks to take over the company. I really don't understand why uncle is still clinging to it when he doesn't even have an heir."
Her voice sharpened. "A dead girl like you, suddenly falling sick for no reason. All the company's money must be going into your medical bills. Is that why he refuses to step down as CEO? Don't your family have any shame at all?"