Chapter 553

Lillian whispered to the assembled group,"Get some rest. When Daniela is up, we'll haveplenty to tackle."

Simultaneously, she and Ryan closed their eyes,surrendering to slumber.

The members of Phillips Group watched in silent amazement.

The people from Elite Lux was so composed-hardly a surprise given Daniela's status as the wealthiest in the world. Her calm was legendary, truly a sight to behold.

Unable to succumb to sleep themselves, yet unsure of their next steps, they merely exchanged bewildered glances.

Cedric found himself in a precarious position;with Phillips Group's official website compromised by hackers, no public statements could be made.

Despite the fervent keystrokes of frantic technicians,the digital breach remained unmitigated.

Cedric had initially planned to hold apress conference,but Daniela had told him it wasn't necessary before she went to sleep, so he had no choice but to sit tight.

Idle and restless, he wandered into the kitchen to slice some fruit.

From the shadows, the PR department manager observed Cedric's relaxed figure and murmured to the tech team, "Has Mr. Phillips resigned himself to this fate?"

"What other options does he have? The evidence against him is overwhelmingly incriminating."

"Could Phillips Group really collapse?"

"It's uncertain, but with Ms. Harper's presence, it's unlikely."

"I've just invested in a house. If the company folds, I'll be ruined. Do you think Elite Lux has any openings? I'd seriously consider a position there."

"Could I possibly join as well? I'd take any job at Elite Lux; I'm not concerned about the salary. I just want to be near someone I've admired so much."

Mutual understanding passed between the PR manager and the tech staff with a series of knowing nods.

Cedric, overhearing the conversation from a short distance,interjected with a hint of amusement, "Hey,the company hasn't sunk just yet." They all turned to Cedric, their laughter tinged with embarrassment.

Cedric,peeling an orange, let the silence hang briefly before adding, "If it really comes to it, I might also seek out a role at Elite Lux. I wonder if my wife would consider hiring me as her personal assistant."

The PR manager and the tech team were utterly dumbstruck. After such a lurid scandal, how could he even dream of becoming her personal assistant?

The PR manager eyed Daniela warily before turning to Cedric,his voice barely above a whisper. "Isn't your wife upset?"

The tech staff added, "The clarity of that footage was startling.Surely,she must be livid after viewing it, no?"

A crafty smirkcurled Cedric's lips as he leaned in, a twinkle of mischief in his eye. "Oh, she's well aware that the man in that video isn't me."

He even wanted to boast about his performance in bed. "I'd do a far better job than the guy in the video."

He recalled the day spent with Ryan at the hospital, a solid alibi. Daniela, with her keen eye, would have instantly noted the man in the video wasn't him.

There was simply no need for explanations-words were unnecessary. Such was their unspoken, profound connection.

Cedric crossed his arms, reclined further into the sofa,and flashed a grin. "Such understanding comes only with the bonds of marriage."

The others absorbed Cedric's unwavering calm, their expressions mingling shock with a touch of envy.

The tech staff asked, "You're truly not perturbed in the slightest? People online are ruthlessly tearing you apart."

"You wouldn't grasp it unless you were married,"Cedric responded.

As everyone mulled over his repeated phrase,Cedric added, "Once you're married, you'll understand that even if the entire world turns against you, your partner will always be your steadfast ally."

A hush fell over the group, a mixture of surprise and slight annoyance at his overt romanticism.

Unlike the strained mood hanging over the Harper family's villa, the eight members of the commerce association were in high spirits, clinking champagne glasses deep intothe night.

Bruno clucked his tongue, a smirk playing on hislips."The one who knows you best is often the one who strikes the hardest. Alexander's move was truly cruel, targeting Cedric right at Daniela's greatest weakness!Daniela's definitely too drained to focus on our strategies now."

Huey chimed in, "Exactly. My company's new game is finally picking up steam!"

Farley sighed, his forehead creasing. "I was petrified,thinking my business was on the brink of collapse!"

Amidst the discussions, Winslow stood by, his silence heavy,absorbing every word.

Hackett let out a low chuckle. "Like I've always said,despite Daniela's remarkable skills, she remains merely human. A minor hurdle, and she crumbles!"

Tripp,nodding along with a knowing smile,responded to Hackett, "This time, even Cedric's formidable efforts won't change the outcome. Now that we've handled Cedric, what's our timeline for dealing with Daniela?"

Huey quickly joined the conversation, his voice tinged with urgency. "Yes. Hackett, when do we move against Daniela? You have no idea the losses my company has suffered this time. I won't find peace until Daniela is out of the picture!"

Marcus stood up decisively. "It's time to eliminate Daniela!" The others rose in unison, a wave of agreement sweeping through them.

Still smiling,Hackett affirmed, "Indeed, it's settled then; Daniela's days are numbered. And when we strike,Alexander wvill fall alongside her. If we redirect their business domestically, the profits will more than make up for our recent setbacks-a thousand times over. With Daniela out of the way, the domestic market will finally be within our grasp."

At the thought of seizing control from the wealthiest in the world, smiles spread contagiously across the room.

"But we need to approach this game with caution,"Hackett suggested, his eyes glinting with slyness. "It's too early to provoke Alexander. Let's use him to corner Daniela instead."

As he strategized, Hackett gestured to his secretary with a grin, instructing them to dispatch yet another priceless antique to the Bennett family.

The room buzzed with laughter and merriment as Hackett invited his so-called daughters to partake in the festivities.

Alexander scoffed indifferently at the gift from Hack<ett.

Richard remarked appreciatively, "That's quite generous of Hackett."

Just then, Hackett's call came through.

"Alexander, I owe you one! Your strategy has turned Phillips Group into public enemy number one, but..."Hackett hesitated, his tone turning serious. "How should we deal the final blow?"

"When someone is down, you make sure they don't get back up, right?" Alexander replied coldly as he stared out at the pine trees dotting the horizon.

With the phone on speaker, the eight listeners in the room exchanged excited glances.

Hackett, rubbing his bald head with a broad smile,exclaimed, "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Cedric won't have a chance to rise again!"