She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 600

Desperate to liquidate his assets, Gregory was forced to sell the company at a rock-bottom price.

Former business partners who had previously turned their backs now came crawling back to pledge their loyalty to Melanie. She didn't turn them away, but during that brief period when the Hale Group and Aria were riding high, she had secured deals with numerous emerging, high-potential companies. As for those traitors, she refused to offer them any sort of discounts or favorable terms.

By now, although Nathaniel had been discharged from the hospital, the CEO of the Royce Group was officially Melanie.

During the company's most turbulent period, Melanie had replaced a significant chunk of the workforce, promoting people who were both highly capable and fiercely loyal.

It was safe to say that the Royce Group now belonged entirely to her.

Those old partners couldn't throw their weight around anymore. In the end, they had no choice but to agree to her terms, or they wouldn't even get scraps.

In a flash, the Royce Group's stock surged, and morale across the entire company skyrocketed.

However, there was one thing that deeply disappointed Melanie.

Nathaniel hadn't divorced Sabrina.

Aria's Creative Studio had collapsed and filed for bankruptcy liquidation.

Though Nathaniel hadn't given Aria a single dime, he also hadn't completely cut ties with the mother-daughter duo.

He made them move into the Royce family's old countryside estate to reflect on their actions, without specifying how long they had to stay there.

Perhaps to Sabrina and Aria, this decision seemed heartless.

But to Melanie, it wasn't nearly enough.

Those two were venomous wolves, yet her father couldn't even bring himself to make a clean break and divorce Sabrina.

Today, Melanie went to the cemetery to visit her mother's grave.

She stood silently in front of the headstone for a long time.

Spring had officially started, but it was still incredibly cold. Standing up on the hill, the wind was far more biting than she had anticipated.

She sneezed several times in a row. Suddenly, a scarf, still radiating body heat, was draped over her shoulders.

Melanie jumped.

"But... if it's just confirming data, did you really need to come all the way out here yourself?"

Melanie tilted her head in confusion.

It was just data. Couldn't he have just sent it via encrypted email?

While she was still trying to figure it out, Preston suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist.

Naturally pulled flush against him, she was suddenly overwhelmed by the intoxicating scent of his cologne. Her heart rate inexplicably spiked.

"What are you doing? We're in a cemetery..."

She tried to push him away, but he only pulled her in tighter.

"I'm not doing anything. I just wanted to tell you that delivering the data was just an excuse. I simply..."

He spoke in a slow, deliberate drawl as his intoxicating lips hovered right by her ear.

"...missed you."