She admitted it—she actually liked Lucas Lin quite a bit.
But it was the kind of fondness a big sister has for her little brother—not the kind a woman has for a man.
Because he was just so well-behaved.
Rona Muir was an only child—she never had a little brother, and honestly, she envied Nora Yun.
Nora Yun had a younger sister—she could spoil her, care for her, and share all the good food and fun things with her.
Rona Muir wanted someone like that too, just to satisfy her urge to be a big sister.
So, when Lucas Lin appeared in front of Rona Muir and told her he was done with his sugar daddy, Rona Muir was genuinely happy.
Seeing such a sweet, well-mannered boy looking at her with those clear, admiring eyes—Rona Muir felt a real sense of accomplishment.
That’s why she gave Lucas Lin the company’s ad campaign, personally took him to shoot the commercials, brought him to the temple to meet her respected elders, stayed with him when he said he was afraid of thunderstorms, celebrated when she heard he had a girlfriend, and even accepted his gift during her darkest, most painful, most disappointing times.
She always thought Lucas Lin saw her as a big sister.
But she never imagined he was secretly in love with her.
That’s why she watched the sunflowers with him, why she took him to the resort for a holiday.
Turns out, it was all wrong. Everything was wrong.
Wrong time, wrong place, wrong person.
So of course, the outcome had to be wrong too.
She knew that saying those heartless words must’ve hit Lucas Lin hard.
But she just couldn’t help it.
She understood clearly—if she didn’t cut off Lucas Lin’s feelings for her, she’d only end up hurting him.
If she let Lucas Lin go on like this, he’d really never be able to turn back.
She couldn’t be that selfish. So even knowing her words and actions would hurt Lucas Lin, she had to go through with it.
Whatever. Let it be.
She’d just pretend she never had a little brother.
There was a knock at the door from her assistant outside: "President Muir, are we heading back?"
"Yes." Rona Muir no longer felt like vacationing. After pulling herself together, she replied, "Come in. Pack up our things—we’re heading back."
As she left the resort, Rona Muir couldn’t help but glance back one last time.
Everything that happened here—she’d probably never forget any of it.
Once Rona Muir got back, she threw herself into work, busy to the point of exhaustion.
She didn’t just fill up her own schedule—she even took over Molly Yun and Cecilia Gu’s work, anything to keep herself busy.
Molly Yun and Cecilia Gu exchanged glances, not sure how to comfort her.
Some things—there’s just no easy way to help.
Molly Yun had already predicted Rona Muir would make this choice.
But the ending was even more brutal than she’d expected.
When Danni Cosmetics successfully took over this national brand, far away in Xenton, the Chow Family finally met their day of reckoning.
When Mr. Chow Sr. heard that his second son had offended Yin Enterprises, he was in total disbelief, insisting it was impossible.
When his son returned to the country, the first thing Mr. Chow Sr. did was hand him a list, telling him, "You cannot offend anyone on this list."
His son couldn’t be that stupid.
But when others told him that Marcus Chow had the nerve to try to make Mrs. Yin, the wife of the CEO of Yin Enterprises, his mistress, Mr. Chow Sr. was so furious he collapsed on the spot.
By the time he got to the hospital, the doctors said he had a cerebral hemorrhage and was in a coma—he needed emergency surgery.
Without Mr. Chow Sr. holding things together, the rest of the family started fighting for power—the Chow Family was thrown into chaos.
The eldest Chow struck fast, exposing dirt on Marcus Chow and Zoey Chow, and dumped all his stocks in a frenzy.
Everyone was stunned by the Eldest Chow’s wild move!
Shouldn’t he be buying up stocks like crazy right now, trying to get absolute control and veto power?
So why was he dumping stocks like a madman instead?
With his frantic selling, Chow Family’s stock price crashed—three days in a row, it hit the limit down.
Marcus Chow was locked up by Charles Yin; Zoey Chow panicked and tried to ask Lucas Lin for news, but was told she wasn’t allowed near him.
That’s when Zoey Chow realized—the Chow Family was really done for this time!
Zoey Chow couldn’t help but complain—why couldn’t her brother just stick to being a livestream influencer? Why did he have to go after Mrs. Yin, the CEO’s wife?
Was he just asking for trouble or what?
Who exactly was Cecilia Gu?
Was his brain just full of crap or something?
He even dared to covet Cecilia Gu!
No wonder people gave Marcus Chow the nickname: Dung Beetle Chow.
He really was a dung beetle!
And now, he’d dragged the whole Chow Family down with him!
They thought Xenton was so far from Newport City that Charles Yin couldn’t reach them, and it wouldn’t be easy to take down the Chow Family.
Who knew, just two days later, the Mo Family made their move too!
With the Yin Family and Mo Family teaming up to punish them, the Chow Family couldn’t hold out any longer.
The Eldest Chow must’ve seen the writing on the wall, realized there was no saving the family, so he cut his losses, dumped all his stocks, got his passport and ticket ready, and fled with the cash—left everything else behind.
Once he was gone, only Zoey Chow was left in the Chow Family.
The Chow Family’s stock crashed even faster. All their partners cut ties, and the money they’d invested didn’t come back—in fact, several banks started chasing them for debts.
In the midst of Zoey Chow’s chaos, she discovered her own mother—the Chow Family’s matriarch—had run off with the family’s jewelry and cash to elope with her lover!
Now Zoey Chow finally understood what it meant for everything to fall apart!
When the cold wind blows, it’s bankruptcy time for the Chow Family!
In just half a month, the once-mighty Chow Family crumbled and vanished into dust.
Zoey Chow, who used to be on top of the world, was now like a stray dog, dodging creditors everywhere.
That day, Zoey Chow pulled out her last wrinkled ten yuan bill, bought some instant noodles, and got hot water at a convenience store—just enough for a meal.
This chapter isn’t over yet ^.^ Click next page to keep reading!
Just then, a variety show preview popped up on the convenience store’s TV.
On TV, Lucas Lin was dressed as a sunny young man, interacting with other female celebrities.
Zoey Chow stared blankly at Lucas Lin on the screen, feeling like she didn’t know him at all anymore.
Lucas Lin, who used to be just one of her kept men, would kneel at her feet, nervously trying to please her.
But now?
She was like a stray dog, living in constant fear.
Now Lucas had Rona Muir protecting him, and she couldn't even touch him anymore.
Zoey Chow slurped her instant noodles, tears streaming down her face.
She regretted it more than once—why did she let Lucas get close to Rona, why did she listen to her brother, steal Danni Cosmetics' bid, and let her brother join the competition?
If she hadn't done all that, would things have turned out differently?
After finishing her noodles, Zoey wiped her tears away, pulled down her hat, and headed for the hospital.
The Chow family patriarch had finished surgery but still hadn’t woken up.
She had no right to blame her older brother for not looking after their father.
She actually knew her mother had been the mistress who forced out the first wife and married her father while pregnant with Marcus Chow.
No wonder her older brother hated them. It was only natural.
So all these years, she and Marcus could never get close to their brother.
How could they?
He didn’t kill them—it was already merciful.
So now, her father was abandoned by everyone, the family ruined—he brought it on himself, didn’t he?
Just leave. Everyone should just leave.
Zoey slumped over, feeling so hopeless she almost wished she could disappear.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed, startling her. She thought a debt collector had found her new number.
After a while, she realized it was just a news alert.
Bored, she unlocked her phone and was instantly drawn to the headline.
"Xenton's richest family falls apart overnight. The eldest son sells all his shares and leaves the city. The second son, unable to cope, jumps from the 35th floor, ending his life. The Chow family heiress, Zoey Chow, is worse off than a pauper, living off five-yuan instant noodles. The Chow patriarch remains in a coma after a brain hemorrhage. Mrs. Chow is missing after making a donation. Sources say the family's collapse was caused by the second son's betrayal and squandering of family assets... His actions led to the family's downfall, so he chose suicide as atonement..."
Zoey finished reading and let out a long sigh. "Suicide for atonement, my ass! Charles Yin, you really are a devil!"
Zoey put away her phone and glanced at her father in bed. She knew she couldn't stay here any longer.
"I've paid a year's worth of fees. That's enough. I've done my part, old man." Zoey looked at Mr. Chow and left the hospital room, gritting her teeth.
She never came back again.
That was the end of the Chow family.
The whole incident was a wake-up call for countless families. Every household with sons called them over for a lecture, forcing them to memorize the names and faces of the most dangerous people in the country.
No matter what, you never mess with these people!
Otherwise, it could mean the destruction of your entire family!
For a while, the atmosphere in cities across the country changed overnight.
No more spoiled rich kids out partying—they were terrified of running into a woman who might be from the Yin or Mo families.
Some were so scared, they didn’t even dare date. If anyone approached them, they'd chase her away, worried it was some rival's trap.
And Charles Yin, the man behind it all, claimed it had nothing to do with him.
He was always a law-abiding citizen, never did anything wrong.
Jiro Hirayama, who’d been holding back for ages, finally couldn’t stand it and decided to go find Rona Muir to make his presence known.
Charles Yin had told him all the obstacles outside were gone and he could come out now.
So Jiro Hirayama happily went to look for Rona Muir.
After everything that happened with Lucas Lin, Rona Muir’s anger had completely disappeared.
When Jiro nervously asked her to dinner, she finally didn’t say no.
She’d thought it over.
If Lucas saw her and Jiro back together, maybe he’d finally give up for good.
Right?