The CEO’S Unplanned Heir ( Aurelia Hawthorne ) - Season 1 Episode 88

Leopold’s icy dark eyes shimmered mysteriously under the light, sharp like a hawk.

He thought, “She thought she could outmaneuver me? She picked the wrong opponent!”

“Stay away from Elowen. Focus on your design work, and stop cooking up schemes.”

Aurelia was taken aback, a surge of frustration welling up within her.

“The one cooking up schemes isn’t me. It’s Evelyn. She’s set her sights on Mr. Louis, even gifting him an exclusive membership card to a high–end club worth thousands. No wonder he was so chummy with her at yesterday’s meeting. She’s bought him off.”

Leopold’s gaze hardened, his expression turning steely. “How did you find out?”

“I have my ways.” Aurelia shrugged, refusing to disclose her source of information to protect her allies.

Leopold’s eyes darkened, his unreadable expression like a deep, ancient well.

“Do you have proof?”

“Not yet.”

If she did, Evelyn would be toast by now.

Leopold straightened up, taking a sip from the coffee mug on the table, his tone casual as if he didn’t care about the situation. “Accusations without evidence are nothing more than rumors. As a manager, you

should know better than to believe in such nonsense.”

Aurelia was seething, jumping up from the sofa in frustration. “Are you insinuating that I’m framing her?”

“If you don’t have proof, hold your tongue!”

His icy words carried a hint of warning.

Aurelia clenched her fists, the fire of her anger blazing within her.

Even if she had proof, he wouldn’t believe her. He would instead think that she was making things up to slander Evelyn.

His so–called impartiality was a joke as his favoritism had clouded his judgment.

No matter what Evelyn said or did, he trusted her implicitly. Even if she was in the wrong, he would cover up

for her.

And her, every move she made, was perceived as manipulative and scheming.

The favored one was fearless, and the disliked one struggled.

What was she even competing for?

To see how miserably she could end up?

“Believe what you will. If there’s nothing else, I’m going to my room.”

In a fit of pique, she stuffed the remaining segments of an orange into her mouth and stormed off to her room, slamming the door behind her.

She was ready to explode with rage.

Leopold stared at the spot where she disappeared, unscrewing a bottle of mineral water and taking a large

swig.

10.32.

He had his reasons for favoring Evelyn, but Aurelia didn’t need to know that.

The dinner prepared by Laura was getting cold but he didn’t stick around to eat. Aurelia sat at her desk, tears streaming down her face.

It felt as if a massive ice slab was pressing against her heart, making her feel suffocated and chilling her to

the core.

She was initially full of enthusiasm, ready to give her all for her career.

But Leopold was not her benefactor. He was more like a roadblock, crushing her morale, shattering her confidence, and leaving her battered and bruised.

She threw her head back, trying to force back her tears.

She refused to cry. Tears were a sign of weakness.

Just then, her WhatsApp pinged. It was a message from Arnold.

[Did Avery tell you that his first show starts filming tomorrow? Want me to take you to the set?]

A glimmer of hope shone in her teary eyes. [Sure.]

The next day, she took a day off.

Arnold drove her to the film city in Aetherbrook City.

This was a fantasy mystery series, starring the hottest actors in the industry.

Avery, standing at 6 feet tall, was young, sunny, and handsome, reminiscent of a heartthrob from a comic

book.

Standing next to the lead actor, Avery easily outshone him, making the actor seem lackluster in comparison. The actor seemed a bit upset, asking his assistant to bring a thick board for him to stand on so he wouldn’t look shorter than Avery in the shot.