The CEO’S Unplanned Heir ( Aurelia Hawthorne ) - Season 2 Episode 48

“Being naive in this industry isn’t exactly beneficial,” Leopold said with a dismissive smirk.

Aurelia pouted and retorted, “I meant being kind–hearted, not foolish. Our Avery is as sharp as a tack.”

Leopold didn’t share her sentiments. When it came to cunning, Avery fell short compared to her.

“Your focus should be on your work, how’s ‘Destiny‘ coming along?”

“The Design Department is 98% done,” Aurelia reported.

A sharp glint flashed across Leopold’s eyes, “And the remaining 2%?”

“That’s my cliffhanger,” Aurelia said, her lips curling into a mysterious smile.

Leopold had an inkling but decided to play along. He hoped her cliffhanger would be a pleasant surprise rather than an unnecessary embellishment.

Suddenly, Aurelia’s phone chimed. It was a message from Lily.

The best billboards in several major shopping centers had been snatched up by Louis. And Harry was just a step too late.

Louis, a close associate of Mr. Chad, was a formidable adversary with strong connections and resources.

Evelyn, on the other hand, had the backing of the massive Alcott family.

In terms of financial, human, and material resources, she and Mr. Harry simply couldn’t compete.

This meant that their offline marketing efforts were a complete failure.

‘Destiny‘ couldn’t rely solely on online sales. It needed a solid offline support network.

A wave of anxiety washed over her. As she tightened her grip on her phone, the wheels in her head began to spin rapidly, searching for a way out.

Leopold reached out and gently ruffled her hair. “What’s got you so distracted?”

Aurelia glanced at him, her eyes lighting up, “Mr. Leopold, could I make a suggestion about the product launch?”

Leopold withdrew his hand and said in a nonchalant tone, “Go ahead.”

Aurelia swallowed nervously before slowly saying, “Could we launch the ‘Eternal Love‘ series first and push ‘Destiny‘ back? Doing so would avoid internal competition for sales resources. Although the two series are in competition, Astral Enterprises‘ real competitors are external brands. Around the holidays, every brand launches new products. When the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman profits. If our sales resources are spread thin, our new products will lose their competitive edge.”

Her analysis was spot on.

Leopold’s expression darkened. His deep, icy eyes sparkled under the light, making him seem all the more inscrutable.

“For a team with no offline marketing advantage, it’s indeed a way out.”

His voice was slow and teasing.

Aurelia froze, feeling like an onion being ruthlessly peeled layer by layer, exposing her desperate stratagem.

“You know about my situation?”

Leopold answered her with silence.

How could he not know?

He was well aware of everything happening in the company.

He was just curious to see how she would handle it.

“Do you think I’ll agree?”

Aurelia clasped her hands under her chin, pleading him with puppy eyes, “If you don’t agree, this whole battle would be meaningless. After all the hard work our team has put in, don’t we deserve a glimmer of hope?” She paused, then changed her tone, “Mr. Leopold, you’re a shrewd and brilliant titan of industry, unparalleled and so formidable that Wall Street trembles at your name. Surely, you understand that spreading sales resources thin isn’t a wise strategy. I’m not just doing this for my team, but for the company. I hope you’ll consider my suggestion.”

Her flattery was as loud as a church bell.

Leopold wasn’t a fan of sycophants, but somehow, this woman’s flattery didn’t rub him the wrong way.

“I can give you a chance, but if you disappoint me, you’re doomed.”

Chapter 149

Callie took to Facebook to condemn Elowen’s treatment of her daughter, expressing outrage at her refusal to apologize.

The incident caused quite a stir in the celebrity circle.

Even the folks at Muse Club were enjoying the unfolding drama.

Aurelia greatly admired Leopold’s composure. Even though he was at the heart of the controversy, he seemed to remain detached, like an outsider.

He was sitting next to her, telling stories to their unborn children, a practice known as fetal education.

She couldn’t help but follow the scandal on social media.

[Who will be the next Mrs. Stirling? It’s anyone’s guess.]

[If Megan was still alive, she would be the obvious choice. But Evelyn might also step up in her sister’s place.]

[Elowen isn’t one to be underestimated. After all, she is Mr. Leopold’s fiancee, who knows what she’s capable of?]

[True. Megan’s disappearance was quite suspicious, as if she vanished into thin air.]

[Maybe she was murdered.]

[Without evidence, it’s better not to speculate. You wouldn’t want to disappear yourselves.]

A chill ran down Aurelia’s spine. Could Megan have been murdered?

According to the timeline, Megan’s disappearance coincided with the time when Leopold was hospitalized

after an assassination attempt.

Could someone have taken advantage of Leopold’s incapacity to harm Megan?

Unconsciously, she turned to look at Leopold, her eyes filled with horror, which he quickly noticed.

“Pregnant women should avoid watching scary things.”

“Oh.” She quickly closed her phone, assuming he thought she was watching a horror movie. He couldn’t know she was following the scandal.

“I’m tired, I think I’ll take a nap.”

He nodded, and she closed her eyes, even though she wasn’t sleepy at all.

Her mind was filled with thoughts of Megan.

Being the wife of a powerful man isn’t just a title–it comes with wealth, power, and prestige. Though Mr. Chad was a playboy, Jessica fought to keep her position as the legitimate wife so that her son could inherit the family fortune.

The conflict between Megan and Elowen was likely more than just a fight between two women. It probably involved the power struggle between Elara and the Alcott families.

The Alcott family lost that round.

If her identity were to be exposed, she would become a target. Both the Alcott family and Elara wouldn’t let her off easy. She might not even know how she met her end.

As she thought about this, she felt a shiver down her spine. Instinctively, she reached down to protect her

belly.

Leopold’s hand was gently resting on her stomach. Without warning, her hand landed on his.

A chill spread through her palm, causing her to startle and quickly withdraw her hand, only to have it caught by him.

His warm hand enveloped hers, and gently pulled it back onto her stomach. His hand covered hers without any hesitation.

A blush spread across her cheeks as she stammered, “I… I think the baby moved, so I…”

She bit her lip, her face turning even redder.

Leopold’s gaze fell on her cheeks. There was a momentary softness in his eyes, like a frozen lake beginning to thaw. But it was fleeting, quickly replaced by his usual icy demeanor.

He let go of her hand and picked up a glass of water from the coffee table.

“Since this is fetal education, you should participate as well,” he said in a deliberately–casual tone.

“Oh,” she responded softly, understanding that his gesture was meant to let their child feel the love of both parents.

“I… I’m going to sleep some more.”

She closed her eyes and tucked her hand under the pillow, feeling the lingering warmth from his hand.

But she knew, his warmth would never truly be hers.