?Chapter 773:


    All bravado on the surface, but at their core, both Tracy and Rita were spineless—copsing the moment true strength stood before them. Still, Leah masked her contempt behind a veil of gentleness.


    “Miss Hond, Tracy has always cherished Rita dearly. Your words just now were rather harsh.”


    “Harsh?” Corrine arched a brow, her tone turning to ice. “You think that’s harsh? I can give you something far worse.”


    Tracy faltered, at a loss for words.


    Corrine cast them a final, measured nce.


    “How about we make a bet?”


    Leah remained silent, merely observing.


    Tracy, on the other hand, hesitated before forcing out a scoff. “A bet? On what?”


    “That the Ashton family won’tst another year.”


    The words struck like a hammer.


    Tracy’s face twisted in fury. “Corrine Hond! Do you think just because you’vetched onto a wealthy backer, you can do whatever you please?”


    Corrine’s lips curled into a cool, knowing smile. “I have never needed to rely on anyone.”


    Without another nce, Corrine turned and walked away, her posture poised, her stride unwavering.


    Tracy stood rooted to the spot, watching Corrine’s retreating figure, her chest rising and falling with barely contained rage. Unable to hold back, she blurted out, “Is Corrine out of her mind?”


    Corrine had dared to curse the Ashton family to ruin—right to Tracy’s face!


    True, their business was no longer at its peak, but even a ship taking on water was still a ship—it wouldn’t sink so easily.


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    To think Corrine could bring them down so easily? Utter lunacy!


    In Tracy’s mind, Corrine was nothing more than a scorned woman, driven to madness after Bruce discarded her. Delusional, grasping at fantasies.


    But Leah’s thoughts were far moreplex.


    Her gaze flickered toward the exclusive VIP room.


    Not just anyone had the privilege of entering that space.


    And when Corrine had walked into the restaurant, she hadn’t been alone. She had been in thepany of power—surrounded by figures who could shift tides with a single word.


    For her to speak with such certainty, to predict the downfall of the Ashton family within a year—she must have had something up her sleeve.


    Leah’s lips curled into a faint smirk as she reyed Corrine’s parting words. “I have never needed to rely on anyone.”


    Oh, really? If she truly stood on her own, how had shee this far?


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