Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 473: Chapter 473

Aileen's every word dripped with provocation and disdain. She regarded Zoe as a fragile ant, ready to crush her at any moment.
Emmett couldn't take it anymore. He snapped at Aileen, "Do you have any idea who our Chair is? How dare you humiliate her like this? She'll make you pay for it!"
Aileen sneered, "Ha! I've never seen such a loyal lapdog before. Just how much did she pay you to stick by her side like this?"
"I'm no lapdog!" Emmett snapped angrily.
"Oh? Then what are you—a pathetic bootlicker?" Aileen sneered.
Emmett was at his breaking point—Aileen went too far.
Zoe suddenly reached out and placed a steadying hand on Emmett's shoulder. "Stand down," she said quietly, her voice firm and composed.
Emmett took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.
At this point, people around started whispering behind their hands and exchanging knowing looks, their doubtful glances making it clear they all questioned Zoe's competence. The growing consensus was that Emmett had actually solved the problems each time, merely letting Zoe take the credit.
"We're doomed. Our company must be in big trouble."
"I heard she's terrifying. In less than three days, she's almost brought our company to its knees."
"She's filthy rich—she just casually poured billions into our competitor. Otherwise, we wouldn't be going under so fast."
"Just what kind of Chair did we hire? She looks completely incompetent. I'm pretty sure it was actually Emmett who fixed things for the company last time."
Emmett quickly jumped in to defend Zoe, blurting out, "That's not true! Every time the company was in trouble, it was Ms. Evans who personally handled it—it has nothing to do with me."
Pity no one believed Emmett. Office gossip had it that Zoe, though Chair in name, was rarely in the office—proof she'd contributed nothing to the company and was clueless about its operations.
People whispered that someone like her had no business leading the company. Emmett's defense only backfired, making everyone double down on their belief in Zoe's incompetence.
Emmett looked at Zoe apologetically. "I'm sorry, Ms. Evans, I..."
Zoe raised her hand to silence Emmett, and then stepped up to Aileen. "You chased him all the way from Merilunia—guess you're really head over heels for Shawn."
"Of course! Shawn, the legendary warrior—the most formidable man in the country. A nobody like you doesn't deserve to be with him.
"I've already made connections with his family, and all his elders are rooting for me. Once you're out of the way, marrying Shawn is only a matter of time.
"You still have a chance to back out, or I'll kick you to the curb myself," Aileen tossed her hair and sneered, every word dripping with mockery, making it clear she saw Zoe as no match for her.
"Since I dared to take down Kadeem, the Underground King," Zoe said coolly, "what makes you think I'd hesitate with you?"
Aileen scoffed, "Cut the crap! Who the hell do you think you are, claiming you took down the King? I've done my research—it was Shawn who destroyed the King's stronghold. As for you, you just rode his coattails and took credit that wasn't yours."
Zoe fell silent for a moment, her expression unreadable.
Just then, Aileen sneered, "Enough with the tough act. You're no match for me. Admit defeat and beg me, now."
"What if I don't?" Zoe shot back, her gaze unwavering.
"In half an hour, you and your company are done for," Aileen sneered, her arrogance on full display.
Perhaps Aileen's overconfidence was so convincing that people were willing to believe her. When Marlowe Group's top talents realized the company was going under, few wanted to stay. Many defected on the spot, flocking to Aileen's side in hopes of better career prospects.
Aileen was genuinely surprised to see so many people at Marlowe Group ready to defect. With a triumphant smirk, she sneered, "See that, Zoe? Even your own people can't wait to abandon you.