Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 476: Chapter 476

Without another word, Zoe put away her phone, her expression unreadable. She decided to wait things out. "Fetch me a chair," she commanded calmly.
Emmett wasn't sure if Zoe could truly solve this problem, but determined not to lose face, he personally went to fulfill her request.
Seeing this, Aileen refused to be outdone and had someone fetch her a chair as well.
The two rivals sat facing each other, awaiting the outcome. Behind them, their respective factions were poised, eager to join their leaders in humiliating the opposing side once the results were announced.
Three minutes later, Aileen's phone rang. She sneered, "Pathetic. Your men folded this fast?"
As soon as the call connected, a hysterical voice screamed, "Ms. Carleton! Something terrible has happened. A group of highly trained operatives stormed in—they've captured us and seized all the incriminating evidence. They're calling the police! Please, you have to save us."
Aileen felt utterly humiliated and hung up immediately. But almost instantly, another call came through. When she answered, it was the same desperate plea. "Ms. Carleton, save us! We don't want to go to jail."
Her phone kept ringing nonstop—every net Aileen had cast now brought a call for help. Her entire scheme had collapsed; forget about destroying the Marlowe Group—if this continued, she'd end up completely alone, a commander without troops, powerless to do anything.
"Got any more tricks up your sleeve? Bring 'em on," Zoe challenged.
Aileen knew she was running out of cards to play. If she kept pushing today, it would only end in utter humiliation.
But if she retreated and regrouped, maybe there was still a chance to turn the tables later. Still, the thought of just walking away like this—she simply couldn't stomach it.
Seeming to sense Aileen's inner turmoil, her bodyguard finally spoke up. "Ms. Carleton, perhaps we should retreat for now."
Aileen snapped, "No way! I can't just walk away like this—it'd be way too humiliating for me."
Seeing Aileen still clinging to her pride, the bodyguard cautioned her. "Ms. Carleton, don't forget how formidable she is. If this escalates, we're no match for her. You'll only end up even more humiliated—you might not even make it out of this lobby in one piece."
Aileen spun around and slapped her bodyguard hard across the face. "How dare you question my competence?"
Seeing his well-intentioned advice so rudely dismissed, the bodyguard instantly fell silent, letting Aileen dig her own grave.
Aileen's fury at being looked down on by her own bodyguard was palpable. She sneered at Zoe, "You think you're so impressive? Don't kid yourself. You're just clinging to Shawn's power—without his backing, what could a nobody like you possibly accomplish?"
Zoe looked at Aileen, her expression cool.
Emmett couldn't listen any longer. "Who needs a man?" he snapped. "Ms. Evans doesn't need to rely on anyone—she's got real capability."
Aileen sneered, "Oh, standing up for Zoe like that. Are you her boy toy or something?"
Aileen didn't see Zoe as any real threat. After all, this was Clusia—violent retaliation was strictly prohibited here. Certain that Zoe wouldn't dare touch her, Aileen only grew bolder.
But the real clincher? She was a foreign investor in Clusia, treated with utmost respect by the Clusian officials. She didn't fear an ordinary woman like Zoe.
"Listen up! If you apologize to me right now, I might still let it slide. But wait any longer, and even if you beg for mercy, I still won't spare you," Aileen shouted. Her juvenile theatrics made onlookers cringe at her over-the-top bravado.
But Zoe knew Aileen did have some grounds for her arrogance—her wealth, for instance. Unfortunately, that was the only card she had left to play.
Aileen sneered, "Why aren't you making your move yet? Don't tell me you actually think you can still win. Who the hell gave you the nerve?"