Dumping The Ice King His Mini-Tyrant novel Chapter 479

Gwyneth let out a sharp laugh. “Selene, your ambition is something else, isn’t it?”

In her eyes, Selene was hardly qualified to have such grand ambitions.

But Selene only smiled. “Yet, Ms. Lockridge, I can see you’re getting excited too, aren’t you?”

Gwyneth couldn’t help but laugh under her breath, caught off guard by Selene’s perceptiveness. “Five percent of Lockridge Group’s shares. Well, well! Selene, I’m looking forward to seeing whether you’ve really got what it takes to pry those shares from my hands. Three months from now, if our partnership with City Hall goes off the rails, you’ll have two choices—jail or the grave.”

Not just anyone could propose a wager with Gwyneth Lockridge. Anyone who wanted a bigger slice of her pie had to put their own fate in her hands.

Selene lowered her voice, her tone steady. “Since I’ve put everything on the line, I hope you’ll give me your full support, Ms. Lockridge.”

Gwyneth played along, her words edged with mockery. “Oh, you’ll have my full support. There’s a fine line between bravery and madness, Selene. I don’t care if you’re a fool or a lunatic—I just want to see how hard you run before you collapse on the battlefield.”

Selene’s smile was unwavering. “All I want is your word, Ms. Lockridge.”

After ending her video call with Selene, Gwyneth lingered on the thrill Selene had sparked in her.

Selene wanted her full support, but the real aim was to use Gwyneth’s power to suppress Annalise Johnston. The price Selene was willing to pay for this leverage was steep—maybe too steep.

Surely Selene didn’t think that just because Adrian was backing her, Gwyneth was powerless against her?

Gwyneth snorted, a cold sound in the quiet office.

She couldn’t wait to see whether, in three months, Selene would bring her a surprise—or just make a fool of herself.

She called her assistant in and instructed them to tell Annalise Johnston to cooperate fully with Selene. Gwyneth had no interest in watching Annalise try to trip Selene up anymore.

*

At three in the afternoon, Daph’s school day ended.

Selene got a call from Luke Holloway—he was heading out of town on business. He’d pick Daph up from school and drop her off at QuanTech Innovations before he left.

Altair got out of the car with Daph. He wore a smart suit, a handmade leather satchel slung over one shoulder, and his little dress shoes were spotless. Though his face was still childlike, he carried himself with the seriousness of an adult.

“Mr. Shaw!” Daph called out, waving enthusiastically at Adrian. Her blonde pigtails were a little messy from a busy day at school, and a few wisps of hair clung to her forehead.

Adrian looked up at Luke, his voice light and teasing. “If joining this family meant changing my name, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

He took Daph’s hand. “Say goodbye to your uncle. Go on, trust me to take care of things here.”

Luke stayed in the car, watching as Adrian led Daph and Altair toward the elevators. Only when they’d vanished inside did he tear his eyes away, clicking his tongue in annoyance before driving off.

*

Adrian brought Daph and Altair to the company’s lounge area.

Selene joined them soon after. Daph was clever and considerate, but Altair was even more so. Selene didn’t want them to feel like their presence was a burden on her work—she knew that would only make them anxious and overly careful around her.

“Altair, did you miss me?” Selene knew Daph was bringing Altair and had been looking forward to seeing them both.

She knelt down to check on Altair, only relaxing when she was sure he was doing well.

Altair’s dark eyes fixed unblinkingly on Selene, his small fists clenched as he forced himself not to run straight into her arms.