A momentter, N entered the restaurant.


    Alexander stood quickly and led her toward their table.


    "N, just a heads-up-your mom''s used to giving orders, so her words mighte across asmanding. Be prepared," he said again, his tone cautious.


    "Okay," N replied evenly, following him.


    In less than two minutes, they arrived at the table.


    "N, this is your mom," Alexander said, then turned to the woman sitting before them. "Aunt Emerald, this is N. Doesn''t she look just like you?"


    Emerald and N''s eyes met, neither speaking for several long moments.


    After what felt like an eternity, Emerald raised her chin slightly. "Sit down."


    Her tone was devoid of any warmth.


    As N looked at the woman in front of her, she found it impossible to reconcile thismanding figure with the gentle, loving mother she remembered from childhood.


    She sat across from Emerald and spoke directly. "I''ve heard from Alexander that you want me to go to Meristate."


    Emerald nodded, her gaze sharp and appraising. "If youe with me, I''ll let you inherit the Nixon fortune. You''ll have wealth beyond measure and the ability to obtain anything you desire with ease."


    She spoke as if offering a prize no one could refuse, expecting N to be moved.


    However, N''s expression remained calm. "Anything I desire?"


    Emerald considered her response for a moment, then nodded. "Yes."


    "Then I want the past 20 years of a mother''s love. Can you give me that?" N asked.


    Emerald frowned slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. It seemed she hadn''t anticipated such a "foolish" response.


    "I came here expecting more from you, but see now I was wrong. I you were even a little smarter, you wouldn''t have said something so ridiculous," Emerald remarked, her tone dripping with disdain


    N chuckled softly. "Ms. Kinsey, wealth may mean the world to you, but to me,


    it''s just numbers. It''s no different from how you can''t seem to understand what I truly value."


    The woman sitting before her was nothing more than a stranger who happened to share her mother''s face.


    Any hope N had held onto-of finding even a shred of motherly love in Emerald-had vanished.


    Perhaps that was for the best. It would save her from any inner conflict when the inevitable confrontation came.


    Emerald''s expression hardened.


    "What you want is irrelevant to me. You have two choicese with me willingly, or I''ll force you to go. If you resist, I''ll bankrupt Prospectus Technology as a small


    punishment-to show you the cost of defying me."


    N clenched her fists under the table, a flicker of coldness shing in her eyes.


    Sensing the rising tension, Alexander quickly interjected, "Aunt Emerald, isn''t that going too far? This is your first meeting with N after so.


    many years. You should focusel.ne


    reconnecting, not scaring her Didn''t you tell me you missed her and were excited about this reunion?"


    Emerald frowned. "When did I ever say that?"


    Alexander went silent.


    "I can go with you to Meristate," N said suddenly.


    Alexander and Emerald turned their attention to her.


    She met Emerald''s gaze directly and repeated, "I''ll agree to go and inherit the Nixons, as you''ve nned. But I have three conditions."