Chapter 187: Janet's Fiasco

This time, Janet met her Waterloo. It was truly devastating. It's unforgivable for public figures to behave so poorly.

Hannah observed coldly. Her actions weren't due to a lack of foresight; on the contrary, she understood the consequences perfectly, fueling her desperate need to retaliate. The business district's construction had been fraught with difficulties. Starlight Group would never allow her to continue. Other family members would seize this opportunity to intensify their pressure and undermine her position. They had always fiercely competed for advantage. It seemed nearly impossible for her to recover.

The turmoil was nearly over. She lowered her phone and looked at Rose, who was speechless. Just as all hope seemed lost, a surprising turn of events unfolded.

"Was Ms. Hannah lucky, or...?" Rose mused. But luck, she reflected, was a word used by those envious of others' success. There was no such thing as luck; only skill and ability.

Hannah had known about the scandal from the outset. She'd deliberately sought Win's endorsement, knowing Janet would overpay to oppose her. Now, the situation had escalated to the point where Janet might even consider self-harm.

Rose's admiration for Hannah deepened. She no longer underestimated the twenty-two-year-old.

"Now, I need you to work on a few things," Hannah said, pointedly avoiding eye contact. Hannah wasn't a skilled liar, so she didn't deny her involvement, but she wouldn't openly admit it either. Such underhanded tactics were best left unspoken. Rose, being intelligent, remained silent.

"First, now that we've secured Celina, we need a publicity campaign to attract other luxury brands. Second, Starlight Group's troubles present an opportunity; we should renegotiate investments. They're unlikely to pursue their district anymore and will likely choose us. Third, we need to individually negotiate with existing brands to secure the best discounts, combining them with our mall's promotional events for the grand reopening next Saturday—an auspicious day. Fourth, contact Little Bunny's agent to prepare her for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Also, block off two days on my schedule; I need to discuss the opening day's livestream with her in person."

"Live?" Rose asked, confused.

"Yes, live commerce."

Rose's confusion was evident. Hannah offered no further explanation, stating plainly, "There's one more crucial point: we need a plan for the mall's preferential policies. Ask Mary to handle this."

Rose was perplexed. Weren't they sworn enemies? Why assign this to Mary? Wasn't Hannah afraid Mary would sabotage it? Hannah smiled coldly. She wanted Mary to fail, providing a reason to dismiss her. Mary's presence was simply irritating.

Rose diligently organized the tasks. The Light Building project progressed rapidly. Meanwhile, Janet faced a devastating public image crisis after assaulting someone publicly, coinciding with Starlight Group's disastrous launch event. Within three days, Starlight Group announced an indefinite suspension of the business district project, focusing instead on its core supermarket chain to appease consumers. They issued a public apology and dismissed Janet, promising she would have no further involvement with the company.

Janet's influence within Starlight Group vanished completely. Her comfortable life with her family was over. This news, however, was unsurprising to Hannah. She observed Oscar, noting his apparent lack of concern; he didn't even ask a single question.

Four days after the incident, Light Building's investment increased by 200%, with 50% of stores already occupied. At this rate, occupancy would likely reach 80% before reopening.

While reviewing documents and the reopening plans, Hannah's phone rang. Though the number was unknown, she knew who it was. Remembering everything wasn't always beneficial.

She answered, "Janet."

"Yes, it's me."

"What's the matter?"

"Are you satisfied now?"

Hannah smiled. "Quite. There were no surprises."

"Did you know beforehand?" Janet's carefully maintained composure shattered. "Hannah, you did this deliberately!"

"Why do you say that?"

"You could have secured Celina from the start, but you waited. You let me believe I had a chance, only to humiliate me! You goaded me into risking everything for that business district project. Failure meant my expulsion. You know me and my family too well!"

Hannah offered no denial.

Janet continued, "You were counting on me overpaying for Win, weren't you? You knew about her scandal; exposing it would ruin me. You set me up!"

"Yes, I did," Hannah admitted. There was nothing to hide.

Janet's anger flared. She would rather believe it was coincidence than admit Hannah's superior intellect. She couldn't accept being so effortlessly defeated.