Customers were delighted with the thoughtful packaging and the free whitening toner sample included in their orders.
Everyone agreed that the wait had been worthwhile, as the beauty cream exceeded expectations and the gift was genuinely appreciated.
—
At year’s end, Scott Corporation approved the herbal tea project, with negotiations on Livinus’s end reaching their final stages.
If Scott Corporation hadn’t approved it, Livinus had been prepared to fund the project himself.
The beverage market was vast, with major brands generating hundreds of billions of dollars in annual sales in America0 alone. While carbonated drinks were foreign imports, herbal tea was undoubtedly a domestic product.
Many had tried their hand at herbal tea, but few succeeded. Livinus planned to leverage Scott Corporation’s strengths to introduce a formula suited for all body types, enhancing herbal tea’s cooling and nourishing effects.
However, the tea had yet to expand beyond Wilson Mark gdong Province, raising concerns about its appeal in other regions.
For the next few days, the company focused on refining the formula and conducting market research.
Another pressing matter was the herbal tea’s branding.
Although it seemed straightforward, the product’s packaging, messaging, and promotional strategy required a professional touch. Livinus hired an international team to handle the branding.
Preoccupied with this, he almost forgot that the annual company gala was approaching.
—
Scott Corporation’s annual gala was always a grand affair.
As a successful company with strong momentum, it had every reason to reward its employees.
Over the years, corporate culture had become increasingly important. Since Livinus took charge, employee benefits had significantly improved, and the gala prizes were more generous than ever, leaving everyone eagerly anticipating the event.
Adding to the excitement were celebrity performances and high-level executives participating in entertaining acts—including none other than Livinus himself.
The Scott family’s annual gala became a battlefield between Olivia and Kim, sparking a full-blown conflict. The Brown family issued an ultimatum, demanding the Scott family take a stand on the situation.
Andrea found herself caught in the middle. On one hand, Olivia stubbornly refused to leave the Scott residence, and with her being pregnant, it was impossible to force her out. The media closely monitored the Scott family, and creating an ugly public spectacle was out of the question.
On the other hand, pressure from the Brown family weighed heavily on Andrea, leaving her at a loss.
The real issue arose when Henry attended the annual gala, with both Olivia and Kim insisting on accompanying him. The situation was a perfect setup for public ridicule.
“Olivia, can’t you give in just this once?” Andrea pleaded earnestly.
“No way, Mom! Haven’t I compromised enough already? Besides, what will the media say about me if I don’t attend such an event and she does? Netizens’ll laugh at me, and the Scott family’s reputation will be dragged through the mud.”
There was some truth to her words. The family patriarch was already displeased with them. If negative news broke out again, his resentment would deepen.
Reluctantly, Andrea sighed and said, “Fine, I’ll try talking to Kim again.”
But deep down, she wasn’t happy. The Brown family demanded justice for Kim, their only daughter, and Andrea didn’t want to lose this valuable connection. Still, no one enjoyed being pressured, and this dynamic left her deeply dissatisfied.
Her frustration triggered a sharp pain in her chest, prompting her to instinctively clutch the area.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Olivia frowned. “You’ve been saying your chest hurts a lot lately.”
“I don’t know. There seems to be a lump here, probably a case of b****t hyperplasia. Lately, the pain has been worse.”
“You should get it checked at the hospital,” Olivia urged.
“I’ve been too busy. Henry’s issues are already exhausting, and your father spends all his time with that woman. I barely have the energy to deal with anything, let alone go to the hospital,” Andrea replied bitterly.
Olivia coaxed her, “No matter how upset you are, you can’t neglect your health. I’ll take you to the hospital tomorrow.”
With her chest pain worsening and her age approaching menopause, Andrea reluctantly agreed.
—
The next day, Olivia accompanied Andrea to the hospital for an examination, with their housekeeper tagging along.
Seeing Olivia heavily pregnant yet still helping Andrea secure priority treatment, housekeeper remarked, “Olivia really treats Madam well.”
Andrea scoffed. “Well? She’s only doing this to secure her place in the Scott family because of the child she’s carrying.”
Despite her cynicism, Andrea admitted privately that Olivia’s ability to endure and adapt made her a suitable daughter-in-law. While Olivia’s intentions might not be genuine, her constant attentiveness gave the appearance of a caring family member. In a family like theirs, how many people truly acted out of sincerity rather than financial interest?
In contrast, Kim lacked Olivia’s tact. As the spoiled daughter of a wealthy family, she expected to be served rather than do any serving herself, which only added to Andrea’s dissatisfaction.
“Mom, the doctor arranged for us to skip the queue for an X-ray,” Olivia informed her.
