Rebirth of a Billionaire Heir

Ethan's office was quiet, save for the low hum of his laptop. The room was dim, the only light coming from the cityscape outside and the glow of the Cheat Investment System in his peripheral vision. He had spent the better part of the night poring over the system's latest insights. Chloe's pivot toward Carter Holdings was both bold and dangerous—she wasn't just leveraging family connections; she was making herself indispensable to someone powerful within the company.

System Insight: Key Backer Identified: Alistair Wren, Senior Advisor to Carter Holdings Board. Risk Profile: High. Wren has direct influence over dormant asset reactivation and expansion plans. Projected Outcome: Increased control over Carter Holdings logistics division via Chloe Carter.

Alistair Wren. The name alone carried weight. A seasoned strategist and one of Jonathan Carter's closest confidants, Wren was known for his ability to manipulate boardroom politics with precision. If Chloe had secured his backing, it meant she wasn't just targeting Ethan—she was positioning herself as a major player in the Carter family empire.

Ethan closed his laptop, his jaw tightening. If Wren was involved, the game had just escalated into a full-blown chess match. And in chess, the only way to win was to anticipate your opponent's moves before they made them.

The next morning, Ethan convened a private meeting with Sophia and Leonard. Jessica was busy overseeing the deployment of their AI logistics system, leaving Ethan to rely on his most trusted advisors for this more delicate matter.

"Alistair Wren," Ethan said, projecting the system's data onto the screen. "He's backing Chloe's bid for control over Carter Holdings' logistics division. If they succeed, it won't just hurt Zenith—it'll give them leverage over me directly."

Sophia leaned back in her chair, her expression skeptical. "Wren doesn't back losers. If he's supporting Chloe, he sees her as a viable long-term investment."

Leonard frowned. "The question is why. Chloe's smart, but she doesn't have the track record to justify this kind of support."

"She doesn't need one," Ethan said. "She has ambition, and Wren has the connections to make her ambition a reality. Together, they're a threat I can't ignore."

Sophia tapped her pen against the table, her gaze thoughtful. "So what's the plan? You're not seriously thinking of taking on Alistair Wren head-on, are you?"

"Not directly," Ethan replied. "Wren's power comes from his position on the board. If I can undermine his influence there, I can neutralize his support for Chloe."

Leonard crossed his arms. "Undermining Wren isn't going to be easy. He's been entrenched in Carter Holdings for decades."

"I know," Ethan said, his tone cold. "Which is why we're going to play this carefully. We don't attack Wren directly—we attack his agenda. If we can discredit Chloe's expansion plan, it'll weaken Wren's position and force him to reevaluate his alliance with her."

Ethan's first move was to quietly gather allies within Carter Holdings. While his relationship with the company was complicated—strained by years of family politics and Jonathan's domineering influence—he still had allies among the mid-level executives. People who resented Wren's control or saw Ethan as a potential disruptor to the old guard.

Using the system's insights, Ethan identified three key individuals: Sarah Clarke, the head of regional operations; Daniel Greene, a logistics analyst with a knack for spotting inefficiencies; and Victor Hale, an outspoken critic of Wren's long-term strategies. Together, they formed the foundation of Ethan's internal network.

Sophia worked tirelessly to broker quiet meetings with each of them, presenting Ethan's vision for the dormant assets and how their activation could benefit Carter Holdings as a whole. The pitch was simple but effective: align with Ethan, and they'd not only protect their positions but thrive under a revitalized Carter Holdings.

It wasn't long before the pieces began to move. Clarke, Greene, and Hale started planting doubts about Chloe's expansion plan during internal meetings, questioning its viability and long-term sustainability. Meanwhile, Ethan used Zenith's influence to subtly highlight weaknesses in Chloe's strategy through industry media. The goal wasn't to attack her outright but to sow seeds of doubt—enough to make Wren hesitate.

As Ethan's strategy unfolded, he received another encrypted email. This time, it was less cryptic:

Ethan, you're playing a dangerous game. Wren doesn't take kindly to threats. Watch your back.

There was no signature, but the tone was unmistakably familiar. Someone within Carter Holdings was keeping tabs on him, and they wanted him to know it.

Sophia analyzed the email, tracing it back to a secure server within Carter Holdings' IT department. "Whoever this is," she said, "they're close to Wren. Maybe even someone on the board."

Ethan nodded, his expression unreadable. "They're warning me, not threatening me. That means they're conflicted. If we can figure out who they are, we might be able to turn them."

Sophia frowned. "And if they're just playing you?"

"Then we'll play them right back," Ethan said, his voice cold. "No one manipulates me and gets away with it."

The next major development came during a Carter Holdings board meeting. Wren had proposed a motion to reallocate funding toward Chloe's logistics expansion, citing the potential for significant returns in underserved markets. The motion was met with mixed reactions, with some board members questioning the risk involved.

Ethan's allies seized the opportunity. Sarah Clarke raised concerns about the feasibility of Chloe's plan, pointing out that it relied heavily on untested infrastructure and unproven partnerships. Daniel Greene followed up with a detailed analysis of the potential financial risks, while Victor Hale pushed for a more cautious approach, suggesting that the dormant assets might offer a safer, more profitable alternative.

The debate grew heated, with Wren defending Chloe's proposal while Ethan's allies chipped away at its foundation. The tension in the room was palpable, and for the first time, Wren's composure began to crack.

Ethan wasn't in the room—Jonathan had ensured that—but he received updates from his allies in real time. When the meeting finally adjourned, the motion had been tabled for further review, effectively stalling Chloe's expansion.

The system chimed softly in Ethan's vision as the update came through.

System Notification: Rival's Momentum Disrupted. Projected Outcome: Significant delay in Chloe Carter's logistics strategy.

That evening, Ethan sat alone in his penthouse, staring out at the city lights. The victory had been hard-won, but it wasn't complete. Chloe was still a threat, and Wren wasn't the type to give up easily.

As he sipped his whiskey, the system chimed again, this time with a new insight:

Advanced Strategic Opportunity Identified. Key leverage point detected: Wren's financial ties to an external competitor. Exploit to force his withdrawal from Carter Holdings logistics division.

Ethan's eyes narrowed as he read the details. The system had uncovered a potential scandal—Wren had been quietly funneling resources to a rival firm, a clear conflict of interest that could be weaponized against him.

A cold smile crossed Ethan's lips. The pieces were falling into place, and the next move would be decisive. Wren thought he was untouchable, but Ethan was about to prove him wrong.

The game wasn't over. It was just beginning.