Page 20 of Billionaire’s Heartbreak

Francis straightened.

“Mr. Li, your main role is to familiarize yourself with the businesses and support Mrs. Wu in any areas she may find challenging.”

He adjusted his cuffs, his voice turning more formal. “To be clear, Mrs. Wu will be assuming executive control of the company. Mr. Wu has arranged for a full transition of authority. You’ll be working under her leadership while you learn the structure and operations.”

I glanced at June.

She didn’t react, but I saw it—the slight tightening of her jaw. The weight of what was being handed to her.

“Any reason you think you couldn’t handle that yourself?” I asked Francis. My gaze flicked toward June, catching the discomfort in the way she shifted in her seat. I looked away almost immediately, forcing myself to focus on Francis instead. “Helping her with the business?”

I needed to keep my distance from her. Working this closely with June was dangerous enough without giving myself a reason to remember what it had once felt like to love her.

“Of course. I’m happy to assist wherever needed,” he said carefully.

I immediately regretted asking. The answer was already obvious. A man like Francis could guide them through the paperwork, explain the structure, even keep the machinery running—but he wasn’t the kind of man who could make decisions for an empire like Dannie’s.

“But you’re not allowed to make any calls, are you?” I pressed.

A pause.

Francis shifted in his seat before answering. “Only if absolutely necessary. Mr. Wu was very clear. He wants both of you able to manage the business together, with Mrs. Wu as the primary decision-maker.”

“Are you going anywhere?” June asked sharply.

“Me?” Francis blinked.

“Yes.”

“No. I’ll still be here, oversee day-to-day operations,” he replied quickly. “But strategic direction, major investments, restructuring—those will now go through Mrs. Wu.”

“And his partner?” June asked. “I remember Dannie has a partner.”

“Mr. Wu bought him out yesterday. The company is now solely his. Legally, the transfer process has begun. Within weeks, ownership will be jointly registered under Mrs. Wu.”

Outside the glass walls, employees slowed as they passed, pretending not to stare. They were curious, watching the woman in black who was quietly being handed the empire.

June looked composed from a distance—spine straight, chin lifted, the picture of control. But the closer I watched, the more cracks showed. The coffee cup in her hand trembled ever so slightly, though she hadn’t even taken a sip. Her thumb rubbed slowly over the cardboard sleeve, over and over, like she didn’t even realize she was doing it. When Francis passed a document across the table, she read the same line twice, her eyes moving but not quite focusing, her jaw tightening as if she were bracing against something heavy pressing down on her chest.

She thought she was hiding it well.

Maybe from them.

But not from me.

Francis slid another folder across the table, flipping it open with professional calm. Charts. Revenue streams. Logistics routes. It all looked sterile—numbers, percentages, quarterly growth.

Then my eyes caught a line item that didn’t fit.

Collections — Offshore Accounts.

Another tab:

Security Operations — External.

June leaned closer, her brow furrowing, and I saw the moment understanding began to dawn.

These weren’t hospital budgets or medical supply contracts. These were coded words: debt recovery, protection, movement of goods that didn’t go through customs.