Chapter 163: Trust Worth Fifty Million
Maya stood there quietly, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lucas as a warm feeling slowly spread through her heart.
For the first time in days, the crushing pressure weighing on her chest seemed to lighten ever so slightly.
Just then, a familiar notification echoed inside Lucas’s mind.
[Ding!]
[Maya’s Favorability +5]
[Current Favorability: 65]
[Congratulations, Host. The bound target’s favorability has increased. Reward: +5 System Points.]
Seeing the notification, the corner of Lucas’s lips lifted slightly. It seemed Maya was genuinely touched by his proposal. At least, she no longer viewed it as simple charity.
After thinking for a moment, Lucas smiled again.
"Oh, right. If cash flow is your immediate problem... I can even advance your salary."
Maya blinked in surprise.
"...Advance it?"
Lucas nodded matter-of-factly.
"Sure. Let’s say... ten years in advance. Five million dollars a year. That would be fifty million. You can treat it as your signing bonus."
He spoke so casually that it sounded as though he were discussing the weather rather than tens of millions of dollars.
To him, fifty million dollars really wasn’t much anymore. With the System, he could easily earn it back several times over. If it could ease Maya’s burden... why not?
Maya’s breathing unconsciously slowed.
Fifty million dollars...
That was already an astonishing amount of money.
Even if she joined the Laurent Group after graduation, there was no way her father would ever offer her an annual salary of five million dollars, let alone advance ten years’ worth of income in one payment.
No company would ever do something like that for a fresh graduate.
Lucas’s trust...
Was far greater than she had ever imagined.
Although she knew fifty million dollars still couldn’t completely solve the Laurent Family’s crisis, it would at least buy them valuable time.
Perhaps... just perhaps... it could delay the company’s collapse long enough for her to think of another solution.
Maya lowered her eyes, quietly considering everything before finally lifting her head and giving a gentle nod.
"...Alright."
"I’ll accept."
"But..."
"I’ll work hard."
"I’ll prove I’m worth every dollar."
There wasn’t the slightest trace of greed in her voice. Only determination.
Deep down, Maya had always been an exceptionally strong-willed woman.
Even though she was supposedly destined to marry Malrik, she had never once thought about relying on him.
She didn’t want to become the kind of wealthy young mistress who spent her days attending banquets, shopping for luxury goods, and living entirely off her husband’s fortune.
She wanted her own career.
Her own achievements.
Her own independence.
She wanted to stand proudly through her own ability... not because of the man standing beside her.
That was the kind of woman Maya Laurent had always wanted to become.
Taking a deep breath, Maya looked at Lucas seriously.
"Lucas... I haven’t had much exposure to the business world."
"I don’t really have any practical experience."
She smiled awkwardly and scratched her cheek.
"But... please don’t worry."
"I’ll learn properly."
"I learn very quickly."
"I promise I won’t disappoint you."
Her tone was completely sincere. There wasn’t the slightest trace of false confidence. She wasn’t exaggerating her abilities. Instead, she was honestly admitting her shortcomings while promising to work harder than anyone else.
Lucas couldn’t help smiling.
"I know."
"Everyone starts somewhere."
"If it’s convenient for you... you can report to the company in the next few days."
"I’ll notify Human Resources in advance."
"They’ll prepare everything."
Then, as though suddenly remembering something, Lucas took out his phone.
"Oh, right."
"I almost forgot."
"I should transfer your salary first."
Before Maya could even react, his fingers were already moving across the screen.
A moment later...
Buzz.
Maya’s phone vibrated.
At that exact moment, another familiar voice echoed inside Lucas’s mind.
[Ding!]
[Spending detected.]
[Generating cashback multiplier...]
A brief pause followed.
Then...
[Multiplier generated: 100x]
[Congratulations, Host!]
[Cashback Received: $5,000,000,000]
Lucas maintained a perfectly calm expression.
Although...
His heart was already celebrating.
Five billion dollars.
Just like that...
Another enormous fortune had quietly entered his account.
Meanwhile, Maya slowly lowered her gaze toward her phone. The instant she saw the transfer notification, her breathing stopped.
[Bank Notification]
[Deposit Received: $50,000,000]
"..."
Her beautiful eyes widened slightly.
Although Lucas had mentioned advancing her salary, actually seeing fifty million dollars arrive in her account felt completely different.
He hadn’t hesitated.
He hadn’t asked her to sign a contract.
He hadn’t requested any guarantee.
He had simply...
Trusted her.
Completely.
Maya slowly looked back up at Lucas, her eyes unknowingly becoming a little red.
"...Lucas."
"Thank you..."
"Really..."
"Thank you."
She wasn’t thanking him because fifty million dollars was enough to save the Laurent Family.
She knew very well...
It wasn’t.
Compared to the hundreds of millions the Laurent Group desperately needed, fifty million dollars was still only a fraction of the problem.
What truly moved her was something else entirely.
It was the trust.
The fact that Lucas had been willing to help her without demanding an explanation, without asking endless questions, and without doubting her intentions.
He had simply believed her.
For someone who had spent the past several days being questioned, pressured, and distrusted by almost everyone around her...
That unconditional trust meant far more than the money itself.
At that moment, another notification quietly appeared before Lucas.
[Ding!]
[Maya’s Favorability +5]
[Current Favorability: 70]
[Congratulations, Host. The bound target’s favorability has increased. Reward: +5 System Points.]
Lucas smiled helplessly.
"Maya..."
"You’ve already thanked me several times."
"If you keep going..."
"I’m going to start feeling embarrassed."
Maya couldn’t help laughing through the emotion in her heart.
"I’m sorry..."
"I just..."
"I really don’t know how else to express it."
Lucas gently shook his head.
"You don’t have to."
"I didn’t help you because I wanted your gratitude."
"I helped because I trust you."
"So..."
"The only thing I expect from you..."
He smiled warmly.
"...is to become an excellent assistant."
"And make me feel like I made the right decision."
Hearing those words, Maya felt warmth spread through her heart once again.
Silently...
She clenched her fists beneath the sleeves of her clothes.
No matter what happened from this day forward...
She had already made up her mind.
She would never betray the trust Lucas had placed in her.
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