Jason saw the message from Grace and hesitated for a moment before agreeing to let her come along.
Although her favorability had fluctuated slightly after the fake bankruptcy news spread, it had only dropped by three points before quickly recovering. More importantly, her attitude toward him had never truly changed.
She was completely different from Angela, who had immediately started looking for a way out the moment things looked uncertain. Of course, that reaction was understandable—after all, no one expects perfection from someone in that position. Human nature isn't that noble.
Still, the contrast became even clearer when compared to Mia. When Mia had seen the fake bankruptcy news, her first reaction wasn't hesitation or fear—it was action. She had immediately offered to sell her villa and luxury car, and even suggested using part of the money she'd earned as a streamer over the years to help Jason through any emergency.
That difference was impossible to ignore.
That evening, Mia and Grace arrived at the hotel where Jason was staying. They had traveled on the same flight and exchanged polite greetings along the way, but there wasn't much conversation between them. An unspoken awkwardness hung in the air.
The moment they entered the suite, Jason pulled Mia into his arms and kissed her deeply. Grace stood to the side, watching silently. A faint sense of jealousy crept into her chest, along with a clear realization of the gap between herself and Mia.
But Mia was New Vision Media's top streamer—more popular, more beautiful, and more trusted. Grace didn't dare say anything.
Grace's assistant, standing nearby, couldn't help muttering, "I thought Mia was so pure. Didn't expect she'd know how to hold onto a man this well."
Mia's assistant immediately shot back coldly, "When Mia thought Jason was really about to go bankrupt, her first reaction was to sell her luxury home and car and gather all the savings she had to help him. Let me ask you—what did Grace do?"
The words hit like a hammer. Grace's assistant fell completely silent.
Grace herself had heard everything. Her eyes widened in shock, followed by a deep sense of inferiority. At that moment, she understood why Jason treated Mia differently.
And she also understood something else—if she wavered again so easily in the future, there might truly be no place left for her beside him. Jason had no shortage of women around him—many were beautiful, many were capable, and many were far more composed than she had been.
Just then, Olivia entered with two young women. Jason said calmly, "Mia, Grace—have the designers take your measurements. I want custom gowns made for both of you."
Mia's eyes lit up instantly. "Jason, is it the new style women's wear you posted about?"
Jason nodded. "Yes. I've acquired some brands recently. When you wear their designs, it also promotes the brand. Besides, custom pieces will suit you perfectly. You'll like them."
Mia was visibly excited—she already loved these designs, and custom tailoring made it even more appealing.
Grace, on the other hand, quietly let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Even if her position couldn't compare to Mia's, Jason was still willing to have a custom piece made for her. That alone meant she still had a place. So the bankruptcy rumors really had been fake after all.
Once the designers finished measuring, they quietly left. Olivia and the assistants followed, giving the space back to them.
Jason took Mia into the bedroom. Not long after, soft, breathless sounds drifted through the suite. Grace stood outside the door, her heart burning with mixed emotions. She eventually retreated to the adjacent room, lying on the bed in silence. No matter how hard she tried, sleep refused to come.
An hour later, Grace had already resigned herself to disappointment. She lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, convincing herself that tonight would end just like this.
Then the door quietly opened. Jason walked in.
For a split second, Grace froze—then her eyes lit up. She jumped up and threw herself into his arms, clinging to him tightly, afraid that if she let go, the moment would disappear.
Two days later, Infinity Media's annual meeting officially began. By four or five in the afternoon, the venue was already packed. Infinity Media lived up to its reputation as the top MCN company. Well-known streamers were everywhere, familiar faces appearing in every direction. The saying that Infinity controlled "half the platform's top influencers" wasn't exaggerated at all.
At the entrance, Alice and Angela stood near the doors. They were minor streamers—low popularity, no official Infinity contracts yet—and naturally, no one paid them much attention. But that didn't dampen their excitement. Infinity Media was the dream destination for countless influencers. Standing in the same space as so many top creators made them feel as if their own futures were already unfolding before their eyes.
After a while, a Rolls-Royce slowly pulled up to the entrance. Several Infinity managers hurried forward, respectfully opening the doors.
Alice and Angela instinctively straightened, assuming a major executive had arrived. But when the doors opened, three familiar figures stepped out—Jason, Mia, and Grace.
All three of them froze. For a moment, their minds went completely blank. Was this Infinity Media's annual meeting… or New Vision Media's? They subconsciously looked back at the banner. It clearly read: Infinity Media Annual Meeting.
If Mia and Grace had been poached, that would make sense. But Jason? He was the boss of New Vision Media.
After a few seconds, they reached the same conclusion: Infinity Media must have invited Jason as a special guest. That realization made things awkward. Although Infinity had promised to cover their contract termination fees, they were still technically New Vision Media streamers—for now. They had planned to keep a low profile. Running into their boss here felt like social embarrassment at its peak.
Still, none of them were thin-skinned. They steadied themselves quickly. After all, they were practically gone already—why care what he thought?
Alice glanced at Mia and Grace, sneering inwardly. Don't they know Jason's about to go bankrupt? Why are they still clinging to him? Don't they want a backup plan?
In her mind, Jason was here to negotiate—perhaps Infinity planned to acquire New Vision Media, and Jason had brought Mia and Grace along as bargaining chips. Instead of warning them, Alice felt a surge of schadenfreude.
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