The Unstoppable Comeback Of the Unrivaled Ex-Wife-Chapter 299 - 296

Ace Moran sat there like a king, dazzling and charming the people around him. It was clear that the man was a born leader – nobody could take their eyes off him. Even the reporters from popular media companies who were initially only interested in getting their hands on sensational news were now so captivated by Ace’s charisma that they forgot to take notes.

Sitting amidst hundreds of other guests in the audience, Joanna’s icy gaze was locked on the man on the stage. Her fists were clenched so tightly that her fingernails dug deep into her flesh.

So, Ace Moran had been alive all this time... and had now returned more powerful and arrogant than ever! It was truly a pity that she’d spent all that time grieving and shedding tears for him. It was all for nothing! Joanna felt like laughing at how foolish she had been.

Ethan crossed his legs, looking as if he knew all along that this would happen.

"I can’t believe Ace actually went through with his outrageous plan!" He exclaimed with a grin. "But I’ve got to give it to him – this time he really managed to beat that slimeball Jovan Moran! He went overboard with his little scheme, though; I didn’t think he’d disappear for so long, especially with all those crazy rumors about him going around... He’s like one of those medieval knights who’d endure torture and humiliation for the sake of victory!"

"You mean," Joanna said slowly, "you knew he was alive, and others knew it too? Was Alexander Moran in on this too?"

"Of course!" Ethan replied enthusiastically. "It’s a huge undertaking, after all! He did give us hints that he was safe so we wouldn’t be worried about him or do anything rash. If we’d done something, like go after Jovan, we’d never be able to lure out the mastermind backing him..."

When Joanna was silent, Ethan turned to her and asked hesitantly, "You didn’t actually think that he was dead, did you? Didn’t Ace drop you any hints?"

"No," Joanna shook her head, her face sullen with disappointment, "he didn’t"

"No way... He wouldn’t possibly hide such a big thing from you! You’re the most important person in the world to him, so he definitely would’ve hinted at something. Anybody would know that you’d be worried about him!"

Ethan blurted out, defending his friend even though he figured that Ace had clearly not thought this through.

Ace Moran had dug his own grave, and Ethan couldn’t help him out of it.

Joanna smiled bitterly, thinking how foolish she was to have worried about him. "Clearly, I’m nothing to him, so why should he think of me when he decides to do something?"

"Um..." Ethan inwardly kicked himself, and hastily added, "That’s not what I meant, Joanna... Maybe it’s because you mean so much to him that he had to keep you in the dark about it. That way, it’d be more believable, and the target would definitely take the bait."

"So, I guess that just makes me one of the pawns in his plan, huh?" Joanna sneered, now understanding why Jovan had taken her to Ace’s grave that day. Despite him wanting to boast about replacing Ace, he probably wanted to see her reaction to the news. When he saw how genuinely upset she was, he was then convinced that Ace really was dead.

"Don’t say that, Joanna! There’s always a misunderstanding between the both of you, and if you think that way, it’ll only get worse! When are you both going to move past it?" Ethan protested.

"Never!" Joanna snarled, her eyes shining with rage. "It will never be resolved, because from now on, Ace Moran and I will forever be strangers to each other! If we ever cross paths in this dog-eat-dog world of business, it would be as competitors, not friends, and if that happens, you can be sure that I’ll fight him to the death!"

Just as Joanna finished her sentence, she noticed a microphone hovering near her mouth. Realization struck her, and she slowly looked up to see everyone’s eyes on her, including Ace’s...

"Miss Pierce, we heard that you recently replaced Mr. Liam Blackwood as the president of Stellar Group. Considering your rather unusual relationship with Mr. Ace Moran, what does the future relationship of your companies look like? Would the two of you be competing with each other as rivals, or work together as partners?" The person asking was a head reporter from one of the most reputable finance and economics magazines.

Joanna’s thoughts were still circling around the deep anger and resentment she felt for Ace, and she glared at the man icily. In contrast, Ace was calm and collected as he gazed at her indifferently.

"Unusual" was indeed a good word to describe their relationship!

Ace did not have to say anything – the damage was already done. His lethal silence could easily crush anyone’s self-esteem to smithereens!

Joanna clenched her fists and sneered, ’There are no friends or enemies in the world of business – there’s only benefit and loss. If Mr. Moran can help me make more money, then well work together as partners, but if he can’t, then it’s only a matter of time that we’ll compete as rivals."

After hearing that, the audience roared with laughter.

"Joanna, calm down!" Ethan whispered urgently, tugging at Joanna’s sleeve." With Stellar Group’s current strength, you’re in no position to challenge a major corporation like Moran Group! This has to be a joke to lighten the atmosphere, right?"

However, what everyone else was saying about Joanna was nowhere near as charitable as what Ethan had said. They saw her as a clueless and foolish little ant presumptuous enough to believe it could knock down a big, sturdy tree like Moran Group.

One of the top executives of Moran Group tried to stifle his laughter as he told Joanna sarcastically, "You might think your status as Mr. Ace Moran’s ex- wife grants you certain privileges, Miss Pierce, but business is business, and emotions have no place here. I don’t believe Moran Group would ever consider working with Stellar Group, and such a small company couldn’t possibly be our rival either, so a relationship between our companies would be impossible simply because we’re not on the same level.’

Although the man’s words were blatantly condescending and chock-full of arrogance, Joanna was not at all angered, and merely replied in disdain," Fine. Don’t forget what you said, and from now on, don’t come to Stellar Group for any kind of cooperation or partnership."

"Hahahaha!" Once again, the whole place erupted in laughter. Everyone there saw Joanna as a silly clown.

The same top executive cleared his throat and said smugly, "I don’t think you’ll ever be in danger of having the opportunity to work with Moran Group, but regardless... I can’t make the final decision for Moran Group. It’s ultimately up to Mr. Ace Moran, so, what is your take on this, Mr. Moran?"

The crowd turned to Ace now, their eyes burning with curiosity. After all, Ace and Joanna had once been married, and they were now reunited. Even if they were not rivals in business, this was still an emotional moment for the former couple!

To their disappointment, Ace’s reactions were just as tepid as earlier. He looked at Joanna as if she was not even there as he replied in an overly formal and polite tone, "Moran Group respects all enterprises. We will cooperate with anyone as long as they have the capabilities and both parties can benefit from it."

The audience responded with warm applause for Ace, impressed by his generosity and open- mindedness in focusing on the bigger picture. His charisma was so bountiful and his wisdom was so impressive that he shifted all attention away from Joanna and back onto him.

Joanna sat back down, but her emotions were in disarray. That man was simply outrageous! How could he act so cold and indifferent, as if nothing happened?! What was even more infuriating was how he acted like she was a complete stranger to him!

"Hey," Ethan tried to comfort her after noticing how upset she was, ’ don’t let it get to you. You know what Ace’s like – he always puts on airs, especially during events like this. You’ll see, once he gets down from that stage, he’ll come to you crying and begging for forgiveness!"

"There’s no need for that, because I sure as hell won’t be staying here any longer!" Joanna snapped, then got up and left the hall, heading straight for the restroom.

Meanwhile, the Moran Group had just concluded the press conference. Now, everyone knew that Ace Moran, the true king, had returned. Jovan Moran, the usurper, along with all his cohorts, would be banished forever, and Ace Moran would usher in a new golden era for Moran Group!