Deniz remained silent, waiting for Nicole to speak and see what tricks she would pull.

Undeterred, Nicole said, "Have you been keeping up with what's going on with the Hampton family? It seems like Lowe has made some major mistakes lately, causing quite a stir within the family. Even the board of directors has had some negative things to say about him. On the other hand, Vicki seems to be really good at building relationships within the company and getting things done. Her reputation for being kind and generous has earned her a lot of praise from the board of directors."

Deniz, sharp-witted as ever, comprehended Nicole's implication without difficulty. In essence, Lowe lacked the popularity and influence within the Hampton family's enterprise that Vicki possessed. Nicole simply hinted he had aligned himself with the wrong individual.

Yet, Deniz refused to allow Nicole to dupe him so easily. He had not forgotten Nicole's family's industrialist roots before Jarrod's return from abroad. Since returning, Jarrod had dealt Nicole's family several cruel blows, leading to their bankruptcy.

It was a tragic turn of events indeed. Despite being Jarrod's adversary, Nicole had borne his child. A perplexing circumstance, to say the least.

Deniz remained unaware of the intricacies, including how Jarrod forced Nicole and the circumstances surrounding their child's birth.

He merely glimpsed the surface and remained oblivious to Nicole's genuine significance to Jarrod. Had he been aware, he would have refrained from laying a finger on Nicole.

For now, Deniz grasped Nicole proved to be exceptionally intelligent and competent.

Deniz narrowed his eyes and grunted, “Don't try to sow seeds of division here. It's been a long-standing tradition in our country to pass family businesses to sons, not daughters. Considering the Hampton family's size, are you suggesting they'd hand the control over to Vicki?"

Nicole retorted, "You seem unaware. Let me give you some examples. The president of the Fletcher Group passed the business to his capable daughter. Similarly, the president of the Wilson Group did the same. It's clear that the world has evolved, and clinging to outdated beliefs only makes you appear ignorant."

"You!" Deniz seethed with anger at her words, but ultimately restrained himself, merely pointing at her without taking further action.

He continued, "The families you mentioned all had daughters as their sole heirs. Had they not passed the businesses to them, they Likely would have donated them."

"That's true. But why do you assume Vicki can't be the sole heir?"

Nicole countered.

This assertion prompted Deniz to pause momentarily. Though absurd, it was not entirely implausible.

While Lowe was indeed the sole male heir of the Hampton family, his penchant for trouble was well-known. Only recently, he had nearly jeopardized his reputation.

Deniz had witnessed Lowe's erratic behavior countless times, and the rumors surrounding Lowe were indeed exaggerated.

Wayne, weighed down by stress, now carried heart medication for emergencies. The extent of Lowe's disquietude was evident for all to see.

Nevertheless, as long as Lowe remained in the picture, Deniz assumed Wayne would steadfastly refuse to pass the reins of the Hampton Group to another.

Just then, Nicole interjected, "You know, these days, society is full of surprises. It's really tough to be sure that Lowe will manage to wait until Wayne retires without any unexpected problems popping up."