In the face of his daughter's life and dignity.

Dylan Tate chose the latter.

Darlene Fisher, as a mother, couldn't bear such consequences.

In the end, she took her daughter back to her parents' home.

Because she couldn't find an expert on the disease domestically, later, with her family's support, Darlene Fisher took her daughter abroad, and since then, they have never returned.

Afterward, Dylan Tate, through his hard work, gradually became the mayor of Stillwater County.

But emotionally, he felt empty; he had come this far alone over so many years.

This story.

Contains somewhat tragic elements.

After Donal Lewis finished speaking.

He let out a long sigh.

And said, "Regarding others' choices, I cannot judge, but if this had happened to me, I would have made a different choice."

As he said this, he glanced at Eleanor Lewis.

"Alright, Dad, the food's getting cold."

Eleanor Lewis also picked up a piece of rib and placed it in Donal Lewis's bowl...

After dinner.

Eleanor Lewis volunteered to see Dirk Carter off downstairs.

Once downstairs.

Eleanor Lewis said, "Alright, I'll see you off here; I should head back."

Just as she was about to turn around.

Dirk Carter grabbed her hand and asked, "Why?"

Eleanor Lewis asked in return, "Why what?"

Dirk Carter scratched his head and said, "Why are you... towards me?"

Eleanor Lewis smiled warmly and said, "Because I like you."

After leaving this baffling comment, she went upstairs.

Leaving Dirk Carter bewildered.

The two had had two deep conversations, yet Dirk Carter still couldn't understand what was in this woman's mind.

Wednesday.

Routine committee meeting.

The topic of today's meeting was to hear a report on the rule of law construction in Stillwater County.

The meeting was chaired by County Committee Secretary Donal Lewis, who started by conveying the State Committee's related conference spirit on governing by law, followed by Cameron Summers' report on the legal construction situation.

Such a meeting actually had nothing special.

The agenda had been set long ago.

But no one expected that halfway through the meeting.

Sherman Summers suddenly knocked on the table.

Cameron Summers immediately stopped, and everyone's eyes were focused on Sherman Summers.

Just then, he glanced sideways at the corner where Dirk Carter was sitting and said, "Secretary General Carter, please go get me a glass of water."

Dirk Carter was busy taking notes.

He paused upon hearing this.

After all, it was an order from a leader.

He still put down his pen, stood up, took the glass, and headed to the water dispenser.

Without Sherman Summers' permission.

No one continued speaking.

Only the sound of the gurgling water dispenser was heard as Dirk Carter brought the glass back.

Sherman Summers unscrewed the lid, took a sip, frowned, and said, "Why is this water so cold? Replace it with hot water."

Dirk Carter hadn't sat down yet.

He had to take the glass again.

Pour out the cold water and replace it with hot water.

Sherman Summers took another sip and angrily said, "How can I drink it this hot? Change it again!"

Speechless.

Just as Dirk Carter wanted to take the glass one more time, Donal Lewis extended his hand and stopped him.

With a grim face, he said, "Comrade Summers, we are in the middle of a committee meeting, please respect the meeting process; if you want water, wait until later."

Donal Lewis stood up for Dirk Carter.

After all, he could see that Sherman Summers was intentionally making things difficult.

"Wait until later? Secretary Lewis, since when did meetings not allow drinking water? Isn't that a bit too domineering?"

Sherman Summers chuckled coldly and asked.

Donal Lewis's face was unpleasant.

No matter what, he was still the top leader; such blatantly mocking words, even Dylan Tate never said before.

Donal Lewis paused and said, "If you want water, get it yourself, cold or hot, it's your choice; how does it make sense to trouble a secretary? No matter what, you are also a mayor, doesn't that feel a bit low?"

Saying this.

The atmosphere in the conference room turned tense.

Since Sherman Summers took on the role of mayor, albeit there had been friction, there had never been a direct clash, if any, this was the first.

Moreover, judging by Sherman Summers' reaction this time.

He was deliberately stirring up trouble.

"Haha, having your secretary pour me a glass of water is 'low'? Okay then, let's change the agenda temporarily and start discussing removing Comrade Dirk Carter's position as head of Section One of the County Committee Office."

Everyone was stunned by these words.

Not even Donal Lewis anticipated that Sherman Summers would suddenly pull out such a card.

One should know, the position of head of Section One Secretary is different from other roles; this is the County Committee Secretary's secretary, it's a position that the County Committee Secretary can independently designate, not necessarily requiring organizational discussion; this rule has always been like this, almost a tacit understanding.

"Today's agenda has already been set, who authorized you to change it privately?"

Donal Lewis was so angry that his face turned slightly red.

Sherman Summers chuckled coldly.

And said, "Secretary Lewis, our committee meetings abide by a principle of democratic centralism. Why do we have democratic centralism? It's to prevent abuse of power, so what, as a mayor, I'm not allowed to propose new topics? Do you want us all to keep silent?"

"Comrade Dirk Carter hasn't made any mistakes, why should his position be terminated?"

Donal Lewis continued to ask.

Sherman Summers stretched lazily.

Glanced at Dirk Carter and said, "No mistakes? What if I say he's defiant, disobedient, and lacks work competence?"

"He's my secretary; it should be up to me to decide if he lacks work competence!"

Donal Lewis glared, raising his voice by a few notches.

Sherman Summers remained unruffled.

And said, "Secretary Lewis still wants to have a one-man show, eh? There are ten committee members here; if Secretary Lewis wants to say in front of everyone that Comrade Dirk Carter only answers to you and has nothing to do with any of us, the topic is voided, well? Would Secretary Lewis dare to say it?"

This sentence clearly had the intent of setting a trap.

It is well-known that in the system, a leader being autocratic is very serious.

If Donal Lewis truly said so, Sherman Summers could reasonably place this label on him; even at the city level, it's not impossible for trouble to arise.

That's why careful speech and action are necessary in officialdom.

What seems like a mundane statement might ultimately lead to a disastrous outcome.

Seeing Donal Lewis hesitated.

Sherman Summers' lips curled into a confident smile.

Scanning around, he asked, "Did anyone have objections to the topic I proposed?"

"No."

Ty Adler, the Discipline Committee Secretary, firstly responded.

Soon, other committee members also expressed their opinions, agreeing with Sherman Summers' temporary change of agenda.

This situation was evidently overwhelming, entirely one-sided.

As things developed to this point.

Dirk Carter also realized.

Sherman Summers was launching a full-scale "attack."

This move was rightly described as "killing two birds with one stone."

Foremost, Dirk Carter was Donal Lewis's personally selected trusted assistant, during the previous two clashes, it was Dirk Carter who made meritorious contributions; letting Dirk Carter be dismissed for no reason at this point would make Donal Lewis lose all prestige in the County Committee, and it would be nearly impossible for him to regain his footing.

This time, Sherman Summers was aiming to destroy his flag and authority.

Secondly.

It would also conveniently teach Dirk Carter a lesson, pushing him out of the system, making him unable to bounce back.

How does this situation differ from when Zhao Gao pointed to a deer and declared it a horse?

In more dramatic terms, it already had the essence of "forcing the throne."

The majority had stated their positions.

Sherman Summers shrugged his shoulders, said helplessly, "Secretary Lewis, as you can see, everyone has no objections to the agenda I've proposed. Shouldn't we respect everyone's opinion?"

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