Chapter 457
Chapter 457
Chad and Andre had a quick chat before going about their individual tasks.
Andre, upon leaving, took Mia with him.
When Chad arrived at the station, his colleagues sniffed the air as they passed him by. “Chad, are you
going on a date? Why are you wearing cologne?”
Chad was speechless. Molly! When did she! She sprayed him without his knowledge!
Molly, satisfied with her successful prank on her brother, began her blissful day at school. However,
when she was picked up in the evening, she noticed Chad’s visible intention to settle scores.
“Leo...” Just as she began to call out to her nephew, a familiar sports car sped past Molly. It didn’t stick
around for even a second.
Molly cursed at the retreating tail lights of her nephew’s car, “You little punk!”
Leo used to drive a sedan, primarily because there were two freeloaders at home, one of whom was
pregnant. Now, with the pregnant woman not attending school and his aunt being picked up by
someone else, he was free to zoom off in his sports car.
Chad walked over, grabbed Molly by the neck, and steered her towards the car.
Jack’s detention was over. When he stepped out, he found Ashford Inc. in complete chaos.
Partnerships had been cancelled. Stores were deserted. Online reviews were negative, and sales had
plummeted. The company’s shareholders were unhappy with him and proposed that Aiden take over.
Left with no choice, Jack shamelessly went to his father’s new home. Aiden, after being ousted from
the company and having all his shares snatched away by his own son, had lost heart.
“Dad, I’m sorry.”
Aiden said, “I have decided to retire. I am not getting involved in the company’s affairs.”
Jack fell to his knees before his father. “Dad, if you don’t step in, the company will collapse.”
Aiden retorted, “What makes you think I can take on the Cedillo Group? Jack, I have always told you,
money should be earned honestly and progress should be made step by step.”
“Do you know who you have offended? If it were just Chade Inc. targeting you, I could swallow my Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
pride and beg Coleen to let you off the hook for old times’ sake. But the situation now is far beyond
Chade Inc.’s capabilities.
“You’re my son. I know how you think. You found out about Molly’s identity and wanted to win her over,
hoping to enjoy wealth and luxury overnight. But have you ever considered how difficult it is to attain
such riches? Once you fail, there’s no recovering. The company is gone.
“Even I have to show Coleen respect when I meet her, but you let your mother create a scene at their
doorstep. You think your cunning way will fool Molly, but you underestimate everyone else.
“You’re so lost in your mother’s blind praise, believing you’re the best and the brightest. Let me tell you,
Jack, there are many people in this world who are better than you.
“When you first returned to the country, I told you that Ashford Inc.’s future was yours and I asked you
to distance yourself from your mother. But you thought I was out to harm you, to deceive you.
“You’ve deeply disappointed me.”
Jack, kneeling on the ground, sobbed. He wasn’t like this when he first returned to the country. Back
then, he was his father’s proud son, a handsome young man in the eyes of others. Although he was
indecisive, he was indeed one of the better ones among his peers. Gradually, as he stepped into
society, influenced by his manipulative and ignorant mother, he started his downfall.
Aiden, with a sense of resignation, closed his eyes. “Your tears won’t help now. Start thinking about
your exit plan.”
“Dad, there must be something you can do. Ashford Inc. can’t go bankrupt; you built it from scratch.”
Jack said.
Aiden said, “I can’t do anything. This time you’ve offended Andre. Have you forgotten how your mother
was sentenced?”
Despite this, Jack still hoped his father would step in.
Aiden’s former mistress, now his wife, heard Jack’s pleas and started arguing with him, “How could you
have the audacity to drive your own father out of the company? You deserve this.”
Jack glared at the woman who had broken his family apart. The resentment filled his heart. “If it wasn’t
for you, my mother wouldn’t be like this, and Ashford Inc. Wouldn’t be in this mess.”
The woman shot back, “Don’t throw your dirty laundry at me. Your mother was always unreasonable.
What does that have to do with me? The current state of Ashford Inc. is your and your mother’s own
damn fault.”
“Enough!” Aiden roared in anger. He looked at his son in disappointment. “Jack, the disaster that has
befallen Ashford Inc. is not your mother’s doing. It’s yours.”
Jack could not fathom his own mistakes. “How is it my fault? I didn’t tell her to cause a scene at Chade
Inc.”
“If you haven’t schemed to pursue Molly, would your mother fight for you?!” Aiden shouted at his son,
trying to make him realize his wrongs.
“Just go. Don’t come looking for me anymore.” Aiden added, “My life is peaceful now.”
Jack looked at his father, who was resolute in his decision, and left dejectedly.
After leaving, he hoped to get help from the government. After all, Ashford Inc. was not a small
corporation. However, after making several rounds, no one was willing to meet him.
“Weren’t you always looking down on us? Now your company is in trouble, and you think of us. But
we’re just a bunch of good-for-nothings. All we know is how to party and race cars.”
...
After humiliating himself in this circle, Jack decided to leave. Later, he had an epiphany. Whoever
started the trouble should end it. Molly!
Molly was deep in sleep, covered in her blanket, when a phone call shattered her peaceful dream.
Jack? He had the audacity to call her? Content of Drаmąոovels.cоm
Molly remembered Chad’s advice. In the wee hours, she went to wake her brother. “Chad.”
“Shut up!”
Molly said, “It’s Jack on the phone.”
Before long, Chad opened the door, clad in his pajamas. He too was in a state of half-asleep, half-
awake. He grabbed his sister’s phone and put it to his ear.
Molly was curious, so she held Chad’s wrist with both hands, took the phone away from Chad’s ear,
and quietly put it on speaker.
The implication was: Let me listen in too.