abcnovels
Chapter 266
Chapter 266
Chapter 266
Chapter 266 Is Reconciliation Impossible for You Two?
Jack looked up at Elias and asked, “Will you give me a call the next time you take the little guy out? Edith and I will join you.”
They usually had no chance to be alone with Aiden, plus Amanda wouldn’t agree to it either.
It suddenly felt quite sad. So what if his career was successful?! The daughter he lost twenty years ago now looked at him like a stranger.
It was because he and his wife were too busy with work that they accidentally lost their eldest daughter. Fortunately, they found her eventually, or they would regret it for the rest of their lives.
Late at night, in his dreams, he would often dream of Amelia being mercilessly harmed, unable to even find her body. So, he found the DNA test surreal when he first saw it, unable to believe that their daughter had returned.
Elias nodded. “I’ll take Aiden out to play every weekend, and the weekend is coming again in two days. I’ll let you know then.”
Jack hummed a response, then reluctantly returned Elias his phone before saying, “I have a question for you.”
What is it?” Though he already had a rough idea of what it could be.
“Why did you and Amanda divorce, and why did you let her raise Aiden alone? Do you know how tough it is for a woman to raise a child on her own?” Jack questioned Elias entirely from a father’s perspective.
Elias remained calm and spoke up slowly. “I did some messed up things back in the day, and I had selfish reasons for divorcing her. But regarding Aiden, I didn’t know she was pregnant with him at the time, let alone the fact that she was raising him alone. That’s why I’m making amends as much as I can.”
For a moment, it seemed that they were in a similar situation; both fathers had been missing from their children’s lives and now were trying to make up for lost years as much as possible.
However, unlike Jack, Elias could still make amends since Aiden was only three. Amanda, on the other hand, was already 26.
Jack didn’t want to inquire about the past anymore, for it was meaningless at this point.
“I have a proposition for you. Help me mend my relationship with Amanda, and I’ll help you regain your grandfather’s shares.”
Elias’ raven-black eyes flickered slightly, and a chuckle escaped him. “Sounds reasonable, but after thinking about it, how can I help you when even I haven’t mended my relationship with her?”
He had been trying so hard for such a long time, but Amanda wouldn’t give him any chances to turn things around, let alone Jack, whom she hadn’t seen in the last twenty years.
“You’re already in a much better position,” said Jack. “You can at least see her and your child openly while Edith and I have to sneak around but are still unable to see Aiden. Not only that, we even have to bear Amanda’s hostile gaze. We didn’t mean to lose her either. It’s not like we wanted to go twenty years without seeing her!”
Now that Elias looked at it, he seemed to really have the better end of the stick. At least he could still see Aiden and meet with Amanda.
“I’ll try my best.” He didn’t have much confidence either, for Amanda was no longer the young woman she was four years ago. Now, she had her own opinions.
“I’ll wait for your good news. It’s best if you can have her bring the little one over for a meal. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”
With that, Jack got up to leave, but he had taken only a couple of steps before turning his head around. “Is it really impossible for you and Amanda to reconcile? The boy’s already three, and he shouldn’t be without a father.”
Elias fell silent, and Jack said nothing more and left.
After Jack left, the office was empty, with only Elias alone, and it felt hollow in every corner.
The following day, Amanda arrived early at Winters Enterprise, for the Knox couple and their lawyer had arrived. It seemed that they were prepared to strike big.
When she arrived at the meeting room, Elias was already seated in the observer’s seat, seemingly not intending to participate in the negotiations.
“You’re finally here, Miss Bailey. This way.” The head of the Legal Department gestured toward her.
At that, she sat at the conference table with her briefcase in hand, facing the Knox couple and their lawyer.
“Let’s get straight to it. How do you want to be compensated? Let’s hear it out,” Amanda said while looking. at the case files.
The opposing lawyer wasted no time and directly presented a series of compensation demands. “This is the list of compensation we require, totaling 15 million.”
15 million? These two sure are ruthless, asking for such a large sum.
Amanda was taken aback by the list but remained impassive on the surface. Suddenly she sniggered. “Why is a house also listed here? And we’re also responsible for Mr. and Mrs. Knox’s retirement after Natasha’s death?!”
“Naturally. Natasha is Mr. and Mrs. Knox’s only daughter. Now that she’s gone, and they have no one else to rely on, the responsibility should fall on Winters Enterprise, debated the opposing lawyer.
Amanda tossed the list onto the conference table and leaned back. “But even when Natasha was alive, they didn’t have a place to live. Moreover, considering Natasha’s salary, even if they starve for thirty years, they couldn’t afford the property you’re targeting in this prime location worth 700 thousand. Isn’t this going
too far?”
She suspected that the elderly couple had been deceived by their lawyer. It was normal that they would want compensation, but their exorbitant demands made it feel like they were feeding off their own daughter even after her death.
Upon hearing Amanda’s words, Natasha’s father became agitated again. “You, you’re a very annoying girl. You’re the one causing trouble every time. If it isn’t that you’re the lawyer of this company, I’d really want to give you a slap. What kind of heartless child did your parents raise? Shouldn’t children take care of their” parents in their old age? Now that my daughter is gone, who will take care of me in my old age? You? Why shouldn’t we ask for money?”
“Please, calm down, sir,” Amanda said with a smile. “I didn’t say you can’t ask for compensation, did I? But you can’t ask for everything from us. Should we also find you a young and beautiful companion while we’re at it?”
This time, it was Natasha’s mother’s turn to be upset. “Watch your mouth!” she berated. “Get another lawyer to negotiate with us! You’re a fake!”
but
“Oh, but I’m more genuine than your lawyer,” Amanda sneered. “I don’t know what he’s told you. either way, the amount is impossible. It’ll be the same even in court. Besides, you two caused a major scene in the company before Natasha ended her life. I strongly suspect that it was because of you two that. she chose to do the extreme.”
“What?! You’re bullsh*tting! That’s our daughter! Could we force her to death?!” Natasha’s father flipped out again, even slamming the table repeatedly as if he wanted to smash it.
Meanwhile, Elias remained seated in the observer’s seat without expressing any opinions, just silently watching Amanda.
It was his first time watching her do her job with such seriousness. She had truly grown a lot.
But just when Natasha’s mother was about to hit Amanda, Elias stood up and pulled Amanda behind him. He gripped the elderly woman’s hand firmly, warning. Are you guys resorting to violence? Did you used to hit your daughter like this?!”
READING FREE LIGHT NOVEL AT NOVEL BIN