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Chapter 657
Chapter 657
Chapter 657
Chapter 657
“Something’s off?” Thaddeus frowned.
“It’s not surprising your brother could get his hands on medication. After all, he’s been entrenched in
the country for years. Even getting the William and his son and the Abernathy Group to play ball is as
simple as him snapping his fingers.”
Evadne’s pretty face darkened with worry, “But Snakey Avery, how did he get it?”
That question stopped Thaddeus cold.
“Avery’s the abandoned son of the Chambers family. He’s been out in the sticks, building up his
network. How could he possibly have connections there?”
The more Evadne thought about it, the more unsettled she became, “You know, I’ve got this crazy
theory in my head. I’m starting to think Avery might know your brother. Or at least, he’s met your
brother.”
Thaddeus was about to blurt out “How could that be?” But he immediately remembered that woman
named Alexia, the one who carried the same scent as Avery. Although it was a stretch to conclude they
knew each other based on that alone, the suspicion hung in her mind like a stubborn ghost.
Suddenly, a frantic knock on the door broke the tense silence! They exchanged a glance and hurried to
answer it.
Standing there was Emeric’s other executive assistant, not Dylan, but a trusted aide nonetheless.
“Ms. Ashbourne! There’s been an incident!” The secretary was frantic, his face slick with sweat.
Evadne’s heart skipped a beat, “Is it my father?!”
Thaddeus quickly wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close for silent reassurance.
“The chairman has taken ill! You must come to the conference room at once!”
“Emeric, what’s happened to you?!” Bevis, who was sitting close to Emeric, shouted, drawing all eyes
in the room to Chairman Ashbourne’s shaking form.
Emeric clutched his trembling legs, his head buried low, ears ringing, his heartbeat unnaturally fast.
He dared not lift his head, knowing his facial muscles twitched uncontrollably, like the onset of
Parkinson’s.
The board members exchanged worried glances, wanting to approach but hesitating.
“Let’s adjourn today’s meeting here,” Emeric stated with a deep voice, sweat beading on his forehead.
His tongue felt numb as he struggled with the last words.
“Emeric, what’s on earth the matter?” Bevis attempted to get closer; his face was a mask of concern,
but his eyes flickered with a dark glee, “You look terrible. Why are you shaking so much? Are you sick?
Should I call an ambulance?”
“I’m fine, no need!” Emeric’s eyes were red with strain as he pushed Bevis away with a stumbling
motion.
Bevis, used to wielding his influence as the little brother to Skyrim’s wealthiest, was used to respect.
Being treated like this, in front of everyone, ignited a fire in his belly, “Emeric, I’m just worried about
you! Don’t be stubborn; you need go to the hospital!”
“Your concern is noted, but unnecessary!”
Dylan arrived just in time to intervene, helping Emeric to his feet.
“Oh my! What’s happening?!”
Bevis‘ eyes widened, pointing towards Emeric’s lower half. And everyone else’s gaze followed.
Emeric felt a damp warmth spreading down his legs, a warm trickle seeping through his trousers onto
the floor.
Dylan was struck dumb for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and shouted, “Meeting
adjourned! Please, everyone leave immediately!”
Emeric’s face was ashen as he stared at the stain, his mind blank with shock. He’d been a titan of
industry, always proud and imperious, never reduced to such a state of abject disgrace.
In this moment, shame engulfed him, drowning out the fear and pain of his illness. A pillar of the
corporate world, of the family, humiliated to death.
But then, a line of black–suited bodyguards filed in, swiftly clearing the room and securing the doors.
In the chaos, Bevis furtively pulled out his phone, eager to capture the moment. But before he could
open the camera, a sharp pain shot through his wrist and his phone flew from his grasp.
“Ah!”
Bevis grimaced in pain, clutching his wrist and stumbling backward, straight into Thaddeus‘ stern gaze.
With a casual flick, Thaddeus dropped the phone and crushed it ferociously beneath his heel, the
screen shattering.
Bevis‘ face turned red with rage, but he was powerless to retaliate.
“Sorry, didn’t see it.” Thaddeus said coolly, his lips curling with a frosty smirk, kicking the broken phone
far away, “I’ll have someone send you a replacement.”
“Hmph! Don’t bother. It’s just a phone. I’m not so petty.”
Bevis clenched his teeth in resentment, but right now if he still lingered around, he’d take a beating, so
he just spat out some words coldly, “Emeric, since everyone’s here taking care of you, I guess you
won’t need me. Just focus on getting better!”
With that, he darted off without casting another glance back.
Thaddeus and Dylan quickly helped Emeric sit down. Dylan, tears spilling over, grasped the chairman’s
hand.
“Chairman Ashbourne, hold on, I’ve called the medical team.”
“No ambulance.” Emeric’s speech was slurred, his tongue swollen.
“I understand, I understand! We’ll try our best to keep this under wraps!”
When Thaddeus saw Chairman Ashbourne’s ghastly pale face, and the liquid on the floor, he got the
picture in no time. Seeing Evadne’s father in such distress and humiliation, Thaddeus felt an
indescribable pain, as if his heart was being sliced open.
Lips pressed tight, he removed his suit jacket without hesitation and knelt down, wiping away the liquid
with his own garment. “Mr. Abernathy!” Dylan gasped in shock.
“Mr. Ashbourne, it’s alright, all clean now.”
Thaddeus gently held the soiled jacket in his hands, his expression serene and unperturbed, without a
hint of disgust, “With Evadne and me by your side, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Emeric choked up, overwhelmed by a storm of gratitude and remorse, “Thad, thank you.”
Thaddeus shook his head, his bright eyes sincere, “It’s nothing.”
Meanwhile, Thaddeus split up from his significant other, heading over to help Dylan take care of her
father, while Evadne rounded up all the board members, barring Bevis, into another conference room
for a closed–door discussion.
After all, this was a move only she, the rightful heir to the K Group, the indomitable Ms. Ashbourne,
could pull off!
Inside, the atmosphere was tense, filled with murmurs and complaints. These board members, each a
distinguished name in the Skyrim business world, holding shares in the K Group, had known Emeric for
decades.
They respected Emeric because he was the conglomerate’s leader, the one who was able to lead them
to prosperity and profits. But Evadne? Even with Emeric’s favor, she was still just a greenhorn. If
anyone from the Ashbourne family should be stepping forward, it should be the CEO, Cassius. What
business did she have taking charge?
Upon learning that the group was in crisis, Ms. Ashbourne’s call to arms had Jason, her secretary,
spring into action, rushing to her side posthaste.
The pair stood side by side, reminiscent of their early days making waves in Elmsworth.
Evadne sat elegantly at the head of the conference table, eyeing the grumbling old men with a glacial
gaze.
Seeing how they disrespected Ms. Ashbourne, Jason was fuming; gritting his teeth, he uttered, “Ms.
Ashbourne, these old geezers are as annoying as a gaggle of yapping ducks!”
Eyes darkened, Evadne suddenly raised her voice, “Gentlemen, may I have a word?”
People present were still blabbering on; no one paid her any heed.
Evadne’s heart ached for her father’s illness, and now her patience had snapped. Her delicate hand
rose high and came down hard on the table. The triple echo nearly gave a few in the room a heart
attack!
“Ms. Ashbourne, what’s the meaning of locking us up here?”
“Yeah! We have busy schedules, other matters to attend to!”
“And another thing, what’s the real story with Chairman Ashbourne’s health? Wasn’t he supposed to be
recovering? It looks worse than we thought. Can he still manage daily operations?”
“Yes, and now he’s even…” had incontinence.
Evadne’s eyes blazed with barely contained fury, a sharp pain stabbing at her heart, but her demeanor
remained icy and haughty, “Gentlemen, you’ve been old friends with my father for decades, weathering
storms together to bring the K Group to where it is today. I’m sure all your concerns stem from care for
my father and worries for the K Group. I understand completely. And it’s precisely for these concerns
that I’ve called you all here today.”
Though Ms. Ashbourne was a woman, her aura was impressively commanding. Her words were
forceful and graceful. Not ten capable men combined could overawe her.
The room quieted down, the balance of control momentarily shifting back to Evadne.
“My father’s importance to the K Group is evident to all, his every move, even a simple headache, can
affect the group’s stock prices and reputation. Naturally, this directly impacts the interests of all
shareholders and directors.”
Evadne gently moved the swivel chair, her lips curling slightly, “Well, let me say something you might
not like to hear: all of you have profited handsomely through the years under my father’s leadership,
probably laughing all the way to the bank, right? You’re all elites in the business world, distinguished
figures. Surely you wouldn’t stoop to such lows as to bite the hand that feeds you?”
The room fell silent. Ms. Ashbourne’s biting sarcasm could not have been clearer, and it also served as
a stark warning to any restless agitators.
“Ms. Ashbourne, your point is taken. We are all here out of concern for Chairman Ashbourne and the
welfare of the conglomerate. We would never do anything to jeopardize the group’s interests. That
would be like shooting ourselves in the foot,” one of the directors offered, trying to defuse the tension.
The others quickly agreed.
“Of course, we know you’re not that kind of people,” Evadne leaned forward, her fingers interlocked as
she looked at them, half–smiling, “However, like my father, I am a businesswoman, well aware that
verbal agreements are worth the paper they’re written on.”
With that, she gave Jason a knowing look.
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