Chapter 313 Departure on the Morrow, Isn't It?
The thunderous crash of Kenneth's hand against the table echoed through the room, his roar slicing through the tense silence. "In my opinion, you should never have embarked on this course of action!" he bellowed.
Nancy found herself in rare agreement with Kenneth, her voice carrying a note of warning. "Dahlia, your father has a point. If you're seeking companionship, at least find someone within your age bracket. Even a few years older wouldn't raise eyebrows. The crux of the matter isn't Winston Moore's age; it's his wife. She's a notorious figure in our social circles, infamous for dealing ruthlessly with her husband's indiscretions."
Even Nancy, with all her experience, found herself dwarfed by Valentina's formidable presence and the might of her influential family. She was a force to be reckoned with, capable of intimidating any young woman with a mere glance.
Dahlia Brooks was oblivious to the power that the seemingly innocuous, plump lady wielded. On the surface, she didn't appear to be a formidable adversary.
Regret now gnawed at Dahlia's conscience. "Mother, why didn't you warn me earlier?" she lamented.
Had she been privy to this information, Dahlia would never have committed such a foolish mistake.
"You never provided me with the full context," Nancy retorted.
"And how was I to anticipate that you'd set your sights on him?"
Kenneth's patience finally frayed. "Enough of this pointless bickering. What's done is done. The pressing concern now is how we manage the fallout from Dahlia's indiscretion. We can't simply sit idle, can we? Once tonight's events become public knowledge, the media will undoubtedly sensationalize the story. And my concerns aren't limited to Dahlia—I'm also worried about the potential impact on our company's stock."
Dahlia's fingers tightened around Kenneth's arm, her heart pounding with anxiety at the thought of the impending headlines. "Father, please assist me. I promise to heed your advice henceforth, alright?"
"What worth do your promises hold now? How much of my previous counsel did you actually take to heart?"
Given the severity of Valentina's retribution, Kenneth was tempted to discipline Dahlia himself, fearing that she might not learn her lesson otherwise. Dahlia Brooks dared not retort, fully aware of the magnitude of her blunder.
Nancy, Dahlia's stepmother, was equally anxious and attempted to mediate. "She's your only daughter at present. Stop berating her. We need to concentrate on rectifying this situation. And what about Reese? If we don't address her, she'll continue to be a persistent thorn in our side. You understand my point, don't you?"
The concern was genuine. If they allowed Reese to remain within Brooks Industries, and she later decided to seize control, their response might be too late.
Observing Reese's demeanor that day, Kenneth realized that the stakes had escalated. Her net worth had skyrocketed, and if she continued on this trajectory, there was no telling what she might achieve.
"Let's put Reese on the back burner for now and focus on managing Dahlia’s scandal," Kenneth proposed. "I'll attempt to persuade the press to downplay the trending headlines. I'm prepared to pay, if necessary, to prevent a larger catastrophe."
Nancy nodded emphatically, "Very well, you handle that."
As Kenneth departed, he issued a stern warning to Dahlia, "If you engage in any more reckless behavior, you can pack your bags and leave the Brooks family."
Dahlia visibly shrank, clearly shaken by her father's admonition.
Once Kenneth had left, Nancy pulled Dahlia aside, "What on earth transpired?"
"It's Reese! I merely made a few favorable remarks about Sawyer’s sister today, thinking that with some support, challenging Reese wouldn't be too difficult. But Reese remained unyielding, and now look at the predicament I'm in!"
Nancy also bristled at the mention of Reese. "Reese can't remain. Who knows what kind of havoc she could wreak in the future."
"Exactly! Mother, we need to devise a strategy. And to add insult to injury, I overheard at the reception that Reese is the proprietor of Emerald Isle. Can you believe that? It's prime real estate, virtually unattainable, regardless of one's wealth."
Nancy was both astounded and envious. It seemed unjust that her own daughter, who was equally deserving, lacked the fortune that Reese, who continually surprised them, seemed to possess.
"What kind of luck did Reese stumble upon?" Nancy mused. "She was raised by that elderly woman in Backwoods. How did she end up owning Emerald Isle? Could Malcolm be involved?"
Dahlia Brooks shook her head, "I doubt it. Malcolm had his sights set on that property too, but he didn't succeed."
As she listened, Nancy grew increasingly uneasy, "So, you're suggesting that even Malcolm couldn't acquire it, but Reese did? Has she aligned herself with a powerful ally in Backwoods over the years?"
Or could it be that this girl was more than she appeared? If that was the case, it seemed likely that none of them were a match for her.
The thought lingered in her mind, leaving Nancy feeling even more unsettled.
"I need to have someone investigate Reese. There must be more to her than meets the eye."
Dahlia Brooks' eyes widened in surprise, "Mother, are you serious? You think Reese might have a secret identity? If that's true, it's just too… How am I supposed to compete with her?"
"Compose yourself, Dahlia. We'll unravel the truth once we delve a little deeper. You're always so hasty," Nancy chided.
What truly frustrated Nancy was Dahlia Brooks' inability to remain composed under pressure. Without that steadiness, she would be ineffective in a real crisis.
Dahlia hung her head, "Understood."
…
After Reese and Malcolm had parted ways, Justin received a phone call.
"He's arrived already?"
"Yes."
"Understood. Give me a moment, I'll relay the message to Mr. Flynn."
Justin turned to Malcolm, "Mr. Flynn, the press called. Kenneth is offering to pay to suppress a trending story tomorrow."
Malcolm wasn't surprised, his pity for Dahlia Brooks intensifying.
"Kenneth isn't doing this for Dahlia Brooks. He's concerned that the headlines tomorrow will tarnish his company's reputation, and he's not acting out of paternal concern," Malcolm remarked dismissively.
In Kenneth's world, it was all about the bottom line.
Reese and Malcolm were in agreement, both acutely aware of Kenneth's true nature. Reese glanced sideways, intrigued by Malcolm's next move.
"So, are you going to permit him to squash the story?" Malcolm queried, a mischievous grin playing on his lips as he lightly tapped Reese's chin with his finger.
"Do you genuinely believe, given our nature, that we would let him off the hook?" Reese retorted, mirroring his smile.
"Absolutely not," they chorused, their shared understanding filling the room with warmth.
Malcolm tilted his head towards Justin, a playful glint in his eye. "You know what to do?"
Justin couldn't suppress a grin. "Crystal clear. I'm on it."
Deep down, he felt a pang of sympathy for Kenneth. It was a veritable tragedy to cross paths with either Reese or Mr. Flynn. Either one was a formidable adversary you wouldn't want to contend with.
As Justin turned to leave, Malcolm addressed Reese. "Shall we retire upstairs? You're departing tomorrow, aren't you?"
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