Chapter 63 Ethan's Anger
Mandy was the first to spot him, letting go of Charlotte and waving, "Hey, Dad."
But Ethan just gave her a cold glance and didn't say a word.
Mandy's face fell, and she bit her lip, looking hurt. "Dad, did I do something wrong?"
"Yeah, Ethan," Charlotte chimed in, glaring at him. "Why are you being so cold to Mandy? She hasn't done anything to you."
"Hasn't she?" Ethan scoffed, dripping with sarcasm. "Ask her what she did!" He pointed at Mandy, his eyes blazing with anger.
Charlotte turned to Mandy, her expression questioning. Mandy looked just as confused, her eyes wide.
Seeing she genuinely didn't know, Ethan finally spoke up, his voice deep. "I know about your scheming against Rachel at the resort."
Mandy blinked, guilt washing over her. "Dad, how did you find out?"
"How did I find out?" Ethan snorted, incredulous. "She posted the agreement online to embarrass me. How could I not know? You not only schemed but also left evidence and lost the land. You are simply..." His anger choked him off.
Mandy, feeling guilty, lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.
Charlotte hugged her, distressed, and snapped at Ethan. "Alright, alright, it's just a piece of land. Why are you so mad at Mandy?"
"Just a piece of land?" Ethan trembled with rage, his voice rising. "Do you know how important that land is to us? The funds had already been invested, and we were just waiting for Michael to hand over the deed to start construction. Now, the land is gone, and all projects have to stop. We can't afford these losses!"
In recent years, TriStar Corporation had been struggling, and Ethan had planned to develop a top-tier residential area to revive the company. Now, everything was in vain.
Mandy, not understanding the business world, thought it wasn't a big deal. She stood up calmly and said, "Michael said he would give you the land in the north of the city."
Ethan nearly fainted, his face turning red. He shouted, "What can I do with that land? It's in the middle of nowhere. Who would buy a villa built there? If it doesn't sell, we'll still lose money!"
Was it that serious? Mandy started to panic, her voice quivering. "Dad! I..."
"Don't call me Dad." Ethan cut her off, his voice cold and cutting. "You've targeted Rachel repeatedly, leaving evidence each time. This time, you've pushed TriStar Corporation and our family to the edge of a cliff. Such stupidity, you're not even my bio..."
Charlotte's face changed, and she hurriedly interrupted him, her voice pleading. "Ethan!"
Ethan realized he almost misspoke, clamped his mouth shut, and, after a moment, continued, his voice strained. "In any case, you need to find a way to stabilize Michael's feelings for you for now. I'll handle Rachel. You're not to interfere again, lest you fall into her trap. Understand?"
Mandy lowered her eyes, her voice barely a whisper. "Understood."
Ethan said no more and turned to leave, his steps heavy with frustration.
After he left, Mandy grabbed Charlotte's hand, her voice filled with anxiety. "Mom, what did Dad mean by that half-spoken sentence?" A voice inside her told her she had to get to the bottom of this. Otherwise, the consequences would be unbearable.
Charlotte's eyes flickered, then she returned to normal, smiling as she tidied Mandy's hair. "It's nothing. Your dad was just talking nonsense. Don't take it to heart. You should rest. Don't you have dinner with Michael tonight? I'll go talk to your dad."
With that, she also left, her steps hurried.
Mandy stared at the door, her eyes dark and unreadable. If Charlotte wasn't going to spill, she'd dig up the truth herself. And as for Rachel, she got lucky last time. Next time, she wouldn't be so fortunate!
Meanwhile, over at Skyline Corporation, Rachel and John had just left the meeting room when Lily blocked their path.
She glanced at John, hiding her emotions, and formally reported to Rachel, "Ms. Williams, TriStar Corporation called. Mr. Brown wants to see you."
"He wants to see me?" Rachel raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.
Lily nodded. "Yeah, he's already on his way."
John sneered, "Rachel, he didn't even give you a chance to refuse. Did he say why he wants to see you?"
"Nope," Lily shook her head, her tone a bit softer than when she spoke to Rachel. Neither of them noticed the subtle change.
Rachel nodded, staying calm. "Alright, let's meet him. Lily, go make some coffee."
"Got it," Lily agreed, hurrying off.
Rachel and John headed to the office, both deep in thought.
On the way, John stroked his chin and speculated, "Ethan's probably here about that piece of land, right?"
"Most likely. Can't think of another reason," Rachel said as she pushed open the door.
John followed her in and closed the door behind them. "I bet he wants the land back," he said, his voice low.
Rachel smiled, her eyes glinting with determination. Just then, Lily opened the door slightly and peeked in, her voice soft. "Ms. Williams, Mr. Davis, Mr. Brown is here."
"He's quick," John remarked, spinning his office chair leisurely, looking relaxed.
Rachel closed the file in her hand and set it aside casually. "Let him in," she said.
"Okay," Lily responded and left, her steps fading down the hallway.
Soon, Ethan stepped in, his sharp gaze fixed on Rachel, his presence commanding.
Rachel, used to such confrontations in the business world, stayed calm and smiled, her voice welcoming. "Mr. Brown, please have a seat."
"Quite composed!" Ethan said, half-praising, as he pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down, his movements deliberate.
John sat quietly beside Rachel, his expression calm.
Rachel gently pushed the coffee Lily had brought to Ethan, her voice polite. "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Brown. Here's some coffee. Please enjoy."
Ethan glanced at the coffee but didn't touch it. His eyes stayed locked on Rachel.
Rachel didn't mind, crossing her hands on the table, her voice steady. "Mr. Brown, what brings you to Skyline Corporation today?"
"Since you're asking directly, I'll be straightforward. I want to get back the land in the city center." Ethan stared at her intently, his voice firm.
Rachel exchanged a glance with John from the corner of her eye, then retracted it and smiled, her voice measured. "Get it back? That's not easy. That land is officially under my name now. It has nothing to do with you. How can you talk about getting it back?"
Realizing his words were off, Ethan quickly corrected, his voice softer. "Ms. Williams, you misunderstood. I meant to purchase it, not 'take' it literally."
Mentioning this, he felt a bit of resentment. The land, which was supposed to be free, now had to be bought at a high price because of Mandy's trouble. It was infuriating.
"I see. I misunderstood." Rachel tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her voice light. She asked, "So, how much are you willing to pay for it, Mr. Brown?"
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