Chapter 884
"Mr. Kelly, Mr. Lawson's worried about the company's stability. I don't think he'd ever spread rumors to hurt the company on purpose."
"Yeah, Mr. Kelly. Mr. Lawson's been hoping you'd get better soon. He even said that if everyone chose him to step in for you, it'd just be temporary until you came back. You must've misunderstood."
"Mr. Kelly, we're all really glad to see you healthy again. Right now, we need to stabilize things as fast as we can."
Oberon scanned the room and gave Ambrose a nod.
Ambrose then pulled up a series of investigation documents on the big screen.
Ambrose sneered at Ronan, "Since Mr. Lawson insists he didn't spread the rumors that tanked Kelly Group's stock, then what's all this?"
The documents showed bank transfers to a new media outlet, chat screenshots instructing the media to leak news about Oberon's severe illness and impending death, and even photos of Tobias secretly meeting with several media heads.
Even though the account used for the media transfers was overseas, further investigation revealed it was an account Tobias had opened under a fake name.
All the evidence was laid out clearly, leaving no room for the Lawson family to deny.
Ambrose smirked and said, "Well, Mr. Lawson, got any more excuses?"
Ronan's lips trembled, unable to speak.
Tobias, enraged, shouted, "Ambrose, don't push us too far!"
"Push you too far? Fine, if that's how you want it, I don't mind pushing a bit further."
Ambrose then played a video on the screen.
The video showed Tobias in a club's private room, surrounded by a group of men and women in compromising positions. Tobias, clearly half-drunk, arrogantly declared, "Who does that Kelly bastard think he is? No matter how powerful he is, he's dying soon! I'm telling you, the Kelly Group is about to change hands and will be renamed the Lawson Group!"
The video continued with people flattering Tobias while simultaneously trashing the Kelly family.
Ronan couldn't bear to watch Tobias's foolishness. He had repeatedly warned Tobias to be cautious and discreet.
He never expected Tobias to not only mess up with the transfers but also boast so recklessly in public.
Ronan's vision blurred with anger as he turned to glare at Tobias.
Unable to contain his fury, he lifted his foot and kicked Tobias hard.
"Idiot!"
But Ronan, already weakened by the day's events, couldn't muster enough strength. Instead of hurting Tobias, he blacked out and collapsed to the floor.
"Dad!"
Tobias and another Lawson family member rushed to help.
Jackson and Ambrose, in a rare moment of cooperation, moved forward with concern.
"Mr. Lawson, take it easy."
"Mr. Lawson, don't get too worked up."
Their actions inadvertently pushed the Lawson family members aside, causing Ronan to fall heavily to the ground with a thud.
Gasps and murmurs filled the room.
Eventually, Ronan was taken away by ambulance, and the meeting room fell silent.
Atlas and the other directors loyal to Ronan looked pale and fearful.
Jackson quietly suggested to Oberon, "Mr. Kelly, I think Mrs. Kelly is tired. Should I take Mrs. Kelly for a walk?"
Oberon was about to reorganize the Kelly Group, and it wasn't appropriate for an outsider like Jackson to stay. Besides, Oberon trusted Jackson enough to leave Flora in his care.
Oberon glanced at Flora, who seemed restless and a bit upset. He looked at Lillian and Ambrose, who couldn't leave at this crucial moment.
After some thought, Oberon nodded at Jackson.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you."
Jackson's eyes lit up. Before leaving, he squeezed Lillian's hand, seeking encouragement.
Lillian, holding back a smile, gently scratched his palm with her fingers.
Jackson escorted Flora out of the meeting room and asked her, "Grandma, where would you like to go?"
Flora shook off Jackson's hand. "I don't need you to follow me!"
She looked around and headed towards Oberon's office.
Jackson, unhurried, raised an eyebrow and followed her.
Inside Oberon's office, Flora wandered around, searching through drawers and shelves, growing increasingly frustrated.
Jackson knelt beside her. "Are you looking for the photo album?"
Ruby had mentioned that Oberon's office held many old photos, and Flora hadn't forgotten.
Flora was surprised that Jackson knew what she was thinking.
She glared at him, and Jackson offered, "Let me help you find it."
"I don't need your help. Move aside." Flora didn't like Jackson, suspecting he wanted to take Lillian away, just like Kenneth had deceived Ophelia.
Determined to protect Lillian this time, Flora continued searching. Jackson, unfazed, smiled and suggested, "Grandma, do you dislike me that much? How about we make a game out of it?"
Flora turned to him, "What game?"
"Let's see who can find Mr. Kelly's photo album first. If you find it before me, I'll take the next flight back to Miracalia and never bother you again. Deal?"
Jackson extended his pinky finger.
Flora eyed him, huffed, and reluctantly hooked her pinky with his.
As Jackson was about to pull back, Flora held on, looking serious.
"No way! You're young, your eyesight is better, and you're more agile. It's not fair. You have to give me a head start."
Jackson looked at Flora and smiled.
"How do you want me to give you a head start?"
Flora thought for a moment. "Give me a ten-minute head start!"
Flora couldn't help but smile. Ten minutes was more than enough time for her to search the entire office.
She was determined to protect her granddaughter and get rid of that sneaky Jackson!
"Ten minutes it is. Don't go back on your word!"
Flora was still a bit skeptical. Jackson nodded and made a gesture for her to start, then went to sit on the sofa.
Flora immediately began searching around the desk. When she didn't find anything, she moved to the bookshelf.
She kept glancing over at Jackson, worried he might not stick to their agreement.
Jackson found Flora's cautious glances amusing and couldn't help but chuckle.
To put her at ease, he took out his phone and started scrolling through it, crossing his legs.
By now, the news was flooded with stories about the Kelly Group's events that day.
The video of Ruby being arrested at the Kelly Group was particularly popular.
Employees and others familiar with Ruby's connection to the Kelly family had even created relationship diagrams online, clearly outlining the connections.
They detailed how Ruby and Ophelia were best friends, how Ruby married Kenneth after Ophelia's death, and how she had been caring for Ophelia's daughter, only to discover that the daughter was a fake, while the real daughter had been switched at birth.
They also pointed out that the media company Ophelia founded had been run by Ruby, and that many of the jewelry pieces Ruby wore to events had once belonged to Ophelia.
The public's eyes were sharp, and netizens were like Sherlock Holmes.
Jackson skimmed through the top comments.
[My best friend inherited everything after I died]
[Beware of best friends]
[Best friends like this give the term a bad name]
[Shouldn't Kenneth be blamed more? He's a live-in son-in-law enjoying his late wife's fortune with her best friend. How does he sleep at night?]
[Poor Ophelia, and even more so, the real Kelly family daughter]
Jackson's long fingers swiped through the comments, then he turned off his phone.
By this time, the ten minutes were up.
Jackson stood up and smiled at Flora, who was still searching the bookshelf.
"I'm going to start looking now."
Flora watched him approach the bookshelf, feeling a bit anxious but not wanting to cheat.
She had already searched that area and didn't believe Jackson could find anything she missed.
Flora nodded, and her eyes lit up.
She turned and headed towards the office's adjoining rest area.
She thought the photo album might be on the nightstand there. She hadn't considered that before.
Flora quickened her pace, glancing back at Jackson.
Seeing him search the areas she had already checked, Flora smirked.
She thought Jackson wasn't very smart.
Lillian definitely couldn't be with him; their future children might not be smart either.
Flora searched the rest area thoroughly, even checking Oberon's wardrobe, but found nothing.
She frowned and returned to the office, only to see Jackson no longer at the bookshelf.
Jackson was back on the sofa, seemingly empty-handed.
Flora thought Jackson had given up too quickly, confirming her low opinion of him.
Just as she was thinking this, Jackson turned and smiled.
"Lillian looks so much like you when you were young. No wonder she's so beautiful; she takes after you."
Flora was taken aback and walked over. She then noticed several photo albums beside Jackson, and one on his lap, which he was currently looking through.
Flora's eyes widened as she hurried over.
"Where did you find those?" Flora asked, puzzled.
Jackson stood up, closed the album, and showed her the cover.
"Look at the cover."
Flora examined it closely and realized the album cover was designed to look like a contract folder. She had seen a shelf full of contract folders but hadn't thought to check there.
Clearly, the albums had been disguised as contract folders.
Flora puffed out her cheeks, feeling frustrated.
"You got lucky! Don't get cocky. Even if you won this bet, I still won't agree to you being with Lillian! And neither will Oberon!" Flora emphasized.
Jackson wasn't disappointed. He pointed to the album.
"Got it. Do you want to look at the photos together?"
Flora hesitated but couldn't resist the temptation and sat down.
They sat on the sofa, and Jackson opened the album to the page he had been looking at.
Flora leaned in and frowned. "Is that me?"She didn't remember. The woman in the photo was young, probably in her teens, wearing a school uniform and sporting two long braids.
"Of course it's you. You haven't changed much at all," Jackson said, pointing to the photo.
Flora huffed. "Flattery! You're too slick. Lillian can't be with you."
Jackson felt wronged. "Mrs. Kelly, you can't be so biased. Mr. Kelly says even nicer things than I do."
Flora glared at him. "He's telling the truth. You're not!"
Jackson laughed, exasperated. "Alright, alright. Whatever you say. Look at this photo; doesn't Lillian look just like you?"
"No, Lillian is prettier! See, you're just flattering me!"
Flora examined the photo closely and made her judgment.
Jackson felt even more wronged. "Flora, why don't you believe me? I can prove it."
Jackson took out his phone, found a photo, and showed it to Flora.
"See for yourself."
Flora took the phone and saw a photo of Lillian from a few years ago, looking like a high school student in a uniform.
The uniform had a short-sleeved top and a plaid skirt, revealing her slender legs.
Lillian had a high ponytail and stood under a cherry blossom tree, her smile brighter than the blossoms.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
