Chapter 226 The Howard Group in Trouble
Lila's voice on the phone was all warm and welcoming as she asked me to come back to the law firm. The idea of returning to a place I'd always dreamed of working was thrilling, but the mention of Edward gave me the creeps.
I glanced around nervously and said, "When David and I were on a date in Verdantwood, Edward showed up too."
Lila sounded just as shocked on the other end of the line. "How did he know you were in Verdantwood?" she asked.
I sighed, frustrated, and replied, "He came with David's father and brother. They seem to have some business together, but I don't know the details. That's all I know."
The call ended, but Edward's unsettling image stuck in my mind. Knowing I wasn't ready to face Edward, I decided to head to the station early, hoping to dodge him. But when I got there, I saw Edward's car already parked in the square.
It wasn't his usual business car, which gave me a bit of relief. At least in this car with transparent windows, Edward wouldn't try anything shady. The car door opened, and instead of Edward, it was Albert who stepped out.
Albert's face lit up with a professional smile when he saw me. "Mrs. Howard, Mr. Howard asked me to pick you up and take you back to Wind City."
Hearing him call me Mrs. Howard made my heart skip a beat. It had been a long time since I was Mrs. Howard, and I had gotten used to being called Ms. Cooper.
I steadied myself and asked, "Where's Edward?"
Albert seemed to have expected my question and kept his professional smile.
"Mr. Howard is busy with work and can't leave right now. Please, Ms. Cooper, get in the car," he said.
I responded, "No need, you should go assist Edward. I can take a cab back myself."
Albert hesitated for a moment before saying, "Mr. Howard said he can manage on his own."
With that, he opened the car door, gesturing for me to get in. Sensing Albert's firm stance, I didn't argue further and got into the car.
Throughout the drive, I kept my eyes on the passing scenery, not wanting to chat.
As we neared Stellar Legal Advisors, Albert finally broke the silence, his voice tinged with hesitation. "Mrs. Howard, you should really talk to Mr. Howard."
I turned to him, puzzled, and saw a look of concern on his face. I asked, "What's going on?"
Albert slowly began to explain. "The Howard Group is in trouble."
"What happened?" I asked, surprised.
He replied, "Since your divorce, Mr. Howard has been distracted at work. Now, Aria is acting like she's Mrs. Howard and even interfering with company matters."
I frowned, remembering seeing Aria at the Howard Group last time, and couldn't help but ask, "With her helping out, shouldn't Edward have it easier?"
Hearing this, Albert sighed deeply. "Aria used to handle personal stuff for Mr. Howard, but now she's replaced the CFO with her friend and signed several bad overseas deals."
Listening to Albert, I felt my heart sink. I remembered Joshua warning me that Aria was part of an overseas scam group and advising me to warn Edward. I had mentioned it to Edward, but he brushed it off, and over time, I stopped thinking about it.
Now, the pieces Albert mentioned were forming a disturbing picture—Aria might be executing her scam plan. If that was true, Edward and his company were facing a massive crisis, and this could be just the beginning. But wasn't all this Edward's doing?
Thinking of this, I furrowed my brow and said to Albert, "Albert, I know the situation is tough. Even though Edward and I are divorced, I don't want to see his hard work go to waste. From what you've described, Aria's actions are highly suspicious."
I paused, looking earnestly at Albert. I continued, "Maybe you could gather evidence and look for any irregularities. This isn't about opposing Edward but protecting the company's interests. If the evidence is sufficient enough, hand it over to the authorities. That's the only way to stop Aria and get the company back on track."
However, Albert lowered his head slightly, then looked up and said, "Mr. Howard has been trying to recover losses, even reaching out to the Wilson family. A few days ago, I accompanied him to discuss a deal with Daniel. I thought it was just business, but I overheard them mentioning you and David."
Albert deliberately brought up me and David. I knew he was trying to get my attention, and I couldn't help but ask, "Isn't Edward working with Daniel to break up me and David?"
I looked at Albert, trying to read his expression. Hearing this, Albert gave a bitter smile. "Mr. Howard doesn't want you with David, but he also has to consider the Howard Group," he said.
As the car came to a stop in front of Stellar Legal Advisors, Albert made one last plea. "Ms. Cooper, please help Mr. Howard this time."
I wrung my hands and said, "I've warned him before. If he had listened to me, things wouldn't have come to this."
Albert's eyes were filled with earnestness. "Please, if you return to Mr. Howard, Aria won't have a chance to stay with him. That's the only way to save our company," he said.
Albert's sincere words moved me. But I still had doubts. Albert's plea was heartfelt, but Edward's intentions were always hard to read. I wondered if this was just another of his games.
After Albert left, I stood there, staring at the cloudy sky, lost in thought. It looked like it was about to rain. What kind of sky would it be after the storm?
The first cool drops of rain kissed my face, pulling me from my thoughts. I wrapped my arms around myself and hurried into the sanctuary of Stellar Legal Advisors.
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