Chapter 387 Key Issues
Edward looked at me, clearly confused about why I was there. But he quickly motioned for me to sit.
Once I was seated, I glanced at Edward.
After a moment of silence, Edward couldn't help but ask, "Did you see everything just now?"
I didn't hide anything and nodded.
Edward gave a bitter smile and said, "I never thought she'd turn out like this."
I sighed softly, my eyes filled with sympathy and understanding, and said gently, "I can sense your disappointment in Anne. You two grew up together, shared a pure friendship, but now it's shattered by greed."
Edward's eyes dimmed, and he lowered his head slightly, lost in memories. He responded, "Yeah, she used to be so kind and innocent. We spent so many carefree days together. But now, driven by business interests, she's become a completely different person."
I shook my head slightly and interjected, "Edward, I think you need to be reminded. That so-called kindness and innocence might have been just a facade from the beginning. Think about it; after all these years, are you really sure the Anne you knew was the real her? Maybe the signs were there all along."
Edward's body quivered slightly at the sound of my words. He had been lost in memories, but now a hint of confusion and contemplation crossed his face. He opened his mouth but didn't know how to respond.
I took a deep breath and continued, "It was Anne's scheming that led to you losing the Howard Group. Not only that, your social status plummeted, your former glory vanished, and even your health was ruined by her and Clara. Only you know how much pain you endured during that time."
Edward's face instantly turned serious, his brows furrowed tightly, as those painful memories seemed to resurface.
"Why are you telling me this?" Edward suddenly became cautious.
Seeing his puzzled expression, I couldn't help but said, "I just want to remind you to hold your ground and not be swayed by her again. You've worked hard to rebuild your company and get it back on track. With you in Wind City's business world, things will be much more interesting."
I didn't answer Edward directly, but someone as smart as him wouldn't fail to understand my intentions.
Edward slowly nodded, his eyes revealing a hint of determination. He replied, "You're right, Diana. I won't make the same mistake again. This time, I'll protect everything that's mine."
Seeing his somewhat weathered appearance, I felt a pang of sadness swell in my heart. I continued, "You didn't let past feelings cloud your judgment earlier and stuck to your principles. That's truly commendable."
Edward looked up at me, his eyes showing a hint of gratitude. He remarked, "Thank you for saying that, Diana. After all these years in the business world, I've grown a lot. Now that I've managed to reestablish my company, every time I think of the employees who trust me and the company's future, I remind myself not to make mistakes because of personal feelings."I nodded slightly. "You're doing the right thing. Persistence like yours will definitely make the company thrive. And people like Anne, blinded by greed, will eventually face the consequences. Don't dwell too much on her actions; focus on moving forward."
Edward's lips curled into a faint smile. "Having you here to comfort me really helps."
A server came over and brought us two steaming cups of coffee.
I picked up my coffee, took a sip, and felt the warmth slowly spread through me. Edward also picked up his coffee, his eyes softening. In this cozy café, the soothing music gently flowed, dispelling the tense atmosphere from earlier. We sat quietly, and I never imagined I would sit with Edward like this, nor did I think we would one day share a common goal. Unintentionally, the distance between Edward and me seemed to shrink.
I put down my coffee cup and looked at Edward with concern. I said, "Now that you've reestablished your company and are back in the boss's seat, are you adjusting well?"
Edward's face, which had just relaxed a bit, instantly turned serious again. He sighed heavily and slowly said, "On the surface, the company is running smoothly, and business is steadily expanding. But in reality, there are many difficulties."
I was already aware of Edward's challenges, but I still showed appropriate concern and asked, "What's happening? Is it a cash flow issue or fierce market competition?"
Edward shook his head, his eyes full of helplessness and fatigue. "Neither. With my experience, cash flow and market competition aren't the real problems. The key issue lies with Fiona."
"Fiona? Isn't she your investor?" I feigned surprise.
Edward took a sip of his coffee, frowning as if the bitterness of the brew matched the heaviness in his heart. He said, "At first, I thought she simply believed in my abilities and wanted to profit from investing in me. But as the company developed, I slowly realized her ambitions far exceeded my expectations."
Hearing this, I felt a surge of unease and instinctively sat up straighter. I quickly asked, "What's her real goal?"
Edward's cheeks flushed slightly, and he hesitated for a while before lowering his voice. "After I lost the Howard Group, I hit rock bottom; my life plunged into darkness. Meanwhile, you were rising like a star in the business world, shining ever more brightly. When Fiona approached me, she pledged her full support for my entrepreneurial ambitions. At first, I was adamantly against it. But I couldn't stand just watching you from afar. I wanted to achieve something great, to stand by your side again someday, and to give Skylar a stable and happy home. In a moment of impulse, I agreed to her investment. But who could have guessed she had ulterior motives?"
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