Chapter 403
A collective gasp echoed through the room, the crowd's shock palpable. The Hernandez family's eyes widened in disbelief, their faces a tableau of stunned incredulity.
"Walter, you're saying you founded the Summer Group?" Walter's voice was a low growl, his rage barely contained.
Mabel's voice wavered as she struggled to make sense of the revelation. "Joseph, what game are you playing? You, secretly founding Summer while leading the Hernandez Group? You've betrayed us, betrayed the Hernandez family!"
Walter's voice was a bitter snarl. "You treacherous snake, my biggest mistake was ever entrusting you with the reins of the Hernandez Group." His fists clenched, the desire to strike Joseph down with a single blow evident in his tense posture.
"Dad, don't let your anger get the better of you. This Summer Group is nothing but a minor nuisance. They pose no real threat to us," Celeste's voice dripped with dismissive scorn.
Juliette chimed in, her laughter ringing out in the tense silence. "Exactly. In the world of electronics, the Hernandez Group is a titan. Compared to us, Summer is nothing more than a pile of junk."
Walter's expression softened slightly at his daughters' words. "Joseph, from this day forward, you are no longer a part of the Hernandez family. We will stop at nothing to drive Summer into bankruptcy. Liam, I want Summer wiped off the map of Madison within three months."
Liam's response was immediate, his voice steady despite the flicker of concern in his eyes. "I'll make it happen, Grandpa."
Joseph regarded them all, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "Liam, haven't you informed them yet? Fletcher's team from the Hernandez Corp's electronics lab has left, right? And let me fill you in, they've joined Summer. This Friday, Summer will announce the launch of the all-new PhoenixX at a global release at eleven in the morning."
The crowd gasped again, their shock renewed. The PhoenixX was supposed to be a Hernandez Corp release, wasn't it?
Liam's retort was laced with icy sarcasm. "Joseph, it appears you've lost your senses. Hernandez Corp has spent three years financing Fletcher's team for chip development. Now that he's taken the data for the chips to Summer, I can easily reclaim the intellectual property rights, and you can bet I'm going to sue Fletcher and all of Summer."
Joseph chuckled, his voice low and confident. "Liam, you're the one who's deluded. Have you even seen Fletcher's contract? From the beginning, he never signed with Hernandez Corp; his agreement was with me. All the research funds came from my pocket, not Hernandez Corp's. So tell me, on what grounds do you plan to sue Fletcher?"
Joseph's eyes narrowed slowly, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "On the contrary, Fletcher and I are in a position to claim back the product rights we once granted to Hernandez Corp Electronics. Liam, you should be expecting a letter from my lawyer."
The Hernandez family's faces paled at this revelation. Liam's face drained of color, his composure shattered, while Walter looked as though he might collapse at any moment.
"Joseph, you'll pay dearly for this," Walter spat, his eyes bloodshot as he pointed an accusing finger at Joseph. "The Hernandez family raised you, and this is how you repay us?"
Mildred's voice was a plea, her eyes filled with pain. "Joseph, this is too much. You're cutting us to the bone."
Joseph's face remained impassive, his voice steady. "Grandma, Grandpa, I offered you a chance when I asked you earlier. But each and every one of you insulted me. Did anyone from the Hernandez family ever show me the slightest bit of respect?"
Only Cassie knew that Joseph's hands were trembling, that beneath his calm exterior, he was a tempest of sorrow and anger. "Liam's contributions to the Hernandez Group were significant, but over the years, the other subsidiaries have hardly flourished. It was I who single-handedly propped up Hernandez Electronics, turning it into the group's cash cow. The Summer Corporation was my safety net. If I were to successfully inherit my share of the Hernandez Group, I’d merge Summer Corp with it. But if you decide to cast me aside, I’ll simply have to take over the Hernandez Group in its entirety."
Joseph's eyes blazed with unmasked ambition, his voice resolute. "I, Joseph, do not dress brides for other grooms."
Liam's voice was sharp with anger. "Swallowing up the Hernandez Group? That's a tall order – you must be dreaming."
Joseph's response was cool and composed. "Let's just wait and see. Without the chips, how will you explain to your partners?"
He turned to Edward and Mr. Whitmore, his voice matter-of-fact. "One of you is in computers, the other in automotives. Without the latest products, your companies will soon be left in the dust by others."
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