Chapter 480 A Big Commotion at the Board Meeting
"Fiancée?"
Darian's eyes narrowed, but his face stayed blank. He glanced at Freya, standing nearby, as if judging Josep's words.
"Are we engaged?" Darian asked after a pause, his gaze icy on Freya.
She felt her heart race, and was unable to speak.
"Not yet, but you and Freya are close. Your grandpa's biggest wish was to see you two married. No one expected you to lose your memory," Josep lied, watching Darian closely.
"Darian, a lot happened while you were out. I planned to tell you later, but since it's come up, Dad passed away yesterday."
Darian's calm eyes suddenly sharpened. "What did you say?" His voice trembled.
Josep sighed. "It's true. Dad died yesterday while you were in a coma."
Josep pretended to wipe a tear under Darian's disbelieving stare. "Grandpa's last wish was to see you two married. Sadly, he didn't get to see it."
Josep looked sorrowful, as if everything he was saying was true. "So, as your elder, I want to arrange your engagement with Freya after Dad's funeral, then you can get married to fulfill Grandpa's wish. What do you think?"
Josep and Freya watched Darian intently. Freya clenched her hands nervously. No one spoke for a moment.
Darian didn't respond right away, and Josep's eyes narrowed again. He knew Darian disliked Freya. If Darian hadn't lost his memory, he would have refused.
Darian's lips pressed into a line. "What did Grandpa die of?"
"Cardiac syncope."
"Was it an accident?" Darian asked.
"It's not clear yet. Darian, what about the engagement?"
Darian's sorrowful eyes met Josep's. "If it was Grandpa's last wish, I'll do it."
Freya's face lit up. "Darian, really?"
Darian looked at her coldly. "I'm just fulfilling Grandpa's wish. I don't remember you or have any feelings for you."
Freya grabbed his arm excitedly. "Darian, it's okay if you don't remember me. We have time. You'll fall in love with me."
Darian looked at her hand on his arm, his eyes growing colder. Freya's heart pounded with excitement. It felt unreal.
Was this real? Had Darian agreed to marry her?
She took a deep breath, staring at Darian, unable to hide her glee. 'Cecily, you won't believe it, but I'm about to become Mrs. Fitzgerald,' she thought.
Under Josep's suspicious gaze, Darian stood up. "Where is Grandpa now? Take me to see him."
Josep stood up, eyes dark. "No rush, you'll see him at the funeral. Darian, are you sure? If I make it public, there's no turning back."
Darian seemed indifferent. He needed a wife, but it didn't matter who. Marriage was just a task.
"Yes. Where's my mom? I've been here two days, and she hasn't visited. Is that normal?"
"Sandra isn't in good health. She went abroad for treatment. You must've forgotten," Josep lied.
"Since you agreed, I'll proceed."
Josep was in a good mood. After many tests, he saw nothing suspicious. Darian seemed to have really lost his memory.
"Freya, stay and take care of Darian."
"Okay." Freya's face was flushed with happiness, so she didn't notice Darian's disgust.
Josep left the hospital and went straight to find Cecily.
Cecily expected him. She knew he'd find out about the shares.
"Hand over the shares you took from my dad."
Cecily sipped her water. "Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black? You killed Owen and blamed me. Now you want the shares and accuse me of stealing them."
"I'm his son. Dad died, so his shares belong to me."
"So you killed Owen to justify inheriting the shares?" Cecily's gaze was dark.
Josep slammed the table. "Stop talking nonsense."
"Did I hit the mark?" Cecily asked calmly.
Josep was speechless with anger.
"Cecily, I'm trying to be nice to you. You'd better cooperate."
"You're trying to be nice?" Cecily put down her cup. "You came in accusing me of stealing the shares. How is that nice?"
Her refusal was clear.
"Fine." Josep nodded, suppressing his anger. "Cecily, I'll make you understand the consequences of taking what's not yours."
Cecily wasn't afraid of his threats.
That night, Josep contacted reporters. The next day, news of Owen's death spread through Silver Frost Capital.
Owen was a big name in business, and his sudden death caused a stir.
But soon, another piece of news spread, claiming Owen had left all his shares to an outsider, not his son or grandson.
It seemed laughable. Owen would have to be crazy to leave his shares to an outsider, risking the future of the Fitzgerald Group.
Most people didn't believe it and laughed it off.
But in the afternoon, Josep confirmed the news, saying all of Owen's shares were with Cecily, but no one could prove that Owen had willingly gave them to her.
The implication was clear: Cecily had taken the shares by some underhanded means.
Doubt and condemnation followed.
The Fitzgerald Group's conference room was packed. Owen's death was a major event, and everyone knew the group was in for turmoil.
Josep displayed the online doubts and speculations on the big screen. Shareholders and directors discussed the situation animatedly.
Someone shook their head. "Owen gave his shares to an outsider instead of his family? Sounds fake."
"Yeah, Owen wasn't senile. We haven't seen that share transfer agreement. It could have been forged by Cecily."
Everyone agreed.
Josep smirked. "Since everyone thinks it's fake, as Owen's son, I declare that agreement—"
"Wait," Paul interrupted. "We haven't seen the agreement. How can we conclude it's fake? We should at least hear from Cecily."
"I agree," Kevin added.
Paul and Kevin's steady presence made Josep's eyes grow colder. He hadn't expected opposition.
"It's obviously fake. What's there to say?" Josep retorted.
"Cecily was once Darian's wife. They have two children together, who are part of the Fitzgerald family. Calling her an outsider is harsh," Kevin said coldly.
"They're divorced, how is she not an outsider?" Josep sneered.
"Regardless, we should hear her explanation," Paul insisted.
Paul and Kevin's coordination made Josep's face darken.
"Let's notify Cecily. We should hear her side," someone else echoed.
"Agreed, I want to know what's really going on."
Josep sat silently. Asmore people expressed their opinions, he signaled Mark to make the call.
Even if Cecily came, she wouldn't be able to say anything, he thought.
"I'll give her half an hour. If she doesn't arrive—"
"I don't need for half an hour, I'm here."
Cecily's clear voice came from the door.
Everyone turned their scrutinizing gaze toward her.
Cecily walked in, seeing the gray and white conference room filled with people. Major shareholders and directors sat in their seats, all in suits, their presence exerting immense pressure.
Paul and Kevin worried Cecily might get stage fright, but she walked in calmly, hands in her white coat pockets, with a confident stride.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Cecily glanced coldly at Josep, then addressed the room. "I'm Cecily. Sorry, no one informed me about this meeting, so I'm late. My apologies."
Josep's face darkened. "You're neither a shareholder nor a board member. Why should we have informed you about this?"
Cecily raised an eyebrow, glanced at the big screen, and pulled out a chair, sitting down unceremoniously.
"But this is about the shares I have. I'm the person involved. Don't I have the right to participate? Or do you want to invalidate the agreement in my absence to take it for yourself? I know your schemes."
"Those shares originally belonged to me. You're a nobody. You used tricks to get them. It's reasonable for me to take them back."
"Tricks?" Cecily looked at Josep. "What tricks did I use?"
"You got the shares the day my dad died. All the servants knew you were alone with him for a while. After you left, he was found unconscious and later died in the hospital. I suspect you forced him to sign the share transfer agreement and then killed him."
Josep's words caused an uproar. Everyone knew Owen had died, but not the details.
"Miss Watson, do you have any explanation for this? Or did you really kill Owen?" a shareholder angrily questioned Cecily.
Everyone stared at Cecily, especially Josep with his dark gaze.
Paul wanted to speak, but Kevin stopped him, whispering, "Let's hear her out first."
"Yes," Cecily nodded. "I did talk to Owen alone. During that time, he decided to give me the shares. Owen was murdered, but not by me."
Josep's eyes narrowed. "You still dare to argue?"
"What am I arguing about? After leaving the manor, I fainted from low blood sugar and was admitted to the hospital. The hospital's surveillance recorded my admission time. Owen was admitted three hours after me. You said he was found unconscious right after I left. How do you explain what happened during those three hours?"
Cecily questioned Josep, then addressed everyone. "If you don't believe me, check with the hospital. They have records."
Josep gritted his teeth. "That's because a family doctor treated him at home first, then sent him to the hospital."
Cecily shook her head. "That's impossible. If a family doctor finds someone in serious condition, they would immediately send the patient to the hospital. It wouldn't take three hours. What you said is unreasonable."
Josep stared at Cecily. "What are you trying to say? Dad only met with you that day. What are you arguing about?"
"Who can prove it?"
A smirk appeared on Josep's lips. Cecily probably didn't know Sawyer had betrayed Owen.
"Sawyer can prove it. Everyone knows Sawyer was always with my dad. He can prove everything I said."
Cecily's hand tightened on her lap. She had forgotten about Sawyer. If Josep was confident, Sawyer might have been bought off.
She glanced at the door and saw Sawyer arrive.
Sawyer walked in and greeted everyone. Josep immediately approached him. "Sawyer, were you with my dad the whole time on the day he died?"
Sawyer shook his head. "No, Owen talked to Miss Watson alone for a while. I wasn't with them during that time."
Josep nodded. "Okay, then after Cecily left, you went in and found Owen unconscious. Is that true?"
Sawyer glanced at Cecily.
Josep looked at Cecily, barely suppressing a smile. 'Cecily, you're going to lose. The shares are mine,' he thought.
If it was proved that Cecily killed Owen, the agreement would be invalidated.
Cecily pressed her lips together, still looking calm.
"Sawyer, this is serious. You must tell the truth and not cover for anyone," Kevin warned, glancing at Josep.
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