Chapter 425 You're Always Family to Us
Fiona's sudden alarm and denunciation sparked a significant sensation at home and abroad.
Whispers floated around:
"Didn't Janna announce that Chelsea was Chris's daughter? Chelsea's statements to the media seems like she's suggesting Ken is her biological father!"
"My God, everyone knew the Rhoads family power struggle would be fierce, but to think Chelsea would launch a frontal assault like this from the get-go!"
"To be honest, Chelsea was driven to the edge. Her beloved grandmother suddenly fell ill and disappeared. And Ken is denying her visitation; something smells fishy there. Why won't he let her visit?"
Although there were many questioning voices, most mainstream media, domestic and abroad, sided with Chelsea.
But within the Rhoads family, opinions were sharply divided.
Some board members, mainly those loyal to Janna, fully supported Fiona's actions and wanted Ken to disclose Janna's condition and allow visits.
Others were incensed, believing Chelsea's disregard for the consortium's reputation harmed every shareholder's interests.
They demanded a board resolution to strip Janna of her privileges and to withdraw Chelsea's presumed status in the Rhoads family.
Amidst this chaos, Fiona remained indifferent.
She had made her move well-known to send a warning to Ken: The whole world now suspects you of harming your mother. You'll be the target of universal scorn if anything happens to her.
"Chelsea!"
Mike had come looking for Fiona as soon as she arrived home.
"Did you find a lead?" Fiona asked anxiously.
Mike shook his head. "We've got word on Jannie, the boss's wife."
Fiona furrowed her brows. "Wasn't she at the funeral?"
"No," Mike said gravely. "The old lady seemed to know trouble was brewing, so she'd made arrangements to whisk Jannie and her children away into hiding."
"Take it from here," Fiona commanded in a similarly serious tone.
If these were the people Janna was determined to protect, then she would stand guard over them.
"It's tricky," Mike frowned. "The neighborhood where she's hiding is crawling with Ken's goons. We suspect the old lady might be in a hospital there, but it's airtight. Both our guys and Mr. Solomon's are trying to find a way to infiltrate and scout it out."
"Airtight?"
Fiona's lips curled into a smirk.
"Well, I want to see just how impenetrable it is. Make the arrangements—I'm going to attend the funeral."
"Chelsea, that's dangerous!"
Mike finally saw the whole picture.
Ken and his wife had lost it. On their turf, they feared nothing—be it the death of the patriarch, the citywide search for Jannie and her children, or the affair with Uncle Kon. When they acted, they didn't care about suspicion.
If Chelsea went there, Mike felt they might brazenly resort to violence.
Then, they'd pin the blame on some scapegoat.
"I'll be going with her," Darwin said, stepping out with his wounds freshly dressed and newly bandaged.
Mike was frantic. "Mr. Solomon, shouldn't you be talking her out of this instead of joining in on this reckless stunt?"
"Don't worry. The number of times Mr. Solomon has survived assassination attempts can't even be counted on both hands—he's got the experience," Fiona quipped.
Mike was at a loss for words.
"Given Ken's arrogance, he'd never expect me to come to his territory for the funeral. Once we're there, Ken's men will double down on their guard, leaving their numbers limited. They'll be forced to stretch thin elsewhere, and that's the diversion I'll create for you. What you need to do is get Jannie out safely."
"Yes!"
Mike stood straight, his voice booming with resolve.
*
Public opinion did not wane over time; instead, it flared up the next day as more and more of Ken and Alice's dirty laundry was aired.
The outcry was reaching a fever pitch; the scandal was escalating.
Ken had reached his breaking point.
So, the following day, before the funeral began, Ken, with eyes swollen from crying and his seemingly frail wife by his side, held a small press conference in the media area at the funeral site.
Fiona and Darwin were on their way to Ken's block, watching the live broadcast of Ken's press conference on the car's screen.
Through her tears, Alice addressed the camera, "Ken and I have always been devoted to his mother. Though we had our disputes, we reconciled privately long ago. I don't understand why Chelsea would make such unfounded and irresponsible speculations and accusations in front of the media."
"Are you not allowing her to visit her grandmother as she claims?" a reporter asked sharply.
With a look of deep distress, Ken replied, "It's not that we're forbidding the visit, but rather that my mother is gravely disappointed in her. When she fell ill, she made it crystal clear she didn't wish to see her again. As her son, I must prioritize my mother's wishes, right?"
"Everybody knows how much Mr. Rhoads doted on Miss Rhoads, certainly much more than you, Charles. Why would she not want to see Miss Rhoads? Mr. Ken, when you lie, could you at least do it logically?" another reporter mocked.
Ken glanced at the reporter but didn't show any annoyance. He sighed again, saying, "My mother detests Darwin, and his methods and behaviors are well-known. Which family would willingly give their daughter to that kind of man? Especially given the way my mother raised Chelsea. Everyone has seen it. She was coming into her own, yet despite my mother's objections, she married the man my mother disliked the most."
Fiona couldn't help but laugh.
"That's your cue," she said to Darwin.
"Nonsense. Grandma was very pleased with me and liked me a lot. When I left Bay City, she specifically asked me to be the one to drive her," Darwin retorted with a cold laugh.
Fiona remained quiet.
Meanwhile, the interview continued.
Alice denied all the online exposés, regardless of whether they were confirmed or not, labeling everything as slander and defamation. She declared she would turn to legal action to resolve the issue.
In the end, Ken, following Fiona's example, made a tearful plea to the camera: "Chelsea, even if you aren't related by blood to the Rhoads family, despite the smears and accusations you've cast against me, your Aunt June and I have always treated you like family. For the love of your grandmother, who cared for you so much, please stop doing anything that might harm the Rhoads family. Otherwise, how will you face her when she wakes up and recovers?"
With that, the press conference came to an end.
Ken, supporting Alice, who was on the verge of fainting from all the crying, retreated inside with bodyguards escorting them.
Once the door was closed, Alice perked up instantly.
Breaking free from Ken's embrace, she wiped her tears away and said, "Two neutral shareholders sent me messages. They're appalled by the harm Chelsea has caused to the company and are willing to back us at the next shareholders' meeting!"
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