Chapter 489 Patricia's Real Father
Shane and Patricia were not about to let her off the hook so easily.
Patricia advanced towards Manda, only to be stopped by Gavin stepping in her way.
"What do you think you're doing?" he demanded.
Ignoring Gavin, Patricia kept her gaze locked on Manda. "Explain yourself. What did you mean by 'who knows who fathered her child'?"
Before Manda could respond, Gavin Watson's voice rose sharply, "Enough already! Isn't this embarrassing for you? Do you really want to humiliate yourself on an international scale?"
Despite becoming increasingly erratic after Debbie's death, Manda still felt a twinge of fear when Gavin really lost his temper. She rolled her eyes and retorted, "I didn't say anything. You must have misheard."
Patricia, losing her patience, snapped, "I heard you perfectly well. You better explain what you meant right now, or you'll regret it."
Shane then took a firm hold of Gavin Watson. Despite being older, Shane's taller stature and more imposing presence made him seem even more intimidating. "Gavin Watson, if you don't come clean, I swear I'll have you out of business in no time."
Gavin's response was a dismissive scoff. "Who do you think you are to threaten me with such claims?"
Jeremy cut in with a chilling tone, "Ever heard of the Koch Group's Shane?"
Gavin Watson was taken aback.
Seeing Gavin's silence, Jeremy's tone was laced with scorn, "I see. Given your market position back then, it's not surprising you're unaware. You might not know Shane, but surely the Koch family rings a bell?"
Gavin's eyes widened as something dawned on him.
Jeremy, seeing he had made his point, sneered. "That's right! The man holding onto your collar is the CEO of the Koch Group. Your ex-wife Isabella—no, Elise—is his beloved daughter, my aunt, and also the aunt of the Koch Group's current Executive Vice President, Riley. Do you understand now?"
Disbelief clouded Gavin's face as he muttered, "Shane... from the Koch Group?"
Jeremy, wary of Shane's age and steadiness on his feet, pulled him back gently and handed him over to Ariel for support. His lips curved into a slight smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Yes, that Shane, CEO of the Koch Group. Despite your operations in Ivara City and ours in Country Y, our influence spans globally, with subsidiaries on every continent. Even here in Ivara City. To put it in perspective, our Little Rock branch alone dwarfs your Watson Enterprises. We could squash you like an ant; it's that easy. If you don't start talking, take my grandfather's word. Watson Enterprises won't last the month."
His arrogance was unmistakable, his confidence natural and, oddly, not entirely repulsive.
Just moments before, Gavin's demeanor was anything but subdued, yet now, he seemed to falter, his confidence shaken by Jeremy's words.
Gavin was taken aback, realizing he stood before Shane Koch himself—the very man he had nearly confronted physically. The Koch Group wasn't just any corporation; it was the world's leading jewelry giant, a name known across continents.
Despite the stark differences in their business domains, the mere influence of the Koch Group was enough to jeopardize Watson Enterprises with a mere word. In his precarious situation, Gavin couldn't afford to antagonize Shane.
His demeanor shifted instantly, his face breaking into a warm smile as he extended his hand towards Shane. "Mr. Koch, I deeply regret my earlier ignorance. Please accept my sincerest apologies for the misunderstanding."
Patricia couldn't help but marvel at Gavin's swift change in attitude, reminiscent of a seasoned actor in a swift costume change.
Ignoring the evident shock and disdain from those around him, Gavin gestured for the butler to serve coffee, trying to salvage the situation.
Shane, visibly repulsed, refused the gesture. "I'm not here for pleasantries. I want answers about my daughter. Now."
Gavin hesitated, his expression a mix of shame and discomfort. Sensing Shane's patience waning, he quickly got to the heart of the matter.
"Please, let's remain calm. My reticence stemmed from embarrassment," Gavin began, his voice taking on feigned depth. "This goes back twenty-six years. My father was at the hospital for a routine visit and had an unfortunate fall, thanks to a slight push on the escalator.
"He ended up with a sprained ankle and some bruises. By sheer coincidence, Elise was also at the hospital for a prenatal visit and stumbled upon my father in distress. Despite her own condition, she helped him to a bench, which unfortunately aggravated her own health, necessitating a week's hospital stay.
"Feeling indebted, my father offered to help, but Elise revealed she was without a husband. Moved by her plight and character, my father urged me to marry her, to provide for her and her unborn child."
A stunned silence followed Gavin's revelation. The story was so far-fetched it bordered on comical.
As the room remained quiet, Gavin continued, "At that time, I was already expecting a child with Manda, but my father disapproved of her. He leveraged my inheritance against me, compelling me to marry Elise."
Patricia withdrew into contemplation.
Despite his grievances, Gavin recognized the wisdom in his grandfather's decision. His grandfather had always advised him to look beyond appearances, to see the true nature of people. It was clear now why he had been steered towards Elise and away from Manda, whose true colors were reflected in her daughter, Debbie. Grandpa must have recognized Elise's goodness, which is why he made Gavin marry her. He never would have guessed that Gavin would be so infatuated by Manda that he'd brazenly get together with her right after his passing, eventually driving Elise to her death.
Patricia realized Gavin's distant behavior towards her was rooted in the fact that she wasn't his biological child.
Jeremy scoffed. "I always knew my aunt had more sense than to fall for a guy like you."
Gavin, feeling cornered and humiliated yet cautious not to escalate the situation, Gavin forced a sheepish smile. "Elise was reluctant too. But as her belly grew and she faced relentless pressure from my father, she relented."
Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Gavin earnestly added, "But I swear, even though we married, I never touched her."
Inwardly, Gavin was repulsed by the notion of being intimate with a woman carrying another man's child. Of course, he kept that sentiment to himself, merely whispering under his breath.
Jeremy then asked, "So, who's Patricia's real father? Some jerk who knocked up my aunt before leaving her? He's probably no good either."
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