Chapter 597 The Disappearance of Declan and Martin
Without affording them the opportunity to utter a word, Dorian asserted his stance. "Dr. Hayes was personally introduced by Mr. Langley himself. Are you suggesting that he is in cahoots with me? He is, after all, Mr. Langley's own flesh and blood. What possible reason could he have for such actions? I am of the belief that he desires nothing more than for Maria and Declan to be his legitimate grandchildren," Dorian declared.Patricia's jaw tightened, her mind struggling to make sense of the unfolding situation.Indeed!Samuel was Martin's biological father.Why would he involve himself in such a scheme?What could he possibly stand to gain?Even if he harbored a certain bias or distaste for Martin, this was a matter of the Langley family's reputation. Why would he risk bribing a doctor to falsify results in full view of everyone?Samuel may not have accomplished much in his life, but he was a man who valued his image.How could he commit such a disgraceful act?Martha interjected with a tone dripping with sarcasm, "I've been saying all along that she lacks morals, but neither you nor Mr. Langley believed me! Now, the truth is out. She is a loose woman. Who knows what she has done in these five years since the divorce to tarnish the Langley family name."Samuel was livid, his body trembling with rage. His face alternated between shades of white and green, and he was rendered speechless for a long moment. He could only point at Patricia, his breath coming in ragged gasps.Finally finding his voice, he spat out, "I never thought you could stoop so low! I personally brought in Dr. Hayes. What do you have to say about these results?"Patricia's face was a mask of stern resolve as she retorted, "There must be some mistake."Samuel laughed bitterly. "So, you're implying that I bribed Dr. Hayes and set you up?"Patricia's expression hardened. "You're twisting my words."Samuel laughed again. "Then clarify for me, what exactly are you implying? I personally brought in the doctor, and the samples were collected under my watch. Unless you're suggesting that I've bribed the doctor, what other schemes could you possibly have hatched?"Patricia was taken aback by his direct accusation, and found herself at a loss for words.Indeed!What other machinations could she have possibly concocted?Alan stepped forward, his face grave. "I can vouch for the fact that Miss Maria and Mr. Declan are the boss's biological children. Miss Maria looks like Mrs. Watson, which is why you insisted on her DNA test. Mr. Declan bears a striking resemblance to the boss, yet you didn't bring him. Your intentions are clear. Casting doubt on their paternity is not only an insult to Mrs. Watson, but also to the boss."Dorian raised an eyebrow. "James is your senior, so perhaps you're complicit in this as well. That would explain your fervent defense."With a single sentence, Alan found himself implicated.Alan's fists clenched in anger, struggling to keep his rising fury in check."You're defaming me."As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and dialed the landline number for the Ellenstein Villa District, in full view of everyone.The call was promptly answered."Bring young Declan to the Langley Group. The butler will be waiting at the entrance."The servant on the other end sounded confused. "Young Declan? Wasn't he already taken to the company?"Alan's face paled at the revelation."What? Repeat that."The servant reiterated, "The butler left with Miss Maria not long ago, and then we received a call asking for someone to bring young Declan to the company. It's been almost six hours now."A sinking feeling washed over Alan, his face contorting with dread as he turned to face Dorian.Dorian sat back, his hands folded under his chin, a smug smirk playing on his lips.Alan fumed. Had Dorian kidnapped young Declan to force them to compromise?Damn it.He hadn't seen this coming.He had assumed Dorian would merely use the news as leverage, but he hadn't anticipated this additional move.It was his oversight.
With a fierce intensity in his gaze, Alan stared at Dorian. The words of the servant on the other end of the phone line had become a distant murmur, no longer reaching his ears. Without a second thought, he hung up the call and slid the phone back into his pocket.Patricia, unable to contain her curiosity, asked, "Alan, what's wrong?"Alan met her gaze but offered no words in response, merely shaking his head. Patricia's heart sank incrementally, a sense of unease slowly creeping within her. From that moment on, she dared not speak another word.Martha and Dorian exchanged a knowing glance, a smirk of victory playing on their lips. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" they sneered. Patricia clenched her jaw, opting for silence over retaliation.Dorian seized the opportunity to deliver the final blow. "Patricia had an affair, conspired with James to murder Mr. Langley, and gave birth to illegitimate children. She is no longer fit to preside over the Langley Group. As a shareholder, I have, in accordance with Mr. Langley's will, dismissed her and distributed her shares amongst his children."Once Martin's shares were dispersed, he would become the majority shareholder of the Langley Group, wielding the most influence within the company. The decision of who would succeed as the next president was now his to make.Patricia, not willing to accept defeat, moved to confront him, but Alan held her back, gripping her arm. He whispered something in her ear, causing her expression to morph into one of disbelief as she stared at Dorian.Dorian, reclining in his chair, twirled a ring on his left thumb with his right hand. His composed demeanor suggested he was certain Patricia wouldn't dare to cause a scene. Seeing him like this, Patricia was filled with rage but felt utterly powerless.After a moment, she managed to choke out, "You're despicable." Dorian merely smiled, choosing not to address her accusation. Patricia fell silent, as did Alan.Mr. and Madam Langley also remained quiet, their attention focused on the infant Maria in their arms, as if the unfolding drama had no bearing on them.The room was filled with a tense silence. Some present were dissatisfied with the outcome but dared not voice their objections.
Others accepted it gladly, even finding satisfaction in the turn of events. They had long been discontented with a woman at the helm of such a large company, and with the recent scandals, they were more than happy to see her departure.Martha and Ian exchanged anticipatory glances, adjusting their postures as they eagerly awaited Dorian's announcement of Ian's ascension to CEO. But Dorian never glanced their way. Instead, he clapped his hands, and the office door swung open to reveal his son, Rex.Rex was not particularly tall, nor was he muscular. He wore glasses and had a polite demeanor. He bowed to the room and greeted everyone with a simple, "Hello, everyone."
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