Chapter 219 - Ethan's Years of Endurance
Stellar Enterprises.
Howard wanted to temporarily cancel the afternoon press conference, but the Browns disagreed.
If the Douglas family were to cancel the event, it would have a greater impact on the Browns.
"Howard, this was agreed upon in advance. The online public opinion has nothing to do with us. What are you doing? Killing the donkey after grinding it?" Harper's father brought Harper to Douglas Family, looking fierce.
For the Brown family, the successive blows of public opinion were a disaster, but they still had some room to turn things around.
"The netizens have no memory and will naturally forget about this period of time. They are just a group of poor people making noise, which doesn't affect the value of our Brown family." Lance sneered coldly, sitting in front of Howard. "In order to save face for the Brown family, I have already sent my youngest daughter abroad. The Brown family has made enough sacrifices. This marriage alliance was promised by you, Howard, repeatedly and confidently. Don't disappoint the Brown family."
Howard was also in a dilemma. The Brown family did indeed have a lot of leverage in their hands.
But...
The reputation of Stellar Enterprises was equally important.
Howard was torn between the two, unsure of what to do.
"Ethan is not Daniel. This child has his own mind..." Howard began to shift the blame onto Ethan.
"A parent's decision is the final say! Can Ethan rebel against it? As a father, you really have no authority at all." Lance tapped the armrest of his chair angrily. "My daughter has been dedicated to him, whether it's the Sanya project or this desert project. The Brown family has put in our best efforts, and my daughter has been spinning around week after week, all to give Ethan peace of mind. How many are as outstanding as my eldest daughter in the entire Silverlight City business circle?"
"I don't believe that the Douglas family can find a better marriage alliance." Lance snorted.
Looking at the whole business circle, besides the Cunningham's Family and the Wilson family, there were indeed not many that could compare to the Brown family.
Unfortunately, the real heiress of the Cunningham's Family went missing, and the foster daughter under the butler's name was not the real Miss Cunningham.
The only Miss from the Ryan family, Erin, was single, but she had been widowed, and people in their circle say that this woman is husband-killer.
Howard, who was not choosing the first marriage, naturally would not choose Erin, who had been married before.
The best option left was Harper, his eldest daughter.
"Harper is very good." Howard nodded.
Harper's eyes turned red, her voice choked with tears. "I'm sorry, Uncle Douglas, it's all my fault. I let the Brown family's reputation affect Stellar Enterprises."
Harper appeared weak and helpless, yet kind and sensible, a demeanor that older generations found attractive.
Howard, a person who prioritized interests, also believed that Harper was the best choice as his eldest daughter-in-law. "With the efforts of the public relations department, there is still time until three o'clock in the afternoon. As long as the public opinion decreases, the press conference will proceed as scheduled."
Howard had no other choice.
Harper wiped her tears. "Uncle Douglas, even if it's not meant to be, I will always be respectful to you."
Howard let out a sigh.
Such a good girl.
Ethan made it clear that he was upset with him.
Howard took a step back, giving Harper reassurance. He glanced at Lance and lifted the corner of his mouth slightly.
Even Zelda, her own younger sister, was willing to sacrifice her own happiness, let alone Aria Harper, her cousin.
She would make Aria Harper bear all the public pressure, at any cost.
...
Ethan's house.
Jasmine had taken a short nap in the car, but her sleep was restless.
"Don't hit me..."
She was having a dream, a dream of her years spent in prison.
It was a dark and hopeless world, filled with constant mental torture, loneliness, and despair.
She went insane countless times, silently screaming, and hurting herself over and over again, as she could not find a way to release her emotions.
On the day of her release, Jasmine told herself that it was all over, that everything had passed, and that the sunlight would shine on her.
But after years of suffering, even when the sunlight did shine on her, she would still feel insecure.
Was it really sunlight?
How long could the sunlight stay?
Jasmine didn't mistrust Ethan, she doubted herself.
"Mr. Douglas, this is the response from the school. They have reported Jasmine's situation, and if it is proven that she was wrongfully accused and there is new evidence, an appeal can be filed." The lawyer glanced at the response from Stanford University and showed it to Ethan.
"How confident are we about this?" Ethan stood by the door, looking at Jasmine sleeping on the bed, with a gloomy expression.
"If the situation is true and the evidence is conclusive, then Clara, who accused Jasmine of extortion and blackmail, can be considered as making false accusations and committing the crime of false accusations, fabricating facts, and causing serious consequences to the other party... Especially since Jasmine attempted suicide multiple times in prison and suffered from severe depression and anxiety, undergoing multiple MECT treatments... It constitutes the serious consequences of the other party's false accusations, and we can strive for a sentence of more than three years but less than ten years."
The lawyer organized the information. "But... there's something troublesome. You need to mentally prepare Jasmine Miss because in the courtroom, it was Jasmine... who voluntarily pleaded guilty. If she was threatened, she must personally speak out. Only with Jasmine's cooperation... can I try to find evidence that is favorable to us."
Ethan took a deep breath and walked downstairs.
He was afraid of further upsetting Jasmine, so he had been doing these things privately all along.
Undoubtedly, reopening the scars from five years ago would be cruel to Jasmine.
"As for Daniel Douglas and Evan, who testified in court, it is difficult to determine whether their actions constitute false accusations. Unless there is absolute evidence, it is likely a wrongful accusation. At most... Wilson can publicly apologize."
"I will take care of Daniel Douglas and Evan, and as for Clara, she must go in." Clara had escaped legal sanctions multiple times, but this time, Ethan had to send her in.
And it had to be multiple offences with no chance for redemption.
"As long as you can convince Miss Wilson to cooperate... I will gather the evidence as quickly as possible. Mr. Mitchell has also been searching for evidence in our favor, concerning the cause of your mother's death and the true cause of Douglas Sr.'s death, because the two involved parties are no longer here... so it may take a while. You must patiently wait and make sure the other side doesn't suspect anything, otherwise..." The lawyer reassured Ethan.
It was not the time to startle the snake.
Clara carried not only the guilt of framing Jasmine and sending her to prison but also the guilt of taking a life...
"I can wait, but Jasmine cannot." Ethan frowned.
He didn't want Jasmine to wait any longer. He wanted her to go back to school.
"Mr. Douglas, this matter... cannot be rushed." The lawyer was afraid that Ethan would disrupt the original plan.
The deaths of Douglas Sr. and Ethan's mother were both suspicious.
Originally, they were investigating these two incidents, and Jasmine's imprisonment was added to the mix. If they exposed everything prematurely, it would startle the snake.
With that, Ethan's years of patience and tolerance towards Howard Clara would go up in smoke.
Howard was not stupid, and neither was Clara.
When these people are pushed to the limit, they will act out of desperation and fight for survival.
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