Chapter 51 Inheritance
What was the point of clinging to her so-called pride?
In Silverlight City, her reputation was beyond tarnished—everyone talked about how she was sullied, and how she bore a child for some random guy. Only she knew the truth of that single night.
Once her name was dirtied, it was impossible to clean it.
If it meant earning enough for Justin's medical bills, she'd do whatever it took.
Emily was somewhat taken aback—she hadn't expected Jasmine to agree so readily.
During those five years in prison, however they tormented or humiliated her, Jasmine remained unmoved, stoic, and silent, enduring the pain without a plea or a whimper.
But it seemed a few days of freedom had given her clarity.
"Try it out with me for a month first; start with something less risky. I'm worried about what this life might do to you," Emily sighed, tipping the driver and helping Jasmine with her meager belongings.
Jasmine had little to her name, just a few pieces of clothing, which were from Richard when she first went to prison.
"Thank you... Thank you, Emily."
Jasmine hastily expressed her gratitude.
"Thanks for what? Now that you're in Boston, I might not be able to help with much, but as long as I have a roof over my head, you'll have a place to stay out of the cold."
The snow was falling heavily, dusting Emily's long hair with a layer of white.
Jasmine reached up to her own hair, which used to cascade down her back but had been cut short when she was incarcerated. She hadn't cut it in six months, but by now, it barely brushed her shoulders.
"Emily, do you ever come into contact with Henry from the SHC Group?" Jasmine whispered.
Climbing up to the rented room, Emily cursed under her breath, disgusted by the filth in the stairwell left by those with no respect for anyone or anything.
Emily glanced back at Jasmine with a smile, "Do you mean our very own Boston billionaire?"
Jasmine remained quiet.
"You know, the one all over TV, your phone, in the news?" Emily thought Jasmine was just kidding around.
A look of despair filled Jasmine's eyes. How could she ever meet Henry?
"Our club happens to be the largest and most upscale in Silverlight City, and I've heard it has shares owned by SHC Group. Some of SHC's top executives do fancy coming here to hang out, although I’ve never seen Henry in person. I’ve only seen him on the covers of finance magazines. If you want to meet him... well, it’s not entirely impossible, but it’ll depend on your luck."
Emily was somewhat aware of Jasmine's background.
For any other woman, she might have scoffed at their foolish, wishful thinking, but Jasmine was different—she was once the heiress of the Wilson family in Silverlight City. The people she had access to were naturally of a different caliber.
After all, Jasmine's ex-boyfriend was none other than Daniel, the young master of the Douglas family in Silverlight City.
A spark of hope lit up in Jasmine's eyes as she smiled back at Emily. "Thank you, Emily."
"In prison, you were always the one to say thanks. We're both knee-deep in the mud now; where's the need for all this courtesy?" Emily tilted her chin up towards the garbage-filled hallway. "See? This is where we belong."
Jasmine stared blankly at the rotting garbage, saying nothing.
...
Silverlight City, Stellar Enterprises.
"Mr. Douglas, here is the financial summary for the last quarter."
"Project expenses initiated by Daniel—1.2 billion. What's the ROI?" Ethan frowned, clearly displeased.
"Mr. Douglas... initially, we shouldn't focus solely on the return."
Ethan’s secretary was visibly nervous.
Ethan scoffed. "Not focusing on returns? What am I doing, charity work?"
In Ethan's view, Daniel was foolishly oblivious.
"Should we thoroughly investigate where that money went?" Liam asked timidly.
Ethan and Daniel were brothers, so an in-depth investigation into the finances could strain their relationship.
"Investigate it discreetly," Ethan huffed. He trusted no one within the Douglas family, not even his father, Howard.
"By the way, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Patrick from SHC Group mentioned that next month's Chamber of Commerce gala will be in Boston, with him as the host. He’s invited you to Boston," Liam said after taking a glance at Ethan's schedule. "Last year, you hosted the gala in Silverlight City. It's Mr. Patrick's turn to return the favor."
"It's just a show of force," Ethan remarked casually. "Make sure the arrangements are set."
In Boston, the Patricks; in Silverlight City, the Douglases—over the years, they'd strived for cooperation while engaging in a subtle rivalry.
Henry was smart, but Ethan always sensed something off about him, preferring his more straightforward brother, Ian.
Liam nodded and exited the office.
"Mr. Douglas, we still haven't located Jasmine, but the Wilsons have been by numerous times already. Evan's even gone to Mr. Howard for help," Liam slipped into the office, his discomfort apparent.
It was clear that Howard had put Liam in a tight spot.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, his gaze icy as he looked at Liam. "Not seeing them."
"Mr. Douglas, don't be stubborn. You haven't claimed the shares from Douglas Sr yet. With the marriage condition unfulfilled, your current position is just provisional; marriage would secure your say," Liam said, agitated. "Daniel and his mother are eyeing those shares, and offending Mr. Howard now isn't wise."
Especially over an unrelated child.
Justin's beating was a pity, sure, but Ethan was a Douglas. His priorities had to be clear.
"Until we find Jasmine, I won't meet anyone from the Wilson family, including Daniel," Ethan declared firmly, pointing a warning finger at Liam. "One more word, and you're out, too."
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