Chapter 554 Nolan Is Really Good at Cursing
Ethan remained calm, sitting there and keeping silent.
He was already used to this circle's sycophantic nature, so he didn't care about the current situation or the gazes of the people around him.
History always remembered the final victor; the process didn't matter.
"Ethan, you're still too young, arrogant, and unaware of your abilities. You think you have some skills and talents, so you become conceited. Unfortunately, your father will always be your father," Howard said coldly. "Now, are you interested in talking to me?"
Ethan stood his ground, ignoring the jeers from Branson. "If the Chairman doesn't care about you anymore. What are you? Outside the Douglas family, who's going to give you the time of day?"
Ethan kept his silence, but Jasmine couldn't stand seeing him being belittled. To her, it was acceptable for her to take hits, but Ethan was another story entirely.
"You know," Jasmine snapped, "everyone in the industry knew that when Ethan was in charge, the Douglas Group was the gold standard. If it weren't for Ethan leading the company to the top, where would you be now? Since Ethan left, you all know whether the Douglas Group has been in the black or red. Sure, a starved camel is bigger than a horse, but eventually, it fades away."
Jasmine knew full well that Howard and Claire had purged all the seasoned employees who had supported Ethan. The core team of the Douglas Group had been replaced by Daniel and Claire's people by the time Liam and the others left.
Ethan wasn't rushing. He'd brought all his loyal staff over to Raymond Group, biding his time while Raymond plotted to deal with the Douglas family. The plan was to let the Douglas Group hit rock bottom but still be salvageable, then to swoop in and take over completely.
Ethan had always been patient, knowing that the final outcome was near.
Howard was arrogant but lacked real skill, and Daniel was even more inept.
Under their management, the Douglas Group was doomed to fail.
"Ms. Cunningham, you're just a girl, what do you know?" Howard huffed, his tone dripping with condescension.
Jasmine immediately turned to Nolan. "Nolan, did you hear that? He's saying I'm clueless."
Nolan shot a steely look at Howard. "Chairman Douglas, I've heard that when you were young, you were nothing special. At Jasmine's age, you hadn't achieved anything. It was only through marrying Ethan's mother and her support that you got to where you are. People like you, who were once frogs at the bottom of a well, never realized how vast the sky could be. After all, you didn't know much back then either."
The Cunningham siblings were known for their sharp tongues, and Jasmine had intentionally set Nolan up to deliver the scathing remarks. With so many outsiders around, Ethan had to keep up appearances and avoid escalating things too much.
Nolan wasn't intimidated by Howard and delivered his words with precision, each one a calculated blow.
Howard's face turned pale, his breathing becoming shallow and ragged, as though he might collapse any moment.
Howard was the epitome of a ruthless man. He had risen to wealth on his wife's capabilities, only to resent her and conspire against her, eventually marrying his mistress. It was the classic case of letting a wolf into the house with a heart as black as night.
"Nolan, you're just spoiling her. Sooner or later, someone will teach her about the harsh realities of the world," Howard sneered coldly.
Nolan stepped in front of Jasmine protectively. "You don't need to worry about my sister, Chairman Douglas. If anyone dares to make her unhappy, I'll show them what real danger looks like." His cold gaze bore into Branson, making it clear that if it weren't for the gala, Branson might already be on the floor.
Branson, clearly intimidated, fell silent. Crossing Nolan was not something anyone wanted to do.
Howard's hands trembled with anger, but out of respect for the social norms, he knew better than to continue arguing with someone younger. He snorted and turned on his heel, walking away.
Jasmine, fuming, huffed and took a seat next to Ethan. "That man is seriously messed up."
Ethan chuckled and nodded in agreement. "He's got issues, that's for sure."
Nolan cast a glance at Ethan. "What's going on with Raymond Group? Did they really let you go for profit?"
Ethan didn't offer any explanation.
"Why don't you join the Cunningham Group? Jasmine has shares, and you've got the skills. You should contribute to the family," Nolan suggested, his tone still carrying its usual arrogance, but with genuine warmth. He was clearly extending a sincere invitation and treating Ethan as family.
Jasmine was touched by the offer but shook her head in refusal. "He needs to have his own career."
After all, the Cunningham Group belonged to the Cunningham family. Jasmine knew that Ethan would feel constrained working there, given the familial ties. She understood that he wouldn't be comfortable joining their company.
"If that's the case, then come back. I can afford to support you; there's no need for you to struggle to build something from scratch." Nolan was baffled by Jasmine and Fiona's choices. "You're a young woman with family, and your health should be your priority. Why throw yourself into the spotlight?"
Nolan respected Jasmine's decision, knowing he could always keep an eye on her entrepreneurial journey. She had many capable people around her, and Ethan was more than capable of taking care of his wife. But Fiona was different; she was in the entertainment industry, which was inherently complex, and her health was fragile. Nolan couldn't always be there for her.
With a sigh, Nolan chose to sit beside Jasmine instead of moving to the front.
"Are you worried about something? How's Fiona doing?" Jasmine asked gently.
Nolan's voice lowered. "I was impulsive the other day at home. I owe you and Mom an apology."
Jasmine shook her head. "It's not so much about me, but Mom must be very upset."
Nolan fell silent, his expression somber. "I'm sorry."
"Nolan, I get where you're coming from. Some things, once they're out in the open, can't be taken back. Fiona wouldn't stay in the Cunningham family after this. But from Mom's perspective, she just wants the truth and some closure. That's not unreasonable," Jasmine said.
Nolan stayed silent.
Jasmine decided to drop the topic and shift her focus. "Ethan, I told you that the president of Raymond isn't someone to be trusted. He's opportunistic and will sell out anyone for a profit."
It was clear that Ethan had been betrayed for the benefit of the Douglas Group.
Ethan smirked slightly and nodded in agreement.
Brandon, who was still mingling with Howard in the front row, was oblivious to what had transpired.
"Better to keep your distance from him in the future," Jasmine murmured about Brandon.
"Ethan, I heard from Howard just now. What happened with Raymond? Why did they fire you?" Deborah approached from the front, now taking a seat behind them as the group had moved.
"It's only natural. Everyone prioritizes their own interests," Ethan replied with a nonchalant shrug.
Deborah, perceptive as ever, eyed Ethan with suspicion. The relationship between Raymond and Ethan was clearly more complicated than it appeared.
But without solid evidence, Deborah couldn't press the issue, and Ethan didn't trust her either.
"You and Brandon knew each other from your study abroad days, right? Were you close?" Deborah asked cautiously.
"Exactly. So, he chose to align with the Douglas family for maximum gain. I don't mind. If sacrificing myself means such a significant benefit for him, it's worth it," Ethan said lazily, his hand still intertwined with Jasmine's
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
