Chapter 595: The Cycle of Cause and Effect
Claire's face went pale, and she started shaking all over.
She thought, 'Howard actually gives all the shares to that witch's kid! Fine, just fine.'
"Howard, you're gonna regret this," Claire spat out, her teeth clenched.
"My biggest regret is marrying you, you poisonous woman!" Howard snapped back, slamming the table.
The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Daniel just sat there, looking like a zombie.
Bradley kept his head down, staying silent.
Brandon raised an eyebrow and got up. "This is Mr. Douglas's family drama, not my scene. I'm out."
Brandon knew better than to stick around when things were about to blow up.
As Brandon left, Ethan also wanted to bail.
"Everyone else out. Ethan, you stay!" Howard barked.
Ethan sat back down, squeezing Jasmine's fingers to signal her to stay alert.
Jasmine had been sitting behind Ethan, almost hidden in the corner.
She quietly watched the chaos, seeing the once-powerful couple crumble because of Leah's death.
Daniel leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at Jasmine. He knew he messed up, but she would never forgive him.
"Ethan, you're the eldest heir, you should take care of your brother. He's still young and just joined the company; you need to help him a lot," Howard said, barely holding back his anger.
Ethan felt like laughing but kept quiet.
He thought, 'Some people are really shameless.'
"And what about Daniel?" Ethan asked, pushing the issue.
Howard snorted, clearly having no plans for Daniel.
"How sad. Daniel's put a lot of effort into the Douglas Group," Ethan said softly, each word like a knife to Daniel's heart.
In that moment, Daniel looked like the saddest person in the world.
But sad people often had their own faults.
Daniel's eyes turned red, and he clenched his fists, trying to stay calm. He should've known from the start that his father had little affection.
"Howard, stop pretending to be a good guy in front of Ethan. Don't forget how his mother died!" Claire lost it and slammed the table. "Howard, if you make my life hell, fine. We'll fight to the end!"
Ethan looked at Claire, squinting. It seemed Claire had dirt on Howard about his mom's death.
Jasmine also watched Claire closely, waiting for her to spill the beans.
Howard snorted, confident Claire wouldn't dare to speak.
Claire clenched her fists. "Howard. I'm telling you, I haven't lost yet. We'll see."
Claire stormed out without looking back, not even glancing at Daniel.
At that moment, Daniel looked like an abandoned orphan, silently sitting in his chair.
Ethan's face darkened, and he asked coldly, "What really happened to my mom?"
Howard's face changed, and he said in a deep voice, "Don't listen to that crazy woman. She's just talking nonsense."
Ethan knew he wouldn't get any answers; he was just trying to stir the pot.
With a cold laugh, Ethan took Jasmine's hand and stood up. "If there's nothing else, we're out."
"Ethan, get to know your brother," Howard said, wanting Ethan to take Bradley under his wing.
Ethan sneered. "Brother? Aren't I an only child? My mom didn't have any other kids, right?"
With that, Ethan left with Jasmine.
If his mom didn't give birth to them, they weren't siblings.
He didn't acknowledge them.
Howard's face turned stormy, and he snorted, storming out with Bradley, not giving a damn about Daniel.
Daniel was the last one left in the conference room, sitting there like a lost puppy from sunset till it was pitch black. He stayed until the company closed, and the cleaning crew, freaked out to see him.
The whole Douglas Group was in darkness. Looking back, his life felt like one big, sad joke.
Jasmine got into the car, and Ethan personally buckled her seatbelt.
"Feeling down?" Ethan asked softly, noticing Jasmine's off mood.
Jasmine shook her head. "Just feeling pathetic."
She was talking about Daniel.
Ethan frowned a bit, holding Jasmine's chin to make her look at him. "Don't waste your energy on people and things that aren't worth it. Your eyes should only have me."
Jasmine smiled. "Ethan, you are my everything."
She thought, 'You are my life. I can't live without you.'
Ethan kissed Jasmine's forehead. "I told you, everyone's path is their own choice."
Jasmine nodded.
Yeah, the path was chosen by oneself.
Looking back, Jasmine only felt a sigh.
So many years had passed, and those who had hurt her seemed to have gotten what they deserved.
Zelda was now locked up in a mental institution, completely losing her freedom and living a life worse than death.
She had even indirectly caused her own parents' deaths. It would always be an indelible nightmare.
Annabelle was also dead, killed by her own hands.
The so-called punishment was like firing a bullet that came back to hit her in the forehead.
What went around came around. Their lives and their choices were their own. Once they made a decision, there was no turning back.
"Ethan." Jasmine turned to look at Ethan. "Are you actually very sad?"
She didn't know if Ethan had a hand in the downfall of those who had hurt her, but Jasmine knew Ethan was a principled and strategic person.
His emotions were not easily visible, and his revenge was like a butterfly flapping its wings, seemingly subtle but causing tsunamis and landslides.
Daniel's despair and sorrow were evident when Howard brought in his illegitimate son as if he had lost his soul, but Ethan seemed indifferent.
But was he really indifferent? He had once sincerely called that man "Dad."
He had once thought he was the only one in that family.
He had once had a mother and a home.
But all his happiness was extinguished by Claire and Howard. How could he not hate them?
Yet he could still calmly proceed step by step, ensuring the bad people received their due punishment.
This was Ethan's greatest strength.
He stayed in control, avoided hatred, stayed legal, and kept things balanced. He just did what he should and could do.
He led the Douglas Group to its peak and could watch it fall into the mud. He and Brandon created the Raymond Group. He was a man who could build skyscrapers and wasn't afraid of becoming ruins.
Because he always could stand at the top again, he would never be defeated.
"When I was a kid, my mom told me that karma is real, so think twice before you act," Ethan's voice was slightly hoarse.
How could he not be sad? How could he not hate?
But the seeds they planted would eventually bloom into the flowers they were meant to be.
Howard glanced at Bradley and lowered his voice in the car. "Don't worry. Everything that belongs to you, I will fight for it. Remember, everything I do is for you, and everything will be yours. I'll make up for all the lost time."
His eyes flashed with murderous intent; he had thoughts of killing Claire and Ethan.
He wanted to eliminate everyone who stood in his way.
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