Chapter 928 Forcing Rhett into a Corner
Vincent's Place
Lily had been swamped with work for about two weeks before finally finding time to see Vincent.
Vincent was still asleep when she arrived. He'd been restless lately—insomnia at night, lethargy during the day. He hadn't expected Lily back so soon, assuming her business matters would keep her away longer. He had to admit, the woman was efficient.
"I've cut all ties between the Powell family and Rhett," Lily said, sitting on the edge of Vincent's bed and leaning close. "I even reported him to his father, Beck. The real power in the Murray family is Beck, and Rhett will soon be stripped of all authority."
Vincent lazily reclined against his pillows and smiled. "I overslept. Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
"I wanted to surprise you," Lily said happily, embracing him.
The surprise visit wasn't entirely innocent—she wanted to see if Vincent had another woman around while she was away. Instead, she found him indulging in his favorite pastime: sleeping with the curtains drawn in the middle of the day, irritated by any disturbance.
Fighting his annoyance, Vincent spoke with sleepy indifference. "You handled Rhett quickly. Impressive."
Lily hugged him tighter. "Beck is much smarter than Rhett, and he has other sons. Rhett being pushed out was inevitable."
"Aren't you worried Rhett might lash out in desperation?" Vincent asked with a slight smile.
"Even without the Murray Group, Rhett still has the Hawthorne Group through Avery. He's not completely cornered yet," Lily said, lying beside Vincent. "Are you still tired? I could nap with you."
"I have a meeting at the office soon," he said, suddenly wide awake and getting out of bed. "Wait for me here. I'll be back later."
This was the perfect opportunity to push Rhett to the breaking point.
Lily frowned. "I just got here, and you're leaving already?"
"If you'd told me you were coming, I would have cleared my schedule for you," Vincent said with a practiced smile.
"Fine, I'll wait for you here," Lily said, settling into his bed.
Vincent nodded and turned to leave, already mentally throwing out the bed she was lying in.
Avery's Place
Rhett was in a rage, with nowhere to vent his frustration except at Avery's.
Some people never learn.
Avery sat calmly at the dining table, eating her meal while Rhett threw a tantrum, smashing things around her. "That bitch! Lily cut all ties with the Murray Group and blamed it on me! Now the Cunningham family refuses to work with me, and Beck wants me out of the Murray Group. After everything I've done, this is how he treats me!"
Avery continued eating quietly, finding his meltdown rather entertaining.
When Rhett finally exhausted himself, he turned to Avery. "When are you transferring the Hawthorne Group shares to my name?"
"You haven't heard?" Avery smiled. "I've already sold the Hawthorne Group shares."
Rhett froze, staring at her in disbelief. "Avery! What did you just say? Say that again!"
"I've already sold the Hawthorne Group shares," Avery repeated calmly, leaning back in her chair, knife and fork in hand, completely composed.
Rhett was too shocked to rage now.
After a long moment, he spoke. "You're playing me."
He had believed Avery would sacrifice anything for the Hawthorne Group—it was the reason she'd agreed to marry him. He thought he could use the company to control her, but had he been the one being used all along? Had she simply been using him to keep the Hawthorne Group afloat?
Rhett laughed bitterly, stepping back. "Well played, Avery."
Avery regarded him coolly. "The Hawthorne Group was finished anyway. Better to sell now while it still commanded a decent price."
Rhett was livid. "Well, well, all of you bitches have been playing me."
Avery tapped the divorce papers on the table. "Look these over. Sign them if there are no issues, or tomorrow your reputation might be in tatters."
She tossed him a folder containing explicit photos of his numerous infidelities during their marriage. Rhett had never been subtle about his affairs.
"You set me up?" he snarled.
Avery had been using him completely from the beginning.
"Rhett, actions have consequences," Avery said, looking directly at him. "Revenge may not come immediately, but it comes eventually. When you hurt others, you should expect that someday, someone will hurt you too."
Rhett was a madman, a sadist, a coward who took out his frustrations on women. The number of women he had harmed was countless.
What Avery had done to him was nothing in comparison.
"You deserve to die, Avery!" Rhett lunged at her, but Avery stood and dodged, stabbing her fork into his hand.
Rhett screamed in pain just as Edgar and Lyanna burst into the room.
Edgar immediately punched Rhett to the floor. "What's this? Still trying to hit women? You pathetic fool."
Rhett writhed in pain, clutching his hand and glaring at Avery. "You'll pay for this."
"I'll be waiting for you to come begging me to sign those divorce papers," Avery replied with a cold smile.
Rhett scrambled to his feet and fled.
In that moment, he realized how completely he had failed. After years of manipulating women, he was now being outplayed by the very women he thought he controlled.
Avery laughed bitterly. "You reap what you sow."
"That was satisfying," Lyanna said, nearly in tears with excitement. "But Avery, be careful. Rhett may be bad, but he's not the most dangerous one. My father, Beck—he's the real threat."
With Rhett failing to secure the Cunningham Group's partnership, losing the Powell family's cooperation, and now being outmaneuvered by Avery for control of the Hawthorne Group, Beck would undoubtedly abandon him.
And then Beck would take matters into his own hands.
He was more than twice as dangerous as Rhett.
"I'm ready for him," Avery said calmly.
With Rhett cornered, it would take just a little provocation to turn father and son against each other.
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