Chapter 983 The Mastermind Behind It All Is Actually Him!
The Cunningham Villa
Edgar and Avery sat on the sofa, their expressions grave.
Avery glanced at Edgar, hesitating to speak.
"You guessed right," Edgar said with a self-deprecating smile. "So you were right not to marry me officially. At least that protects the Hawthorne Group and your current businesses from being implicated."
Edgar truly admired Avery's rationality and strategic thinking. Ethan had once said that Avery's abilities rivaled her own.
Years ago, when Betty established herself in Silverlight City using the Hughes family's resources, it was largely thanks to Avery and Ethan's support.
He genuinely admired Avery—though she wasn't officially his wife yet, and might never be. He admitted to himself that he lacked her capabilities.
Avery held their child, looking at Edgar. "With this news suddenly breaking, what does the Cunningham family plan to do?"
Edgar shook his head. "My family is still in Muskow. What do you think someone with my limited abilities can do?"
"Edgar, it's not that you lack ability—you just shouldn't compare yourself to me," Avery sighed. "I'm confident enough to say I'm considered a genius in this circle, but most people are ordinary."
Avery had every right to be confident. Over the years, she had single-handedly supported the fractured and deteriorating Hawthorne Group—a feat only a genius could accomplish.
Edgar's eyes welled up. "With my family gone..."
He felt without direction.
"What are you afraid of? You still have us," came voices from the doorway as Jasmine and Ethan entered.
"Jasmine..." Edgar looked helpless. "I'm afraid this time you and Ethan will be dragged down too."
With the Cunningham family in trouble, Ethan, as the son-in-law and business partner through marriage, would inevitably face consequences.
Earlier, Lily had wagered that if Ethan wanted to avoid being implicated, he would need to divorce Jasmine.
But Ethan would never divorce her.
"I never imagined it would be him," Ethan said, clearly shocked.
"This news was obviously leaked by Lily. She's determined to bring down both the Raymond Group and the Cunningham family," Jasmine sighed. "Setting all that aside, I never would have guessed that William was actually controlling the Muskow black market. Should we credit his acting skills or how deeply he concealed his true nature?"
"He's been hiding this for years, using the Cunningham Group for all sorts of shady dealings! He really doesn't care if he destroys us all," Edgar said heatedly, wiping away tears.
He had completely lost faith in William. He would have preferred William to be truly incompetent.
How could anyone be so deceptive?
"Sophia must have known something. I remember before she died, she said something," Jasmine recalled.
Sophia had said: "Did you think William was a fool? How could I not know he was using and manipulating me? If he had shown me even a shred of genuine feeling, I wouldn't have needed to scheme like this."
"Sophia must have sensed something early on. She felt insecure, which is why she desperately tried to satisfy her vanity," Avery nodded.
"Lily deliberately exposed William as the man behind the Muskow black market with the sole purpose of destroying the Cunningham Group. And truthfully, the Cunningham Group cannot escape this..." Edgar said quietly, looking down.
When auditing the Cunningham Group, they discovered numerous irregularities.
The management had made mistakes, and subordinates had concealed much. Even if those at the top were unaware, they still bore legal responsibility.
Just as with Avery—even though it was Owen and others who had committed crimes within the Hawthorne Group, as part of management, Avery would still face consequences.
"You should withdraw from the Silverlight City market as soon as possible. Consider it... starting over," Ethan suggested to Edgar.
Edgar shook his head.
The Cunningham Group had worked hard to establish itself in Silverlight City. Withdrawing now would be far more complicated than simply starting over.
"Edgar, has Nolan returned?" Amelia asked as she entered carrying a child.
Edgar shook his head.
Hestia arrived too, looking anxious. "The police investigated the company today. Someone reported us... The tax audit cleared us, but regarding the contraband case at the docks... they need to question those responsible."
Edgar took a deep breath. "I'll turn myself in. I'll take responsibility for everything."
Better for him to bear the burden than for everyone to scatter in panic.
"Edgar!" Jasmine and the others called out anxiously as Edgar headed for the door.
Outside, Cordelia returned with Arnold, Edward, and Nolan.
None of them looked well.
"I've uncovered all the evidence of how the black market has been exploiting the Cunningham Group over the years," Arnold explained. "The Cunningham Group was founded by Bill, but the black market was also a criminal enterprise he took over in his early years... He created the Cunningham Group to launder money and operate under the radar. That's why Bill wanted William to marry a capable woman—it was all part of the plan."
Jasmine inhaled sharply in shock, looking up at Ethan.
Cordelia's life had been truly tragic—she had been part of Bill's calculations from the beginning.
They had William marry Cordelia, putting her in charge of the Cunningham Group publicly while William secretly ran the black market.
This way, no one would discover the Cunningham family's secrets.
Moreover, the seeds of trouble had been planted in the Cunningham Group while Bill was still around, making it impossible for Cordelia to detect after she took over.
Let alone Nolan and Edward.
Jasmine felt sorry for Cordelia. With tears in her eyes, she approached her. "Mom..."
Cordelia, unsteady on her feet, sat down on the sofa, trying to remain composed. "You're all still young with promising futures ahead. I'm leaving the Cunningham Group to you. This was my mistake—trusting the wrong person, being too trusting. I've hurt you all..."
Cordelia intended to turn herself in and take responsibility for everyone.
"Mom! What are you thinking? How could we let you bear this alone?" Nolan and Edward spoke urgently.
"I'll go," Nolan said firmly.
"Nolan, with your health condition, I can't let you," Edgar said, his eyes red as he pushed Nolan back gently. "I'm the least capable in this family. It should be me."
Ethan held Jasmine's hand tightly, pulling her into a comforting embrace.
Some things, once they happen, were unavoidable. All they could do was face them together.
"Right now, the key is to hand over the evidence to the police and actively cooperate to uncover the truth," Arnold said sternly, his anger evident. "If William were a real man, he would turn himself in."
Cordelia gave a cold laugh.
William, like Bill, had no genuine feelings for anyone. His eyes saw only opportunities for manipulation.
All these years, William had used Sophia as the perfect cover.
Without Sophia's role as his mistress, his departure from the Cunningham Group would have seemed unjustified, making it difficult for him to secretly manage the black market operations.
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