Chapter 419 Shawn Helps Kelly Out


    Kelly had not only tackled the financial troubles at Lockhart Group, but she had also managed to bring order back to thepany


    Her swift actions left everyone stunned.


    Yet, the person most caught off guard was Quentin.


    For years, Quentin had always seen Zev as a threat because of his impressive lineage. With Helena and Sylvester being business prodigies, Zev was bound to be a powerful figure, even without formal training. Quentin feared that, eventually, Zev would jeopardize his own ambitions.


    But what Quentin hadn''t expected was Kelly.


    In less than a month, Kelly had efficiently neutralized every challenge Zev had left behind. Everyone was taken aback by how quickly and decisively she took control.


    Quentin had believed that Kelly, a widow with a young child and no experience in managing apany. would crack under pressure. He thought she''d be emotional, easily manipted, and simply sell her shares when cornered, letting him take charge.


    He assumed, based on his narrow understanding of women, that she would be so ovee by fear and insecurity that she''d depend on him for everything.


    But instead, Kelly had turned the chaos to her advantage, swiftly removing him from Lockhart Group and eradicating the seeds of trouble he had nted, all in less than two weeks.


    "Mr. Ashford, weren''t you so sure you''d win Zev and Kelly''s trust? You promised that if anything happened to Zev, Kelly would just fall in line. What happened to that?" Shawn mocked, a sarcastic smile twisting his lips.


    When Quentin had left Wagner Group, he''d tried to intimidate Shawn, but it wasn''t untilter that Shawn learned of Quentin''s true intentions-he had approached Zev and Kelly with a hidden agenda.


    Unfortunately, they had underestimated Kelly./


    "Shawn, you''re nothing but an illegitimate son. If you aren''t aligned with Wagner Group, you''ll never inherit it. Stop with your little schemes. Without someone giving Kelly a heads-up, she wouldn''t have connected me to her suspicions so quickly," Quentin spat, mming his hand on the table.


    The elders at Wagner Group had always looked down on Shawn, viewing him as an unworthy, illegitimate


    son.


    Shawn simply chuckled, a cold grin ying on his face. “Not recognizing your own stupidity can be danger."


    real


    Kelly was smart, and Shawn knew she''d have figured it out, with or without his help.


    "Enough!" Patrick''s voice cut through the tension as he entered the room, his tone firm. "We''re family. Stop bickering like children."


    Ken and the others fell silent, knowing better than to speak out with Patrick present.


    "Ken," Patrick said, turning to him, "you''ve been at Lockhart Group the longest. What do you think about


    the situation there?"


    Chapter 419 Shawn Helps Kelly Out


    He wanted to see whether Ken was truly here to help theirpany.


    Ken responded carefully, keeping his tone diplomatic "Mr. Patrick, I believe Lockhart Group still has many unresolved issues. Kelly may have handled the immediate concerns, but the deeper problems will resurface over time."


    Patrick snorted dismissively. "Wade is dead and Zion is missing. Lockhart Group can''t fall into the hands of outsiders. Kelly may be in charge now, but she''s still an outsider. I''m Zion''s uncle. It''s safer in my hands than in someone else''s."


    He nced at Quentin and Ken, bis expression calcting. "Kelly is just a young woman. If something happens to Zion, do you really think she won''t remarry? The moment she does, her new husband will inherit Lockhart Group''s century-old legacy!"


    The room grew still, the weight of his words sinking in.


    Shawn, breaking the silence, smirked. "What if I make Kelly marry me?"


    The room fell unnervingly quiet. The only sound was the rustling of papers and the sharp intake of breath ''from the others.


    Shawn had it all nned out, it seemed.


    Zev''s disappearance had made Kelly Seaville''s most sought-after widow.


    With billions to her name, it was no surprise that Shawn, like the others, was considering how to secure her.


    Patrick shot him a disapproving look. "You''re being absurd."


    But Shawn was unwavering. "Kelly and I have history. She''s been unhappy with Zev for years. It''s only a matter of time before we end up together."


    Patrick hesitated for a moment before responding with forced indifference. "She''s your sister-inw."


    Shawn said nothing, just letting out a bitterugh.


    "Alright, enough of this. If there''s nothing else, go back to your work," Patrick said, signaling the end of the conversation. He had obviously given Shawn the green light to pursue Kelly, understanding that it might be the best path for the Wagners. Zev''s disappearance had created the perfect opening, and the Wagners wouldn''t let it pass. Kelly marrying Shawn would keep the wealth within their control.


    Quentin scoffed, rising from his seat. He led the others out of the room. Once they left, only Shawn and Ken remained.


    "I''m doing this to buy time. Patrick already wants to get rid of Kelly," Shawn admitted quietly, his voiceced with concern.


    He was ruthless when it came to his goals, but he had limits. He would never allow Patrick to harm Kelly.


    Ken watched him closely. "You think it''s him, don''t you?"


    When Ken first joined Wagner Group, he had been tasked with getting close to Shawn to stir up division.


    214


    Chapter 419 Shawn Helps Kelly Out


    But Shawn had proven to be easier to manipte than Ken had anticipated.


    Shawn frowned. "I can''t be sure yet, but whoever it is from the Wagners, if Zev falls, Kelly bes their primary target.


    "By proposing marriage to Kelly, I can buy her some time, keep them from acting too quickly, Shawn exined, rubbing his forehead in frustration.


    When I returned to Seaville, I thought I was just trying to make a name for myself, to establish a foothold I had no idea how deep this game really went... or how dangerous it could be.


    It''s terrifying.


    Shawn studied Ken''s face as he voiced his confusion. "Patrick''s never stood out- just an average guy who barely meets expectations. He''s thest person anyone would suspect... So why are you so convinced it''s him?"


    Ken''s presence at Wagner Group wasn''t a coincidence. His investigation had led him straight to Patrick.


    This wasn''t just business-it was a dangerous gamble.


    A humorless chuckle escaped Ken''s lips. "Because I believe Gary ...


    In his heart, he knew Gary would never betray his own flesh and blood-never hurt


    his sister''s family or manipte his nephew.


    That only left one possible suspect, Patrick.


    Shawn didn''t reply, lost in thought.


    If it truly was Patrick behind everything, Shawn realized, his deception was more


    cunning than he''d ever imagined.


    The level of maniption was enough to send a chill down his spine.


    "I used to think I was above all this, a genius," Shawn muttered with a bitterugh. "Now that I''m in the middle of it, I realize ... I''ve been fighting to climb only to end up as someone else''s pawn."


    At some point, his system of belief, along with his pride and confidence, hadpletely shattered.


    It was probably when he realized someone was using him to make an enemy out


    of Zev and go against him


    The realization hit him hard.


    The battle he thought he was winning was nothing more than a fa?ade. He was a puppet, controlled by forces far greater than he understood.


    "Do you think Zev wille back?" Shawn asked Ken, his voice tinged with unspoken fear.


    He wanted Zev to live. He wanted to win him, fair and square. Despite wanting to


    defeat him, even using shady business tactics, he never wanted Zev dead.


    "I believe he will," Ken replied, his tone quiet yet filled with certainty.


    When he returns, everything will change.


    Revenge with My Undercover Cap Husby