<b>Chapter </b><b>663 </b>
Suri was utterly shocked, her hand numb and suspended in mid–air.
That p, unreserved,nded solidly on Cassius‘ face.
With tears welling in his eyes, Chasel gazed at the man who had stepped in <i>to </i>shield him, feeling his heart pounding so fiercely it threatened to burst out of his chest.
<b>“</b>Cassius!<b>” </b>
“Suri, please don’t hit Chasel. It’s not his why
it’s all mine.”
The air in the hallway seemed to freeze at that moment.
Facing the overwhelming pressure, Cassius‘posure only made the situation more heart–wrenching. “For me, for the Ashbourne family, he’s taken too many blows already. From now on, I don’t want him to suffer even a bit more. I’ll do everything I can to protect him.”
Everyone was astounded!
Chasel hung his head low, moved yet filled with a deeper, more painful sense of guilt and self–reproach.
From a young age, his grandfather and aunt told him that he was the future hope of the Bright family, that he should be a man who stands tall and upright.
But the truth was, he who was supposed to stand tall and upright had instead only brought trouble to his loved one, causing him endless problems.
What kind of man was he?
“Cassius, you said Chasel took a beating? What do you mean?!” Evadne’s heart tightened sharply.
“Chasel has been in a bad state since he ran away from the Bright family.”
Cassius, recalling the cruel, swollen scars on Chasel’s fair skin, he clenched his trembling fists, “Hearing of father’s illness, he didn’t want to dy a second and came over despite his condition, to treat father.”
Suri’s gaze suddenly sharpened with concern, “The Bright family used family discipline on him?!”
<b>“</b>Cassius, stop talking.”
Chasel tugged at the hem of his shirt, shaking his head with a voice so faint it was nearly inaudible, “Stop, it’s all in the past. You don’t need to exin anything for me.”
It seemed to be true.
Suri shivered and staggered backward.
Havinge <b>from </b>the Bright family herself, she knew all too well the fearsome nature <b>of </b>the Bright family’s discipline.
And <b>now</b><b>, </b><b>with </b>their secret rtionship exposed, the Bright family might very well beat him to death!
Suddenly<b>, </b><b>the </b>door <b>to </b><b>the </b>examination room swung open.
Emeric, <b>seated </b><b>in </b><b>a </b>wheelchair, was pushed out by Mr. Dn, facing the stunned crowd.
His <b>face </b>was still <b>weak </b>from <b>the </b>recent medical emergency, but he sat upright determinedly, refusing <b>to </b><b>let </b>his children <b>see </b>him <b>in </b><b>a </b>state of decline<b>. </b>
“Dad<b>!</b><b>” </b>The Ashbourne siblings were <b>torn </b>between concern and fear.
<b>With </b><b>their </b><b>father’s </b>appearance<b>, </b><b>it </b>was <b>clear </b><b>he </b>knew everything about Cassius and Dr. <b>Bright</b>.
They <b>feared </b><b>their </b><b>father’s </b><b>wrath </b>and disappointment toward <b>their </b>brother.
But what <b>they </b><b>feared </b><b>more </b>was <b>that </b><b>this </b>might aggravate <b>their </b>father’s Illness<b>, </b><b>his </b>b*dy really couldn’t endure <b>any </b>more <b>blows</b><b>! </b>
<b>“</b><b>Dad</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Cassius instinctively <b>tightened </b><b>his </b>grip <b>on </b>Chasel’s arm<b>, </b><b>pulling </b>him behind for protection.
This gesture struck Evadne <b>profoundly</b><b>! </b>
There was <b>no </b>difference.
It was the same love Thaddeus had <b>given </b>her, <b>with </b>no difference.
<b>So </b>what if they were gay?
Did they steal someone’s food? Kidnap someone’s child? Even if ndered by a thousand tongues, watched by a thousand judging eyes, what did it matter<b>? </b>
When the whole world turned against them, the Ashbourne family would always be their safe harbor. That was enough.
Chasel stood rigidly behind Cassius, not daring to look at Emeric.
Tall and graceful as he was, he now seemed to have lost his backbone, curling inward and shrinking down, wishing he could bury his head in the ground and disappearpletely.
Emeric lifted his face, his gaze piercing through Cassius and onto Chasel.
After a long silence, he spoke softly, “Cassius, let’s have a word, just the two of us.”
In the hospital room, only Emeric and Cassius remained.
Emèric, facing the window, took his time before speaking.
Cassius braced for the onught of questions, anger, and reprimands he had imagined, but they did note like a storm.
But this silence was even more unbearable.
“Dad, everything you’ve seen is true. I am sorry.”
Cassius couldn’t hold back anymore, bowing deeply to his father, <b>“</b>I’ve let down the upbringing and expectations you had for me. Everything is my fault. I only ask one thing of you, don’t make things difficult for Chasel.”
Emeric remained silent.
Cassius slowly straightened up, “This incident, I know<i>, </i>has caused a great deal of trouble for the K Group. Tomorrow, I will submit my resignation, hand over my duties, and step down from the board.”
Emeric, upon hearing this, abruptly rose from his wheelchair, his b*dy swaying as he steadied himself against the windowsill. “Dad, be careful!<b>” </b>
Just as Cassius moved to assist him, Emeric turned around, looking at him furiously.
“Just because of this, you’re quitting?”
Cassius was taken aback.
“Internationally, there are countless CEOs who havee out publicly, and they’re still faring well. The domestic environment is <b>a </b>bit more conservative, but this is just a personal affair<b>; </b>who does it bother? Who does it harm?”
Emeric mmed his hand against the wall, his voice filled with anger, “Back in the day, I married four times, and the tabloids had a field day with me. Did I not sit untroubled at the helm, keeping my seat as chairman for decades? Those who gossiped behind my back, didn’t they still have to treat me with utmost respect?<b>” </b>
Cassius was totally stunned, his l*ps parted but no words came out, “Dad, I…”
<b>“As </b>my son, howe you have a heart smaller than a pinhole? Your mental toughness is even less than Evadne’s by half!”
He continued<b>, </b>shaking his head in bewilderment, “This is strange, who do you take after? Neither your mother nor I are like this<b>!</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>Dad</b>, I’m different from you.” Cassius hadn’t expected his father <b>to </b>take his side, and his heart warmed with the support<b>, </b>but guilt weighed <b>even </b>heavier on him.
“What’s the difference? How <b>are </b>you different!”
Emeric’s eyes reddened with urgency, he <b>rose </b>from <b>his </b>sickbed and strode over<b>, </b><b>“</b>Are <b>you </b>less good than me? Are you less good <b>than </b>anyone? You’re not even less <b>good </b><b>than </b>Thaddeus<b>! </b>Loving someone isn’t wrong. <b>Being </b><b>different </b><b>isn’t </b>your <b>fault</b><b>. </b>If people outside curse you<b>, </b><b>it’s </b>because theyck <i>a </i>heart of tolerance. They’re narrow–minded<b>! </b>
<b>Don’t </b>worry <b>about </b><b>what </b>others think. Just remember one <b>thing</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Emeric’s voice caught<b>, </b><b>and </b>he <b>heavily </b>patted <b>Cassius </b>on the shoulder<b>, </b><b>“</b><b>No </b>matter what <b>happens</b><b>, </b>you’ll always be my <b>best </b>son.”
Cassius<b>‘ </b>eyes went wide<b>. </b>
Every word from his father pierced the coldness <b>in </b>his heart, suddenly making his blood run warm, filling him with a feeling of warmth throughout.
Even after his mother’s passing<b>, </b>Cassius <b>had </b>never shown weakness <b>in </b>front of <b>his </b><b>father</b><b>, </b>but now, tears blurred his vision.
“Don’t dwell on it. Even if troublees knocking, me, Suri, Evadne, Arnold <b>and </b>even Thaddeus, we all have ways to handle it.
10:03
Since Thaddeus is so keen on marrying Evadne, let this crisis be a test I’ve set for him<b>, </b>to see if he’s <b>up </b>to <b>the </b>mark. He needs to understand that joining the Ashbourne family is no easy feat,” Emeric snorted with a hint of scheming.
“Dad, thank k you.” Beyond that, Cassius didn’t know what else to say.
Emeric<b>, </b>recalling the filthy abuses he had seen online, embraced his son with a heart full of pain, “Thanks be damned; between father and son, that word should nevere between us.”
He knew the world wasughing <b>at </b>the Ashbournes.
People thought Cassius was tarnishing the Ashbourne family and the K Group, branding it as the shame of Emeric’s life.
But they were all wrong.
For Emeric, no matter how wealthy, powerful, and respected, before all his unreachable statuses, he was foremost a father to the child.
He had promised Silvana to protect her children, to ensure they lived safe and sound through their lives.
The revtion of Cassius and Chasel’s affair caused a huge uproar online.
It was clear as day that the gossip–hungry masses and the Ashbournes‘ rivals reveled in the scandal, spewing disgusting venom.
[What a disgrace! Isn’t the LGBTQmunity just synonymous with promiscuity and AIDS?]
[This is simply obscene. It’s against the natural order!]
[HomoS*xual people are messy these days, hooking up left and right. Where’s the real love in that?]
[Cassius‘ image haspletely copsed! Such a perfect CEO, now his reputation is in ruins!]
[What shocks me more is that Cassius‘ lover turns out to be the young master of the Bright Group! Good heavens, do the rich get their kicks from such thrills?]
[What a waste of two handsome men, sigh!]
The scandal rocked the Ashbourne household to its core<b>. </b>
The two madams of the Ashbournes, along with Nydia and Aaron, had all gone to the next room to support Suri. After all, this matter involved the Bright Group and Suri was the one who had kept the secret the longest, the guilt and pain she felt was unimaginable.
She was so regretful that she could stab her own heart out.
Chasel was her nephew, and she loved Cassius as her own son. The dilemma was tearing her apart.
Thaddeus stood alone at the end of the corridor, answering a call from Gordon.
<b>“</b>Mr. Thaddeus, the person who spread the photos of President Ashbourne and Dr. Bright has been found and contained by our people. He’s a notorious gossip journalist who’ll do anything for money. He ims he received the photos and information through an anonymous email, and the payment was through a bank ount. He never met the informant in person; he <b>was </b><b>just </b>a pawn.”
“<b>Deal </b>with him<b>, </b>but leave him breathing,” Thaddeus‘ voice was icy cold.
<b>“</b>Understood!Leave it to <b>me</b>; it’ll certainly be his worst nightmare,” Gordon was also fumed <b>with </b>anger.
“Get <b>all </b><b>the </b>information you can from him about the whistle<b>–</b>blower. I’ll look into <b>it </b>myself.<b>” </b>
Thaddeus <b>had </b>learned cyber–investigation and some hacking techniques in military school.
It <b>was </b><b>time </b><b>to </b>pick <b>up </b>those skills again.
Gordon spoke <b>frankly</b>, <b>“</b><b>You</b><b>? </b><b>No </b>offense<b>, </b>but wouldn’t Mrs. Abernathy handle <b>it </b>faster<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“Are you <b>doubting </b><b>me</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Thaddeus <b>clenched </b><b>his </b><b>teeth</b>.
Gordon <b>shivered</b><b>, </b><b>“</b>I’m on <b>it</b><b>!</b>”
<b>The </b>phone <b>had </b><b>barely </b>clicked <b>off </b><b>when </b>another call came <b>through </b>seamlessly.
Thaddeus <b>frowned</b><b>; </b><b>it </b>was <b>a </b><b>private </b>number<b>, </b>
He rarely answered <b>unknown </b><b>calls</b><b>; </b><b>and </b><b>this </b>number <b>is </b><b>not </b><b>his </b>work number<b>, </b><b>known </b><b>by </b><b>very </b><b>few</b>.
But he picked up, “Who <b>is </b>that<b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b>Is this <b>a </b>hotline<b>? </b>Do I have <b>to </b>fight for a slot<b>?</b><b>” </b>Elvis<b>‘ </b>voice <b>came </b><b>through</b><b>, </b>tinged with <b>mockery </b>yet seemingly casual.
<b>3/4 </b>
10:03
Chapter <b>663 </b>
Thaddeus‘ eyes lit up, “Elvis<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“How’s my big brother?<b>” </b>Elvis’s tone suddenly grew serious.
In just a few words, his concern overflowed.
“Chairman Emeric is talking to him. Given the circumstances, it’s a bit of a blow,” Thaddeus was straightforward, offering noforting lies.
There was a pause on the other end, “Emeric? He didn’t keel over, did he?”
Thaddeus was somewhat speechless, “No. We’re just worried the shock might worsen Chairman Emeric’s condition.”
“It shouldn’t. Emeric’s got a tough mind. He didn’t copse when Evadne secretly married you, divorced you, and lost a child over it. There’s no reason this would break him now.”
Thaddeus clutched his chest, coughing softly as if struck by a bullet.
If Elvis prodded him a couple more times with his words, while Chairman Emeric might not have fallen, he was about to.