News of death of business tycoons such as Jeff Chambers, who were on equal footing with Emeric, should have been closely guarded by the Chambers Group, with disclosure only to ur after the situation had stabilized.
But unexpectedly, overnight, the media exploded with the news, causing a sensation throughout the city.
The news was leaked by Avery.
Now, Avery was thest of the Chambers family. It''s only natural that he should inherit the entire Chambers Group.
He had gotten what he had long desired.
What millions died that Caesar might be great. Avery had finally climbed to the peak of power in the Chambers Group.
Jeff''s body was temporarily kept in the morgue of the hospital. Avery, as a family member, refused an autopsy, and the police found no signs of foul y at the scene. It was thus concluded that his death was ruled idental, attributed to the disease.
In the hospital lounge.
Avery sat upright on a square ck leather sofa, his arms resting naturally and dignifiedly on the armrests. He closed his eyes, envisioning himself ascending the throne.
"Dad, this is the best gift you''ve given me in nearly thirty years of my life. Thank you for your fulfillment. Rest in peace."
Just then, a knock on the door sounded.
Avery responded, and Harvey walked in with a man dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase.
Then, Harvey locked the door.
"Lawyer Lee, please, have a seat," Avery said, smiling.
Lawyer Lee had been a trusted confidant of Jeff before his death. He was not only the legal advisor to the Chambers Group, but also as the family''s personalwyer, having been with his father for more than three decades.
"Mr. Chambers," Lawyer Lee greeted bowed respectfully.
Avery remained calm, but it was clear he was not pleased with the address.
However, given the power dynamics were already in his favor, he was just waiting to convene the board meeting and officially announce hisplete control over the Chambers Group. He felt no rush to assert his dominance.
"Lawyer Lee, my father''s will is with you," Avery said slowly with a leisure smile. "Now, you can read it in front of me. After all, I am the only one left in the Chambers family."
With a resigned and sad sigh, Lawyer Lee pulled out Jeff''s will from his briefcase, which had undergone countless revisions.
As soon as the will was brought out, Avery stood up abruptly, snatched the document and eagerly flipped through it.
Line by line, the ck words on white paper reflected in his dark, scheming eyes.
He stood there motionless as time ticked by, and even Lawyer Lee, who was ustomed to turbulence, felt a chill down his spine, sweat beading on his forehead.
Finally, after reading the entire document, Avery narrowed his eyes slightly and threw the will at Lawyer Lee''s feet with a smirk:
"Matthew and Bertha, even though imprisoned, received a share, but not a single word was left for me. Well, such is the extent of my biological father''s regard."
Not only that.
Jeff even abolished the hereditary leadership of the Chambers Group, overturning decades of family management traditions.
After his passing, the leadership would be determined by capability.
Averyughed aloud.
Even though he had taken the position of CEO, from the beginning, he was merely a tool Jeff used to stabilize the situation. Once Jeff was done using him, he would be kicked aside.
Even if he was the only one left.
That ruthless, cold-hearted man had left him nothing.
Lawyer Lee looked at Avery, who appeared somewhat manic, with sweat pouring down his back.
Jeff died suddenly, and he was the one who held the will and was the sole witness. He knew these had ced him in grave danger, because this young Mr. Chambers not only had a heart of iron, but also harbored ambitious wolf-like desires, not sparing anyone.
It came quicker than he had expected.
"Lawyer Lee, you were my father''s right-hand man, and now that he has passed, I hope to have you by my side and help me manage the Chambers Group."
Avery resumed his seat gracefully, his tone haughty and coercive.
Lawyer Lee stood there trembling, hesitant, when Harvey stepped forward and handed him a lighter.
"You''re a smart man; you should understand that, ''new broom sweeps clean.'' However, our Mr. Chambers is generous and kind; he values your abilities, which is why he hopes you will continue to be the legal advisor to the Chambers Group.
Once Mr. Chambers officially takes over, your family will also be treated well because of your loyalty. Lawyer Lee, I bet you would like to see this win-win situation, wouldn''t you?"
Lawyer Lee was terrified and his heart was in turmoil, but Avery obviously had no patience.
Minutester, he lit the lighter and burned the will.
With thest obstacle removed, Avery decided to convene an emergency board meeting, tomorrow.
He couldn''t even wait for the day to arrange Jeff''s funeral.
As Avery left the lounge, Harvey and Lawyer Lee followed him.
Suddenly, he stopped, his usually somber eyes gleaming brightly, his heart pounding out of control.
At the other end of the corridor, members of the Ashbourne family, dressed in somber ck suits, were slowly approaching him.
Emeric looked grave and mournful, with Suri supporting him, with Cassius, Arnold, Chasel, and Evadne trailing behind.
"Evadne." Avery gazed at his beloved softly, murmuring.
Evadne could feel the man''s intense gaze, but she maintained an indifferent expression, as if rejecting him from miles away.
The scorching gaze, felt as though it seared into her, left her physically ufortable, like a serpent''s venom had stung her, causing shivers to run down her spine.
"Brother, did you see that? That sneaky rat has his eyes on Evadne again and got his heart stirred up again." Arnold lowered his voice, gritting his teeth in hatred. "I swear, I''d love to pluck his eyes out and pickle them in whiskey!"
"Then wouldn''t you be afraid drinking yourself sick?" Chasel replied, narrowing his eyes in jest.
Recalling Avery''s heinous deeds behind the scenes, and now the root of all evil was right in front of them, yet he still maintained a mild-mannered appearance, appearing to be wronged.
A shiver ran down his spine, causing him to shudder slightly.
"Chasel, are you cold?" Cassius asked in a deep voice.
"Not really."
Before Chasel could finish speaking, Cassius took off his zer without hesitation and draped it over his shoulders. Then, he gently but firmly took his hand. Disregarding the surrounding stares, his actions were persistent and affectionate. Chasel felt the warmth of the man, pulled his cor closer and, with his long, fair fingers, intertwined them tightly with Cassius''.
Although Cassius had always been very good to him after they made their rtionship official,tely, he had been even better, to the where sometimes he didn''t know how to react.
"Mr. Emeric."
Avery approached quickly and stood before Emeric, his eyes red-rimmed and weary.
"Mr. Chambers, my condolences," Emeric looked at him, feeling a mix of guilt and sympathy.
Although they had parted ways on bad terms with this longtime friend, now that he was gone, holding on to past grudges was pointless.
"Now, I''m all that''s left of the Chambers Group. At this critical moment, everyone else is avoiding me."
Avery''s voice trembled with sorrow, his eyes misty, "Would you be willing toe and send my father off, I am truly grateful to you. I did behave inappropriately in
the past, and today I sincerely apologize to you."
With that, he bowed deeply.
Emeric furrowed his brow slightly, lips pressed into a line.
When Avery stood up again, he straightened his posture and his gaze toward
Evadne was intense and passionate, his voice slightly hoarse:
"Even if you don''t believe me, I must confess again. My intentions toward Evadne, toward you, have never been anything but genuine. Please believe me."