<h4>Chapter 252: The Consequences of Hypocrisy</h4>


    James, consumed with rage, swung a punch at Eric. "You bastard, you ungrateful son..."


    Before his fist couldnd, two of Eric’s bodyguards quickly stepped in, grabbing James’s arm.


    James’s own bodyguards rushed over, and the tension in the room escted as both sides stood off, ready for conflict.


    "Dad! Don’t act on impulse. Calm down and think of a way to handle this crisis!" Henry shouted, trying to steady Grace, who was barely able to stand.


    "Eric, you bastard! How could you do this just for revenge? You’ve destroyed Nelson Group!" James roared, as if Eric were the one to me, not Grace.


    "Tsk tsk, there’s no reasoning with someone like you. It was Grace who ordered the use of substandard materials. It was Grace who hit that little girl. Yet somehow, all the mends on me? James, your talent for twisting facts is remarkable. It’s just a shame you’ve been bullied by a woman for decades and never even realized it. Pathetic and spineless!"


    Eric’s wicked smile, sharp and entrancing, only fueled James’s rage further.


    E, too,ughed softly, her beauty radiant. "Old Mr. Nelson, perhaps you should reflect on the fact that all of this is your fault. Nelson Group’s downfall is entirely self-inflicted."


    Both E and Eric knew the real reason Grace cut corners with the materials was to save arge sum of money—money she nned to use to hire someone tomit murder.


    "You bastard..."


    "Bastard? If I had a choice, I’d rather be a bastard than be your son, James!" Eric’s gaze was fierce, filled with hatred as he stared James down, his voice dripping with venom.


    Yes, he would rather be a bastard than the son of such a despicable man. If it were possible, he’d dly strip the very bones from his body and give them back to James!


    "You... You lunatic! You’re insane! Guards, get him..."


    James, overwhelmed by his fury, felt his vision go ck and copsed in a faint.


    His bodyguards caught him just in time, and once again, chaos erupted in the hall.


    "Madam has fainted too!"


    "Hurry, get a doctor!"


    "Madam, wake up..."


    Eric and E exchanged a knowing nce, then smiled at each other, linking arms as they casually left the extravagant mansion.


    No matter how luxurious the house, when it’s filled with people that vile, it bes just as filthy. It’s no ce to linger.


    In the car:


    E looked at Eric with a smile. "Feeling better now?"


    Eric leaned over, fastening her seatbelt. His eyes darkened as theynded on her soft lips. He lowered his head and kissed her lightly.


    Murmuring between kisses, he said, "Mmm, much better. Now I just want to eat you..."


    E giggled, gently pushing him away. "Not now, wait until we get home!"


    Eric’s wickedly handsome face lit up with a dazzling smile, his gaze mischievous and seductive, enough to make anyone’s heart race.


    "So... are you saying there’s a feast waiting for me at home?"


    "Of course. Didn’t I ask Mrs. Harris to make you chicken soup?" E teased, pretending not to catch his meaning. Eric sighed, a tender look spreading across his eyes.


    "Sweetheart, I’m in such a good mood tonight. After we eat, let’s go for a swim."


    E’s face flushed, knowing exactly what he meant—he was thinking about doing things in the pool again...


    But, like Amelia had once told her, this was part of the fun of being married. Otherwise, if everything was too rigid, a man’s heart would eventually wander.


    Though human nature is inherently good, it’s also greedy. E wondered, after more time passed, how he would treat her then.


    Eric started the car, speeding away from the now deste mansion.


    The two major scandals surrounding Nelson Group erupted throughout the entire city, even making international headlines. In just one day, thepany lost hundreds of billions in the stock market.


    Online, the news about Nelson Group’s poor quality reports was flooded with posts condemning Grace.


    The image Grace had painstakingly built through charity work waspletely shattered!


    The housewarming banquet, meant to be a joyous asion, had instead be the city’s biggest joke.


    Grace had believed that after the move, she would finally live a life of glory, free from the shadow of Victoria. But little did she know, that day would be her most painful fall.


    James had, of course, received the quality reports and the evidence from Deputy Director Lee, but Grace vehemently denied everything, using Lee of ndering her.


    She even went so far as to hold a press conference, iming that she was being defamed by Lee, asserting that she never had any involvement in thepany’s operations.


    But as the press conference was happening, a new recording leaked online of a conversation between Lee and a woman. While the voice wasn’t Grace’s, it pointed directly to her as the mastermind.


    Chaos spread throughout S City, and for the first time, Grace and James had a serious argument, causing a rift in their rtionship.


    That morning, Grace woke to find the bed beside her already empty. No... James had slept in the guest roomst night. He hadn’t set foot in the master bedroom at all!


    Grace, her face haggard, slowly finishedbing her hair when Henry knocked and entered the room. His expression was serious, and he looked deeply at Grace.


    "Mom, for my sake, please stop doing anything reckless. Don’t break thew anymore, okay?"


    Henry had thought it through—though Grace had a prior record, Eric had only been severely injured, and her crime wasn’t punishable by death.


    But if this continued, he feared that Grace would end up like Brianna.


    A life sentence would mean a woman spending the rest of her days locked away in prison.


    "What are you saying?" Grace looked up at her son in shock. "Son, how can you not believe me? I’m your mother! How could you trust outsiders over your own mother?"


    Grace was confused—had Henry discovered something? No, it couldn’t be. She had been so careful, leaving no loose ends. For over a decade, Eric had never been able to find anything substantial, and Henry was just a college junior, still dependent on her and... that person!


    How could he possibly see through her actions?


    "Mom! Eric is powerful now! He has evidence. That’s why I believe... Mom, there’s still time to turn back. Don’t make things worse!" Henry knelt beside her, gripping her hands tightly.


    Grace silently stared at her beloved son.


    From the time he was little, she had taught him how to be a person, how to be righteous and upright.


    But she never imagined that her own hypocrisy would backfire so terribly. If Henry had been like her, he wouldn’t be begging her to stop—he would be helping her take down Eric!


    Was everything she had done right or wrong?