<b>Chapter </b><b>598 </b>


    Aubree let out a soft sigh as her internal clock woke her right on time.


    She sat up in bed, her mind still a bit


    [I’ll pick you up after your speech toda


    noticed a note on the bedside table.


    the note wrote. It was from Bowen.


    It reminded Aubree that she had to give a talk to the finance department at Rithol University today.


    Vincent had already prepared all the materials she needed for the talk, which saved her a lot of trouble.


    When Aubree walked over to the balcony and looked out, she saw Vincent already waiting for her downstairs.


    Aubree quickly got ready and headed down.


    “Drop me off at Rithol University, then head straight back to the office. You can let Ronald in on thest bit about Alice and Carmen,” Aubree


    instructed.


    After getting out of the car, Aubree gave Vincent a quick wave and headed straight toward the venue.


    She was already about to start her third year at university. Emery had been sentenced to three years in jail back then, and now he was almost


    due for release.


    Meanwhile, in Turner Group’s top–floor conference room.


    “If there’s nothing else, we’ll wrap up today’s meeting,” Bowen said after the Chief Financial Officer had finished presenting the quarterly earnings report. He nced around at the other shareholders.


    These days, the Turner Group was split into two clear factions. On one side were the seasoned schemers who were silenced under Bowen’s leadership. Now, they’d all thrown their lot in with Alvin, hoping to use him to overthrow Bowen.


    The other side was made up of people Bowen himself had brought up the ranks. They were his loyal followers through and through.


    “I have a question,” Alvin said, standing up and fixing Bowen with a steady gaze.


    “Everyone’s aware I failed tond the Ridgehaven Town project,” Alvin continued.


    Some of the shareholders, not sure what was going on, started whispering among themselves.


    “What’s Alvin trying to say? Why bring this up out of the blue?” one of them muttered.


    “Back then, Alvin talked us into handing him the project, saying Mr. Turner and Bree Technology were too close for co didn’t even get it. I figured Mr. Turner would give him a hard time about it when he got back,” another worker whispered.


    “Mr. Turner didn’t even make a fuss about it, and now Alvin’s the one bringing it up?” Another whisper could be heard. <ol><li>t. And now he </li></ol>


    Under the curious and somewhat impressed gazes of the others, Alvin turned to Bowen. “But there’s something you all probably don’t know, Uncle Bowen went to Mistmere, too, and he helped Aubree out with that project,”


    ‘Ah, so this is what he was getting at,’ Bowen thought.


    Bowen gave a wry smile and, under the curious stares of the other shareholders, admitted openly, “Yeah, I went to Mistmere, <b>and </b><b>I </b><b>did </b><b>help </b>


    10


    Bree out. What’s the problem?”


    Bowen’s question hung in the air as a terise silence stretched out. Even the shareholders on Bowen’s side couldn’t <b>help </b><b>but </b>feel <b>ashamed </b>


    They seemed to share the same thought that Bowen and Alvin were from the same family, and Bowen helping an outsider <b>made </b><b>it </b><b>difficult </b>for them to rationalise his actions.


    “Bowen, aren’t you being a bit too self–centered?” An elderly shareholder yelled in anger and stood up, his back hunched with age.


    Bowen nced over. “Oh, Mr. Lane, you’re still around?”


    As soon as Bowen said that, the other shareholders shot each other knowing, slightly mocking looks.


    Everyone knew that back when Bowen’s father was in charge, Edward Lane had always been eyeing thepany. He was one <b>of </b><b>the </b>earliest to follow Bowen’s father, and out of respect for their long history together, the old man let him stay on, giving him a yearly dividend <b>so </b><b>he </b>could enjoy his twilight years infort.


    But sometimes, Edward just didn’t know when to quit or show any respect. Even though he was well past retirement age, he clung <b>to </b><b>his </b>shares like a lifeline, refusing to hand them over to his kids. He never missed a single shareholders‘ meeting, not even once.


    Everyone in the room knew he was still dreaming about taking the chairman’s seat for himself.