Celestine’s brows were drawn tight, the tension in her face unmistakable.
The largest transaction on record happened right around the time the twins were born–almost ten million dollars wired to their uncle!
Officially, Murdock was just a college professor.
But in reality, he’d taken Fordham Group investment and started a small company behind the scenes, raking in annual revenues in the millions.
Celestine was shaking with anger.
What infuriated her most was that, despite being flush with cash and savings, they still played the pauper card with Grandfather every single year.
Grandfather might’ve had a sharp tongue, but his heart was soft as butter–he could never actually bear to see their family struggle.
Even after he’d supposedly retired from painting, he still secretly helped this whole leeching brood.
And to think, their little side business had already elevated them well above a comfortable life!
God knows if they’d been using Grandfather’s paintings as “gifts” to curry favor with some shady business partners!
“That Murdock, I swear I could wring his neck!” Pete was staring at the bank statements too, veins bulging with rage.
Celestine grabbed her brother’s arm, stopping him before he did something reckless. “Pete, don’t throw your life away over a jerk like that.”
When they invested, it had been under her and Grandfather’s names, but the accounts were all tied back to Murdock’s crew.
Clever, but not clever enough.
Her own company–if she wanted to shut it down, who could stop her?
Without hesitation, Celestine gave orders to dump the Selwyn family’s shell company immediately, even if it meant selling at a loss.
One after another, every transfer Fordham Group had funneled to Murdock was frozen and reversed.
08:08
Chapter 308
It wouldn’t be long before every one of those cards was canceled.
Acting under her company’s authority, Celestine locked down all investment
returns.
By the time Murdock noticed, it was already evening–he was out catching up with old friends.
“Murdock, that company you recommended is tanking. I went over there today and they’re offloading everything! Smells fishy to me–what’s your take?”
Murdock’s composure cracked.
What did he think? He could hardly stand up straight!
Dread prickled down his spine.
Hands trembling, he checked his phone–only to see a string of alerts: his bank cards had been blocked and the accounts dumped into the trash.
“What the hell? What’s going on?” he cried out in panic.
He tried reaching out to Jade Lane and Edna, who managed other scattered assets, but their situation was just as dire.
Determined, he decided to arrange another dinner with an industry heavyweight and one of Fordham Group’s top brass.
But dinners like this required gifts.
Everyone knew the old man’s reputation and loved collecting his paintings.
So each time, Murdock had to beg Grandfather for a new one.
But when he hurried to the old family estate, Grandfather was nowhere to be found. The staff had no answers either.
Finally, Murdock called the old man himself–only to learn he was in the hospital.
The news about Celestine and Chester had been tightly kept under wraps.
The hospital had called Celestine’s emergency contacts, which is why Luther and Pete had rushed over that night.
Murdock had assumed it was Luther who’d fallen ill.
He was terrified.
08:08
Chapter SUO
“If the old man’s sick, we can kiss our paintings goodbye!”
“I doubt it,” Edna snapped, her face sour. “He’s survived worse. If it were serious, you’d have been called to his bedside already.”
She remembered every slight Luther had thrown her way over the years.
She refused to believe that wily old fox would pass up the chance to make Murdock prove his filial piety–changing bedpans and all.
A realization dawned on Murdock. “Wait–could it be Celestine’s in trouble again?”
They exchanged a loaded glance.
With their companies in chaos, their first move had been to call Chester.
All they got was his secretary, who informed them he’d left the country.
Chapter 309
