Chapter 16
The air conditioning in the 23rd-floor conference room of Vertigon Tower was turned up high.
Lucille sat on the leather couch, nervously twisting the hem of her skirt. The fabric still bore faint stains from when she’d knelt outside the Hawke Corporation tower the night before, pleading in the rain.
Meanwhile, Andre sat beside her in a wrinkled suit with a crooked tie, showing none of his former dignity as chairman of the Watson Group.
Before long, the door opened with a soft click.
Alexander walked in with steady steps, followed by four lawyers in suits. He wore a charcoal gray suit today with a dark red tie that looked like dried blood.
Lucille suddenly remembered Vanessa had chosen that tie for him.
“Alexander.” She stood up, her voice breaking into sobs.
Yet, Alexander didn’t even glance at her. He walked directly to the other end of the conference table and sat down. The lawyers immediately lined up behind him.
He opened the files in front of him, his voice terrifyingly calm as he said, “Mr. Watson, as of 9: 00 am today, the Watson Group has debts totaling 2.37 billion, frozen assets of 1.2 billion, and stock prices at historic lows.”
Andre’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Mr. Hawke, for the sake of the history between our families-”
“History?” Alexander chuckled softly, pulling a photograph from his folder and pushing it across. “You mean the history between Lucille and Matthias?”
The photo showed the scene of that car accident from five years ago.
Matthias was trapped under the mangled car door, blood streaming from his forehead and staining his white shirt crimson. In the passenger seat, Vanessa’s unconscious profile was barely visible.
Lucille’s nails dug deep into her palms. She knew she couldn’t admit it, and she lunged toward the table. “This is a setup! Alexander, let me explain—”
“Explain what?” Alexander finally looked at her, his gaze cold. “Explain how you bribed Hector to cause the accident? Or explain how you repeatedly framed Vanessa? I still prefer how you looked that day.”
He pressed a button on his phone, and clear audio immediately filled the conference room. Make it look like an accident. Especially the guy in the passenger seat. He has to die.”
Chapter 16
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This was followed by her words from the villa that day. “Because he was… getting in my way.”
“Audio can be faked! Alexander! You can’t…” she screamed hysterically.
“Hector had terminal liver cancer and made a notarized confession before dying last month,” Alexander said as he put away his phone. “His wife came to me with all the evidence, which has now been turned over to the police.”
Lucille froze, as if someone had grabbed her by the throat. The conference room fell into dead silence, and Andre slumped in his chair, feeling as if his soul had left his body.
Alexander stood up, calmly adjusting his cuffs. “Now, let’s discuss the solution.”
Hope flickered in Lucille’s eyes. “Alexander, I knew you
wouldn’t-”
“I can give the Watson family a way out,” Alexander interrupted her, his lips curving into a cruel smile. “But you’ll have to earn it.”
He snapped his fingers, and a lawyer immediately stepped forward, placing two documents in front of the Watson father and daughter.
“What’s this…” Andre flipped through the pages. His eyes widened. “Stock transfer agreements?”
“The Watson Group is worthless now, but the brand still holds value,” Alexander replied, towering over them. “Sign over all shares to Hawke Corporation. I’ll absorb the debt.”
Lucille’s head snapped up. “Then what’s this ‘way out’ you mentioned?”
Alexander smiled slightly. “Tonight at 8:00 pm, there’s a private auction at Royal Auction House. She will appear as the finale item with a starting bid of five million.”
He paused and added, “Highest bidder wins.”
“You’re insane!” Andre slammed the table and stood up. “Lucille is not for sale!”
“For sale?” Alexander sneered. “Who was it who auctioned Vanessa off before?”
Lucille’s lips trembled as cold sweat ruined her carefully applied makeup. “Alexander, I know I was wrong… please…”
“Sign it, or don’t.” Alexander straightened up, his voice ice-cold. “You have 30 seconds to decide.”
Andre slumped back into the chair, holding his head in his hands. Lucille stared at the agreement, then suddenly grabbed the pen and signed her name.
