- Chapter 611
- Meanwhile, on the 19th floor of Building 7 in Coastal Haven, Alex had just finished his shower, wearing only a white bathrobe, with his left arm casually draped over the torn pants.
- He sat back on the couch, listening to Barry report on the company’s situation. His fingers hooked onto the split in the pants. and casually tugged them apart.
- Barry, noticing his “creative” way of adjusting his pants, subtly looked away. “Mr. Warren, the gift for Mr. Goldsmith was returned.”
- Alex let out a mocking sound from his nose, set down the pants, and stood up, heading toward the wine cabinet. “If he doesn’t appreciate it, then let him learn the cost of picking the wrong side.”
- Alex turned his back to Barry and poured himself a glass of wine, tossing it back in one go. “After we leak the location of his mistress and illegitimate son to the media, send all the information to Mrs. Goldsmith. The show has just begun.”
- “Okay, Mr. Warren.” Barry immediately contacted a few media outlets and sent out the information to all of them. “The message has been sent out. If things go as expected, Mrs. Goldsmith will make a scene tomorrow morning. What do we do next?”
- Alex poured another glass of red wine, standing in front of the cabinet, using his nail to crush the petals of a rose in the vase. “Get Chris to make contact with Minos‘ eldest son, Jasper.
- “As long as he doesn’t pick the wrong side, I’ll help him out–get his father, that mistress, and the illegitimate son out of the picture.”
- Barry glanced at Alex and secretly wiped the sweat from his forehead. This wasn’t a usual business battle. Every move was a strike to the heart, digging up dirt without following any rules.
- In just a few months since Alex’s return, most of the old–timers at the Warren Group had been cleared out. The few left couldn’t threaten his position in the company anymore.
- Barry suddenly remembered someone. “Mr. Warren, what about Mr. Clark?”
- “Let him be for now. I haven’t decided yet how to deal with him,” Alex replied casually, turning toward the closet.
- Barry was confused but quickly followed. Standing by the door, he watched as Alex rummaged through the wardrobe. “Mr. Warren, do you need any help?”
- Alex pulled out a floral shirt and held it up against himself. “What do you think? What color shirt?”
- pants would
- go
- well with this
- Barry hesitated for a second. “Dr. Thompson said wearing looser clothes would be better for circulation. You mentioned the other day that this shirt is a size too small for you…”
- “What does she know? Tighter clothes show off the figure better!” Alex suddenly turned and glared at Barry. “Why do you remember everything she says? Are you interested in her?”
- “Mr. Warren, you’ve misunderstood! I have nothing but respect for Dr. Thompson! If you don’t believe me, I can swear by my life!” Barry, startled by Alex’s words, stepped back, waving his hands frantically.
- “Stop stammering. I know. Dr. Thompson wouldn’t even glance at you. Go pack my pants,” Alex said, rolling his eyes in disdain, before going back to picking out his clothes.
- Barry hurried to find a bag to pack Alex’s torn pants.
- The next afternoon, Ellie went to the cafeteria and grabbed two takeout boxes, bringing them to the lounge. Just as she set the boxes down, Alex stormed in. Seeing the dark–patterned shirt he was wearing, Ellie pursed her lips but didn’t say
- Chapter 612
- “Help me with this,” Alex said, placing the bag in front of Ellie.
- 98%
- As soon as Alex set the bag down and was about to sit, Ellie couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke up, “Isn’t your shirt a bit too tight?”
- “Educate yourself before speaking. This is a fitted style, and it’s meant to look like this,” Alex replied with a deep breath as he sat down.
- Ellie turned around to grab a bottle of water for him.
- “This meal doesn’t count. Next time, you have to take me to a proper dinner,” Alex said seriously when he saw Ellie’s casual nod. “Dr. Thompson, I saved the three of you. Can you at least treat me a bit better?”
- They sat across from each other in the lounge. “Even if you hadn’t saved us, we would’ve just gotten a beating and nothing that would kill us. Don’t exaggerate,” Ellie said, twisting open a bottle of water and handing it to Alex. “Anyway, thanks.”
- Alex stared at the bottle of water Ellie had opened for him but didn’t take it. “Dr. Thompson, you never need a man, right?”
- Ellie placed the water next to Alex’s hand. When she looked up again, she noticed his expression had changed. Their eyes met, and Ellie didn’t quite understand what his words meant. “What do you mean by that, Mr. Warren?”
- Alex smirked. “You can handle everything well yourself, right?”
- Ellie seemed to realize something. She gently twisted the cap of her bottled water and then hesitantly offered it to Alex. “I can’t seem to open this one. Mr. Warren, could you help me?”
- She saw Alex’s lips curve into a smile as he took the water from her hand. Ellie felt a wave of disbelief and thought, ‘What a childish man!”
- When Alex opened the bottle and handed it back to Ellie, his voice softened without him even realizing it. “Don’t do everything yourself. You can rely on me.”
- The atmosphere suddenly grew a bit awkward. Ellie picked up her fork and lowered her head to eat her meal. She had been through too much. Emotionally and physically, she couldn’t bring herself to accept anyone else.
- Since the day Alex went to prison five years ago and the day she decided to raise her two children alone, she had made peace with the idea that she would never marry in this lifetime.
- “You’re too slender. You need more protein,” Alex said as he placed some beef into Ellie’s plate. Ellie paused, her fork hovering over the meat.
- As she listened to Alex ramble on while eating, Ellie picked up a piece of beef and put it into her mouth. Back then, they had fought so fiercely–she hated him so much that she wanted to kill him with her own hands.
- Never did she imagine that one day, she would be sitting quietly with him, sharing a meal.
- She’d always believed that, given enough time, it would help filter out all the ‘noise‘ and leave only the most valuable things behind. For a while, she thought Alex had been filtered out by time, but here he was, five years later, still there.
- When Diana left years ago, Aaron once said, “Time is both cruel and gentle. It sees more clearly than the eyes ever could. It brings harm, and it heals us.”
- Ellie wondered if, someday, time would heal her too.
- “Remember, you owe me a suit. Your taste isn’t as good as mine, I’ll have to pick it myself,” Alex’s voice snapped Ellie back to the present.
- Chapter 612
- Ellie looked at her outfit, then at Alex’s, and couldn’t understand how he could possibly think her taste was worse than bis.
- Chapter 613
- “This meal doesn’t count. Next time, you’re treating me to a proper dinner,” Alex slipped in, reminding Ellie with surprising patience.
- After a brief silence, Ellie finally responded, “Pick the restaurant. I’ll come after work. Don’t pick anything too expensive because I don’t have much money.”
- Alex glanced up from his meal and looked at Ellie. “Is your kid okay after the scare yesterday?”
- “They’re fine,” Ellie hadn’t expected Alex to think of her kids.
- Alex nodded. “You need to spend more time with them. Once they’re settled, we’ll talk. No rush.”
- Their eyes met, and Ellie froze for a moment. The Alex she remembered was overbearing, stubborn, and inconsiderate. He always did whatever he wanted without caring about anyone else’s feelings, putting himself first in everything. He had changed a lot.
- “Thank you,” Ellie murmured, her gaze quickly shifting away, trying to mask her emotions.
- What are you planning to do with the kids? I heard the school has been closed and is under investigation,” Alex asked, his tone casual, but Ellie felt the tension in her forehead tighten.
- “I won’t let them stay there any longer. Once this is all over, I’ll transfer them to another school,” Ellie replied firmly..
- “What? It’s not the kids‘ fault! Those assholes should be the ones leaving!” Alex cut her off, “You can’t teach them like this. In today’s world, you need to raise them with a fighting spirit. Being timid won’t get them anywhere.”
- Ellie barely managed a smile, not responding. Betty was a child, yet she had broken someone’s nose with a chair and nearly bit off a teacher’s finger for dragging Oscar. She was like a little beast.
- She knew Betty’s temper had always been fiery, and that day, it was her protective instincts for Oscar that had flared she felt was a mix of criticism, sympathy, and, above all, worry.
- up. All
- “Aaron said they’ve already summoned over twenty people and started investigating. We’ll talk about this later.” She didn’t want to transfer the kids either, but their safety came first. She had to think twice.
- Alex slapped his chest confidently. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this covered.”
- They locked eyes for a moment before Ellie spoke again. “Don’t involve yourself in this. I can handle it.”
- Alex raised an eyebrow. “By the way, how did you know it was going to go wrong and start recording on your phone?”
- Ellie let out a soft sigh. “Instinct.”
- Alex smirked, clearly unfazed. “Well, then use that instinct to predict when I’ll find a girlfriend.”
- Ellie was speechless. She had just been thinking how much Alex had changed for the better, but the next second, he was back to his usual self. She yawned, rubbing her aching temples.
- She hadn’t slept well at all last night, and now the tension in her head was starting to feel unbearable.
- As Alex watched Ellie’s tired eyes, his expression softened slightly. Glancing down at the half–eaten lunch, he quickly finished it off with a few large bites.
- “I’ve got something to do this afternoon. I’ll go check on Orion,” Alex said as he stood up.
- “Don’t forget, you owe me a proper meal and a suit. Make sure you make good on it when you get the chance,” he reminded
- Chapter 613
- her, his words muffled as he still chewed.
- Ellie handed him the water. “Drink some water. Don’t choke.”
- 98%
- “It’s still over an hour. Go find a place to nap. Your dark circles are really showing.” Alex accepted the water and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
- He ate quickly just now because he noticed she was tired. He was trying to save time so she could rest.
- Ellie stared at the torn pants for a while, her gaze shifting, uncertain. Though he still had that immaturity about him, there was no denying he was gradually changing for the better.
- Chapter 614
- That night, in a private room of the Earl Hotel’s club, Alex changed into a sleek black outfit. With a cigarette dangling from his lips, he lazily sat on the leather couch. There were three other people in the room–Barry, Chris, and a lawyer.
- The door opened, and Alex glanced at the person who entered, frowning slightly.
- Barry and Chris exchanged a quick look. The man entering suddenly fell to his knees and begged, “I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Warren. Please, have mercy and spare me this time!”
- “Mr. Goldsmith, what are you talking about?” Alex flicked the ash off his cigarette with his slender fingers as he casually looked down at Minos with a sharp glance.
- “Mr. Warren, I’ve already cut ties with Mr. Clark and his son, Hamilton! From now on, I’ll only listen to you. As long as I’m on the board, I’ll be completely loyal to you.” Minos swore, raising his hand and promising unwavering loyalty to Alex.
- Alex flicked the cigarette butt and slowly stood up. He walked around Minos who was still kneeling and turned toward the pool table. “Mr. Goldsmith, don’t you think it’s a bit late to show loyalty now?” Alex said, his back still to Minos.
- “Mr. Warren, I’ve been a loyal servant to the Warren Group, helping build it alongside your grandfather. Even if I’ve made mistakes, you can’t just kick me out completely.” Minos turned around while still kneeling.
- Alex casually wiped down his pool cue with a cloth, speaking slowly, “Don’t worry, Mr. Goldsmith. I’m not the type to burn bridges once I’ve crossed them. I’ll give you three days to transfer your shares in the Warren Group to your eldest son, Jasper.”
- “Of course, Jasper is my son. My assets will definitely go to him,” Minos replied, nodding.
- “I’m not asking you to give him a share. I’m telling you to give him all you have,” Alex interrupted before Minos could finish speaking.
- Minos‘ face instantly turned pale when he heard Alex’s words.
- “Your wife is the only daughter in her family. If I remember correctly, after your father–in–law passed away, she trusted you enough to transfer the shares to you, letting you enter the Warren Group,” Alex said, slowly leaning forward with his cue in hand.
- His posture was flawless, exuding confidence. “However, you kept it a secret from your wife, had a mistress, and fathered an illegitimate son. Every year, you’ve been sending 10 million dollars to your mistress and your son.
- “And now, you still have the nerve to talk about passing down your wealth to your eldest son. Do you have any shame?”
- With a crisp clink of the cue ball striking, Alex stood upright, his gaze sharp and unwavering. “You have three days to transfer all your shares to Jasper. If you do, I’ll let you go. Otherwise, I’ll take everything.
- “And don’t blame me for not leaving anything to your illegitimate son.”
- Alex said, “Get him out of here!” He had no patience for him tonight–he wasn’t here to play games.
- “Mr. Warren, please spare me. I’ve worked hard for the Warren Group my whole life. You can’t just wipe me out!” Minos begged.
- Minos was dragged out by two bodyguards, and the room instantly fell silent. Alex flicked his ear and muttered a curse
- under his breath.
- “Alex, what’s going on?” A stunning blond guy walked in, dressed even more extravagantly than Alex, and spoke in their language clumsily, gesturing toward the door.
- “Don’t act so stupid every time you see me,” Alex replied disdainfully, sitting back on the leather couch.
- Chapter 614
- “Where’s everyone else, Carl?” Alex handed a glass of alcohol to the blond man named Carl.
- Chapter 615
- “I remember you hated studying. What made you suddenly interested in the education field?” Carl asked, but before Alex could respond, the door opened, and a slightly chubby, middle–aged man in a suit entered with Barry.
- “Mr. Lancaster,” the middle–aged man greeted, walking respectfully toward Carl.
- Carl eyed the man with a playful glance before turning to Alex. “Mr. Sheppard, my friend wants to buy your shares in JR. Group What do you think?”
- Claude glanced at Carl, then at Alex, offering an awkward smile. “Mr. Lancaster, please don’t joke with me.”
- Carl didn’t respond. He just pointed at Alex sitting across from him. Claude looked at Alex and found him familiar. “Who is this gentleman?”
- Alex asked. “Are you the Executive Principal of JR Group’s Ditato Campus?”
- Claude nodded.
- Without beating around the bush, Alex said, “The one who wants to buy your shares is me.”
- Claude looked embarrassed. “Sir, what do you mean by that?”
- Alex’s tone was blunt. “I’m just interested in the shares you’re holding, and I’m asking if you’re willing to sell.”
- Claude hesitated. “What if I say no?”
- Alex exchanged a glance with Barry, who sent something to Claude right in front of everyone. Claude opened the message on his phone, and his face immediately went pale.
- Alex leaned back and casually said, “Mr. Sheppard, I’ve already prepared the contract and brought my lawyer here. If you cooperate, you can walk away without any problems.”
- “You’re threatening me!” Claude’s face turned pale with embarrassment as he turned to Carl for help. “Mr. Lancaster!”
- Carl shrugged nonchalantly, “Sorry, Mr. Sheppard, but I really can’t help you with this.”
- Seeing no way out, Claude turned to leave.
- Alex’s voice, calm but with an unmistakable edge, rang out. “Once you walk out that door, you won’t have another chance.”
- Claude’s grip tightened on the door handle. After a moment of hesitation, he relented.
- Less than an hour later, he sold his shares in JR Group to Alex at an 8% discount from the market price and was coerced into handing over an additional 600 million dollars, a so–called compensation for Ellie’s kids.
- After Claude left, Chris left with the lawyer.
- Carl raised his glass. “You really are ruthless, Alex. Cheers to a pleasant cooperation.”
- Alex shot Carl a glance and elegantly took a sip of his drink. “How many times do I have to remind you? Don’t be so annoying.”
- Carl chuckled, unfazed. “So, Mr. Warren, you just kicked Claude out. Are you stepping in to replace him as the Executive Principal?”
- Alex casually pointed at Barry. “Let him do it.”
- Chapter 615
- Barry froze. “Wait, what? I handle security, not this! I can’t do it!”
- “Just a figurehead.” Alex casually replied, “Leave the school management to someone else. Your job is to make sure the two kids aren’t getting beat up at school.”
- Barry paused, a bit taken aback.
- “If anyone dares to bully them again, I’ll hold you responsible!” Alex added, giving Barry a pointed warning.
- Barry froze again, unsure whether to respond.
- Just then, Alex’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID–Ellie. Quickly setting his drink aside, Alex answered. “Hi, why are you still up so late?”
- Hearing the unexpected gentleness in Alex’s voice, Carl leaned in, curious, like he had just stumbled upon a discovery. He tried to listen in on Alex’s conversation but was swiftly shoved away by a well–placed kick.
- “Alex…” Carl protested as he tumbled onto the couch, but his curiosity only intensified. Lying on the couch, with Alex’s leg casually resting on him, Carl couldn’t help but ask, “Is that your girlfriend?”
- On the other end of the phone, Ellie frowned. “Mr. Warren, if it’s inconvenient, we can talk tomorrow.”
- Alex quickly covered the phone’s speaker, stood up, and headed outside. “Not at all. I’m home alone. That noise you heard was just a dog barking on TV.”
