Chapter 413
The imposing convoy left Cedar Ridge Villa. Charlie clicked his tongue in frustration. "What was that all about?" he asked.
Tiffany comforted him, gently rubbing his back. "Dad, don't be upset. It's just some shares that were sold. We can repurchase them later."
"Silly girl," he said, finding it easy to dismiss her concerns.
Morwen was confident. The Azure Sea Royal Family had wealth to spare. The shareholders sold their shares without hesitation; her offer was too tempting. The prices far exceeded expectations, making them eager to sell. With at least forty percent of the shares under her control, repurchase wouldn't be easy.
Charlie sighed. "This is no longer just about money," he thought.
Tiffany remained unconcerned. She patted Charlie's back soothingly, as if comforting a child. "Don't be upset, Dad. Those shares will come back. I promise." It was laughable; she had countless ways to deal with anyone, and Morwen was hardly a challenge.
Thalia felt worried. "Tiffany," she said, "don't get involved, and don't let Richard interfere. We should handle our family matters ourselves."
This marriage was viewed as the Kelley family aligning themselves with the Hampton family. With the company facing a crisis, asking Richard for assistance wouldn't be difficult, but it would invite opinions and gossip, accusations of betraying their daughter for favors. Such bitter remarks are common from those who don't get what they want.
Tiffany nodded. "I know." She never intended to involve Richard. It was a trivial matter she could handle alone.
Shortly after Morwen and her convoy left, David returned with Eric unharmed. "Dad, Mom, Sis, what happened? Did we have guests?"
"No," Tiffany said, pinching Eric's cheek. "From now on, let David pick you up and drop you off from school. And don't wander around outside the school alone, understood?"
"Got it," Eric nodded obediently. He didn't need to ask why; Tiffany's words were orders.
Tiffany cherished his obedience, feeling both heartbroken and proud. Having a treasure like Eric was remarkable.
The grand convoy paraded through the streets. Inside the car, Morwen sat with her tense maids, all silent for fear of provoking her.
To their surprise, Morwen smiled. She showed no trace of anger toward the Kelley family; instead, she seemed to have a realization, laughing with unrestrained delight.
After the encounter, Morwen was confident Tiffany had no recollection of childhood events. Not only had she forgotten, but she seemed utterly oblivious to any doubts surrounding those memories. This was fantastic news.
Morwen could hardly contain her joy. Tiffany's lack of memory meant no one knew her true identity, making it easier to eliminate her without obstacles. This eased the tension she'd felt all day.
One of the maids asked, "Miss Xanthus, what makes you so happy?"
"Good news," Xanthus said, leaning back, radiating arrogance and pride. Jeremy had spent a long time in Lovell City with his target right under his nose, oblivious. Morwen, however, had quickly found the long-lost princess who had disappeared over a decade ago. Circumstances were in her favor.
Morwen gazed out, a deeper smile forming. In Lovell City, she was determined to eliminate Tiffany, a potential threat. The secret of Tiffany's true identity had to be guarded fiercely. Once she eliminated Tiffany and severed the royal family's only bloodline, she would wait for the king to die. Then, as the current Saintess, she would naturally ascend to queen.
It was a lifelong dream. After over a decade of planning, victory was within reach; she couldn't afford mistakes.
Morwen took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She imagined herself ascending, everyone bowing. The more she thought about it, the broader her smile became.
A maid exchanged glances with the others and quietly asked, "Miss Xanthus, do you still want to acquire the remaining shares?"
"Of course!" Morwen opened her eyes, impatience evident. "What's taking so long? Haven't you dealt with that man yet?"
She had dispatched people at noon. Within an hour, they secured several shareholders through sheer financial power. Only one remained, refusing to be swayed, no matter how tempting the offers. Morwen couldn't believe anyone could resist such temptation.
"Double the amount!" Morwen declared. "Keep at it until he agrees!" She was determined to secure the Kelley family company. Richard was also on her agenda. No one would take anything from her.
"But…" the maid replied hesitantly, "the staff reported that they've already offered the best conditions, yet the major shareholder, Owen Hughes, refuses to agree. He even said…"
"What else did he say?" Morwen asked.
"He claimed we were foolish and stubborn for insisting on opposing the Kelley family…"
Morwen's face twisted in anger. "He doesn't know what's good for him! Since he has a restaurant, find a way to bring it down! Let's see if he still dares to oppose me!"
"Understood!" The maid nodded and instructed the subordinates.
Thanks to Owen's popularity and exceptional cuisine, the Maximus restaurant thrived, attracting a steady stream of customers. Owen had stopped overseeing company matters months ago, focusing on being a shareholder and enjoying his retirement while running the restaurant. The restaurant's success brought him great satisfaction. However, today marked a third wave of trouble.
The first two disturbances involved complaints about finding unsanitary items in their dishes or a napkin mixed in with the food; various petty tactics were used. While those incidents were manageable, this time, things escalated significantly, becoming a matter of life and death.