Chapter 318: He's Been a Nuisance for a While

Maggie grinned slightly. Knowing Ronald's shrewd nature, she suspected he was furious. He could accept his son's jealousy over a spat with a woman and his perceived incompetence compared to Nathael. However, he couldn't tolerate his son betraying the family. The revelation that Joseph had exposed Ronald's attempts to manipulate Maggie into a relationship with Nathael, without any genuine care for her, would deeply offend him. Ronald would be consumed by disappointment, embarrassment, and rage.

Olivia was stunned, clearly unprepared for her son's outburst. Joseph, his face bruised and swollen, mumbled incoherently. Olivia watched anxiously, aware that Sierra had already disappointed Ronald and Master Cameron; she couldn't afford to lose Joseph as well.

"Those words weren't serious," Olivia interjected quickly. "Joseph cares deeply about you; he spoke without thinking."

Maggie shook her head, her expression stern. "No, Mom, that's wrong. Regardless of how much his words hurt Vanessa, saying those things in front of Mr. Harris's secretary was a direct challenge. How could Nathael possibly ignore that?"

"Can't you say something in Joseph's defense? After all, he is—"

Maggie cut Olivia off. "I have no evidence Nathael would act against him. Besides, what man would tolerate what Joseph said? Dad, think about it. If someone told you that you were only having fun with Mom and never took her seriously, would you accept that?"

Maggie subtly shifted the argument toward Ronald, eager to gauge his reaction. Ronald pursed his lips, remaining silent.

Maggie lowered her eyes, slightly disappointed. "Dad, I don't understand Joseph. How could he say such reckless things in front of Mr. Harris? If Nathael simply ignored it with so many witnesses, wouldn't it become gossip later?"

Olivia frowned anxiously. "What do you mean? Why can't you distinguish right from wrong?"

Ronald snapped, "Enough! I believed he suffered unjustly, but he initiated this! He deserved it! How could I have fathered such a fool?"

He turned, his gaze cold and furious as he fixed it on Joseph lying on the bed. Maggie sneered inwardly. The Camerons were clearly in a difficult situation.

Concealing his feelings, Ronald continued, "Nothing angers a father more than his own children proving to be complete fools."

Maggie attempted to mediate. "Dad, you've always been meticulous and strategic; Joseph inherited your genes—he's capable. He's always done well, but his concern clouded his judgment this time."

Ronald scoffed, glancing at Olivia. "He's not just carrying my genes!"

His words struck Maggie's intended target. Olivia's face paled, tears welling as she sobbed, "Ronald, what do you mean? You're blaming me while Joseph is in this condition? Instead of blaming those who caused this, you're turning against me."

Ronald sneered and left without replying.

Olivia, attempting to calm things down, said, "That's enough. He's under a lot of pressure and in a bad mood. Seeing Joseph like this hurts him more than anyone. Don't make it worse."

After the drama subsided, Maggie, in good spirits, returned to her room to relax. A knock came shortly after. She opened the door to find Lucas, backpack slung over his shoulder.

"Come in," she said, stepping aside to let him enter. His usually stoic face softened slightly.

"What brings you here?" she asked gently.

In her previous life, Maggie had naively hoped Lucas would feel a sense of family toward the Camerons. She'd often invited him, envisioning him as part of their happy family. This life was different, however, leading to less frequent visits.

"I came to watch the show. Joseph's problems are more than just a beating," Lucas replied, sitting down and opening his laptop. "There's more to the story."

Maggie stood behind him, curious. "Take a look at this." Lucas rapidly typed, bringing up a news page. The image that appeared was so explicit that Maggie winced. "What is this?!" she exclaimed, rubbing her eyes in disbelief.

While she didn't read the article, the enlarged headline photo clearly showed Joseph—completely nude (with strategically pixelated areas).

"What happened?" Maggie's curiosity was piqued. Only Lucas would reveal the truth beyond the Camerons' and Nathael's claims of a broken leg.

Lucas smirked. "Nothing much. Last night, he went to a bar and hooked up with a woman. She's a local gang leader's mistress. The gang leader found out, stormed the hotel room, and took photos."

Maggie sensed Lucas's amusement. "And the gang leader published the photos?"

"Yeah! Check this out," Lucas pointed to the headline: "Shocking! Cameron Group Heir Caught in Affair!" "Scandalous! Soleil Group CEO Caught in Adultery!" Numerous other sensational headlines followed.

A flood of messages arrived, all mentioning the Cameron Group. Maggie was stunned, recognizing Nathael's ruthlessness. By showcasing Joseph's photos in entertainment and gossip magazines and exposing the Cameron Group's business dealings, Nathael had publicly humiliated the family, potentially damaging their operations and stock prices.

"It's not viral yet, but it will be by tonight," Lucas grinned, clearly pleased.

"I'll contact Leo and Mia. Let's buy some Cameron Group shares while they're cheap. How's your work going? Have you assessed the company's situation?" After contacting Leo and Mia, Maggie texted Nathael: 'You're ruthless!'

Joseph might never show his face in Aquapolis again. Nathael, in a meeting, replied calmly: 'He'd been annoying me for a long time.'