Chapter 273

But Juan's dynamics didn't even approach Melody's. The affection she had shown Debra in the past was merely superficial, a means to an end. Now that Debra was presumed dead, Melody had shifted her favor to Shelia, a woman she had once disdained, solely because Shelia was the Nichols family heir. The hypocrisy filled Juan with a profound sense of disgust, a feeling he had never associated with his family.

Melody, oblivious to Juan's inner turmoil, looked up at him with a puzzled chuckle. “Juan, why are you still here? Go rest upstairs. Shelia and I will handle things here.”

Her dismissive attitude annoyed Juan. His voice was filled with coldness as he declared, “If you like this house so much, you can have it.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Melody staring after him in confusion.

Shelia, sensing the tension, asked tentatively, “Grandma, is Juan angry?”

Melody waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry about him. He’ll come back once he’s cooled off.” When Juan was a child, she had taught him how to hide his emotions. But Debra's presence had changed Juan, making his emotions unstable. He had run away from home as a child, only to return each time, knowing the outside world would never accept him. Without the Nichols family, he was nothing.

Joe was surprised to see Juan striding out.

“Sir?”

“Back to the company.”

“Okay.”

As they settled into the car, Juan instructed Joe, “Suppress all rumors about Debra’s death and intercept all invitations to her funeral.”

“Sir, that might be difficult.”

Juan frowned, and Joe quickly explained, “I just got word that, before the funeral arrangements, Mrs. Nichols Sr. had already contacted all the executives. Since the Nichols family had fallen out with the Frazier family, she’s eager to distance herself. Holding a funeral and arranging a divorce seemed like the best way.”

Juan’s silence was ominous, and Joe felt compelled to fill it. “Even though Mrs. Nichols Sr. isn’t managing the company now, she’s an elder. Her words carry a lot of weight.”

Juan spoke coldly. “I’m the head of the Nichols family. I call the shots. If they don’t listen to me, they should just quit.”

Seeing the storm brewing in Juan’s eyes, Joe knew he had to tread carefully. “Sir, your grandmother’s decisions undoubtedly benefit the Nichols family. The executives see it and haven’t rejected her suggestions. If we have an internal conflict now, the company could be in real danger.”

With external troubles and internal strife threatening to tear the company apart, they couldn’t handle more setbacks. A quick and decisive response was needed, or the century-old company might collapse under Juan’s watch.

“Now even you don’t listen to me?”

“Sir, it’s all for the company.”

Juan had heard this too many times. None of those things had been his intention. Marrying Debra had been for the Nichols Group, too.