Chapter 230

Keanu was no saint, and he knew Colton wasn't his only grandson. His son had been a philanderer, fathering numerous illegitimate children all vying for a share of the family fortune. Colton, therefore, had never held a special place in his affections. Furthermore, Colton's infatuation with an ambitious and power-hungry woman had rendered him unfit for any significant role within the family. Keanu had demonstrated his disapproval by skipping Colton's wedding.

"Allison, rest assured, I know exactly who to invite and who not to invite to my birthday celebration," Keanu said firmly. "I won't let you be embarrassed. It's just a small gathering with a few old friends."

Keanu, with a lifetime of experience navigating family betrayals and business rivalries, possessed a keen eye for people and their intentions.

"You must be very busy lately. I went on vacation abroad and didn't contact you for a while. How about I introduce you to some of my friends tomorrow? You could explore more business opportunities." His voice softened with genuine concern. "And remember, men aren't a necessity. In the end, you must be strong on your own!"

Allison lowered her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Keanu." She was deeply moved by his sincerity. Even after three years and her departure from the Stevens family, Keanu had consistently treated her like family, looking out for her best interests and meticulously planning for her future. To refuse his kindness would feel ungrateful.

"I will definitely be there."

Keanu stroked his beard and chuckled heartily. "Good, good! I'll be waiting for you then." He quickly added, as if worried about pressuring her, "And don't worry. The Stevens Group is my life's work. Even though I'm retired, no one can touch my shares or assets. I've lived long enough to know that family ties aren't always meaningful. Many will go to any lengths for money; you'll find such people everywhere." He spoke bluntly, his voice laced with disdain. "Allison, I think highly of you, so don't worry about what others might think. You've agreed to come, and that's all that matters. Besides, many of my friends have excellent sons. I can introduce you to them."

Allison's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Go to any lengths for money? Was he hinting at something?"

Keanu snorted, as if reading her mind. "Don't misunderstand. I'm not referring to Colton. He may be foolish, but he's not greedy—and he's never been smart!"

Allison chuckled softly. "Don't worry, I'll be there. I promise to be on time."

Meanwhile, at the Stevens family estate, Colton's face was dark with fury as he flung a stack of financial reports onto the table. "How can there be no problem? The company's been bleeding money for years! Just this year alone, we've lost nearly ten million. Someone's sabotaging us. God knows how much they've been embezzling before this!" Without solid evidence, however, they were stuck.

Melany, who had been reviewing the documents, frowned in frustration. The numbers seemed clean, but something felt wrong.

"Colton, money isn't the issue here," she said seriously. "But we can't let this go unpunished. What if others see this and start following the example of those parasites?" She leaned closer, resting her hand lightly on his shoulder, her eyes narrowing as she flipped through the report again. Although she couldn't pinpoint the exact flaw, she knew how to stir the pot.

"Maybe there's a mole in the subsidiary," she murmured, feigning innocence. "I heard Deandre was acting president before. He's in his thirties, rather handsome, and… well, he did have some interactions with Allison back then."

Colton's jaw clenched, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the table's edge.

"Deandre?" he repeated venomously. "I'll have to find out how close he is to Allison!"