Chapter 126

Jeffrey felt as if he’d been slapped. Shane had already embarrassed him, and Matthew’s question added insult to injury. He wished he could murder Matthew. The audacity of such an insignificant person to constantly humiliate him! He couldn't believe Shane dared to defy him, completely disregarding his grandfather's advice.

Glowering at Matthew, Jeffrey made no attempt to conceal his hatred. “Matthew, I’ve tolerated you out of respect for Rachel, my old classmate. But you’ve pushed your luck. Continue this behavior, and you’ll regret it.”

Was this a threat? Matthew stared at the clearly irrational Jeffrey. His hatred was palpable, but Matthew remained unfazed. “So, healing Mr. Wright is pushing my luck? Would you have preferred his continued suffering?”

Shane’s expression shifted. He looked at Jeffrey differently. Jeffrey finally realized Matthew had gained leverage. Infuriated, he bellowed, “What nonsense! You’re setting a trap! It was a slip of the tongue—don’t make a big deal out of it! I’m glad Mr. Wright is cured.”

Shane’s expression grew grim. Jeffrey’s tone poorly concealed his true feelings. The Smith family might be formidable, but how could Jeffrey belittle him?

Matthew shook his head, unwilling to waste time arguing. Remembering his purpose, he said, “Mr. Wright, you promised to continue working with Wealthwave if I healed you within 30 minutes. You’re not going back on your word, are you?”

Shane hesitated, then decided promptly. “I’ll keep my promise. We’ll continue our cooperation, and Wealthwave’s traditional medicine products will receive prime shelf placement and prioritized recommendations.”

Jeffrey sprang to his feet, his expression darkening. He snarled, “Mr. Wright, consider the consequences! This decision could affect your company’s future.”

A hint of defiance crossed Shane’s face. “I’ve thought it through.”

“Since you’ve made up your mind, I’ll leave. I hope you won’t regret this!” Jeffrey snapped, striding out of the room.

Watching him leave, Shane looked worried. “I’ve no idea whether this is a blessing or a curse.”

Rachel noted his concern. “Mr. Wright, can you tell me what happened?”

Shane sighed. “As you might guess, I halted our partnership because of something Jeffrey said. The Smith family has long been the exclusive agent for many imported foreign medicines. Now that I’ve offended Jeffrey, my company won’t be able to obtain their distribution rights. We’re left without a competitive edge.”

Rachel suspected Jeffrey’s meddling, and Shane confirmed her speculation. She certainly didn’t expect Jeffrey to resort to such unscrupulous means because she rejected his courtship. Still, she felt rejecting him was the best decision she had ever made.

Intrigued by Shane’s seemingly irrational business decision, she asked, “Mr. Wright, why did you suddenly change your mind?”

Shane chuckled. “Would you believe me if I said it was because Mr. Grant healed my facial paralysis?”

“No.” Rachel shook her head. “As a seasoned entrepreneur, you wouldn’t make such a significant business decision out of mere gratitude.”