Joanna smiled. “You really don’t need to worry about the money. Just focus on finalizing the acquisition. Once the deal is set, the funds will be transferred immediately.”
Elliot stared at her, his mouth agape.
But since Joanna didn’t seem inclined to elaborate on the source of the money, he didn’t press further. Instead, he nodded repeatedly, giving her a thumbs–up. “You truly are my boss–bold and decisive. I’m in awe, absolutely in awe!”
When Jeremy returned to Clementson Bay Villa, the new chef had prepared a lavish spread for him. The dishes looked just as good as what Joanna used to make.
Jeremy sat at the dining table, picked up his fork, and sampled one of the dishes. It tasted fine, excellent even, but somehow, it felt off.
After just a few bites, he set his fork down. Polly and the chef stood nearby, watching nervously.
Jeremy didn’t say
av a word. He simply got up and went upstairs. Once inside his study, his phone rang. It was Kenneth calling.
“Mr. Hansen, Joy wasn’t abducted by Mrs. Hansen,” Kenneth began. “It was Helen and Benjamin who tried to take her to the hospital. She escaped and accidentally ran into Mrs. Hansen’s car. Mrs. Hansen took her to the hospital, treated her to dinner, and later brought her back to Maplewood Residences.”
Kenneth continued, laying out everything he had uncovered, “Joy was picked up by her boyfriend around noon today. She turned against Mrs. Hansen because Ms. Slinger gave her family a 20–thousand–dollar deposit.
“If they couldn’t deliver the uterus, the family would face a 60–thousand–dollar penalty. Ms. Slinger promised them that if they worked with her to slander Mrs. Hansen, they wouldn’t have to pay the penalty and could keep the deposit.”
Jeremy’s grip on his phone tightened, the vein on his temple pulsing. “So, for 20 thousand dollars, they all worked together to frame Joanna?”
“Yes,” Kenneth confirmed.
Jeremy leaned back in his chair, pressing his fingers against his temple. “And what about the five thousand dollars?”
“Joy said Mrs. Hansen gave it to her. Apparently, she told Mrs. Hansen that she was planning to marry her boyfriend and move back to his hometown. Mrs. Hansen gave her the money as a wedding gift.”
Chapter 38
+25 BONUS
The Holms were the epitome of greed. A small benefit or a little intimidation was all it took to make them do anything or say anything.
Joy
wasn’t much better. A few sweet words from her boyfriend had been enough to make her betray Joanna and even viciously frame her.
As Jeremy listened, his sharp eyebrows furrowed deeply into a scowl. It seemed he had wronged Joanna this time.
But when he recalled Joanna’s attitude in the coffee shop, a surge of anger welled up in him again.
She wasn’t mute–why hadn’t she explained herself? Why hadn’t she made things clear?
Instead, she had chosen to say nothing and treated him with disdain, as if he were someone to be avoided.
It seemed that ever since she had latched onto Elliot, Joanna had of disregarding him entirely.
own bolder, to the point
“Have someone evaluate the market value of Eterna Group,” Jeremy suddenly ordered, changing the topic.
“Mr. Hansen, are you thinking of acquiring Eterna Group?” Kenneth asked, surprised. “It’s not out of the question. Let someone test Elliot first,” Jeremy said.
His interest in acquiring Eterna Group wasn’t solely about removing Elliot as Joanna’s
group genuinely had immense growth potential. support. The group
“Yes, Mr. Hansen.”
