âGet lost!â Zyon waved his arm in an attempt to stop Winnie from approaching him.Josiah reacted quickly. He glanced at both sides and pretended not to see Winnie.âWho are you talking to, Mr.
Fairchild?â he asked Zyon in surprise. âWhy are you seated on the ground all of a sudden? You have not fully recovered, so you canât just sit on the ground as you please.âZyon was about to lose his mind.
He pointed at Winnie as he backed away. âAre you blind? Canât you see her?âJosiah deliberately glanced behind him. âWho are you talking about? I canât see a thing. Do you see anyone, Mr.
Tanser?ââErâ¦â Louis gave a dry cough. Though he felt uncomfortable telling a bald-faced lie, he was very accommodating. âNo, I donât see anyone at all.ââLetâs go. Help me up!â Zyon had received a curse several years ago in a small country in Southeast Aploth, so he was wary about supernatural matters.He clutched onto the caretakerâs leg and ordered the latter to take him away. This is a hospital.
Hospitals are cursed.Winnie was speechless with surprise as she did not expect Zyon to be scared so easily. That was a spontaneous idea. I havenât even begun to dig in, and heâs already in such a state.The caretaker helped Zyon up, and the door to the ward opened from within just as they were about to leave.Rufusâ butler emerged from the ward and glanced at the crowd in the corridor. âDr.
Houghton, Mrs. Fairchild, and Mr. Zyon, Old Mr. Fairchild requests your presence.ââAll right,â said Josiah.âOkay,â responded Winnie.Zyon regained his senses when Winnie spoke. âYouâre not dead?
Youâre not a ghost! You were messing with me, arenât you? The three of you are ganged up against me in a deception!âJosiah smirked. âAs the saying goes: âOne need not have anything to fear if one has a clear conscience.â Have you been up to no good that youâre this frightened in broad daylight, Mr. Zyon?
I presume you have something to do with your cousinâs disappearance some time ago.âZyon glared ferociously at him. âStop accusing me, or Iâll sue you for slander!âJosiah raised his eyebrows. âThen Iâll await the letter from your lawyer, Mr. Zyon.âWithout another word, he escorted Winnie into the ward.Zyon was worried that Winnie would run her mouth to Rufus, so he quickly called for the caretaker to help him overtake them and enter the ward before they did.He was already engaged in conversation with Rufus when Winnie and the rest entered.They found him putting on an act before his grandfather. âIâve just seen Winnie, Grandpa. Sheâs back. Did you know about this?ââI do,â Rufus lamented as he nodded. âLouis already told me Xavier had been looking for Winnie before his disappearance. Though Winnie has made it back, thereâs still no news of him. Poor Xavier.ââOh, Grandpa.â Zyon pretended to wipe away a tear. âMaybe Xavier isnât meant for this world. He became paralyzed after his car accident last year and nearly did not regain consciousness. Iâm afraid his chances are slim with him lost out in the vast world. However, Grandpa, you still have me even if Xavier is gone. Iâll be by your side from now on. There will be no place but Avenport for me for the rest of my life. I know Iâm inferior to Xavier in every way, but I swear to work hard to fill his shoes. I believe that I will become as good as him one day.â âAs for Winnie,â Zyon concluded as he gazed at Winnie with feigned pity, âI will care for her as Xavier treasured her so.ââOh, Zyon.â Rufus sighed. His eyes turned red as he patted the formerâs arm. âYou are the only grandson I have left now with Xavier gone. Can you really fill your cousinâs shoes at the helm of Fairchild Corporation?ââDonât worry, Grandpa! I am your grandson. You are a giant amongst men, and I, Zyon, will not prove myself incapable! I will be up for the task of leading Fairchild Corporation.âThough his expression was grim, Zyon was inwardly delighted.Rufusâ resilience weakened as time went on. Initially refusing to believe Xavierâs demise, he appeared to have entirely accepted it then.He even relented to have me take Xavierâs place! Excellent!
Truly excellent!However, a voice of objection rang out at that moment.âMr. Fairchild.â Louis gazed gravely at Rufus. âYou canât just hand the position over to Mr. Zyon before Mr. Xavier is found. He is completely unfamiliar with the companyâs operations.ââHold your tongue!â Zyon interjected loudly. âThis decision has been made by the members of the Fairchild family. Who are you to object? Is this your place to speak?ââHow dare you!â Louis was so angry that his chest puffed up, and he decided to go all out. âThe truth is, Mr. Fairchild, I suspect Mr. Xavierâs disappearance to have something to do with Zyon, and I have reason to believe he paid a private investigator to leak the false news to lure Mr.
Xavier out to sea, which is where he met the accident.ââPreposterous! What evidence do you have? I think youâre just looking out for yourself. Youâre afraid to lose the position of assistant to the CEO, so youâre smearing my name.ââI am not!â Louis flushed red instantly. âMrs. Fairchild can attest to the fact that you are a murderer who would risk the lives of others for your own end!ââOh?â Zyon was amused.
âSheâs a simpleton. What can she prove?ââTell the Chairman, Mrs. Fairchild. Tell him what you went through that night!â Louis begged Winnie.Winnie pursed her lips. Her wide, discerning eyes filled with tears immediately as she trotted to the side of the bed.âI didnât become lost on my own, Grandpa Rufus,â she said forlornly to the old man. âIt was that meanie, Zyon, and my sister. They were the ones who pushed me off the cliff, and I almost fell to my death. Oh, it hurt! My arms and legs hurt. My whole body hurts.ââWhat did you say?â Rufus gaped at Winnie before turning to Zyon. âZyon pushed you off the cliff? You are a good girl, Winnie. Good girls tell no lies, do you understand?ââYes, I know. Children who lie will grow long noses. My nose did not grow, so Iâm not telling a lie.â As Winnie spoke, big drops of tears rolled down her cheeks.The stupid womanâs tears contain venom. Zyon cussed inwardly while watching Rufus swayed by several words from Winnie.âDid Louis bribe you?â Zyon asked Winnie at once. âI didnât âsee you at Grandpaâs birthday party, and Iâm not even acquainted with your sister. How could I have joined forces with her to harm you? At least think through your lie before telling it!â