Chapter 327: Chapter 327

Chapter 327:

Back when Stella had had a heart-to-heart with Bryan, she had told him about securing half of Brandon’s shares. Bryan had sensed something was amiss then.

Especially when the lawyer kept coming up with flimsy excuses to delay legally acknowledging the transfer document, Bryan had been convinced there was a problem with it.

Upon examining the document, he had found it utterly blank.

But he hadn’t said anything about it; instead, he had asked Stella to keep it safe.

Feigning ignorance, he had persistently pressured the lawyer, creating the illusion that he had been unaware of this.

Bryan had already expected Brandon’s ploy to manipulate the bet with this method.

“Right now, I don’t possess a single share of Apex Group.

The weight on my shoulders consists of a few unfinished projects, with total losses amounting to mere hundreds of thousands. I’ll clear those with the finance department,” Bryan said.

His fingers drummed the table rhythmically, the sound echoing ominously in Brandon’s ear.

Bryan continued, “As for the remaining losses, that’s all on Zola. You picked her, so you shoulder the burden.

Good luck!”

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com, your source for inspiration He chuckled, giving Brandon’s shoulder a light pat, causing Brandon to collapse back into his chair.

The fake stock transfer document was exposed, and he couldn’t let Bryan stay.

“Stop!” Brandon shouted as Bryan reached the conference room door. He abruptly stood up. “Think you’re so clever? Is this how you want to fight me, by burning bridges? If Apex Group goes down and I’m drowning in debt, the Dawson family will be in a dire situation as well!”

The Dawson family still had some assets under Brandon’s name.

Losses were inevitable. Would Bryan and Stella be willing to end up with just a few luxury houses and cars, watching their money run out?

Bryan pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and tossed his suit jacket onto the conference room table.

“Your debt is your problem, not the Dawson family’s,” he said.

“An hour ago, I issued a statement. You, Brandon Dawson, have been expelled from the Dawson family, and we’re severing ties with Apex Group!” Stella declared, stepping forward decisively and slapping Brandon.

After a pause, she continued, “Having a son like you is my lifelong regret, and expelling you from the Dawson family is my way of making amends to the family!”

The slap wasn’t hard; Brandon barely felt any pain.

Lydia quickly stood up, shielding Brandon. “Stella, this is too much. He’s your son, and you’ve disowned him. Do you want to follow Bryan and be ridiculed? Do you think it’s tragic to have no son to care for you in your old age?”

“Don’t worry. This old body of mine is still strong.

Besides, I still have my grandson, and that’s enough!” Stella’s laughter was laced with mockery. “And who said my grandson and I will be ridiculed?”

Her words immediately changed the expressions of Lydia and Brandon, who fixated their gazes on Bryan.

Even Zola turned her attention to Bryan.

In fact, everyone in the room was now looking at Bryan.

Sunlight poured over Bryan, His features regained their former sharpness, the aura of defeat completely vanishing.

“I hope you can still salvage Apex Group and confront me again,” Bryan said to Brandon.

With that, he exited the meeting room, taking Stella and Raymond with him.

A resignation letter lay on the CEO’s desk. Raymond had packed up Bryan’s things there.

Bryan stood in the office, smirking. This was where it had all truly begun—Eileen and him.

A flood of memories washed over him. He could almost see Eileen standing at the desk, reporting to him.

He even believed he could hear her voice calling him, “Mr. Dawson…”

After a while, he drew a deep breath and stubbed out his cigarette. Jarred approached him. “Mr. Dawson, your grandmother is waiting in the car. She needs to speak with you.”

“Okay,” Bryan replied, preparing to exit the building.

On his way out, he noticed numerous employees submitting their resignations and carrying their belongings out.

When they encountered Bryan, they still greeted him with respect.

Bryan acknowledged their greetings and, upon reaching the lobby, noticed a crowd gathered at the company entrance, ready to leave.

He paused momentarily before instructing Raymond, “Bring these people in.”

“Understood,” Raymond responded promptly, approaching the group. “Here’s my business card. If you’re searching for a new job, take my number and reach out.”

He handed a card to the person closest to him.

The group was momentarily stunned before bombarding him with questions.

“What’s this about? What’s the new company?”

“Yeah. Isn’t Apex Group over? What’s the new company?”

“Did Mr. Dawson foresee all this and already have a plan?”

The crowd buzzed with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.

Raymond believed he used to be just like them before Bryan.

Feeling a surge of pride, he straightened his posture. “Do you think you can grasp Mr. Dawson’s solution? He himself had just been clued in! These people… they would have to wait and see. He would keep them in suspense for now.”

He said, “Stop hesitating. Take the business card and remember the number. Following Mr. Dawson will be the wisest move. Even if Apex Group collapses, he won’t. Isn’t that remarkable?”

Even though he wanted to tell them everything, he thought some things were best revealed in due time.

As they got into the car, Bryan glanced at Raymond’s smug demeanor and smirked. He loosened his tie and turned his gaze back to Stella.

“You wanted to talk to me?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Stella hesitated for a moment. “I heard Eileen is back, and she’s now the General Manager of Ferguson Group, under Julio’s wing.”

The words made Bryan frown. He responded sternly, “She’s just teamed up with Julio. It’s a cooperative relationship.”

Stella said, “With her aligning with Julio, the Ferguson family will undoubtedly target her. Bryan… You shouldn’t get involved in this mess. Your foundation isn’t solid yet—”

Before Stella could finish, Bryan’s sharp gaze cut her off.

He didn’t utter a word; he just stared at Stella with an expression that teetered between disappointment.

His gaze was like invisible hands tightening around Stella’s throat.

After a long pause, Stella lowered her head and continued, “I know I’ve made many mistakes and hurt Eileen deeply. I will find a way to make it right.”

“And how exactly do you plan to make it right?” Bryan shot back, his tone sharp. “Money? Or perhaps handing over the Dawson family?”

“Material compensation is a given. If she wasn’t tied up with the Ferguson family right now, we could bring her back,” Stella responded without a second thought. “The Dawson family will be hers in the future!”

Bryan’s gaze was cold. “Do you think you can just summon her back at your convenience? She is a human being, not a pet to be discarded when inconvenient and retrieved when it suits you.”

Stella fell silent, her words caught in her throat.

“Do you think you only hurt her?” Bryan pointed to his chest. “You hurt me, too. You made me feel unworthy to stand before her, unfit to bring her back.”

After a long, painful silence, Stella’s eyes welled up with tears. She said, “Oh Bryan, your mother died at your father’s hands. I carry immense guilt. Her greatest wish was for you to be well. If I can’t protect you, I will fail her and won’t be able to face her in the afterlife. Why did I ever give birth to Brandon, that bastard? How can I ever atone for the pain he inflicted on you? How can I ever make amends to your mother?”

The mention of the past enveloped Bryan in a cold, heavy silence.

After what felt like an eternity, he said, “I’m fine now. You’ve already atoned for Brandon’s sins. From this moment on, stay out of my affairs.”

With that, he opened the car door, got out, and returned to his own car.

Raymond saw Bryan return and quickly left the crowd, hopping back into the car and starting the engine to leave.

Jarred sighed deeply. “Bryan doesn’t have the ruthless edge needed for the cutthroat world of the wealthy. He’s a man with feelings. Maybe… allowing him to pursue his feelings is the best path.”

Stella remained silent for a long time. Then, she said, “In the ruthless world of the wealthy, people with feelings won’t survive. Forget it, let’s go.”

“Back to the mountains?” Jarred inquired.

“Back to the Dawson Mansion. Eileen has returned and is now entangled with the Ferguson family. I’m afraid she might bring disaster to Bryan. I must keep an eye on them,” Stella said, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

After Julio had returned to the Ferguson family, he hadn’t set foot in Ferguson Group again.

Some people began showing their true colors in the company, causing occasional trouble for Eileen. Fortunately, Benjamin adeptly managed these issues for Eileen.

But Benjamin’s increasingly meticulous attentiveness raised Eileen’s suspicions.

As they rode the elevator after work together, Benjamin asked, “How’s the hunt for a secretary going?”

Eileen smiled faintly. “Bailee texted that she’s found someone. They’ll start in a few days. Thanks for pitching in.”

Benjamin noticed that Eileen was maintaining a deliberate distance. “Who would’ve thought we’d end up working side by side?” he said.

“Since Julio’s return, less than a year has passed, and so much has changed. I suppose it’s fate,” Eileen said, her gaze dropping as memories of her time with Bryan in West Land flooded back, tugging at her heart.

Perhaps her heart had softened. After seeing Bryan several times recently, she found it increasingly difficult to resist her deep-rooted feelings for him.

“I’ve mentioned before that the world of the wealthy is full of unpredictability. Things can change overnight,” Benjamin said.

Eileen couldn’t get anything from the Dawson family.

This wasn’t the first time Benjamin hinted at this.

Eileen hadn’t considered his words before, but now, she realized he understood the intricacies of the wealthy people’s interests all too well.

“There’s something you don’t know,” Benjamin continued, a hint of sarcasm touching his lips. “Vivian’s descent into madness is tied to Zola. The incident with the falling chandelier at Phoebe and Mr. Meyer’s wedding? It was orchestrated by Kian. Mr. Dawson has taken over the Warren Group, sidelining Kian.”

His dislike for Zola now stemmed from her involvement in Kian’s actions, though he lacked concrete proof.

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