Chapter 282
Alaric let out a cold snort, his eyes sharp as he looked at Cormac. “I never suffer losses. I make anyone who provokes me pay dearly. But the ones who provoked me are Todd and Ambrose, not you. I won’t confuse right with wrong. If the day comes when the righteous must pay for the sins of the wicked, that’s true injustice.”
Cormac stared at him, stunned. Alaric’s words hit him harder than expected, and he felt a shift in how he saw his childhood friend. The man standing before him was not the same one he had known for years; he was something more—a force of calculated resolve.
Alaric’s voice softened slightly. “Cormac, if you really trust me, listen to me. I’ll handle this. It’s just a jewelry company. I don’t care that much. Besides, what you have now doesn’t mean you’ll have it forever. I will get what I want sooner or later. There’s no rush. To be honest, I’m quite happy right now.”
Cormac blinked, confused. “Happy?” he echoed.
Alaric’s expression became sincere, almost warm. “Because you are still the Cormac I know. Despite all the changes, you’re still you. I know the psychological torment you’ve been through these days. You don’t need to feel sorry for me. Actually, it’s my plan to acquire the jewelry company that implicated you.”
Cormac’s heart skipped a beat. So it had been Alaric’s plan all along. If it weren’t for Alaric’s pursuit of the acquisition, Todd and Ambrose wouldn’t have used Aurora to threaten him so ruthlessly. It was unfair, but it suited Alaric’s strategy. Cormac had been just another piece in the game, and the realization stung.
Alaric continued, his gaze unwavering. “Cormac, stay. I genuinely want you to help me, and this is not charity. The Nash family and the Knight family are who they are, but our relationship stands on its own, with a unique bond.”
Cormac’s chest tightened. Alaric’s words were powerful, and the temptation to say no seemed less real with every passing second.
Alaric went on, “Let the past be the past. You don’t need to tell me you lack ability; I know what you’re capable of. You can continue to be a doctor if you want. I’m about to undergo treatment, and I hope you can help me through this period.”
After Alaric finished speaking, a long silence filled the room. Cormac stood frozen, trying to process everything. He wanted to refuse, but Alaric’s conviction, his sincerity, had unsettled him. He wasn’t sure what to say.
“Don’t rush to answer me,” Alaric added, his tone softer now. “Take your time to think about it. It’s getting late; go back and take care of Aurora. She must be terrified after all this.”
With a final, reassuring pat on Cormac’s shoulder, Alaric walked out of the office, leaving Cormac to his thoughts.
Elsewhere, Todd was celebrating his victory. He, Ambrose, and Bill had gathered at a bar to indulge in their success. The music blared, and the crowd danced around them, but Todd was far more interested in the women clinging to him.
In the center of the dance floor, Todd groped the women around him, his laughter ringing out with abandon. When he finally tired of the noise and the dance, he collapsed onto a couch, two women in tow. He drank down his glass of alcohol and laughed loudly, his face flushed with drink.
“I’m so happy,” Todd crowed. “I thought Alaric was tough, but he was so easy to crack. Ambrose, I’ve got to hand it to you—well done.”
Ambrose raised his glass, a faint smile on his lips. “Thank you, Todd,” he said, his voice tinged with false warmth. “Here’s to you.”
“Cheers,” Todd shouted, before drinking again and feeding the women beside him more drinks.
When he’d had enough of the women, Todd pushed them away carelessly, a disgusted look on his face. “Alaric and Cormac—they’re just a pair of fools,” he slurred. “One’s willing to suffer for some brotherhood, and the other breaks the law for a girl he’s not even related to. Aren’t they stupid? And they think they’re going to achieve something big? It’s laughable. You all used to praise Alaric like he was a god, but he’s just a damn facade.”
He let out a mockingly triumphant laugh. “Alaric’s so easy to deal with. He’s given me a new idea. I think Stellan is really beautiful, you know? I’ve seen a lot of women, but none as beautiful as her. And now that I’ve taken the jewelry company from him, I’m really curious about what his wife is like. Ambrose, wasn’t she your girlfriend before? What’s she like?”
Ambrose’s jaw clenched. The idea of Todd, shameless and drunk, talking about Stellan in such a vile way sickened him to the core. His fists tightened, but he kept his cool.
“Todd, you’ve had too much to drink,” Bill said, trying to de-escalate the situation.
Todd waved him off. “Bill, you know me. This isn’t about drinking. I’m serious. All I can think about right now is Stellan. And I’m not like other men. Other men like virgins, but not me. I like women who’ve been with other men. Why? Because it’s thrilling,” Todd said, looking at Ambrose as he spoke.
The arrogant laughter that followed made Ambrose’s blood boil. He could barely contain himself.
Ambrose’s eyes narrowed, and in his mind, he made a vow. One day, I’ll make Todd pay for everything—every insult, every indignity.
Meanwhile, the news of Far East International’s successful acquisition of the jewelry company spread like wildfire, and Todd’s loud, boastful nature made sure that everyone knew about it. The victory was tainted, however, by the missing electronic draft. Nexus Innovations had taken a serious hit—not just because they lost the acquisition but because there were whispers of corporate espionage.
To address the growing tension within the company, Alaric called for a board meeting. The executives were already on edge, waiting to hear what he would say.
“I’m sure you’ve all seen the result of the jewelry company acquisition. I sincerely apologize to everyone here,” Alaric began, his voice calm yet firm.
His apology caught everyone by surprise. A murmur ran through the room.
Alaric continued, “The only electronic draft was always with me. It’s true that extreme caution can lead to mistakes. I kept it with me at all times to protect it, but that led to its accidental loss. I am truly ashamed.”
The room fell silent as Alaric’s words hung in the air. His explanation seemed genuine, but doubts lingered. Could it really have been an accident?
“I know this is a setback,” Alaric added. “But the regret we feel is temporary. Since this mistake was mine, I will take full responsibility. I will recover the jewelry company, and I promise you, I will make this right.”
Alaric’s sincerity was undeniable. As a director of Nexus Innovations, his apology carried weight, and the board members, though still uneasy, couldn’t argue with his resolve.