Chapter 282: We Are a Family

Chapter 282: Chapter 282: We Are a Family

Public opinion had completely reversed, with an overwhelming wave of condemnation and vitriol directed at the Churchill Family.

The Churchill Family was now utterly and completely disgraced.

Faced with all the evidence presented by the police, Thomas Churchill and Hannah Churchill’s faces turned ashen, and they had no choice but to confess everything.

A lawyer from Whitman Law Firm arrived and submitted a complete chain of evidence detailing Churchill Enterprises’ tax evasion and malicious tax avoidance over the past two years.

Thomas Churchill was so overcome with rage that he fainted on the spot.

The blood drained from Hannah Churchill’s face, leaving it as white as a sheet. She struggled in a panic.

"I want to see Chadwick! He can’t do this to me!"

The lawyer’s expression was indifferent, not showing the slightest ripple of emotion.

"President Whitman will not see you. From now on, I will be your sole point of contact for all related matters."

Inside the detention center, Mrs. Churchill had been holding out hope that her husband and daughter could pull some strings to get her out. But the news she received instead was that the father-daughter duo had also been officially charged and taken into custody.

She learned that they had taken a huge risk by holding a press conference, attempting to publicly slander and use public opinion to force the Whitman Family to back down. Not only had they failed to achieve their goal, but they had also completely enraged Chadwick Whitman, who then exposed all of the Churchill Family’s dirty laundry—from their mistreatment of Iris Churchill to their company’s tax evasion.

In an instant, all the spirit supporting her was drained away. The last glimmer of light in her eyes died out, and she collapsed limply to the floor.

’How did it come to this?’

’The Whitman Family is just too ruthless. They won’t show any mercy. They’re determined to drive the Churchill Family to extinction.’

’After all, we are Iris’s biological parents. How could Chadwick Whitman so easily cast aside their past relationship and act so cruelly!’

"I want to see Chadwick Whitman! Tell him to come see me!"

...

The lawyer returned to the company and reported the situation to Chadwick Whitman. Upon hearing that Mrs. Churchill and Hannah Churchill were insisting on seeing him, a cold, mocking smile touched Chadwick’s lips.

’Where do they get the nerve to be so arrogant?’

’If it weren’t for Iris, that family wouldn’t even be qualified to see him.’

’But they just had to use his feelings for Iris as a bargaining chip, acting unscrupulously and pushing him at every turn.’

He lowered his gaze, his fingertips gently stroking the photograph in his palm.

The young woman in the photo had a classic oval face, her almond-shaped eyes bright and gentle, and her smile pure and radiant.

His heart felt like it was soaking in sour lemon juice. A stinging, warm emotion welled up in his eyes. He slowly closed them, and a single tear slipped silently from the corner of his eye.

’Iris, you wouldn’t blame me for this, would you?’

When he opened his eyes again, only a bone-chilling coldness remained.

"Handle everything by the book. Don’t give the Churchill Family any chance to turn this around."

"Understood."

Outside the window, a steady drizzle wove a hazy mist.

Chadwick Whitman drove alone, avoiding the bustling city. He stopped when he passed a flower shop on the corner. Pushing the door open, he picked up a bouquet of pure white stargazer lilies, accented with delicate, soft baby’s breath. The light floral scent, mingled with the cool, damp air after the rain, was held tightly in his arms.

Today was the anniversary of Iris Churchill’s death.

The cemetery was deathly silent. Groves of pine and cypress were stained an inky black by the rain and mist. A cold, damp stone path stretched toward the rows of cold gravestones. There was no noise, only the soft pitter-patter of rain on leaves and the chilling wind that swept through the treetops with a grim coldness.

A few faded, withered bouquets lay before a handful of graves, making the entire cemetery feel even more desolate and lonely.

Chadwick Whitman walked slowly up the slippery stone steps and stopped in front of Iris Churchill’s gravestone. He gently placed the lilies and baby’s breath he was holding before it.

On the headstone, the young woman’s features were delicate, her smile clear and captivating, forever frozen in her most beautiful years.

He stood alone before the cold stone, the shoulders of his dark, custom-tailored suit soaked by the fine rain. The area was empty, and a boundless loneliness enveloped him, his figure looking desolate and fragile from behind.

...

At the Grayson Family’s villa, Vesper Grayson was curled up in Jared Hawthorne’s arms, scrolling through her tablet. The Churchill Family’s sensational press conference was all over the internet; it was impossible to avoid.

The entire web was flooded with comments denouncing the Churchill Family.

"The Churchill Family is so stupid. They voluntarily laid out all their dirty laundry for the public to see. Now they’re completely infamous."

’The Churchill Family must be kicking themselves right now.’

A faint smile played on Jared Hawthorne’s thin lips as he commented lightly.

"They thought they had your brother figured out, planning to use public opinion to force the Whitman Family into a compromise. They never expected it to backfire so spectacularly."

Insatiable greed and endless demands ultimately only backfire on oneself.

"Iris Churchill was truly pitiful, having a family like that." A wave of regret washed over Vesper Grayson. ’If she were still alive, she would have probably married my brother by now and become my sister-in-law.’

She had previously thought her brother had been single all these years because he was ascetic and had no interest in women. Only now did she realize that he had been hiding someone unforgettable in his heart, someone he loved deeply and could never forget.

’A girl willing to give her life for him... how could he possibly let go of such a profound love?’

Jared Hawthorne looked down, his voice softening. "This is a sorrow he can only overcome by himself over time. No amount of comforting from others will help."

"I understand."

’Without personally experiencing the torment he’s endured, any words of comfort would be completely useless.’

His phone suddenly rang. Jared Hawthorne glanced at the caller ID and said softly to Vesper Grayson, "I’m going to step out and take this call."

Vesper Grayson obediently moved out of his embrace.

Jared Hawthorne got up, walked out of the bedroom, and answered the call.

"Speak."

"President Hawthorne, we’ve found a lead. There’s an organization in the Middle East called the Black Dragon Society. All the assassins in the organization have a matching black dragon tattoo. M-District in our city is just a transit station set up by the Society. The current leader of the Black Dragon Society is named Seth Shepherd. He comes from the Shepherd Family in the Middle East and is an illegitimate son who isn’t valued by his family."

"The Black Dragon Society isn’t just an assassin organization that takes on hits. Behind the scenes, they also control a multinational arms smuggling business that spans the Middle East and Senvia."

Jared Hawthorne gazed out the window, his eyes dark and profound.

"Keep digging. I want to find out who paid a fortune to hire an assassin to take my life all those years ago."

"The person in charge of the Black Dragon Society over a decade ago wasn’t Seth Shepherd. He seized power five years ago through ruthless means, purging dissenters, and only then did he begin to build his own underground empire."

"As for the assassination contract from ten years ago, Seth Shepherd had only recently taken over the organization, so he most likely doesn’t know the inside details of that incident."

Jared Hawthorne’s tone deepened slightly. "Follow this lead. Seth Shepherd has only been in power for five years. There must be insiders left in the organization. Find them, and we can uncover the whole truth."

"I understand. But, President Hawthorne, rumor has it that Seth Shepherd has a dark and unpredictable temperament. If we keep digging into his past, we’ll inevitably offend him, which could stir up unnecessary trouble."

"My goal is to uncover the truth of what happened back then, not to make an enemy of him intentionally."

’He could pay for the information. He had no history with Seth Shepherd, so there was no reason for the man to become his enemy without cause.’

...

Meanwhile, Vesper Grayson came across an auction house announcement.

In two days, The Azure Gallery would be holding a private auction for rare herbs. The final, featured item was an entire, complete wild Agarwood.

She had never seen a wild Agarwood in such perfect condition.

The substance was incredibly rare. Ground into a powder, it could be used in medicine to strengthen the body and calm the mind. The whole piece of wood could be burned as incense for meditation. And after extracting its essential oil, it could be used to create high-end fragrances and restorative skincare products. With its three uses, its value was immeasurable.

It was a perfect fit for her current research and development needs.

’If she could successfully win the bid, she could use it as the core ingredient to create an exclusive luxury line of aromatherapy and skincare products. The new line would surely cause a sensation upon release, and no one else would be able to replicate it.’

That evening, when Chadwick Whitman returned home, Vesper Grayson approached him to talk about the auction.

The Azure Gallery had an extremely high barrier to entry; ordinary people couldn’t just walk in. Before entering, guests had to undergo a strict asset verification, show proof of sufficient net worth, and pay a large security deposit for the auction. Alternatively, one could hold the auction house’s exclusive supreme black card or have received a direct private invitation. Only high-net-worth individuals, such as business tycoons and top collectors, were qualified to take a seat and participate in the bidding.

"With your current assets, you could get in through the normal verification process. But as it happens, I have The Azure Gallery’s supreme black card." Chadwick Whitman pulled the black card from his pocket and handed it to her. "Bid on whatever you like. Put it all on my tab."

Vesper Grayson quickly took the card and said softly, "Thank you, Brother."

’With this black card and her brother’s financial backing, winning the bid for the wild Agarwood should be much easier.’

Chadwick Whitman smiled. "Just ask if you need anything. You don’t have to be so formal with me. Have you and Jared been adjusting to life in Veridia?"

"Yes, it’s been great."

Everyone had been very kind to her, and she didn’t feel out of place at all.

A thought suddenly occurred to her, and Vesper Grayson chose her words carefully. "Brother, are you... unhappy about Mom and Dad giving me shares?"

Chadwick Whitman was taken aback. "Why would you think that? You’re my sister. What’s mine is yours."

His words were filled with absolute doting affection for her.

In wealthy, powerful families, it was common for siblings to fight tooth and nail over inheritance, but that kind of conflict didn’t seem to exist between them.

Vesper Grayson’s expression was a little complicated as she clarified her position, "Brother, I really don’t want to compete with you for anything..."

"I know. You don’t have to explain." Chadwick Whitman cut her off, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "We’re family!"

Those two words instantly warmed her heart.

’It feels so good to have a brother who dotes on me!’

"Brother, I saw the press conference. What are your plans for the Churchill Family?"