Chapter 32
After finishing her chocolate, Evadne mischievously stuffed the other half into Jason’s front pocket, her hand patting his chest. “Hmm? Nice body you’ve got there.”
Jason’s heart raced, his cheeks blushed, and he felt incredibly shy. He was four years older than Evadne. Because his father was once a minister of the K Group’s Legal Department and was highly regarded by Emeric, he often visited the Ashbourne family since he was a boy. He still remembered the first time he saw Evadne in the backyard of Silverlake Harbor. From afar, he saw a beautiful girl in dress, gracefully approaching him.
He rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things, but the beauty was already in front of him. She was dressed in a plain ethnic outfit, beautiful as a fairy.
“Hi! Do you have any candy?” Evadne got off her skateboard, stepped on it and it came to her hand.
“Huh?” Jason felt a bit flustered.
“If you don’t, never mind.” Evadne sighed in disappointment, put down her skateboard ready to leave, but Jason grabbed her arm. Her arm was delicate, barely a handful.
“Wait.” Jason pursed his lips, took out a piece of chocolate from his pocket and held it out to her, “Will this do?”
“Wow! Thank you!” Evadne laughed happily, took the chocolate, tore open the wrapper, and took a big bite. Her eyes narrowed with satisfaction.
Since then, every time Jason went to the Ashbourne family, he would bring chocolates or candies, like a walking snack truck. Until today, as long as Evadne wanted sweets, as long as he was there, she would have them.
The press conference was tense. The pressure on Ives was not small. He stared hard at the journalist and shouted, “I’m saying it for the last time. Our Stirling group’s products have no quality issues. I guarantee it with my character.”
“So if it’s not quality issues, why did K Orld Hotel suddenly order the removal of all your products?
Mr. Ives, if you can’t give the public a reasonable explanation, I’m afraid everyone will find it hard to accept.” The reporter’s gazes were sharp and relentless.
The live chat was buzzing, like a noisy market.
“Guaranteeing with character? How big of a bet is that? Suddenly I’m feeling like Mr. Ives might be telling the truth?”
“Maybe his character is worth a penny, not even a beggar would want it.”
“Regardless of whether there’s a problem or not, I’m returning my goods. This Mr. Ives looks too slimy and disgusting. They couldn’t find someone more likable to speak?”
Ives suddenly said, “You want an explanation, right? Fine, I’ll give you one.”

His eyes suddenly turned cold, “I do need to reflect on the situation today, as it was indeed my oversight. After all, the Stirling group’s Vintage Elegance has hundreds of stores nationwide, I can’t check each one. We did have some people in our Stirling group who harmed the group’s interests for personal gain. We immediately dealt with the people involved and tried all possible remedies. However, you know what they say, it takes two to tango. Would things have turned out like this if the K Group hadn’t colluded with them? Now the K Group wants to shift all the blame onto us, isn’t that too much?”
At this, everyone was shocked.
“Ives is so shameless, biting back at the K Group. This is too much.” Gordon looked at Ives’ shameless expression and started to feel indignant.
Ives ordered, “Show the evidence I’ve collected.”
Immediately, photos and bank transaction details appeared on the big screen.
“These are photos of Elmsworth K Orld Hotel’s Deputy Prime Minister Keith’s private contact with Vintage Elegance’s general manager, and evidence of Keith accepting high kickbacks and bribes. All of this has nothing to do with us the Stirling group. It was K Orld Hotel’s Keith, who, for his personal gain, colluded with my staff behind the scenes, and purchased cheap products, which led to the situation today.
“We the Stirling group are also victims. The K Group protects itself while dragging us into trouble. Can big companies just bully people like this? We will use legal means to protect our rights.”
Ives got more and more excited, his face glowing red, and he almost believed his own words. He chuckled to himself. The new girl from the Ashbourne family probably never imagined he had this up his sleeve, did she?
Keith was his scapegoat all along, so from the moment they started contacting each other, he kept evidence, waiting for the crucial moment to turn the tables.
Gordon clenched his fist, “Da mn, now the online comments are starting to criticize the Ashbourne group again, saying they’re being
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imperialistic, not giving small and medium-sized enterprises a chance to survive.”
However, just when Ives was gloating, the banquet hall’s sound system suddenly made a sharp noise. Then the recordings of two men’s conversations suddenly came out.
“Mr. Ives, if it wasn’t for helping you make money, why would I replace high-end mattresses with cheap ones? As a result, that new girl from the Ashbourne family found out. Now I’ve lost my job, and I have no place in Elmsworth anymore. You can’t just watch me fall.”
“Don’t say it’s for my sake, you’ve also gained a lot, haven’t you? With the kickbacks you received plus what I gave you, even if you don’t work for the rest of your life, you won’t starve, will you?”
“Mr. Ives. This isn’t what you promised. You said you would protect me.”
“I am protecting you, haven’t I? I haven’t let your name slip even after this all came out. Keith, just stay put and mind your own business. If you dare to spew nonsense. I’ll make sure you’ll regret it.”
One of the voices was Keith. The other, unmistakably, was Ives.
All the reporters’ faces paled. Ives was leaning against the edge of the table, sweating profusely, barely able to stand upright.
“Who played the recording? Change it. Turn it off!”
The sound was turned off, but on the big screen, pictures appeared, all of which were photos of Keith and Ives in and out of nightclubs.
Photos, recordings, the evidence was irrefutable.
Flashlights flying all over, Ives was red-faced and shouting, “These are all fake. The person in the recording is not me. Someone is trying to frame me.”
Just then, a loud noise.
The doors to the banquet hall swung open, and two rows of men in suits, wearing red badges on their chests, stormed in and lined up. The sound of leather shoes echoed as a tall man walked into everyone’s view, attracting all attention.
Amold, with a stem expression, led the two rows of investigators, marching towards Ives.
“Ives, the president of the Stirling group, we now have solid evidence that the K Group has formally charged you with abuse of power, bribery, and other crimes. Take him away!”
“You’re talking nonsense. I didn’t do it. I didn’t.”
Two investigators stepped forward, grabbed Ives who was struggling like a madman, and dragged him out.
All cameras were pointed at him, and the whole internet saw this dramatic scene. The situation suddenly reversed, and public opinion was in
an uproar.
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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