"What an unfilial son," he muttered, his frustration deepening. He must deal with Aaron properly but then how he can save save the day becomes a paramount concern as the Allen. Group stock nosedived due to the news.
~At the Allen family estate~
Elder Allen sat in the garden, basking in the sun. The warmth did little to soothe the unease that had settled in his bones—a feeling that only deepened as he noticed Alfred, the butler, approaching with a grave expression.
Elder Allen sighed. Alfred was a man who had weathered countless storms alongside the family, never one to flinch in the face of adversity. Yet now, his gloom was unmistakable. The weight of bad news was written all over his face.
"What is it?" Elder Allen asked, his voice laced with fatigue and tiredness.of a man who had laboured so much.
Alfred hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "It’s Aaron," he said, then paused, as if deliberating how best to deliver the blow.
Elder Allen’s gaze remained fixed on the distance, unreadable yet expectant. "Aaron?" he echoed. "What has he done this time? Has he finally sold off the Allen Group?" His tone was laced with bitter resignation.
Alfred exhaled. "No... but he might as well have." Elder Allen turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing.
"He’s caught in a scandal," Alfred continued. "With another man’s wife. The Internet is on fire with the news, and the stock" He hesitated before he continued "—is plummeting at the speed of light."
Silence settled between them, heavy and suffocating. Elder Allen closed his eyes briefly. When he spoke, his voice was calm, yet it carried an undercurrent of simmering fury.
"That foolish boy..."
He didn’t need to ask for details. He already knew. The repercussions of Aaron’s recklessness were just beginning, and the Allen name was about to be dragged through the mud once more.
And this time, there might be no salvageable opportunities. What about Desmond?" Elder Allen asked, his voice low but firm.
Alfred sighed deeply before responding. "Desmond lost a major business deal the moment the news broke. He’s at the Allen Group now, preparing for a press conference."
Elder Allen’s gaze darkened. "A press conference at a time ? Who is speaking on our behalf, and under what conditions?"
Decades of experience had taught him that nothing in the business world came without a price. Whoever was stepping forward to ’help’ the Allen family would undoubtedly demand their share in return.
His mind flickered briefly to Jessica—if she intervened now, things might take a different turn. But it seemed she had other plans.
Alfred hesitated before continuing. "Desmond spoke with Vera—Aaron’s wife. She agreed to support him, but her terms..." He trailed off, as if weighing how best to deliver the news.
Elder Allen’s brows furrowed. "What terms?"
"She’s demanding 5% of the Allen Group’s shares and the position of Vice President."
The old man’s grip on his cane tightened. "Outrageous! And Desmond agreed to this?" His heart pounded furiously at the sheer audacity of Vera’s demand.
"He did," Alfred confirmed solemnly. "It was the only way to salvage the family’s reputation."
Elder Allen exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "There are always other ways," he muttered. "But it seems Vera has played her cards well—cutting herself a slice of the Allen fortune in the process."
Alfred nodded. "She claims the shares are ’emotional compensation’—a price for the humiliation and pain Aaron inflicted upon her."
The old man scoffed, the thought of another but before he could speak, Alfred continued
"Despite all this, the stock continues to plummet. And frankly, I doubt this press conference will be enough to stop the bleeding of the group."
A heavy silence settled between them. Elder Allen leaned back, his eyes clouded with deep contemplation. The Allen name was on the verge of collapse, and for the first time in decades, he felt tired and he wasn’t sure if they had enough power left to pull themselves out of this mess.
~At Jessica’s Mansion~
Davis sat before the large television, watching as Vera addressed the public regarding the scandal shaking the Allen Group. Her speech was carefully crafted, controlled and deliberate.
She calmly explained that she had been in the suite with her husband but had briefly stepped out. In her absence, a young woman had slipped into the room, and with Aaron being too intoxicated to recognize the difference, he had mistaken the woman for his wife. The result, she claimed, was nothing more than a misunderstanding blown out of proportion.
Several journalists that were clearly prearranged were given the chance to ask questions, a move calculated to steer the narrative in her favor.
As Davis watched the broadcast, a sense of déjà vu washed over him. He remembered the day he first regained consciousness.
The first thing he saw on television was Vera’s engagement announcement, playing repeatedly as part of a marketing stunt. Now, nearly a year later, he was watching her again—but this time, it felt less like a personal torment and more like an opera he was observing from a distance.
The ease with which she spun lies disgusted him so much. He couldn’t help wondering if he had truly known her before or was he blinded by love.
Jessica entered the room, carrying a carefully arranged fruit platter designed for his nerve repair and treatment. She cast a glance at the press conference, a smirk playing on her lips.
"What do you think of the conference?" she asked, her tone laced with amusement. Lately, Davis had been all business, but this situation had caught his attention.
"It’s not a real solution to the problem," Davis replied, his gaze still on the screen. "But it’s the only kind of solution Desmond could come up with. And knowing Vera, he’s definitely taken a loss in this deal."
Jessica’s expression darkened. "Are you praising her?" she scoffed. "I’m not surprised. That’s your love, isn’t it?"
Davis raised a brow, taken aback. "Babe, why would you think that? You’re the only one I could ever be proud of," he said, his voice gentle as he reached for her hand.
Jessica narrowed her eyes at him, unconvinced, and he knew he had to placate her before she truly got upset.
He pulled her closer, pressing a soft kiss to her palm. "Come on, don’t be jealous," he coaxed.
Jessica huffed but finally smirked, satisfied. "That’s more like it. Who wants to hear you talk about an old fling?"
She turned her attention back to the screen, her smirk widening. "I think it would be quite profitable to fish in these troubled waters. What do you think?"