Chapter 465 In the hospital stairwell, Cedric Clarke's voice was heavy. "You're using Mato force her, Stewart. That's just cruel. Can't you try another way? Stop using Maas leverage, will you? I get that you want to prepare him for the future-l support that. But this is too much. And for God's sake, do you really have to keep making Lorna play the wicked stepmother in front of her? Are you trying to kill her?" Stewart was silent on the other end of the line.
Cedric waited for what felt like forever, but Stewart didn't say a word.
He ran a hand over his face and sighed. "Stewart, is this really it? There's nothing I can say to change your mind?" "It's gone too far. I can't turn back now." "I don't feel sorry for you!" Cedric snapped, his frustration and concern bleeding through. "You deserve this! If you were headed down this road, Stewart, you should never have dragged Briony into it in the first place!" "I'm trying to make up for it." "Make up for it, my ass!" Cedric's anger barely masked his pain. "James and the others were right. Briony's life wouldn't be this miserable if she'd never met you." "I'll take care of everything," Stewart replied, voice barely above a whisper. "I know it'll be hard for her. But she has the kid—and I know she'll push through for his sake." "Get out of here!" Cedric couldn't take it anymore, even as a man himself. "What, you think you can just be heartless because your time's almost up? Lettell you, she's still young. When you're gone, she'll take your money and your kid and marry someone younger and healthier. Then that man will spend your fortune, and your son will call him dad." All Stewart gave in response was a muffled, harsh cough.
Then the line went dead.
Cedric raked his fingers through his hair in frustration, turned, and walked out of the stairwell-only to almost run straight into someone.
James.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Who were you just talking to?" James eyed Cedric, studying him. "Was it Stewart?" Cedric glanced back at the closed stairwell door, guilt flickering in his eyes. "You heard that?" "I only caught something about finding someone to marry, and your kid calling someone else dad." "Oh, that," Cedric sighed. "No, it wasn't Stewart. It was another friend-he's going through a messy divorce. I was trying to talk him down." James stared at him, expression unreadable.
Cedric frowned, feigning confusion. "Why are you looking atlike that, Mr. Delaney?" "Seems like all your friends have questionable character, Dr. Clarke. Divorce after divorce-should I be worried about you?" Cedric made a face. "Very funny. My wife and I are just fine, thank you." He quickly changed the subject. "So, what brings you here?" James paused. "I wanted to ask-what's Stewart's deal, really?" Cedric shrugged. "Honestly? I don't get him either. His way of thinking has always been... a bit unconventional." "You really don't know?" James narrowed his eyes.
Cedric shook his head, hesitated, then added, "But if you ask me, Stewart has big plans for little Mario. He wants him to be a proper heir." "The Wentworth Group-is it really the world's most important company or something?" James scoffed. Con, Dr. Clarke, you were born into privilege yourself. Tell me, at what age did the Clarke family start putting you through this kind of hellish training?" Cedric had no answer.
The Clarke family was nothing like the Wentworths.
Their family was united-no talk of heirs, just brothers working together, managing the Clarke Group as a team. That's how it had been since his grandfather's day.
The Clarke Group had thrived in Northborough, generation after generation, stable and prosperous.
But the Wentworth family? Ever since Grandpa Wentworth passed, Fred and Fiona's marriage had soured, and factions split the company. Then Fred died in that plane crash, leaving Fiona and a young Stewart to hold on to the Wentworth Group's legaéy. The will be updated first on this website. Cback and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! In the hospital stairwell, Cedric Clarke's voice was heavy. "You're using Mato force her, Stewart. That's just cruel. Can't you try another way? Stop using Maas leverage, will you? I get that you want to prepare him for the future-l support that. But this is too much. And for God's sake, do you really have to keep making Lorna play the wicked stepmother in front of her? Are you trying to kill her?" Stewart was silent on the other end of the line.
Cedric waited for what felt like forever, but Stewart didn't say a word.
He ran a hand over his face and sighed. "Stewart, is this really it? There's nothing I can say to change your mind?" "It's gone too far. I can't turn back now." "I don't feel sorry for you!" Cedric snapped, his frustration and concern bleeding through. "You deserve this! If you were headed down this road, Stewart, you should never have dragged Briony into it in the first place!" "I'm trying to make up for it." "Make up for it, my ass!" Cedric's anger barely masked his pain. "James and the others were right. Briony's life wouldn't be this miserable if she'd never met you." "I'll take care of everything," Stewart replied, voice barely above a whisper. "I know it'll be hard for her. But she has the kid—and I know she'll push through for his sake." "Get out of here!" Cedric couldn't take it anymore, even as a man himself. "What, you think you can just be heartless because your time's almost up? Lettell you, she's still young. When you're gone, she'll take your money and your kid and marry someone younger and healthier. Then that man will spend your fortune, and your son will call him dad." All Stewart gave in response was a muffled, harsh cough.
Then the line went dead.
Cedric raked his fingers through his hair in frustration, turned, and walked out of the stairwell-only to almost run straight into someone.
James.
"Who were you just talking to?" James eyed Cedric, studying him. "Was it Stewart?" Cedric glanced back at the closed stairwell door, guilt flickering in his eyes. "You heard that?" "I only caught something about finding someone to marry, and your kid calling someone else dad." "Oh, that," Cedric sighed. "No, it wasn't Stewart. It was another friend-he's going through a messy divorce. I was trying to talk him down." James stared at him, expression unreadable.
Cedric frowned, feigning confusion. "Why are you looking atlike that, Mr. Delaney?" "Seems like all your friends have questionable character, Dr. Clarke. Divorce after divorce-should I be worried about you?" Cedric made a face. "Very funny. My wife and I are just fine, thank you." He quickly changed the subject. "So, what brings you here?" James paused. "I wanted to ask-what's Stewart's deal, really?" Cedric shrugged. "Honestly? I don't get him either. His way of thinking has always been... a bit unconventional." "You really don't know?" James narrowed his eyes.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmCedric shook his head, hesitated, then added, "But if you ask me, Stewart has big plans for little Mario. He wants him to be a proper heir." "The Wentworth Group-is it really
the world's most important company or something?" James scoffed.
Con, Dr.
into privilege Clarke, you were both yourself. Tell me, at what age did the Clarke family start putting you through this kind of hellish training?" Cedric had no answer.
The Clarke family was nothing like the Wentworths.
Their family was united-no talk of heirs, just brothers working together, managing the Clarke Group as a team. That's how it had been since his grandfather's day. The Clarke Group had thrived in Northborough, generation after generation, stable and prosperous.
But the Wentworth family? Ever
since Grandpa Wentworth passed, Fred and Fiona's marriage had soured, and factions split te m company. Then Fred died in that plane crash, leaving Fiona and a young Stewart to hold on to the Wentworth Group's legaéy. The will be updated first on this website. Cback and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!