Chapter 301

Jennifer leaned in close to Sasha, her voice low. “Grandma, don’t tell anyone about this for now. I promise, your future will be far more prestigious than it is now.”

Sasha broke into a broad smile, unable to hide her delight. “Oh, Jennifer, you’ve always been the most sensible one, not that ungrateful little wretch Natalie. You’re both my granddaughters, but she’s nothing but a heartless brat."

“You’re the best. You’re my sweetie,” she added.

Jennifer smirked coldly. To Sasha, nothing mattered but money. Familial love meant nothing to her.

It was only because Wendy was such a fool that she had poured money into helping the Simpson family relatives build their wealth.

Declan left the Simpson residence and drove straight to his mother’s company.

He wanted her to know that he was on her side and that she wasn’t alone in this fight.

When he arrived at the company, the guards stopped him at the entrance. Without making a scene, he turned around and stepped to the side of the road near the main gate to make a call.

Declan dialed Maria, his mother’s assistant.

Maria received Declan’s call while she was with Wendy.

The two were reviewing a new partnership proposal. They had diverted part of their projects to establish a separate company, leaving the current one as an empty shell.

But the new venture was promising, and they were working tirelessly to secure collaborations.

Maria glanced at Wendy with a smile. “Wendy, it’s Declan.”

Wendy frowned. She had heard that Declan had become Jennifer’s chauffeur. How pathetic, she wondered.

“See what he wants to say,” Wendy replied.

Maria answered the call, switching to speakerphone. “Hello, Declan. What do you need?”

“Ms. Clayton,” Declan began, his voice steady, “can you let me come upstairs? I want to see my mother. Please tell her that I know the truth now. I understand Jennifer and Nick’s intentions."

“I want to help her. I want her to know that even though I’m Nick’s son, I am nothing like him. Ms. Clayton, my mother is all alone right now. Please, let her know that I genuinely want to be on her side.”

Hearing this, Wendy sneered. “Declan, since you already know the truth, there’s no need for me to hide anything from you. I don’t want you anymore. Whether you go abroad or wherever, just don’t come back to bother me.”

She didn’t believe he could change so quickly.

How pathetic that I’ve come to this, unable to trust even my own son, Wendy thought bitterly.

“Mom, just give me one chance, please! I really want to help you,” Declan pleaded, his voice cracking. "I’m working as Jennifer’s driver now so I can gather information for you."

“Jennifer is planning to take over your company. I’ve also realized that Dad has a mistress, and they have a son and a daughter. Grandpa and Grandma knew all along, but we were the only ones kept in the dark."

“Mom, I’m your biological son. Do you really want to abandon me?”

Tears streamed down Wendy’s face as she struggled to keep her composure. “Declan, I told Vance the truth once, but he never took my words seriously. In the end, it cost him his life.

And you’re just as malicious as Vance. You wanted to go after Natalie to help that venomous Jennifer succeed.

“You three brothers are all the same. I can’t trust you. If you truly know the truth, it’s better to pretend you don’t. Otherwise, if you end up dead, I’ll have to deal with the funeral.”

Her voice broke with emotion. Severing the bond with her son was excruciating, but she couldn’t risk the lives of her parents for the sake of these people.

She was a daughter of the Tompson family, their only daughter.

She couldn’t let her parents suffer or die because of the selfishness of ungrateful children.

For the sake of her own parents, Wendy was willing to abandon even her son.

Declan felt an overwhelming wave of sadness. So this is what Mom thinks? Just because I’m Nick’s son, she’s decided she doesn’t want me anymore, he wondered.

“Mom, can’t you give me one chance?” he cried, his voice filled with despair.

“Absolutely not, Declan,” Wendy said firmly, though her voice carried the weight of heartbreak. “You’re an adult now. Your choices are yours to make, and you don’t need to consult me.

“If you have any issues, go back and discuss them with your sister and your father. They’re your real family now.”

The sheer enormity of the conspiracy had drained Wendy completely, and the words she uttered only deepened the ache in her chest.

Finally, she made a single request. “Declan, if you care about the safety of me and your grandparents, then let what you said tonight die with you. Don’t let Jennifer know I’m aware of your father and his mistress.”

Hearing this, Declan’s grip on his phone slackened, and his hand fell limply to his side.

Mom really doesn’t want me anymore, he wondered.

After a long silence, his voice broke as he said, “Mom, I’ll change. I’ll become someone who makes you proud. I’ll be the son you deserve. I’ll stay by their side and gather intel. Whatever I find out, I’ll report to you immediately.”

Wendy didn’t respond. She didn’t agree or reject him. She simply hung up.

Maria frowned as she looked at Wendy. “Wendy, I’ve always said Declan is sharp enough to help you manage the company. Why would you…”

Wendy gave a bitter smile. “Maria, you don’t understand. Declan has always been impulsive and reckless, never truly reliable. If I were to let him come back now, he’d think everything in life is just handed to him.

“Since he claims he’s had a change of heart, let him stay with Jennifer. It’ll be a good opportunity for him to observe and learn the schemes of Easton and Jennifer. Maybe he’ll grow from it.

“If I were to call him back now, it’d only hasten his death. Vance has already been saved by Natalie, and knowing her kind-hearted nature, she won’t abandon her brothers.

“Ricky is stubborn to the core. While Declan and Jason might come to trust us, Ricky never will.”

Wendy stood up, a sorrowful smile playing on her lips. Maria is so foolish. Women really are too easily swayed by a man’s sweet words.

Maria’s brow furrowed as she watched Wendy, her heart aching for her. “Wendy, apart from being deceived in your marriage, you’ve been immensely successful in your career. Life is never without pain. Leave the past behind.”

Since Wendy couldn’t let go of the past, she had no choice but to move forward.

Wendy’s gaze turned cold and vengeful, her eyes glinting with a ruthless edge as though she were a demon emerging from the depths of hell. Her pupils seemed to blaze red.

“Maria,” Wendy said, her voice icy, “we won’t dwell on the past. Once Jennifer transfers that 70 million dollars into the account, sell the company immediately to the person who approached us yesterday.

“It’s just an empty shell, but we can sell it for 150 million dollars. That’s still a win for us.”

Her tone softened slightly. “That 150 million will be Natalie’s safety net for the future. Even if she’ll never acknowledge me as her mother again, she’s a good daughter.”

Closing her eyes in anguish, Wendy sighed. This was all she could do for Natalie.

Maria pressed her lips together in silence, her heart aching as she watched Wendy struggle with her pain.

Meanwhile, Jennifer spent the night coordinating matters with the Spencer family. She stood by the window, staring at the light snow falling outside. Her eyes gleamed coldly like the frost blanketing the world beyond the glass.

With the western suburb project firmly in her grasp, Jennifer knew Murray had outlived his usefulness. Keeping him around would only block her path.

He chose the wrong side. By siding with Natalie, he’s put himself on a one–way road to ruin.

Jennifer relished the thrill of orchestrating a grand scheme while her enemies remained blissfully unaware of what was coming.

After standing silently for a while, she finally picked up her phone and called Oliver.

“Hello, Ms. Simpson,” Oliver greeted.

“Where’s Easton? What’s his current location?” Jennifer asked directly.