Chapter 382: Enamored
Janessa's fury intensified upon hearing the news. Her teeth clenched, a savage look flashing in her eyes. "Just you wait, Madelyn," she muttered. The press conference continued.
A reporter asked, “Ms. Thornton, we’re aware of the significant impact recent events have had on Thornton Corporation. May we ask about your future plans?”
Madelyn offered a poised laugh. “We’ll continue operating as usual! This incident serves as a wake-up call. I’m unsure who’s been scheming to sabotage us, but I won’t let them get away with it. I will expose them and ensure they pay the price. In short, our corporation will not let this matter rest.”
The press conference concluded. Madelyn and Derek stood, smiling. “Thank you to all the media personnel for attending. We conclude our press conference. We hope you’ll continue to follow our company’s pharmaceutical developments. Have a safe trip home.”
They left together, followed by the departing reporters. Everything was finally over.
Backstage, Derek took time to recover. He held his daughter's hand like a cherished treasure.
“When did you start planning this, Maddie? Why didn’t I know?” Derek had been anxious during the conference, his hands shaking. He was shocked by his daughter's success.
Having regained his composure, he sought explanations. Madelyn laughed.
“Dad, I’ve known for a while someone was trying to damage our reputation. I didn’t tell you to avoid alerting them. To prevent unforeseen incidents, I kept it quiet. Looking back, my decision was right. If I had gone public earlier, perhaps the slander would have been worse.”
Derek nodded, deeply comforted. He had been at a loss, but his daughter had skillfully navigated a dangerous crisis.
Chapter 382: Enamored
Derek frowned. “What? That can’t be right. Eunice has been with me; she hasn’t gone anywhere.”
Madelyn explained earnestly, “Just because she stayed doesn't mean she didn't send someone else. I’ve sensed something off about Eunice since her return. She seems obedient, but who knows what she’s thinking? It’s speculation, but it’s best to be cautious.”
Derek nodded. Despite his trust in his younger daughter, he knew his elder daughter wouldn't raise an issue without reason. He decided to wait and see.
Madelyn had successfully cleared the company's name, much to everyone's joy. Even the board was impressed. Some sensed a strong, independent woman emerging.
Madelyn, however, remained uneasy. Even with the accusations cleared, she wouldn't find peace until the instigator was caught. Each day without resolution felt filled with unease.
She instructed Cyrus, “Come with me to the police station. Let's see if they’ve uncovered any leads.”
“Got it.” Cyrus immediately agreed and followed.
They arrived at the station. Sean was being questioned and was cooperating, as promised.
“Who bribed you?” the officer asked.
After a moment, Sean said, “A person named Bastar.”
The officer was surprised. “Why would they approach you?”
Sean sighed. “My poverty is linked to my past. Before this factory, I hung around gangsters and couldn’t save. My family was disappointed. After meeting my wife and having children, I became disciplined and worked hard. But life's pressures were overwhelming. I felt drained and desperate, so I believed that bastard and took a shortcut.”
He chuckled self-deprecatingly. Tears streamed down his face as he continued. Madelyn felt pity watching from outside.
“Do you have any way to contact Bastar? How can we find him?” the officer asked.
Sean shook his head. “No idea, sir. Bastar didn’t want to leave evidence. He wired the money and gave me ten thousand cash as a deposit. I was foolishly smitten and followed his instructions. Now I see how naive I was.”
He couldn’t find Bastar either. The officer asked, “Do you know where Bastar has been seen?”
“Yes, we used to hang around the Qillon District. Investigate there,” Sean said, his eyes brightening.
Madelyn turned to Cyrus. “Cyrus, investigate Bastar thoroughly.”