Loving DAD 1120

“Not yet,” Doug replied. 

Thomas’s thin lips curved faintly, satisfaction flickering across his face. 

He asked again, “What about Johanna and Kelly? How are things on their end?” 

“Per your instructions,” Doug said, “I’ve already let it slip to Johanna that Kelly was the one who leaked the photos. As for Johanna…” 

He paused briefly, his voice lowering. “She appears to have been coerced into leaking the Walton Group’s trade secrets. But in truth, it seems she did it out of resentment toward Jamie. She never even bothered to investigate who was supposedly threatening her. 

“However, Jamie isn’t one to be easily fooled. I suspect he’s already discovered that Johanna has been secretly stealing company information, and he’s sent people to keep an eye on her.” 

Thomas’s gaze sharpened. “Have you found out who was behind Johanna’s kidnapping?” 

“The perpetrators were thorough,” Doug said. “They covered their tracks well–too well. No solid evidence yet.” This was, after all, Marcentine. Even Thomas’s reach had its limits. 

And the matter of Kelly’s exposé had only been assigned to Doug after Victoria’s banquet, when Thomas had first ordered him to investigate. That was how the trail had led back to Kelly at all. 

“Only a few people could’ve pulled off Johanna’s abduction,” Thomas said. “Carter and Xavier wouldn’t resort to such methods. That leaves Julliard as the most likely suspect.” 

His eyes gleamed with an icy clarity. “He underestimates Jamie far too much. I’m afraid he’s going to pay dearly for it.” 

Doug studied Thomas’s striking, detached profile. For the first time, he sensed something different–Thomas’s aura wasn’t quite as violent as before. At the very least, he no longer radiated the same volatile, unpredictable edge. 

If fifty billion was the price of keeping Thomas emotionally steady, Doug thought, then perhaps it was money well spent. 

Casting a cautious glance toward the door, he lowered his voice. “Miss McKinzie accepted the investment rather easily. She didn’t… suspect anything?” 

“Of course she had her doubts,” Thomas said calmly. “But fortune favors the bold. The fact that she was willing to take the risk proves I wasn’t wrong about her. That money–it’s hers by right.” 1 

Doug smiled in agreement, though inwardly he couldn’t help but scoff. 

If Miss McKinzie hadn’t accepted the deal, Thomas would no doubt have said something else entirely–praising her caution and shrewdness, her unwillingness to fall for deceit. 

Either way, those fifty billion would’ve found their way into her hands eventually. 

Chapter 11zU 

After all, the Ferrero family these days was so wealthy that money was practically all they had left. 

Not long after, Sharon returned. 

Her transaction with the bank had gone surprisingly smoothly–so much so that it felt almost unreal. Even as she left the private suite, a faint daze lingered over her, as though she’d stepped into a dream. 

Just like that, the money was hers. 

Was it supposed to be… this easy? t 

Meanwhile, at the Kalen family estate, they were still waiting for Sharon to come begging. 2 

Three days passed… and she never showed. 

Even Richard began to look puzzled. “What’s going on? Why hasn’t Sharon come to us yet? Don’t tell me she’s already raised the funds?” 

Rick’s expression had darkened; he had clearly heard something. 

“I’ve been informed she reached out to the shareholders from Mom’s faction. She’s planning to sell her original shares to them. But Silas and Scott have already found ways to stall the process. There’s no way she can complete that sale within three days.” 

Richard showed no trace of surprise. It was as though he had anticipated this all along. 

Some lessons, he thought, could only be learned through experience. Otherwise, Sharon would never truly understand. 

This would be her first. 2