Chapter 219
The FitzGerald group.
Holcomb was caught in a tug–of–war between his own family’s interests and those of the Haywoods, a prominent family they were allied with.
Richter, had come to Holcomb with his daughter, Hertha, in tow. They were insistent that the press conference scheduled for the afternoon go ahead, despite Holcomb’s wishes to cancel it in light of recent scandals.
“If we back cut of this now, it’ll look like we’re bailing out on the Haywoods,” Holcomb mused, aware of the precarious position he was in. The Haywoods had already taken a hit from the relentless media scrutiny and couldn’t afford another blow to their reputation.
“Holcomb, you’re not seriously considering caving to the news, are you? Their noise won’t touch the true worth of the Haywoods,” Richter said, a hint of a growl in his voice as he sat across from Holcomb. “I’ve sent my youngest daughter abroad to spare us further embarrassment. We’ve done our part. This merger was promised by you, time and again. Don’t disappoint us.”
Holcomb was in a bind. The Haywoods had enough dirt on him to turn his life into a tabloid field day. But the reputation of the FitzGerald group was at stake too.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Holcomb was momentarily lost for words.
“Rhett isn’t some puppet; the boy has his own mind,” Holcomb said, trying to shift some of the responsibility onto his son.
“Parental wishes and matchmaker’s words should carry some weight! Are you saying Rhett would dare defy tradition? Seems like you lack the authority as a father,” Richter retorted, his hand slapping the armrest of his chair for emphasis. “My daughter has bent over backwards for him, supporting projects like the Harborside Haven and SandStone, putting her heart into making things easier for Rhett. How many in Silvergrove City’s business circle can match up to her?”
“I doubt the FitzGeralds could find a better match,” Richter sneered.
Looking around the business landscape, aside from the Lewises, Lawrences, and Turners, few families could compare to the Haywoods. Unfortunately, the Lewis heiress had disappeared, leaving behind a foster daughter not of direct lineage. Melissa Lawrence of the Lawrence clan, though single, was a widow, and rumors abounded that she brought misfortune to her husbands. Holcomb wasn’t about to choose a twice–wed Melissa over a never–married Hertha.
As for the Turners, their heiress Ruby was already wedded to Vincent FitzGerald, leaving Hertha as the prime choice.
“Hertha is a nice young lady,” Holcomb admitted.
With tears brimming in her eyes, Hertha looked up at Holcomb. “I’m sorry, Mr. FitzGerald. The negative news has unfairly impacted the FitzGerald group, and the blame is all on me.”
Her vulnerable yet understanding demeanor was endearing to anyone of the older generation.
Holcomb, a man who prioritized benefits above all, found Hertha to be the perfect candidate for his eldest son’s wife. “Let the PR team push a bit harder. It’s only noon; by three o’clock, if the tide of public opinion starts to turn, we’ll proceed with the press conference as planned.”
That was the best Holcomb could do.
Hertha dabbed at her tears, “Mr. FitzGerald, if fate isn’t on our side, I will always respect you as a father figure.”
Holcomb sighed. Such a wonderful girl. Rhett was clearly being stubborn.
I I IG
Hertha, assured by Holcomb’s concession, glanced at her father, a subtle smile playing on her lips. She was willing to sacrifice even her sister Adrienne to save herself, let alone her cousin Fiona. She’d make sure Fiona took the brunt of the public backlash, whatever the
cost.
At Rhett’s residence.
Kristin had dozed off in the car, her sleep restless.
“Don’t hit me…” She was dreaming of her years in prison, a time when her inner world was cloaked in darkness, despair, and loneliness, punctuated by relentless psychological torment. She had screamed soundlessly more times than she could count, and the only outlet she found was to harm herself.
Upon her release, she told herself that it was all over, that the sunlight would eventually find her. But the subsequent years had been so harsh that even when the sun did shine on her, she doubted herself.
Was it truly sunlight? And how long would it stay?
Kristin’s trust issue wasn’t with Rhett, it was with herself.
“Mr. FitzGerald, Silvergrove University has responded regarding Kristin’s case. They’ve reported her situation, and if the wrongful conviction holds true, with new evidence proving the original judgment was erroneous, an appeal can be filed,” the lawyer handed the university’s response to Rhett
10:50
Chapter 219.
“How certain are we about this case?” Rhett stood at the threshold, his gaze resting on Kristin, who lay in bed, his expression grim.
“If the allegations are true and the evidence is solid, Nicola, who initially reported Kristin for extortion, is clearly guilty of defamation. it’s a serious charge, especially considering the severe impact on Kristin… Her multiple suicide attempts in prison and her battles with depression and anxiety, not to mention the numerous CT scans… It’s all a direct consequence of Nicola’s false accusations. We could be looking at a sentence between three to ten years.”
The lawyer shuffled some papers. “But… there’s a complication. You need to prepare Kristin for it. In the original trial, it was Kristin… who pleaded guilty of her own accord. If she was coerced, she must say so personally. Only with Ms. Turner’s full cooperation… can I gather evidence that’s favorable for us.”
Rhett took a deep breath and descended the stairs.
He had been discreetly handling these matters to avoid causing Kristin any further distress.
Reopening a wound from five years ago would be incredibly cruel for Kristin, without a doubt.
“As for Vincent and Clarence, who testified in court, proving that their actions constitute defamation is challenging without concrete proof. At best, we might only get a public apology.”
7ll deal with Vincent and Clarence, but Nicola, she has to go down.” Nicola had evaded justice too many times. This time, he was determined to see her behind bars.
And not just for one crime, but for a litany of them, ensuring she’d never have a chance to rebuild her life.
“As long as you can persuade Ms. Turner to cooperate… I will compile evidence as quickly as possible. Mr. Granger has also been searching for anything that could help our case, including the true cause of your mother’s death and the actual circumstances of Lucius FitzGerald’s demise. Since both parties are deceased… it might take longer than we’d like. You need to be patient and cautious not to tip off the other side,” the lawyer reassured Rhett.
Now was not the time to spook the enemy.
Nicola was not only guilty of framing Kristin but also of a more heinous crime…
“I can wait, but Kristin can’t,” Rhett said, frowning.
He didn’t want Kristin to wait any longer than necessary. He wanted her to go back to school, to resume her life.
“Mr. FitzGerald, we can’t rush this,” the lawyer warned, fearing that Rhett might disrupt their carefully laid plans.
The deaths of Lucius and Rhett’s mother were shrouded in doubt.
Those were the cases they had initially set out to investigate. Now, with Kristin’s wrongful imprisonment added to the mix, any premature confrontation could indeed startle the quarry.
All of Rhett’s years of patience and tolerance towards Holcomb and Nicola would be in vain.
Holcomb was not a fool, and neither was Nicola
Driven to desperation, they would fight like cornered beasts, ready to do anything to survive.
10:50
