Cage

Chapter 158

Things at home had become a blur, but one thing was crystal clear–we were flat broke.

And it seemed like every day someone would knock on our door asking about my parents. I was sick, literally and figuratively. I was on the edge of sanity, especially with breaking up with Clyde hanging over my head. There was just too much to handle right now.

Looking back, our family business had got so many projects. Bankruptcy seemed to be impossible.

There must’ve been signs that these senior employees could sense.

I fixed my eyes on Jared. “Mr. Jared, what really went down? There was something more, right?”

His eyes darted around, struggling with something, before he finally let out a sigh.

“We had this one deal that could’ve been our lifeline. Your dad wanted me to go all in, and I…” He shook his head. “Melanie, I wanted to fight back. Believe me, I did.”

“But Talbot, he suggested waiting for the ship to sink and then jump ship to join him.”

That was when it hit me. Talbot had been wooing my dad’s crew much earlier than I thought.

Not just Jared, but other senior employees as well.

The investigation into my dad and the car accident made everyone panic, and my mom was trying to hold the fort alone.

“Your mom seldom stepped into the company’s business because she couldn’t understand it. Talbot proposed a better deal. He proposed handing over the project to him, rather than going down with your mom.”

“Melanie, you know my situation. My daughter just started high school and I had bills to pay…”

Jared couldn’t look into my eyes, his head bowed.

I could understand his predicament, midlife crisis hitting with responsibilities at every corner. No one could be expected to stick by my dad through thick and thin.

“Melanie, can you forgive me?”

His eyes were murky, the spark of his younger years extinguished.

I didn’t nod, just looked at him indifferently.

“Mr. Jared, I’m not here to dig up the past. I’m interested in your current projects.”

1/2

09:55

Chapter 158

“Talbot got the Patterson Group to take over, and I’m tasked with redesigning.”

I didn’t hold a grudge. Everyone was living only for themselves. But forgiveness wasn’t coming easy either.

I was not here to figure out the right from wrong. I needed his help with something else.

Mentioning the project made Jared bristle.

“Hmph, if it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t be in this mess. He cut corners to save money. Switched materials and altered designs. No wonder it got rejected. And to top it off, he offended the wealthy investor.”

Disdain flickered in Jared’s eyes.

I remained expressionless, but my ears perked up.

Eliana’s research hinted that the Crawford family’s qualifications were sketchy at best and some were even borrowed.

If there was a thorough investigation, it’d unravel quickly. Yet, Talbot still won multiple projects. Clearly, something was amiss.

He glanced around before whispering, “How do you think the Crawford Group wins so many deals?”

“Someone in high places. Even mediocre designs get approved.”

“But your cousin was in fund trouble. He embezzled the public funds. Then the wealthy investor was upset.”

I leaned in closer. “Who’s the wealthy investor?

He dipped his finger in water and wrote on the table the name of Bill. He quickly wiped it off.

“Talbot had been cooperation with him for years when your dad was still alive.”

“Both of them rise and fall together. There’s definitely something fishy going on!”