Eric knew this all too well, which explained his calculated decision to remain on the sidelines. He knew Khloe wasn’t capable of taking a life; it was just a warning.
Eric’s eyes lingered on Khloe, a swirl of emotions flickering within them. She had changed a lot.
Eric blurted out, “Khloe, how did you become like this?”
“This is all thanks to you,” Khloe replied coldly, casting him a disdainful glance.
Eventually, it was Sloane who stepped forward to drag Dorothy away from the tense standoff. It was clear to everyone now that Khloe held a deep-seated resentment towards the Evans family. Staying on her good side seemed like the only wise move.
Baker fixed Sloane with a commanding look. “You gave your word earlier, Sloane. It’s time to honor it and step down as heiress.”
Another parent chimed in, “If you really care about your classmates, prove it by making this sacrifice.”
Resentment flickered in Sloane’s eyes. After a tense silence, as if battling with herself, she managed to say, “Khloe, you know as well as I do that the decision isn’t solely mine to make.”
Khloe let out a derisive laugh. “In that case, your words hold no weight.”
She was growing impatient. She had already spent too much time here, and Henrik would be arriving shortly.
She had no intention of lingering any longer. Leaving with Henrik mattered far more than entertaining these people. She cut straight to the point. “If you won’t agree, then there’s nothing left to discuss. Let them deal with prison and the stain of a criminal record.”
“Khloe, don’t push me! I’ve already told you I won’t meddle with Genesis Company. You’ve stolen my role, and now you’re harassing my friends!” Sloane yelled, her anger flaring as her voice grew louder. “Are you really still bitter about Eric and me? It was you who cheated first, and that’s why the Watson family turned their back on you. Khloe, stop being so stubborn!”
Just then, a calm and steady voice broke through from behind. “I can confirm that Khloe never cheated, and the Watson family has no grievances with her.”
Eric and Sloane froze, momentarily caught off guard. Sloane’s gaze quickly turned to the source of the voice. Clinton took a step forward, a phone held firmly in his hand.
Eric’s expression changed ever so slightly as he laid eyes on Clinton. Sensing trouble, Eric tried to take control, his tone sharp. “Clinton, this is my issue. Keep your distance!”
Clinton, undeterred, walked past Eric, his gaze softening as it landed on Khloe’s tired but still striking face. A fleeting glimmer of sympathy passed through his eyes.
His voice was gentle as he spoke. “Khloe, I can assist you now.”
At that moment, an elderly voice reverberated from Clinton’s phone.
“Khloe is the granddaughter of a dear friend of mine. As for me, Morris Watson, I’ve never had anything against her. If there’s anyone in the Watson family who wants to marry her, I’d be thrilled to see it.”
The crowd was stunned-this voice belonged to none other than Morris Watson, the father of the Watson family’s current head.
Morris had been ailing for years, his frail health keeping him mostly in seclusion, rarely stepping into the affairs of the family. When Khloe was imprisoned, Morris was gravely ill, teetering on the edge of death himself. Yet he was the architect of the Watson family’s rise. Though Eric’s father held the formal title of head, it was Morris who was the true backbone of the family.
And Morris was the only one capable of keeping Henrik in line. The situation had even stirred Morris from his quiet retirement.
Khloe heard the words and gave a small, indifferent smile. “I appreciate the recognition, but Eric and I have already severed all ties.”
When Eric heard those words, his mind instantly went blank, unable to process anything. He had always seen Khloe as remarkable, but he had believed her strengths were mainly in her studies and her appearance. She had served time in prison. How could she possibly improve after being released? First, she became an investment advisor at Evergreen Capital, then landed the lead role in Peaks of Eternity, and now she had even earned his grandfather’s respect. Had she been hiding her true potential all this time when they were together?
Morris let out a regretful sigh. “Khloe, you have my support. If you still want…”
Khloe interrupted him sharply. “I used to be naive, but after I was framed and locked up, Eric not only dumped me but also got involved with my sister. Now, just the sight of him disgusts me. Please stop trying to set us up.”
“If that’s what you want, I won’t push it. Khloe, you’re always welcome to visit me whenever you want.” Once the call ended, Clinton fixed his gaze on Khloe. She offered him a small nod, and a wave of satisfaction washed over him.
What pleased him even more was noticing the lack of warmth in her eyes when Eric’s name came up, replaced by a chilling indifference, as though her heart had completely shut him out. The sight filled Clinton with quiet joy. He moved closer, standing beside her, offering his presence as a steady, unwavering support.
Eric watched them closely, and his eyes burned with fury. His voice dropped low as he spoke. “Clinton, have you forgotten the Watson family’s rules? You can’t bother Grandpa without cause, and we need to stick together as a family. If you make trouble here, I’ll report you to your father and let him handle it.”
The Watson family had rigid rules, ones put in place by Morris himself. Morris had three sons, Rolland, Harold, and Henrik. Right now, Rolland, the eldest son and Clinton’s father, oversaw the family’s major business affairs. Harold, Eric’s father, was the second son. While he was the current head of the Watson family, he had achieved nothing significant.
Henrik, the youngest son and the most formidable figure in the family, had outdone all previous heads of the Watson family thanks to his brutal methods. Henrik’s ventures in the underworld far outpaced the Watson family’s, and the family’s growing influence was heavily dependent on his reputation. Yet, in certain matters, he was seen as an outsider, leaving the internal power struggle to play out between Rolland and Harold.
Unsurprisingly, Clinton and Eric found themselves at odds. Clinton had never caught Eric in a vulnerable spot, and today presented the perfect chance. He could both join forces with Khloe and ruin Eric’s reputation in one fell swoop.
“I have a lot of respect for Khloe, and that’s why I’m eager to help. I’m not like you, who uses your position as heir to make enemies for the Watson family.”
Khloe stepped up, making it clear she was aligning herself with Clinton. She was sharp as ever-she immediately understood Clinton’s plan to use this moment to bring Eric down. She didn’t mind one bit; in fact, she was pleased to see it unfold.
“Eric, don’t think for a second you can use the Watson family’s rules to pressure Clinton. He’s helping me because of your disgraceful actions. Associating yourself with people like Sloane and Dorothy has brought shame to the Watson name. I can’t help but wonder how the family will judge you as the heir. If I remember correctly, the heir’s qualifications are reviewed every three years. It seems only a few months remain before the next one.”
Khloe finished her words with a smirk, clearly relishing the drama unfolding before her.
“Who do you think you are?” Dorothy screamed.
Eric shot her a burning glare before bellowing, “Shut your mouth!”
Dorothy, wild with rage, lunged at Khloe, but Sloane quickly stepped in to block her.
“Dorothy, don’t even think about it. Khloe has Clinton on her side now. You can’t outsmart her. Do you remember how you used to get lectured at home because of her?” Sloane’s warning only fueled Dorothy’s deep-seated resentment, bringing her old grudges to the surface.
Khloe had always been the golden child, the one everyone admired, while Dorothy was constantly measured against her at home. Even now, after Khloe had served time in prison, Dorothy still couldn’t hold a candle to her. It was infuriating!
“You disgusting woman! First, you made Eric fall for you, and now you’re going after Clinton. You’ve used your beauty to charm both of them, making them fall at your feet. Is it the Watson family’s wealth you’re after? You failed with Eric, and now you’re setting your sights on Clinton. Who do you think you’re fooling with this ‘virtuous’ act?”
Dorothy was completely out of control now, throwing all decorum aside in her fury. She couldn’t let Khloe rise above her, first with Eric, then with Clinton. Who did Khloe think she was? Did she really deserve it? If Khloe managed to worm her way into Clinton’s life, she would become a serious threat to them.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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