Chapter 2146
Jacob paused for a moment, a shadow of old heartache crossing his features.
He had once been a boy untouched by guile.
Sanderson had doted on him for years, but with the ulterior motive of rendering him useless, a more sorrowful tale couldn't be found.
"Fine! Well done!" Sanderson stopped his rant.
In an instant, he seemed to shrink, his entire being deflating. His body swayed, and he slowly made his way to the couch, sinking into it with the weight of defeat.
"You've won," he muttered.d2
Jacob replied coolly, "Sanderson, we were never in the same league, so it's not about winning or losing."
Sanderson looked up, his eyes brimming with resentment.
"Alright, you're better than me," he spat out each word. "I concede."
Jacob didn't care whether Sanderson conceded or not; it made no difference to the situation at hand.
"You know, don't you? I'm your blood uncle!" Sanderson tried again, a hint of desperation in his voice. "Believe it or not, ousting your father was the board's decision, not just mine. You shouldn't hate me." Jacob remained silent, curious as to what tale Sanderson would spin next.
"I hope you'll go to the authorities and get those cases dropped," Sanderson eventually got to the point.
"Why should I?" Jacob asked.Text © owned by NôvelDrama.Org.
"Jacob, you can't make too many enemies in this world. How do you know one of those people won't rise up one day and become a thorn in your side?"
"I'll ensure that the Strand Group stands so tall that even if they rise, they can't touch us," Jacob said slowly. "The Strand Group was once untouchable until you and father dragged it down."
Jacob didn't shy away from addressing the mess Graham had made of the company over the years.
"Do you really want to corner a man to his breaking point, Jacob?" Sanderson's fingers clenched the armrest of the couch.
It had been days since the investigation should have reached him, yet there was no word. The suspense was tormenting. He would rather face the end swiftly than endure this agony. "Sanderson, I can offer you and your associates a way out," Jacob began to pace.
"What way out?"
"Come clean." Jacob chuckled at a memory, "About six years back, in a season just like this, I went to Q City with a big shot to help Bane Corporation root out corruption. What a rush! Those embezzlers were begging to return the money."
Sanderson's face turned sour.
Jacob's gaze returned to him, "I want to relive that excitement. If you and your friends come clean, it's fine if you don't have the full amount. I'll verify the debt and you can write IOUS. Of course, I'll charge standard interest. Once the money's in hand, you're safe. How's that? You're not losing out. After all, it was the Strand Group's money you've been using for lavish parties, luxury cars, mansions, and surrounding yourselves with beauties. It's been quite a heavenly life, hasn't it?"
According to Jacob's terms, they had to confess and pay back with interest. Jacob's plan was to make all their years of deception worthless!
"I don't have that kind of money!" Sanderson exclaimed. "I have an estate on the outskirts of B City worth hundreds of millions—I'll give it to you to settle the debt!"
"I don't want that kind of asset," Jacob waved dismissively. "Mr. Sanderson, I know all about your oversea accounts; no need to play poor. If you truly don't have enough, you can settle with shares." "You won't lay a finger on my shares; they were given to me by my father!" Sanderson reacted defensively.
"In court, the process ends the same way," Jacob tilted his head, eyeing Sanderson. "Sanderson, you can't hide from it."
"You... You heartless fiend!" Sanderson had been holding back, hoping to appease Jacob, to find some twist in the tale. Jacob had always been known for his soft heart.
But who knew...