Chapter 290: There Is One Condition
At that moment, in the hallway.
Erik stood blocking the doorway with a troubled expression, reminding in a lowered voice, "Ms. Adams, please calm down. It wouldn't look good if other employees saw this."
Gemma tried hard to control her emotions, saying, "I'm already being very restrained. If I really wanted to make a scene, I would've barged in long ago." She pushed Erik, "Move aside."
Erik stood firm at the door, insisting, "Ms. Adams, this is Mr. Preston Wipere's order. No one is allowed in."
Gemma's face turned red with anger, her hand trembling as she patted her chest, "Professionally, I'm a board member of the group. Personally, one inside is my husband, the other is my son-in-law. Move aside."
Erik still insisted, saying, "Ms. Adams, without Mr. Preston Wipere's permission, no one can enter."
Gemma glared with furrowed brows, pacing back and forth at the door, "Fine, Erik, just fine."
Suddenly, someone inside said, "Let her in."
Preston finally spoke. Erik breathed a sigh of relief, stepped aside, and pushed the door open.
Gemma shot Erik a fierce glare and walked in.
When she saw Bodhi, Gemma was so shocked she covered her mouth, then quickly looked him over, asking with concern, "Bodhi... this..."
"Mom, I'm fine, don't be scared, it's nothing, just a lot of blood. I'm actually not hurt that badly." Bodhi started his act again.
Gemma quickly grabbed tissues to help him wipe, asking with distress as she wiped, "How is there so much blood? How did this happen? Who hit you?"
Her last question was particularly loud.
Who hit him? Who else could it be!
Leopold sneered inwardly. In this office, besides him, who else was there?
Both of them were quite good at acting, but Leopold remained expressionless, not saying a word.
Gemma's breathing was heavy. She looked at Preston with righteous indignation, her eyes sharp, asking, "Aren't you going to do something? Look what he's done to Bodhi! That's your son-in-law, your daughter's husband, your grandson's father. We're family, and he just got beaten up for no reason? The attack was too vicious, like trying to kill him! Preston, are you going to do something or not!"
"What are you yelling about?" Preston only replied faintly.
Seeing his indifferent attitude and that he really didn't seem to care, Gemma suddenly remembered past arguments with Quinlan. Every time he had that same uncaring look, seemingly not interfering but secretly helping Quinlan. The anger in her heart instantly burned even stronger.
She pointed at Bodhi behind her, "He can't just take this beating for nothing today. If you won't handle it, I'll find someone who will. I'll find a place where reason matters."
Seeing Gemma take out her phone to call the police, Preston grabbed the ashtray from the desk and threw it at her. Gemma clutched her wrist as her phone fell to the ground.
Her eyes showed shock, but soon her eyes gradually reddened. Seeing Leopold nearby, Gemma forced herself to hold back her tears and swallow her grievance.
"You won't handle it, and won't let others handle it either? Just because he's your son? So he can do whatever he wants in the company! Beat people up randomly?" Gemma turned her anger toward Leopold, walking up to him and glaring, "Didn't your mother teach you not to hit people? You ill-mannered thing! Bastard, you dare to hit anyone!"
Leopold narrowed his eyes, his back teeth grinding audibly.
Once a woman's deepest wounds are exposed, she'll pour out all her resentment, past humiliation, and buried hatred in a crazy outburst. When Gemma saw Leopold's face, she thought of Quinlan, thought of that bitch who stole her husband.
In Gemma's mind at this moment, Leopold daring to hit Bodhi was like slapping her in the face. Quinlan had left Preston for so many years, yet Preston still favored her, showing how important Quinlan was in Preston's heart.
Her husband's heart held another woman, more important than her. This was something Gemma couldn't accept, making her hate Quinlan and Leopold even more.
"Say something!"
"Say what?" Leopold asked coldly, his eyes showing no emotion.
Gemma felt looked down upon by Leopold, clearly not taken seriously by him. "Bastard, today I'll teach you a lesson for your mother!"
Just as her slap was about to land on Leopold's face, he raised his hand and caught it. Leopold said calmly, "You didn't even ask why he got beaten, and you're already coming after me. Now you want to teach me a lesson for my mother? You're forgetting something—my mother can't control me anymore."
Preston called out sternly, "Leopold!"
Leopold released his grip, his gaze moving to Bodhi. "If you don't speak up, I'm calling the police. The evidence I have is definitely enough to keep you in the station for a few years."
For defamation and spreading rumors, once it reaches a certain level of distribution, the punishment is indeed severe.
Bodhi felt guilty, covering his face and saying to Gemma, "Mom, today's incident really isn't Leopold's fault. It's me... it's my problem."
Gemma had rushed over to back Bodhi up after hearing he was beaten, but now he was switching sides. This made Gemma's head buzz with pain, feeling like it might split open.
"Speak! What exactly happened?" Gemma demanded sharply.
Bodhi stammered through the whole story about paying to spread fake news about Leopold and Summer.
Halfway through, Gemma's head was already throbbing with pain, and she was gritting her teeth, wanting to slap Bodhi herself.
But given the current situation, even if Bodhi was wrong, she couldn't back down.
Gemma took a breath and said, "Yes, Bodhi was wrong to spread rumors, but he didn't plan this from the start. If you hadn't been involved with that actress, who could frame you? At the root of it, you're the one at fault. Since you're married, don't create these disgusting scandals. We don't care who you're with, but don't forget that your reputation affects the company's reputation too. Bodhi got beaten pretty badly this time, so you two are even now."
After speaking, Gemma called to Bodhi, "Bodhi, we're leaving."
Bodhi quickly followed Gemma, but just as he lifted his foot, Leopold stopped him.
"Wait!" Leopold said coldly.
The two paused and looked at him. Gemma asked, trying to stay composed, "What else?"
Leopold said, "My issue can be settled, but the company's stock price dropped. How do we solve that?"
Gemma's eyes darted around. "That's for you to figure out."
"Fine, I can take the blame for you, but there's one condition." Leopold looked at Bodhi, who seemed to realize something and shrank behind Gemma.
Preston knew that if he'd made such a big deal out of this, he must have a purpose.
This son of his had learned his ruthless methods, and now had also picked up his cruel tactics.
Preston was actually satisfied. "Speak up, what's the condition?"
Leopold pointed at Bodhi behind Gemma. "Between him and me, only one can stay."
Gemma's pupils contracted slightly. "What do you mean?"
Leopold said, "Make him get out of the company!"
Bodhi cried out anxiously, "Mom, I..."
Gemma absolutely couldn't let Bodhi leave. That would be a slap in her face.