Chapter 212 Uncovering the Mastermind
Rosalind let out a cold snort. "I'm so angry I could die. How do you think I am?"
"Come on, Mom, why are you saying such negative things when everything's fine?"
John tried to comfort Rosalind. "Mom, let me tell you, Ivan is doing really well. He just signed another big contract for the company."
Then John shouted over to Henry, "Henry, isn't that right?"
Henry nodded. "Yes, Ivan is very capable."
Hearing Henry's words, John smiled and said, "Did you hear that, Mom? Even Henry is praising Ivan."
"I know Ivan is capable, but what's the use? It all just benefits someone else in the end."
Rosalind snorted coldly. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know Henry transferred all his assets to Helena.”
"Oh, that? I know about it."
John said casually, "No matter how capable Helena is, she's still just a girl. She'll need help. Ivan is her cousin, and the company will need him to contribute more in the future."
"You've got a point there."
Rosalind looked at Henry with a stern face. "A girl will eventually belong to someone else's family. No matter what, Ivan is a descendant of the Lockwood family. We can't just let the company benefit outsiders."
John noticed Henry’s silence and quickly spoke up, trying to ease the tension. "Mom, don't worry, let's take it slow. Besides, Ivan just came back from abroad. Even though he's made some small achievements, he still has a lot to learn."
"That's right, Grandma."
Ivan chimed in from the side. "I still have a lot to learn from Helena."
"See, Ivan is so sensible."
Rosalind shot me a glare. "Unlike some people who are completely ungrateful."
I ignored her indirect accusations and looked calmly at Henry. "Ready?"
Henry nodded slightly. "Play it."
"Yes."
I pushed a button on the remote, and the video appeared in front of everyone.
Seeing the two people in the video, John's expression froze.
His voice trembled with panic. "Isn't that Patrick? How do you have this?"
I looked at John with a cold smile. "Seems like you know Patrick pretty well. I guess I don't need to introduce him then."
"What is this?"
Natasha also curiously leaned over, pointing at the two people in the video. "Dad, what were you doing with that person?"
Natasha didn’t recognize Patrick, but Ivan did. Grabbing her arm, he pulled her back and turned to me, his voice strained,
I ignored Ivan's words and looked around at everyone, pointing at Patrick in the video. "Let me introduce everyone. This person is the company's CEO Patrick. We just found out he embezzled nearly three hundred million dollars. He's fled now, but he won't escape in the end."
Then I looked meaningfully at John, pointing at his figure in the video. "I guess I don't need to introduce this person."
"The video was taken when the two met secretly at a hotel. I've also found that all the money Patrick embezzled eventually flowed into a shell company, and after circulating through the company, it ultimately ended up in a certain Lockwood family member's pocket."
I looked at John. "Am I wrong?"
A few drops of cold sweat appeared on John's forehead, and his face darkened. "Helena, don't make false accusations. You want to frame me with just these videos? You're so young, just took over the company, and already trying to frame people. What are you up to?"
"Frame you?" I laughed coldly and switched the screen. Bank transfer records between Patrick and John appeared on the screen.
"How about that? Bank transfer receipts, every single transaction clearly traceable. You can't say this is framing, can you?"
John’s face drained of color, sweat beading on his forehead.
Natasha couldn't sit still either. She stood up to defend him. "This doesn't prove anything! Someone might have forged it. Helena, you're just looking for a scapegoat to cover up your mismanagement of the company!"
"How do you know the company is being mismanaged?"
I said with a cold laugh. "I just took over the company and you're already slandering me like this. Natasha, even if you want to make false accusations, you need real evidence."
Natasha's face flushed red, blocked by my words. She stammered for a long time without forming a complete sentence. "What real evidence? Everyone can see it, can't they? As soon as you took office, embezzlement was exposed. Look what you've done to the company."
"I did this?" I slowly walked to the center of the living room, my gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally landing on John's pale face. My voice was as cold as ice.
"Why don't you tell us where this whole thing really started?"
John didn't respond to me, but turned his gaze to Henry, his voice trembling. "Henry."
As soon as he opened his mouth, I cut him off directly. "Even now, you're still going to play tough?"
"The video was secretly filmed in a hotel surveillance blind spot. The transfer records are bank statements with official seals. Every single dollar transferred from Patrick's account into the shell company registered under your distant relative's name, then transferred in batches into your personal account. The chain of evidence is complete enough for the court to file a case directly."
John's legs gave way. He staggered and grabbed the sofa armrest. Cold sweat ran down his temples, soaking his collar.
"I didn't! That money was given to me voluntarily by Patrick. He said it was a business commission! I had no idea he was embezzling!"
"Business commission?" I laughed mockingly and switched to an audio recording. John's greasy and greedy voice immediately came through the speaker. "Patrick, three hundred million is too little. Get more next time. Helena just took over the company and doesn't know anything. It's the perfect time to fish in troubled waters. When I get control of the company, you'll get your share!"
When the audio stopped, the room fell into dead silence. Rosalind's eyes widened suddenly. She pointed at John, her finger trembling. "John, you really did this behind the family's back?"
John completely panicked. He fell to his knees in front of Rosalind, pleading with a mournful face. "Mom, I was wrong! I was confused for a moment!"
"I just couldn't stand seeing the company fall into Helena's hands. I thought it was all the Lockwood family's money anyway, and we couldn't let outsiders benefit!"
"Besides, didn't you say the company would be Ivan's sooner or later?"
"Shut up!"
I cut him off sharply. "The company is my father's life's work, not an ATM for you to line your pockets and break the law. You embezzled company funds out of selfishness and caused huge losses to the company. This is what you do as a member of the Lockwood family?"