Chapter 72
Hearing this, Charlotte almost wanted to applaud.
Alexander really knew how to twist the knife deep into her heart!
Sure enough, even Nicole couldn't stand it anymore: "That's quite a novel argument!"
"By that logic, should we invite all your relatives and friends to the next family dinner?"
Alexander fell silent.
Sensing the mood curdling fast, Cynthia jumped in and steered everyone toward the dining room under the cover of dinner, and the subject of Sabrina was set aside — at least for the moment.
However, Nicole had no intention of letting it go.
After all, she truly cared for Charlotte and couldn't bear to see her suffer the slightest grievance.
Sure enough, barely halfway through the meal, she turned her attention back to Alexander. "Alexander, the Forbes Group's contract with Master Nova is nearly up. Have you been paying attention to the renewal?"
Alexander understood what she was really doing — using the contract as a vehicle to remind him not to overlook what Charlotte had done in building that relationship with Nova in the first place. The thing was, in his mind, the connection Charlotte had made only mattered because the Forbes Group had already been worth choosing. If they hadn't had the capability, no amount of Charlotte's goodwill would have convinced Nova to sign with them. The partnership had been won on the company's own merits. Charlotte had simply added something extra on top.
So ultimately, the Forbes Group won the partnership on its own merit, and Charlotte just added icing on the cake.
However, since the Forbes Group was built from scratch by his grandparents, no matter how dissatisfied he was, he didn't dare talk back to his grandmother.
So he had to suppress his displeasure and lightly agreed: "The renewal is already being discussed."
He glanced toward Sabrina, something warmer entering his expression. "We're also working on developing our own in-house designer. Sabrina is genuinely talented — she's already entered the National Design Competition, and her chances of placing well are strong."
Sabrina lowered her eyes with practiced modesty. "Thank you for believing in me, Alexander. I won't let you down."
Nicole, however, gave her a bland look: "But I heard that Miss Spencer's health isn't very good?"
"If she works herself sick at the Forbes Group, Alexander, could you live with yourself?"
Seeing things going badly, Sabrina quickly explained: "Mrs. Forbes, I can actually manage."
Nicole: "You can manage? Then your illness can't be that serious."
"So why did Alexander say your illness couldn't be treated abroad and you had to come back home to recuperate? So is it serious or not?"
Sabrina didn't know how to answer.
Nicole's expression settled into something cooler and more deliberate. "Alexander, didn't you just say Miss Spencer is like family? Then show it. Put the time and the resources into letting her rest properly, rather than running her ragged at the office. Otherwise people will start asking questions — and you won't like what they're asking."
Nicole's pointed remarks left Alexander feeling uncomfortable.
After all, these seven years, he'd been calling the shots at the Forbes Group. He was no longer the nervous young man who'd just been pushed into the CEO position.
"Grandma, I know what I'm doing with the Forbes Group and Sabrina. You don't need to worry so much."
Cynthia felt bad for Alexander and chimed in from the side: "Mom, Alexander has grown up. He's not that foolish boy anymore. Just trust him with the Forbes Group."
Hearing their words, a flash of disappointment crossed Nicole's eyes, but she didn't continue arguing, only giving Alexander one final reminder.
"I just want to remind you one last time, don't forget about the marriage alliance between the Forbes Family and the Spencer Family back then."
"When it came to choosing an heir, the reason you came out on top was largely thanks to Charlotte."
"People shouldn't forget their roots."
Alexander said nothing, but slowly clenched his fists.
At this moment, Owen spoke up in Alexander's defense: "Great-grandma, you're wrong."
"In our family, the most useless person is Mom! She can't do anything, she's so stupid."
As soon as these words came out, Nicole's expression changed on the spot.
Charlotte, on the other hand, seemed long accustomed to such remarks, her expression not changing in the slightest.
Philip straightened up, about to defend Charlotte, but Landon gently patted his head.
As Philip reluctantly lowered his head, a coldness flashed through Landon's eyes as he looked at Owen.
By this time, Cynthia had hurriedly covered Owen's mouth, apologizing with a smile: "Owen doesn't know any better, Mom, don't hold it against him."
Nicole had always been sharp. She'd lived long enough to read people without needing them to explain themselves, and she'd heard enough from various directions to know how Cynthia talked about Charlotte when she thought no one was keeping score. Nicole had generally chosen to stay out of it, preferring peace to confrontation.
But there was a line. Poisoning a child against his own mother was on the other side of it. If she let this pass today, there'd be no correcting it later — and she had no intention of watching this woman quietly dismantle the Forbes family from the inside.
She slammed her fork heavily on the table: "Owen doesn't know better, but isn't what he says taught by adults? Cynthia, if you still can't raise Owen properly, then he doesn't need to come back anymore."
Cynthia's face immediately flushed red.
She never expected Nicole would publicly embarrass her for Charlotte's sake.
Though she was somewhat angry, she knew that Nicole had contributed greatly to the Forbes Group's success, and even now, Nicole still commanded great respect at the Forbes Group. She was in no position to challenge her.
So she could only swallow her anger and sheepishly apologize to Nicole: "Mom, I know I was wrong. I'll definitely teach Owen properly from now on and won't make you angry again."
Nicole snorted: "I'm not the one you should apologize to, it's Charlotte."
Apologize to that bitch Charlotte?
Cynthia almost couldn't hold back and wanted to reveal on the spot that Alexander had already divorced Charlotte...
Fortunately, at the critical moment, Elara pleaded for her: "Grandma, Mom already knows she was wrong, please forgive her this once."
Seeing this, Nicole said no more, only letting out a cold snort.
But Cynthia secretly glared at Charlotte, who hadn't said a word throughout.
'Bitch! If it weren't for the thirty-day cooling-off period, how could I tolerate your presence?' she thought.
And where no one could see, Sabrina's clenched fists nearly pierced her palms.
'Charlotte, don't think that provoking them a few times in front of Nicole will make Alexander and the others change their minds. Let me tell you, impossible! The more you do this, the more Alexander will detest you,' she thought.
The dinner ended hastily in awkwardness.
Alexander left first with Sabrina and Owen, while Charlotte still rode back in Landon's car.
Watching this scene, Nicole couldn't help but sigh.
Perhaps if she had been more forceful back then and made Charlotte marry Landon, things would have been better.
But unfortunately, it was too late to say anything now.
When getting out of the car, Landon suddenly told Charlotte something.
The Forbes Group was holding a press conference the day after tomorrow, supposedly to promote Sabrina's personal exhibition.
Hearing the news, Charlotte appeared calm on the surface, but secretly made a decision - she had been looking for a good opportunity to strike back, and unexpectedly Alexander and Sabrina had delivered it right to her doorstep.
On the other side of the city, the evening at the old house had left its mark on Alexander. He arrived home with the kind of expression that made the air in a room feel heavier, and it hadn't improved much by the time they were inside.
Seeing this, Sabrina secretly signaled Owen to behave, then went straight back to her room.
But after closing the door, her expression suddenly turned dark.
The next moment, she picked up her phone, looked at it, and directly made a call.