Chapter 106

Chapter 106

"I know." Xavier sighed. "The board has already held an emergency meeting and decided to suspend all of Finnian's duties pending a full investigation. We're freezing his shares in the Brown Group, and based on the investigation results, we'll take further action. There will be absolutely no leniency."

William nodded. "Thank you, Grandpa."

"You focus on handling the project overseas. I'll keep an eye on things here at home and won't let him stir up any more trouble," Xavier said.

"Okay."

Just then, Ophelia's phone rang.

She took it out and saw it was an unknown number. After hesitating for a moment, she answered it.

"Hello, is this Ophelia?" A familiar voice came through, tinged with urgency.

Ophelia froze for a moment, then quickly recognized the caller. "Jeffrey? How did you get my number?"

She had already blocked all of Jeffrey's contact information, yet somehow he had still managed to find her.

"Ophelia, I've been looking for you for so long." Jeffrey's voice carried a pleading tone. "I saw the news about Mr. Brown on overseas financial news and knew you were in trouble."

"I know some senior people at the audit firm. Maybe I can help, pull some strings, get them to issue a favorable report for you as soon as possible." He paused, his tone growing more urgent. "Ophelia, can you give me one chance to explain things to you in person? About what happened back then, I really know I was wrong. I shouldn't have let Freya manipulate me, shouldn't have deceived you. Can you give me one more chance to make it up to you?"

Ophelia sneered inwardly. Of course, it was Jeffrey. Even now, he was still trying to use her, looking for an opportunity to get close to her.

He had deceived her so badly back then, and now he wanted to pull the same trick again. What a joke.

"No need," she said coldly, without any hesitation. "What happened between us is long over. You don't need to come looking for me anymore. I don't need your help, and neither does Mr. Brown."

"Also, Finnian's schemes have already been exposed. We're fine now. Don't trouble yourself."

"Ophelia, please give me one more chance, okay?" Jeffrey continued pleading desperately, his voice breaking. "I really know I was wrong. I haven't been able to eat or sleep these past few days. All I can think about is you. I really regret it."

"I said, no need." Ophelia cut him off directly, her tone even colder. "Don't contact me again, or I'll call the police."

With that, she hung up and blocked this unknown number, too.

William had been watching her the whole time. After she hung up, he asked, "Was that Jeffrey?"

Ophelia nodded, her face full of disgust. "He said he knows senior people at the audit firm and wants to help us pull strings. Really, he just wants to find an opportunity to get close to me and have me give him a chance to explain."

"He sure knows how to find opportunities, but he picked the wrong person." William's eyes grew cold. "But he can't cause any trouble now anyway. He won't bother you again."

He paused, then added, "I've already had my assistant submit all the communication records between Finnian's people and Raymond, the fund transfer records, and Raymond's confession video to the board. This evidence is more than enough to give Finnian a headache. Even if he tries to make excuses, it won't work."

Ophelia nodded. "Now we can finally relax and not be bothered by all this mess anymore."

William smiled, put his arm around her waist, and lowered his head to kiss her forehead. "Yes, from now on, we can spend a few days here properly. Think of it as a vacation. We can see the sights and relax."

Ophelia looked at him, her eyes full of warmth. "Sounds good. I've been exhausted lately. It's time to relax properly."

Just as William and Ophelia were planning their vacation overseas, news came from the Brown Mansion.

After hanging up with William, Xavier immediately had Luca call Finnian back to the Brown Mansion.

Finnian was still fuming over his failed plan. When he received the summons, his heart jumped, but he still went.

As soon as Finnian entered the living room, he saw Xavier sitting on the sofa with an extremely dark expression. Several family elders stood beside Xavier, their eyes full of disappointment.

"Grandpa, you called me back. What's the matter?" Finnian tried to stay calm, attempting to hide his guilty conscience.

"What's the matter?" Xavier slammed the table, making the teacup shake. "You have the nerve to ask? Finnian, after what you've done, do you really need me to spell it out for you?"

Finnian panicked inside but continued to make excuses. "Grandpa, I haven't done anything. Is there some misunderstanding?"

"Misunderstanding?" Xavier laughed coldly and threw a stack of documents on the table in front of him. "You instructed Raymond to supply substandard components, forged evidence of William taking kickbacks, and tried to sabotage the overseas project to seize power at the Brown Group. This is all hard evidence. You still dare to talk about misunderstandings?"

The documents scattered on the floor—printouts of Raymond's confession video, fund transfer records, and screenshots of communications between his people and Raymond. Every piece was crystal clear.

Finnian's face instantly turned deathly pale, his hands and feet ice cold, but he still refused to admit it. "Grandpa, these are all fake! William is framing me! He's just afraid I'm a threat to his position, so he deliberately set this trap!"

"Framing you?" Xavier trembled with rage, pointing at his nose. "Do you think I'm senile? Raymond has already confessed, and all the evidence matches up. You still want to make excuses?"

"How did the Brown family produce such a heartless creature like you! William is your own brother, and you schemed against him like this for power! The overseas project is the Brown Group's future hope, and you almost destroyed it!"

Several elders also spoke up in accusation: "Finnian, you've disappointed us so much!"

"Yes, we're all family. How could you be so ruthless?"

"Your grandfather has always treated you well. Is this how you repay him?"

Finnian was accused by them in turn. The grievance and anger in his heart suddenly erupted. He raised his head, his eyes wild. "Treated me well? Grandpa, when have you ever been truly fair to me?"

"Since we were young, you've always favored William. You gave him all the good things first, handed him all the core power of the Brown Group. I've worked at the Brown Group for so many years, worked myself to the bone, but I've never gotten your recognition!"

"I'm not willing to accept it! Why should William get everything handed to him? That position should have been mine all along!"

He grew more and more agitated, his voice getting louder. "What abilities does William have? He's just lucky and won your favor! I just wanted to take back what should have been mine. What's wrong with that?"

"You... you ungrateful wretch!" Xavier was so angry that his breathing became labored. He pointed at Finnian, unable to speak for a long moment. Suddenly, his vision went black, and his body fell straight backward.

"Mr. Xavier Brown!" Luca cried out and rushed forward to support him. "Quick! Call an ambulance!"