Chapter 188 Performance at Its Finest
Efrain was Michael's uncle by blood.
Years ago, when Michael's parents died in a sudden accident, the entire Johnson family empire fell into Efrain's hands. He took the reins without hesitation, stepping into the role of acting head.
When Michael turned eighteen, the transfer of shares from the family trust became official. Overnight, he became the largest shareholder of the Johnson Group and, at least in name, its true leader.
For the next five years, Efrain tried every trick imaginable to push Michael out of his position as heir. Backroom deals, bribing board members, manipulating the media… there was no line he would not cross. Yet in the end, he still lost to his own nephew. Forced to surrender part of his holdings and resign from the board, he left the country in disgrace.
But even abroad, Efrain never truly stayed quiet. For the past two years, he had been waiting for the perfect chance to reclaim control of the Johnson Group.
This time, he believed that chance had come.
After more than a year of discreet investigation, Efrain finally uncovered the whereabouts of Michael's grandmother. He arranged for her to be taken from the care facility where she lived and struck a deal with Anna. Everything moved exactly along the path he had planned.
When he received confirmation that Michael's grandmother and the hired killers were aboard the ferry returning to the country, Efrain almost felt the victory was already his. His mood lifted, his confidence swelling.
He knew Michael too well.
Though young, Michael's mind was sharper and steadier than most full-grown men, and his ability was beyond doubt. Against those he marked as enemies, he never hesitated to strike. His only weakness was the one person left in the world who was truly family to him — the grandmother who had raised him, cared for him, and loved him since childhood.
Would Michael choose his grandmother's safety, or the shares and leadership of the Johnson Group?
If the question were put to Efrain, he would not waste a single second deciding. To him, wealth and power were the only things worth protecting.
And he was certain Michael would choose his grandmother. In Efrain's mind, Michael was a born emotional weakling.
True men of power were never shackled by family bonds. Compared to him, Michael was still too young, too naive.
What Efrain did not expect was that his smooth-running plan would unravel at the very moment of bringing Michael's grandmother home.
The killers he hired vanished without a trace. Michael's grandmother was nowhere to be found. The ferry's captain swore he had never seen them.
But Efrain's men had sworn they had already picked her up… so had they ever put her on that boat at all?
If not, where had they taken her?
Efrain unleashed every resource he could command to track her down. Three days passed without a single lead, and his rage grew until it was barely contained.
That day, he had already settled terms with Michael over the phone. Now, with his most important bargaining chip gone, the deal meant nothing.
Worse, Michael appeared early at the press conference, stepping into the meeting room and overhearing his conversation with his men.
When Michael asked, "Who is it you can't seem to find?" Efrain's body stiffened. He forced himself into calm, plastering on a smile as he walked toward him.
"Well, look who it is… my dear nephew."
They stood face to face, Michael taller by half a head. Though nearly twenty years younger, his presence was no less commanding.
"So, who exactly is missing?" Michael asked again, his expression unreadable.
"My men are incompetent. Nothing worth talking about," Efrain replied vaguely, hoping to deflect.
As long as Michael announced those two key points at the press conference, the words would be irreversible. Then Efrain could find another way to turn the situation to his favor.
Michael's gaze was cold. "I told you I would agree to your terms. But on the day of the press conference, I expect to see my grandmother and confirm she is safe."
"I am here now. Where is she?"
The very question Efrain dreaded.
He had no idea where she was, but kept his mask in place. "I told you, she's with me. What's there to worry about?"
"I once called her 'mother' myself. I would never mistreat her. She is eating well, sleeping well… you can rest easy."
"As long as you do what I ask, I promise she will be returned safely to the Johnson family estate."
"And besides, rather than seeing your grandmother right now, I think it is more important for you to meet Anna. You two will be engaged soon."
"Aside from your grandmother, I am your only elder. Anna is a fine young woman — capable, beautiful, and well-matched to you. I am very pleased with this arrangement."
"Do not blame me for organizing your engagement to Anna. A union between the Johnson family and the Williams family is a merger of strength, and it will greatly benefit the Johnson Group."
Outside the Williams Group headquarters, Amelia sat in the car, watching a hidden camera feed on her phone. The moment she saw Efrain's smile, her eyes turned cold.
Pleased, was he?
If he liked Anna so much, why didn't he marry her himself?
To Amelia, Efrain and Anna were a perfect match — one ruthless, the other cold-blooded.
A second later, Anna's deliberately gentle voice came through Amelia's earpiece.
"Michael… you're here so early. You didn't even tell me you were coming."
The camera shifted. Anna entered in a fitted black skirt suit, three-inch heels clicking against the floor. Her hair was pinned up, soft curls framing her face. The precision of her makeup was matched only by the calculated air of casualness she wore.
Her complexion was pale, faint shadows beneath her eyes, a trace of redness at the corners — the look of someone fragile yet determined to hold herself together.
Beside Amelia, Vaughn's hand clenched, veins standing out. He muttered under his breath, "What a disgrace."
"Anna, you're here," Efrain said, sounding relieved. "Since Anna is here, you young people can talk. I won't intrude."
"Anna, mind the time. Don't delay the press conference."
"Of course," Anna answered sweetly.
Efrain left, leaving the meeting room to Michael and Anna.
The moment the door closed, Anna spoke with a shy smile. "Michael, I suppose Efrain has already told you."
"He came to me a few days ago for medicine to treat your grandmother, and praised my abilities. He said I was the best choice to be Mrs. Michael Johnson."
"He also said you would announce our engagement at the press conference today. Is that true?"
"My grandfather would be so happy. He always hoped we would be together."
"Such a pity… about my grandfather…"
Her large eyes trembled, and at the mention of Vaughn, a few tears spilled from the corners. She looked as if she knew nothing of Efrain's threats, as if Vaughn's fall into the sea had been nothing but a tragic accident.
Michael watched her performance, forcing down his disgust. His voice was cold. "Are you very sad about Vaughn?"
Anna blinked, startled. "Michael, what do you mean by that?"
"He was my grandfather since I was a child. He fell into the sea and died — how could I not be sad?"
"Is that so?" Michael's tone carried a sharp edge. "Because Vaughn's accident wasn't an accident at all. You… you hired someone to push your own grandfather into the sea."