Chapter 194: Crumbling Under Guilt
Hearing Vaughn's words, Anna didn't soften. Instead, she let out a sharp laugh, the kind that wounds more than it amuses.
"Grandpa, you handed me the Williams Group because I was outstanding and trustworthy?" Her voice dripped with mockery. "No... you gave it to me because Quentin, that spoiled leech, doesn't know the first thing about running a business.
"If Quentin had the slightest talent for management, even if he was still underage, you'd have put the family empire in his hands without hesitation.
"After all, Quentin is your only grandson. I'm just a granddaughter — a woman, destined to marry out of the family.
"I've poured myself into the Williams Group, but I've received nothing in return. You never intended to give me shares or real power.
"Let's be honest. You wanted me to keep the company neat and profitable so that when Quentin came of age, he could walk in and take it over."
Vaughn stared at her, disbelief flashing in his eyes. "Anna... how could you see it that way?
"I didn't give you full control because you're still young, because you need more experience. If you could prove yourself ready to stand alone, I'd gladly step aside.
"You and Quentin are both dear to me. My estate will be split evenly between you two. It has nothing to do with you being a woman or getting married."
Anna's eyes were rimmed red, her jaw tight. She didn't believe a word.
"Well, it doesn't matter now. I'm about to be taken away by the police. You can say whatever you like.
"You claim to care for me, yet you give Amelia a jade bracelet worth seven figures without a second thought.
"And me? What have you ever given me?"
She remembered that night — seeing through the crack in the door as her grandfather fastened the bracelet onto Amelia's wrist, laughing with her. The image made her feel small, pathetic.
"Since I was a child, every birthday you told me not to develop wasteful habits.
"There was never a lavish party for me, never a lavish gift.
"You treat an outsider with more thought than your own granddaughter. Doesn't that make your blood run cold?
"Love isn't just something you say, Grandpa."
Vaughn hadn't realized she'd seen him give Amelia the bracelet. He hadn't imagined she would resent him for it.
He was silent for several seconds, then let out a long, weary sigh and pulled his phone from his pocket.
Anna frowned, not understanding why he was doing this.
Before she could speak, Vaughn held the phone out to her. "Anna, I've never shown you these. You can look now. If you've resented me over this, I don't blame you — it's my oversight."
She took the phone, confused, and saw he had opened a photo album.
As she scrolled, her expression shifted from blank to stunned. Her eyes widened. Finally, her lips trembled. "These are..."
"These are things I've been putting aside for you over the years."
Vaughn closed his eyes briefly, then spoke slowly.
"Since you were in high school, I've made sure to set something aside every year on your birthday.
"Not shallow luxury trinkets, but gold jewelry, jade pieces, properties and storefronts in your name — assets worth well over ten million dollars.
"If you marry, these will be your wedding gifts. If you don't, I'll see to it you're cared for for life. These are yours alone.
"In my mind, real care isn't just talk.
"The school you attended abroad was chosen after careful research. For years overseas, I had people quietly watching over you. When you managed the company, I arranged support for you.
"Quentin didn't need that level of detail. For him, staying safe and avoiding trouble was all I required.
"You resent the jade bracelet I gave Amelia, but the medicine she gave me — each pill was worth over ten million dollars.
"She's four or five years younger than you. As an elder, how could I leave a debt of gratitude to a young girl unpaid?"
Anna's shoulders shook uncontrollably now.
She clutched the phone, still on the photo screen, speechless.
"I went to the island resort thinking there were colorful minerals there you'd enjoy. I wanted to bring them back to make you happy.
"I never imagined that the girl I thought was gentle and obedient could do something like this.
"You asked me why I'm doing this, why I'm destroying you.
"But Anna, if you commit something like this and I cover for you, bury it within the family, you'll never learn a real lesson. You'll never truly regret it.
"You can misunderstand me, you can hate me. But to me, the humiliation at today's press conference, even the Williams family's reputation, are not the most important things.
"What matters is that you recognize your mistake, wake up, and change."
Anna broke then, tears spilling. "Grandpa... why..."
She couldn't finish.
Why had Vaughn done so much for her without telling her? Why, after everything was exposed, was he still patient enough to teach her? Why was his mind still on her — when she had hired someone to kill him?
The weight of it crushed her. She covered her face and sobbed.
Now, she truly regretted it. But regret couldn't undo what was done.
Her crying filled the hall as the officers who had stepped away returned.
Vaughn sat in his wheelchair, wiping his tears as he turned away.
He closed his eyes, his voice heavy and resolute. "Then I must ask you, officers — do your duty. Take my granddaughter away."