Chapter 77
Rhea completely ignored Aiden's accusations and said coldly, "Do I not even have the right to manage my own shares?"
The restaurant fell into a brief silence.
Zoey looked up, her gaze sweeping over Aiden's dark expression and Cleo's forced smile, finally landing on Rhea's determined eyes.
She spoke up, "Grandma, I'm full. How about we take a walk in the park to help with digestion?"
"Good idea. I was just thinking the same. This place is so suffocating, it's bad for my health," Rhea said, her words carrying a deeper meaning.
After the two left, Aiden and Scarlett lost their appetite.
Cleo's eyes turned red, and she spoke in a voice full of grievance, "Dad. If Zoey really goes to the company, I..."
Scarlett, feeling sorry for her, patted her hand, "Don't worry, your dad won't let Zoey have her way."
She had to find a way to make Zoey back off. If Zoey really went to the company and gained the shareholders' favor, the King Group would fall into her hands.
By then, even if Aiden tried to appeal to their emotions, few would listen.
"Don't make me out to be so powerful. If you hadn't insisted on keeping her for appearances' sake, we wouldn't be in this mess today," Aiden snapped at Scarlett.
After Verity died, the more Zoey resembled her, the more Aiden wanted to get rid of her. But Scarlett, wishing to maintain her reputation, insisted on keeping Zoey.
Later, he used an incident involving Cleo to get Zoey imprisoned, but she behaved well and was released after just two years.
Anyone who threatened his interests was his enemy. In his eyes, nothing was more important than profit.
"What do you mean by that?" Scarlett was instantly agitated. "Don't forget how Verity died. You can't put all the blame on me. That's shameless."
Aiden's eyes flickered. "What's the point of arguing here? Only Cleo can change the King family's situation and our mother's bias against us."
"As long as we have the Graham family, even if Zoey is capable, we won't be afraid."
Zoey was his daughter, so he knew her capabilities. She might be good with words, but in other areas, she was lacking.
Besides, with the shares he and Scarlett held, they could compete with Zoey. If she wanted to fight, he would just buy more shares and completely push her out.
Meanwhile, Zoey was walking slowly with Rhea in their garden.
"Verity used to love planting flowers here, all my favorites. Every time I walk here, it brings me peace," Rhea reminisced.
Zoey smiled softly, responding to Rhea's words, "Yes, I was quite mischievous back then, always pulling out the flowers Mom planted. She never scolded me, just called me a little rascal."
Rhea chuckled, "Yes, Verity had a good temper, gentle and intellectual. I never saw her lose her temper, except with that disappointing Aiden."
Zoey's expression remained calm as she helped Rhea sit down. "Grandma, you don't need to argue with them for my sake. Different stances, it's a waste of breath."
"I just feel for you," Rhea said, tears welling up. "I thought you were doing well, so I never intervened. And Scarlett insisted on keeping you, saying she'd treat you like her own daughter..."
She had been so blind to think a third party would genuinely care for Zoey.
Fortunately, Zoey wasn't foolish and knew how to fight back.
Zoey was capable and smart, learning quickly. If it weren't for her consideration of her ties with Aiden, she wouldn't have been framed and imprisoned.
"Zoey, don't worry about Aiden. He doesn't dare defy me now, so go ahead and do what you want. Don't let me hold you back."
"I don't want the King Group, which your grandfather built, to be ruined by him."
Though she rarely went to the company, she knew it was on the brink of collapse, hollowed out from within.
A strong wind could topple the King Group any day.
Her health couldn't handle the stress anymore, so she pinned her hopes on Zoey.
"Grandma," Zoey gently patted Rhea's chest, "I won't let Grandpa's hard work go to waste."
The King Group could rise again under her leadership.
"Good girl," Rhea said, relieved. "Mason and Erik are good, but they side with Scarlett. I don't know what spell she cast on them. They're your brothers, yet they favor Cleo."
"I've tried to educate them, but if they choose this path, I can't control them."
"So, Zoey, it's up to you to stabilize the King Group for me."
"Okay," Zoey agreed quickly, not wanting Rhea to worry.
She knew Aiden's capabilities better than anyone.
Just as Aiden thought he knew her, she knew him too.
But Aiden was wrong about one thing: she was no longer the same Zoey.
"Aiden has shares, and so does Scarlett. You must become the CEO of the King Group."
Once Zoey held that position, no one would dare bully her.
Zoey wasn't interested in the position, but seeing Rhea's determined look, she couldn't refuse.
"Alright, I'll do my best not to disappoint you. Focus on getting better and leave the rest to me."
Rhea, touched by her understanding, said, "Zoey, I know you don't want to be confined to that world. If you hate me, I understand, but..."
She couldn't bear to see the King Group destroyed by Aiden.
"Grandma, I could never hate you," Zoey shook her head. "How could I hate you?"
Rhea was the only one in the King family who truly cared for her. She cherished her too much ever to hate her.
"That's good," Rhea smiled, nodding. "You're ten times better than Aiden. With you in charge, I can rest easy."
"Don't say that, Grandma. You'll live a long life," Zoey said, not wanting her to speak like that.
Rhea laughed, "Alright, alright, I won't say it."
After a while, Zoey decided to leave, but was stopped.
"Leaving already?" Aiden's voice was deliberately low.
Zoey didn't respond, heading to the foyer to get her coat.
"Stop!" Aiden finally lost his composure. "What did your grandmother say to you?"
Zoey paused for a second, her fingers on her coat. "You can ask her yourself."
"Zoey!" Aiden stepped forward, grabbing her wrist. "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because Grandma supports you! The King Group is my creation, and you have no right to it!"
Zoey looked him straight in the eye, her voice steady. "The King Group was Grandpa's creation. You just inherited it. And if you think you can bully me into submission, you're wrong. I'm not the same girl you framed and sent to prison."
Aiden's grip tightened, but Zoey didn't flinch. "Let go of me, Aiden. This isn't a fight you can win."
Aiden's face twisted with anger, but he released her. "This isn't over, Zoey. Not by a long shot."
Zoey calmly put on her coat and walked out, leaving Aiden fuming behind her. She had a company to save and a legacy to protect.