Chapter 535: Being Framed
The night was as dark as ink, spilling over the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Scott Group CEO's office.
Outside, the neon lights flickered, but they couldn't bring any warmth into the room.
William leaned back in his large leather chair, his handsome face showing unmistakable signs of exhaustion and gloom.
The ashtray was piled high with cigarette butts.
Eugene stood nearby, his expression grave. "William, Dorian's side is pretty much done for."
Harry adjusted his glasses and added, "He fell into every trap we set. The investment company is bankrupt, and Infinity Unity Group's funding chain is completely broken."
Alton spoke in a deep voice, "In the past few days, debt collectors have almost broken down Infinity Unity Group's doors. The stock price has hit the limit down for three consecutive days."
"Dorian is about to file for bankruptcy protection."
A cold smile tugged at the corner of William's mouth, but there was no joy in his eyes.
"He brought this on himself," he said hoarsely, with a hint of satisfaction mixed with fatigue.
The intercom on his desk rang sharply.
William pressed the speaker button, and an old, furious voice exploded from the receiver.
"William! You bastard! What the hell are you trying to do?"
It was Garth.
William let out a derisive laugh, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "What am I trying to do? Grandpa Garth, that's a funny question."
"When you made Grandpa Cade take the fall for your colossal crime, did you ever ask yourself what you were trying to do?"
"When you stole everything Grandpa Cade worked so hard for and drove my mom away, did you ever think to stop?"
"And you even had the nerve to marry my grandmother! Haven't you done enough evil in your life?"
On the other end, Garth's breathing grew heavier, like an old bellows.
"Stop this! Immediately!" Garth roared, but his voice was weak.
William sneered, "Stop? Now you're scared?"
"Too late."
"What you owe Grandpa Cade, what you owe my mom, I'll get it all back, with interest!"
William hung up the phone, cutting off Garth's enraged shouts.
Eugene and the others exchanged glances, not daring to make a sound.
William closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were filled with icy determination.
"Get ready," he said in a low voice. "It's time to send Dorian and Infinity Unity Group off for good."
"Yes, sir!"
Just as William was strategizing, preparing to deliver a final, crushing blow to the Scott family, Harry's phone rang urgently.
He answered it, his expression changing dramatically.
"William," Harry's voice trembled with disbelief, "something's happened. Garth is dead."
William's head snapped up, a flicker of shock in his eyes. "What?"
"The news just came in. They say you angered him to death," Harry said with difficulty.
"His own grandson drove him to his grave!"
The news hit like a bomb, causing a massive uproar.
Almost simultaneously, the internet was flooded with a tidal wave of condemnation.
#FamilyFeud #WilliamKillsGrandfather #UngratefulGrandson quickly dominated the trending topics on all major platforms.
[Bastard! He drove his own grandfather to death!]
[How can someone like this run the Scott Group? Boycott the Scott Group!]
[Garth raised a snake in his own house!]
Public opinion turned viciously.
The Scott Group's stock price plummeted, teetering on the brink.
William hadn't anticipated things would escalate to this point.
"Damn it," he cursed under his breath, showing a rare moment of frustration.
"Contact PR immediately! Get those trending topics down! At any cost!" he ordered sharply.
But the storm was too fierce, too sudden.
No matter how much they tried to suppress it, new waves of insults and accusations kept springing up like mushrooms after the rain.
Victoria also saw the trending topic that had exploded online.
The words "William kills his grandfather" on her phone screen stung her eyes.
She frowned and put down her paintbrush.
Victoria, always clear-headed, didn't believe it for a second.
Garth, that ruthless man who would do anything for profit, being angered to death by a few words?
She scoffed. This smelled more like a setup."Old bastard, even in death, you drag someone down with you," Victoria muttered to herself.
Though she and William were over, she couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
Besides, her instincts told her this wasn't so simple.
She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
"Bright Design Company PR? This is Victoria."
"I need a favor regarding that trending topic about William and his grandfather..."
"Yes, find a way to help suppress it."
Victoria didn't expect to completely turn the tide, but at least she couldn't let some people get away with it so easily.
Just as she hung up with Bright Design Company's PR, the online storm only intensified.
Even with the combined efforts of the Scott Group's PR and Bright Design Company's PR, spending a fortune, they couldn't suppress the trending topic "William kills his grandfather."
Garth's death had too big an impact.
It was like a boulder thrown into a lake, the ripples impossible to calm easily.
Moreover, some people were fanning the flames.
The next morning, Dorian held a press conference.
In front of the cameras, Dorian wore all black, looking haggard, his eyes red, his voice choked with emotion.
"Thank you, media friends, for still caring about the Scott family during this time."
He bowed deeply.
"My grandfather's sudden passing is a heavy blow to me and the entire Scott family."
"I know there are many rumors about William and my grandfather's relationship."
Dorian paused, his tone filled with sorrow and deep guilt.
"I want to say, it's all my fault."
"If it weren't for my incompetence and poor management, Infinity Unity Group wouldn't be in crisis, and there wouldn't be so much friction with William."
"If it weren't for my issues, William wouldn't have such deep resentment towards the Scott family."
"My grandfather was old. He always hoped for harmony between us brothers and prosperity for the family."
"It's my fault. I made him worry. I let him down."
"My grandfather's death is my responsibility, an inescapable responsibility!"
As Dorian spoke, he bowed again, his words sincere, choking up several times, as if overwhelmed with grief.
He played his hand masterfully.
Not a single direct accusation that William killed Garth.
Instead, he took all the blame, saying it was his fault.
But between the lines, it was clear: William was the one who drove his grandfather to death.
Dorian's "heartfelt" self-blame instantly sparked a new wave of public outrage.
[Look at Dorian! He's a real good grandson of the Scott family!]
[William, that ungrateful wretch, is worse than an animal!]
[Dorian said it all. Isn't it obvious? William killed Garth!]
The Scott Group's stock price hit the limit down again.
The banks, on high alert, immediately froze some of the Scott Group's credit lines and sent people to verify the situation, hinting at stopping funding.
Former business partners also called, urging the Scott Group to settle previous payments quickly.
When the wall fell, everyone pushed. When the drum broke, everyone beat it.
William's situation took a sharp turn for the worse.
Even when he went out, he was surrounded by angry crowds.
People threw rotten vegetables at his car.
"Get out of Silvermist City! Ungrateful grandson!"
"Murderer!"
The insults were endless.
Online, the cyberbullying against William was overwhelming, with all kinds of vicious curses and personal attacks almost drowning him.
In the Scott Group CEO's office.
The atmosphere was so oppressive that it was suffocating.
Eugene slammed his fist on the table, his eyes red. "William! These bastards are inhuman! That scumbag Dorian!"
Leonard's face was also grim. "It's clear someone is stirring the pot. Public opinion is completely one-sided."
"William, we can't just sit here and do nothing!" Eugene said urgently. "I'll contact some friendly media to speak up for you!"
"And me! My dad has some connections in the business world. He can say a few words!" Leonard added.
William leaned back in his chair, his face pale, eyes bloodshot, but still calm.
He waved his hand, his voice hoarse. "No need."
"William!" Eugene didn't understand.
William looked at them, his gaze deep. "If you step up now, it won't help. It'll only bring trouble to your own companies."
"We're not afraid!"
"This is my fight," William said firmly. "I appreciate your goodwill, but now is not the time for rash actions."
He knew very well that the waters had been stirred too much.