Chapter 405 Father and Son Helping Each Other
Shortly after the doctor left the ward, Herschel arrived.
Freya forced a smile, "Herschel, isn't the company busy today? How come you have time to visit me?"
Herschel pulled over a chair and sat by the hospital bed, a hint of weariness showing in his expression. "I made a special trip to see you today. I want to talk with you."
Freya looked at Herschel, feeling quite nervous. "Is something wrong?"
Herschel held Freya's hand. "Freya, I want to return the shares you gave to Gino and me a while back."
At this moment, Freya felt happy. The Herschel she had raised hadn't betrayed her.
This brought her great comfort.
"Herschel, why do you want to return the shares to me? I know you're a devoted child. I've seen how good you've been to me all these years."
Herschel hesitated for a moment. He didn't tell Freya about receiving the anonymous recording.
After all, Juniper and Gino were Herschel's wife and son. Some things were better kept hidden for everyone's sake.
Herschel smiled faintly and said softly, "The shares you hold should rightfully go to Elizabeth."
When Herschel mentioned Elizabeth, Freya's whole demeanor changed. She snorted coldly, "I can't give them to her."
Hearing Freya's words, Herschel hadn't expected that after all these years, Freya's reaction to Elizabeth would still be so strong.
Some mothers and daughters perhaps just aren't meant to have that bond.
Herschel pressed his lips together and gently persuaded, "Freya, Elizabeth is the rightful heir, and she has the ability to manage the company well. Perhaps you could consider it."
Freya gripped the blanket in her hands tightly, her face darkening, her voice carrying a hint of coldness. "Herschel, I know what you're thinking, but I can't hand it over to her."
Herschel looked at Freya's stubborn expression and sighed helplessly.
Freya glared at Herschel. "Herschel, this matter is not up for discussion. I won't change my mind. If you still consider me your aunt, do as I say. You don't need to persuade me. The shares I gave you are yours—you don't need to return them to me."
"Freya, don't be upset. I'll listen to you," Herschel said, seeing her emotions were too worked up. He stopped trying to persuade her. "Rest well. I'll come see you again tomorrow."
Freya's expression softened a bit. "Alright, you can go. Tomorrow, have Juniper come to the hospital to keep me company and chat. I'm too bored here alone."
Although Freya wasn't taking back the shares, she didn't want to let Juniper off the hook either.
Freya needed to find a way to make Herschel divorce that scheming woman Juniper!
"Okay." Herschel left the ward.
He glanced at the caregiver standing at the door and gave a bland instruction: "Take good care of Freya. If anything happens, call me directly, understand?"
The caregiver quickly nodded. "Yes, Mr. Nightingale."
She watched Herschel's departing figure and breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking about how his people had taken her away for questioning last night, she shuddered.
She really wanted to leave this place—it was too dangerous. Everyone here was playing mind games.
Herschel left the hospital and got into his car, his eyes darkening slightly.
He had managed the Nightingale Group for over twenty years, pouring in countless efforts. Now, to hand everything over to someone else was almost impossible for him.
He had deliberately mentioned Elizabeth's name to test Freya's attitude.
Sure enough, Freya had flatly refused to let him return the shares to her. She wasn't even willing to let Elizabeth touch any shares of the Nightingale Group after her death.
This reaction put Herschel's mind at ease.
He was now basically cleaning up the mess for Juniper and Gino.
Some things, some words—at Herschel's age, he naturally knew what was best for everyone.
The car drove back to The Nightingale Mansion.
Hearing the door open, Juniper turned to see Herschel return. She snorted coldly and said sarcastically, "My son and I wronged Freya, so I thought you wouldn't be coming back."
Herschel closed the door, quietly changed his shoes, and walked into the living room to sit on the sofa.
He looked at Juniper with a bland expression, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "Go to the hospital tomorrow and keep Freya company."
Juniper's expression changed slightly. She then stood up, walked over to Herschel, and crossed her arms.
"You've clearly heard those recordings and know about my evil intentions, yet you're still asking me to keep that old woman company?"
Herschel sighed. "I didn't mention the recordings to Freya. I only told her I wanted to return the shares to her, but she refused."
"Juniper, Freya is getting old and her health isn't good. Just humor her like you used to."
Juniper appreciated Herschel's consultative attitude—after all, she truly loved him.
"We're not returning the shares?" Juniper suppressed the corners of her mouth from turning up.
"Freya doesn't want them," Herschel sighed helplessly and instructed, "Don't bring up the shares again in the future, so no one can use it against you."
The weight on Juniper's heart finally lifted. She nodded, her expression softening considerably. "Okay, I understand. I won't mention it again. Honey, I'm sorry. Although my intentions toward Freya weren't good, I have spent all these years keeping her company."
Juniper sat down next to Herschel, leaned close to his ear, and asked in a low voice with a frown, "Who made those recordings? The things recorded happened in the car and at home. Should we have someone check if there are any bugs or listening devices in the house?"
Herschel's expression remained bland. He already knew who was behind the bugs, but he couldn't say—otherwise things would get even more complicated.
He reassured Juniper, "Don't worry, I've already had someone check. You don't need to ask about the details. The house is safe now."
"Why can't you tell me who it was?" Juniper thought about someone secretly recording them. She gripped Herschel's arm tightly, her voice carrying a hint of panic. "Honey, do you have a sworn enemy?"
"Don't guess wildly. I've already dealt with it," Herschel patted her hand lightly, his eyes darkening slightly as he comforted her. "Don't worry. When you go to the hospital tomorrow, remember not to say anything out of line. I still have a lot of work matters to handle."
"I understand. Don't worry, go ahead with your work." Juniper nodded.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Timothy had promised to take Brandon out to play today.
When Timothy and Brandon returned home, Elizabeth was shocked to see the colorful ink all over them. "What did you two do?"
Timothy and Brandon had both become colorful ink-covered figures.
"Mommy, we went painting," Brandon lowered his little head to show Elizabeth what was drawn on top—a green turtle. "Daddy drew the turtle."
Elizabeth fell silent.
Drawing a turtle on a bald head—how creative.
She glanced at Timothy. Who would draw a turtle on someone's head?
Timothy smiled and said innocently, "Brandon really liked it."
Brandon spread his arms wide, his round eyes open. "Mommy, can you see? I look like a tree now! The tree on Daddy's body—I drew it!"
Their clothes and exposed skin were all covered with drawings of leaves and branches.
Elizabeth looked at these two colorful trees before her and rubbed her forehead with a headache. "You two go take a bath right now."
In the bathroom.
Timothy held the showerhead, rinsing off the turtle drawn on Brandon's little bald head.
He finally washed the turtle off.
Brandon's head was clean.
"Brandon, close your eyes."
Timothy carefully and gently washed off the colorful ink from Brandon's face.
Brandon's little face finally revealed its original cute appearance.
"Daddy, I'll help wash you too in a bit," Brandon said softly. "Daddy helped me wash, so I should help Daddy wash too. It's fair."
"Brandon wants to help me bathe?" Timothy's mouth twitched slightly. With Brandon's short height, he could at most help wash his lower legs. "Wait until Brandon grows up, then you can help me wash."
"Daddy, no need to wait until I grow up—I can do it now!" Brandon puffed out his little chest and promised confidently.
His belly even stuck out with it.
A moment of silence.
Timothy didn't want to dampen Brandon's confidence. "Okay, okay, okay. In a bit, Brandon can help me bathe."