Chapter 184 Unexpected Incident

Chapter 184 Unexpected Incident

"And Florida." Felix took half a step forward, his gaze darkening. "You really think I can't find out?"

Scarlett's breath caught for a split second.

Her most vulnerable weakness—he'd pierced it with a single sentence.

"That's a cold case." Her voice came out hoarse. "You have no evidence."

"Almost there."

"You really have to push this to the edge?"

"You're the ones who pushed it there."

Scarlett grabbed his sleeve, tears streaming faster. "Felix, I'm begging you. The Campbell family can't fall. That's all the leverage I have left, and it's my grandfather's life's work. Come after me if you want, but leave the company alone, please?"

"Let go." Felix looked down at her hand clutching his sleeve, his eyes utterly unmoved.

Scarlett didn't release him, her voice breaking. "For the sake of what we once had—"

"What we once had, you burned through yourself." Felix pulled his sleeve free, his voice dropping lower. "All the dead are waiting for justice. You're begging the wrong person."

Scarlett swayed.

Looking at him, she finally understood—he truly had no intention of turning back.

When they returned to the ballroom, the dinner course had already begun.

Drake stood by the head table, wine glass in hand, posture bold. "I'll take this opportunity to announce something."

He smiled as he surveyed the room. "I'm officially investing in the Campbell Group's Evergreen Isle resort project. Moving forward, resources from Germany and New York will be injected simultaneously. I'm very curious to see how much longer Isla Island can hold out."

As his words fell, many faces showed surprise.

That was too aggressive—not just showing support, but an open provocation.

All eyes turned to Cecilia.

Cecilia set down her knife and fork, looking up at Drake, her tone calm. "How well Isla Island does, the customer traffic will prove. It's not about who's loudest in the ballroom."

The room fell silent for a moment.

"Ms. Laurent seems very confident." Drake narrowed his eyes, his smile fading slightly.

"I have results to back it up." Cecilia dabbed the corner of her mouth. "Do you?"

Someone at the table couldn't help but laugh quietly.

Scarlett seized the moment, a smile playing on her lips though malice lurked in her eyes. "Everyone here probably doesn't know yet—Cecilia isn't just a psychologist, and she's not just the Isla Island project director."

She paused, looking around the room. "She's the largest shareholder of Laurent Group."

The hall erupted.

"What?"

"Laurent's largest shareholder is her?"

"Wasn't it always Zoe running things?"

"No wonder she dares to go head-to-head with Campbell."

Instantly, countless gazes fell on Cecilia—surprised, probing, calculating, admiring—all mixed together.

Several young heirs were already visibly restless, their eyes roaming over her, their intentions written all over their faces.

Watching this scene, Scarlett actually felt relieved.

Good. Very good.

With Drake involved, with this identity exposed, Cecilia would only attract more attention going forward.

The tighter Knightley and Laurent were bound, the more enemies they'd make. As long as more interests were at stake, she refused to believe Felix would destroy Knightley with his own hands for Cecilia's sake.

She lowered her eyes, a new thought already forming.

As long as Drake was ruthless enough, Cecilia would die sooner or later.

The party dragged on for another half hour. Cecilia was clearly tired—she'd dealt with too many people tonight, had too much to drink, even her shoulders showed fatigue.

Felix moved to her side, asking quietly, "Ready to go?"

Cecilia glanced at Scarlett, still working the room. "If we leave now, she'll think she's halfway to winning."

"She's already lost completely tonight." Felix took the glass from her hand. "That other half isn't worth you wearing yourself out over."

Cecilia looked at him for two seconds before finally nodding. "Alright, take me home."

After the car left the hotel, the city's nightscape slid past the window.

Cecilia leaned against the seat back, resting, her tone flat. "Drake's even dumber than I thought. Just arrived in New York and already put himself in the spotlight."

"Arrogant people never last long." Felix looked at her. "You did very well tonight."

Cecilia opened her eyes. "Complimenting me?"

"Not a compliment." The corner of Felix's mouth lifted slightly. "Stating a fact."

Cecilia was about to respond when Felix's phone suddenly rang. Roman's name appeared. He answered, his expression darkening in a second. "What did you say?"

The voice on the other end was urgent. Felix's body tensed gradually, his eyes turning ice-cold.

Cecilia sat up straight. "What happened?"

After hanging up, Felix's voice was terribly low. "Elliot just went to the Knightley estate."

Cecilia's heart sank.

Felix stared ahead. "He provoked my grandfather. Grandfather had a severe episode. He's in the ICU now."

Hearing Felix's words, Cecilia cursed under her breath. "Damn it, to save himself, he'd even go after an old man."

The car rushed into the hospital's underground passage, stopping hard. Felix got out first, taking the private elevator in a few strides.

Cecilia followed, her expression dark.

Outside the ICU, Roman was already waiting.

Seeing them arrive, he quickly reported.

"The old man's stabilized for now. The doctor said he suffered severe stress—blood pressure shot up, heart problems too." Roman lowered his voice. "Elliot was there less than ten minutes. We didn't get a full recording, but surveillance caught him leaving looking very grim."

Felix asked, "Where is he?"

"Back at the estate. Our people are following him."

The Knightley family's lawyers and private physicians stood outside the ward, no one daring to speak, the atmosphere oppressively tense.

Cecilia looked through the glass.

Alfred lay in the hospital bed, a breathing mask covering half his face, looking like he'd aged years overnight.

Felix stood motionless, shoulders rigid.

Cecilia spoke up. "First find out why he personally went to the estate."

"Already did." Roman handed over a tablet. "He brought a new valuation report for the Evergreen Isle resort project, plus two acquisition intent letters. On the surface, discussing cooperation, but actually kept provoking the old man, saying the Knightley family would be destroyed in Felix's hands."

Felix took the tablet, his fingers scrolling quickly. Just then, his phone rang.

The caller ID showed Scarlett.

Roman's expression changed, about to speak when Felix raised his hand, silencing him, and answered the call.

After the call connected, Scarlett spoke urgently. "Felix, I know my grandfather went to the Knightley estate tonight, and I know what your grandfather heard before he collapsed."

Felix didn't respond to that. "What do you want to say?"

"Not convenient over the phone." Scarlett paused. "Come meet me. I'll tell you what I know. Come alone."

Felix's eyes held no warmth. "Location."

"South Manhattan, Blue Bay Bistro, top floor private room. Half an hour from now."

After finishing that sentence, the call immediately disconnected.

Roman spoke at once. "This is too fake. Usually she can't wait to cling to you, but today she's suddenly afraid of phone taps, won't say anything, just wants you to come—clearly something's wrong."