Chapter 439
Though he addressed Calvin and Laura, his glaring, suspicious eyes were locked dead on Davina.
He hadn’t contacted Calvin once, let alone given him the address. Davina was undoubtedly the leak.
Davina squirmed under his gaze. “Barnard, I’m sorry. I bumped into Mom while I was out shopping, and she insisted on coming back to see the place. I figured they’re family, and we haven’t seen them in so long… We should spend the holidays together, so I brought them back p>
“You’re really good at making decisions for me,” Barnard sneered, making Davina’s face flush hot with embarrassment. She muttered defensively, “I was doing it for you! They’re your parents. It’s not like they even like me. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have bothered entertaining them p>
Feeling wronged, she didn’t care that Calvin and Laura were sitting right there. Her unfiltered complaint made both of their expressions sour instantly.
But Calvin’s anger ultimately landed squarely on his son. “I’m your father! Is it a crime for me to come see you? What kind of attitude is that p>
“Oh, so now you want to see me?” Barnard scoffed. “Weren’t you avoiding me the second you got to Valdoria p>
“Barnard, how can you talk to your father like that? Even if we kept our distance back then, it was for your own good!
“You’re our son, no matter what. Of course we care about you. Shutting us out like this breaks our hearts!” Laura cried, her eyes turning red.
Barnard was already on edge from Clement’s impossible deadline. He had absolutely zero patience for Laura’s tears. “Well, you’ve seen me. Can you leave now p>
“Barnard… how could you Laura sobbed. Calvin cut her off, demanding, “What exactly have you been up to lately p>
Barnard’s tone remained venomous. “You threw me aside like a burden. Am I not allowed to get a job and make a living?
“Mom, Dad, the Carter Group is gone. Me trying to build a nest egg is perfectly justified. You don’t need to come all the way here to lecture me p>
“Are you working for the Williams Group?” Calvin pressed.
“What if I am?” Barnard retorted.
“What if you are? Do you have any idea what the Williams Group actually does? How could you get mixed up with them?
“Barnard, we’re only in Valdoria temporarily. Cabinda is our real home. We’re going back eventually.
“Tell me right now—what exactly are you doing for them? You haven’t done anything illegal, have you p>
Calvin wasn’t screaming and belittling him the way he used to. There was a trembling edge of desperation in his voice, his eyes practically begging for reassurance.
He had planned this out carefully. They had fled to Valdoria because Cabinda was too hot for them right now. At their age, he and Laura could afford to get their hands dirty. But Barnard was young. They fully intended to find a way to clear his name and send him back.
But if Barnard crossed the legal line here, returning home would mean throwing himself right into prison.
That was Calvin’s worst nightmare.
But then the rumors resurfaced in his mind—the whispers that Barnard was now Clement’s favorite lapdog. That sliver of hope disintegrated.
Barnard stayed dead silent, refusing to answer.
That silence was an answer in itself. “You did it?” Calvin asked, horrified. “What did you do? Is there blood on your hands p>
His blunt question earned him an amused, highly cynical stare from his son.
With just that one look, Calvin understood perfectly. He reached out and violently grabbed Barnard by the collar. “Barnard! Are you out of your mind?! There are some lines you don’t cross! Don’t you know that?
“Didn’t I tell you to just stay quietly in the hospital and recover? How could you… how could you p>
Calvin choked on his words.
When Barnard was discharged, he had explicitly told the hospital to keep it a secret.
Calvin had only found out his son joined the Williams Group after hearing rumors about their rising new star.
The person Calvin had sought refuge with was also one of Mike’s men, someone who casually brushed shoulders with Clement.
Calvin knew exactly what kind of filthy business Clement ran.
Knowing his son worked under a man like that, he knew it was impossible for Barnard to stay clean, yet he had desperately held on to hope.
Calvin shook him so hard the wheelchair threatened to tip over.
Though Laura stared at Barnard with heartbroken eyes, she didn’t try to stop Calvin. She just sobbed harder.
Davina, entirely oblivious to the gravity of the situation, scoffed. “Dad, why are you yelling at him? He just joined a pharmaceutical company!
“And he’s doing amazing! Look at this gorgeous house! He’s only been there a couple of days, and the boss already gave us this place and a luxury car!
“With how smart he is, it’s only a matter of time before we’re making millions of dollars again. Dad, shouldn’t you be proud of him? And Mom, why are you crying? This is fantastic news p>