Chapter 247
Lisette Cavendish smirked. “Only two days in and they’ve already turned on each other. Guess the real drama’s just getting started. But p>
She sighed a bit. “Too bad the surveillance only shows video, no sound. If we could actually hear what they’re saying, that’d be perfect p>
Just as the regret surfaced, Tobias Hastings turned to Elliot Jameson. “Fill Lissy in on the audio p>
Lisette blinked. “Huh p>
Tobias added calmly, “He’s got a black belt in lip reading p>
Lisette stared at Elliot in amazement. “Damn, Elliot, didn’t expect you to be this talented p>
Elliot scratched his head shyly. “Heh, thanks, Mrs. Hastings p>
He shot a glance at Tobias and muttered to himself, “If I didn’t pick up all kinds of random skills, I’d have been fired ages ago. This isn’t talent, it’s survival p>
While thinking that, he rewound the footage and zoomed in, sitting up straighter to show off his lip-reading chops.
“Mom, people have been mocking me nonstop these past couple days ‘cause I’m not wearing a watch. And my phone’s so old it barely works anymore… Everyone’s laughing at me. How am I supposed to look like a real boss in the future? Now I’ve got all this embarrassing junk on record Kevin Walker ranted for a good while before the whole Walker family started bickering again.
“You guys know damn well who you are. Do you seriously think you’re Lisette Cavendish’s real parents and brother? That you’re really part of the richest family out there p>
“You don’t care about money and status, but do you really want little Bao to live a pointless life forever p>
“Mom, relax. For Bao’s sake, even if it costs me my life, I’ll keep this secret to the grave p>
“Kev, grab some extra cash when you come back tomorrow, alright? I got my eye on two watches p>
After Elliot Jameson repeated their entire conversation word for word to Lisette Cavendish, her face darkened. She nearly burst a vein. “I knew they were fakes, but actually hearing them say that crap out loud? So gross p>
“For their own damn benefit, they stole my parents’ identities and toyed with my feelings like it was no big deal p>
“And they’re not the least bit ashamed. No guilt, just full of themselves? Really p>
“Pfft p>
“Two million? I don’t mind using every last cent of it to bury them p>
The disgust Lisette felt was written all over her face. “I used to give them some benefit of the doubt, thinking maybe they were extended relatives of my birth parents… but now She stood her ground and said firmly, “Even if they really were my relatives, I wouldn’t let this slide p>
Her voice carried a frosty edge.
Those people had the audacity to use her long-lost birth parents for personal gain—that alone, unforgivable.
Tobias Hastings had only seen her this angry once before.
That time, it was because of Maverick Ramsey.
Clearly, these people had really hit her bottom line.
Tobias held her hand tightly and reassured her, “Lissy, no matter what you decide, I’ve got your back. The trap’s already set, now we just wait for the fish to bite. Don’t waste your energy getting mad at garbage like them p>
Lisette Cavendish met his eyes with a calm but resolute gaze. “Yeah p>
The air between them was practically glowing with tenderness.
Then suddenly—
“Damn it p>
Elliot Jameson cursed loudly.
He’d just finished recounting everything, practically fuming.
“Ugh,” he spat twice, then offered, “Mrs. Hastings, want me to send someone to rough ’em up a bit? Let you vent some of that anger p>
“No need p>
Lisette cast a glance at the video, where the whole Walker family looked smug over their plan to embezzle funds. Her lips curled into a chilly smile. “Good setup p>
“That office is like a breeding ground for Kevin Walker’s greed. Once he slips up, we’ll catch them all in one go p>
“No need to dirty our hands for the likes of them.”All of this had been set up in advance by Tobias Hastings.
He’d dangled the high life in front of the Walker family, made them taste luxury, but always found excuses not to give them actual cash. Then he had Kevin Walker put in as Deputy CFO of the regional branch—a position where a tiny slip could bring in big money. It was only a matter of time before he gave in to temptation.
To make sure, Elliot Jameson even had folks in finance deliberately egg him on.
There was no doubt—he’d take the bait.
Once he messed with company money, they’d have solid proof. That would give them total control. The only unexpected thing was her receiving that plea from the Walkers halfway through, making her swipe that card at Vee.
This family was just too greedy. And Kevin shouldn’t be the only one to pay the price.
Everyone involved needed to suffer the consequences of their selfishness.
She’d spent six hundred fifty grand at Vee—there were receipts, surveillance footage, and audio to back it up. It was all for what she believed were her birth parents, plus her supposed brother and sister-in-law. If it ever came out that the Walkers weren’t even her family p>
Ha!
That’d be full-on fraud.
With the evidence in hand, there was no reason for her to keep dealing with these disgusting people. The second she got in the elevator, she blocked all calls from anyone outside her contacts, then happily followed Tobias to Port City for a well-deserved getaway.”Yes, ma’am p>
Elliot gave a slight bow, his gaze lingering thoughtfully on Lisette Cavendish.
Lisette raised a hand to her cheek. “What? Something on my face p>
Elliot cleared his throat. “Ma’am, you really surprised me p>
She raised an eyebrow. “Yeah p>
He nodded. “When you first married the boss, I honestly thought you were just another pampered heiress—kinda spoiled, a bit willful p>
“But after everything that’s happened lately, watching how you’ve been handling things… You’re sharp. Calm when you need to be, ruthless when you have to. Always know how to create and seize the moment. You’ve made your opponents suffer without even breaking a sweat p>
“I’ve gotta admit—I completely underestimated you p>
“With your brains and guts, even without the boss backing you, you’d still be a force to be reckoned with p>
Elliot’s tone was sincere, no trace of flattery.
Lisette smiled, clearly pleased. “Elliot, your low-key flattery skills are seriously next level now p>
“Ahem p>
Elliot shot her a sidelong glance. “I wasn’t flattering. That was just the truth p>
Lisette chuckled. “Exactly. That’s why I said ‘low-key p>
Elliot: You’re basically the favorite of our boss. Whatever you say, it’s all right p>
After flattering the boss’s wife, he didn’t forget to butter up his actual boss too. “Boss saw it all coming. He knew they’d shut up just to chase fame and fortune later, so he set the whole thing up to catch them red-handed p>
“Yeah, ’cause if we’d forced them to talk back then, we might’ve scared them off and lost the lead entirely p>
Lisette Cavendish grinned proudly. “Of course! My husband’s brainy like that p>
Elliot Jameson twitched his lips. “Ma’am, I complimented you earlier and got zero reaction. But now I’m seriously starting to think you and the boss are secretly throwing PDA bombs at us p>
Lisette laughed. “Wrong! This isn’t secret—I’m showing off on purpose p>
Elliot: p>
Tobias Hastings gently took her hand and kissed it. After showing a bit of sweet affection, he asked, “I booked us a table at the revolving restaurant. Think I have the honor of taking the gorgeous Mrs. Hastings out for dinner p>