Chapter 36
That night, Kingsley finished a lengthy business dinner. Instead of returning home, he drove straight to his usual private club.
Soon after the private room door closed, Thurston entered and walked straight into a wall of thick smoke. With a frown, he stumbled back to the door.
Leaning against the doorframe, he looked askance at the man on the sofa. “Are you trying to smoke yourself to death in here p>
Kingsley held a cigarette between his fingers. He glanced up at Thurston
indifferently, his tone carrying a hint of lazy mockery. “It’s rare that Jane actually let you out p>
“If I want to go out, who can stop me?” Thurston waved away the smoke with disgust. Seeing Kingsley wasn’t lighting another, he finally walked into the room and sat down beside him.
Glancing at the ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts, he raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong? Is the Sherwood Group going bankrupt p>
“If the Sherwood Group really went bankrupt, your Fletcher Group wouldn’t necessarily remain unscathed.” Kingsley flicked the ash and tossed a cigar over to him.
Thurston caught it, twirling the cigar in his fingers. His tone was full of sarcasm. “If The Fletcher Group goes down, I’ll just go home and take care of my little girl. Someone will still support me. What about you? You’d probably be standing on the street corner drinking the north wind, waiting with your mouth open p>
“You’re noisy,” Kingsley snapped coldly, annoyed by his chatter. “If you aren’t drinking, get out p>
Thurston didn’t get angry. He picked up the red wine on the table, poured himself a glass, and swirled it. “Since we can’t play nicely together, I probably can’t drink with you later anyway. Go find Ethan p>
Kingsley held his wine glass, swirling it gently.. The corner of his mouth hooked into a cold sneer. “Why not just admit Jane keeps you on a tight leash and won’t let you out? Thurston, you’re done for in this life p>
Finishing his sentence, he took a sip of wine and looked at him steadily.
Thurston met his gaze, his tone frank. “What do you know? I enjoy it. By the way,
that land in Eastborough… can the Sherwood Group swallow it whole p>
“Why? Does The Fletcher Group want a piece?” Kingsley asked leisurely, but then his tone shifted sharply Pay back the money your wife cheated me out of first or no deal p>
“Money’s so crude, it spoils the mood,” Thurston chuckled, tapping his glass to Kingsley’s. “And really, is that tiny amount even a concern for a man of your means
“Yes.” Kingsley smiled and drained his glass.
Thurston looked at his cold, detached demeanor, and the inexplicable guilt he had felt earlier vanished instantly-Kingsley didn’t deserve to know about his son.
He put down his glass and suggested casually, “Fine, I’ll invest first. When the dividends come in later, you can deduct that money from my share p>
Kingsley glanced at him as if looking at an idiot and spat out one word: “Scram p>
With that, he picked up his lighter, stood up, and walked straight out of the private room, giving Thurston no chance to say another word.
Switzerland.
The midday sun streamed through the office building’s glass, landing on Lucy’s heels as she walked.
Just out of a morning of meetings, she headed straight for Jules Holt’s office and tapped lightly on the door.
A deep, pleasant male voice came from inside: “Come in p>
Lucy pushed the door open, slammed the file in her hand onto the corner of the desk with a “thud”, and spoke with obvious displeasure, what do you mean? thave a child. 1 can’t go on business trips.
Behind the desk, Jules wore a white shirt with sleeves rolled up to his forearms. He
looked up at her, amusement in his eyes.