CHAPTER 524: I MUST’VE MISHEARD YOU (2)

Carmichaels laughed at Brad’s response and walked out, brushing past the incoming group. It wasn’t the first time, Carmichaels had broached his daughter to Brad. He frankly thought that they would be great together, but Brad was having none of it.

Carmichaels stepped out of the building, his hands tucked behind his back, deep in thought. His face bore a pleased expression, laced with a hint of curiosity and pride.

"I wonder which woman managed to turn that boy around so quickly," he muttered to himself, chuckling softly. "That carefree, woman-chasing attitude of his never sat right with me... but now?

Now he carries himself like a man with purpose. A good boy, finally. Whoever she is, I thank her. She’s done what none of us could—and truth be told, I wouldn’t mind having him as a son-in-law. Since he doesn’t seem interested in whoever this angel is, I think it’s -"

He paused, then shook his head, "Nooo, that can’t be! Anyway, thank whoever this person is..."

Carmichael smiled to himself as he descended the steps slowly, nodding to a few staff who passed by. He preferred using the stairs to the elevator when he could to keep fit, though most of his colleagues thought him stupid for doing that.

Lost in his amusing thoughts, something flickered in his peripheral vision. He paused.

A moving digital screen on the building across the street came to life—a breaking news segment. He stopped and narrowed his eyes as he turned to get a better look.

And there they were.

Two familiar faces, as clear as with a 4k resolution, but unmistakable. Alive. Safe. Together.

He froze, stunned. A little shiver ran through him at the thought of the last time he had met Ian in the hospital... that brief, scary aura had a way of staying with him, but Carmichaels knew deep down that Ian meant him no harm.

Then his eyes softened, and he whispered, "Thank God... thank God they’re okay."

His smile returned, broader this time, touched with awe and a hint of relief.

"Now I really need to meet this girl," he said, before continuing down the street, his steps lighter than they had been in years.

***

"How did they even know where I am?" Brad asked yet again, but his assistant kept quiet, knowing that the question did not demand an answer from him.

Carmichaels was barely out the door when those grand double doors creaked open even wider again, and in walked five striking figures of whom Brad knew very well.

The first to enter were two elderly women, though ’elderly’ hardly seemed the right word for these two. They were dressed in elegant, high-end fashion, every detail of their attire immaculately tailored and dripping with quiet power. Their poise was regal, their beauty timeless, the kind that didn’t fade with age but instead matured like fine wine.

From their subtle perfumes to the glint of carefully chosen jewellery, everything about them screamed old money, old power, and refined ruthlessness. The two were Sally and Molly, Brad’s two aunts. He had no idea why those two were there, but Brad knew that it would not be good news.

Ian had been ill for weeks and then disappeared, but these two ’graceful’ aunts had never made an appearance, so what would have brought them here on this day?

Brad crossed his legs and his arms, narrowing his eyes slightly while he waited for whatever they wanted. Brad knew that they did not like Shelby, so he had no inclination or even complaints as to why the so famous news of her disappearance seemed to have missed that household, but he was not one to forgive them for their nephew... no matter what was reported in the news, nor any stupid rumours.

Behind the two, followed three young men, each equally polished in appearance. Suits crisp, shoes gleaming, their grooming rivalled that of royalty. They moved like they knew they belonged in such halls—until they opened their mouths.

"Do you think there’s food here? I forgot to eat again."

"You only think of food! Stupid! Why are we here? I want to sleep!"

"Was this the place we were supposed to look serious or funny?" the third echoed, and though Brad wanted to remain solemn, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

’No wonder Ian called them, Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest!’

That aside, the effect of their words was immediate. The illusion of sophistication was shattered with each clueless remark. The aura they wore like borrowed coats began to unravel at the seams.

One aide in the corner of the room, who was clearing some of the empty water bottles used by the executives, stifled a laugh. Brad’s assistant muttered under his breath, "And they say the Dumb brothers are just a nickname..."

But even through the snickering and sidelong glances, the two elegant old women walked on unfazed, silent storms in heels, like they were used to this embarrassment. One would wonder if they were even embarrassed. As they had long accepted, grace might have skipped a generation with these three.

Brad did not bother to get up as was usual when elders entered a room, for he did not consider these two as elders. They obviously grew old without their mind, so of what use would they be as anyone’s elder when they themselves needed to be hand-fed.

Without any courtesy, he asked,

"Why are you looking for me? What is so urgent that you have to chase me out of my only day out taking care of business?"

"Is this how you treat your elders?!"

"Pftt! Elders, my arse!" Brad muttered.

Sally, the ever impatient one, sat down and started talking without premise.

"You should be the new CEO of the Thornston Industries! You should take over from your dad!," she declared, her voice dripping with righteous fury.

Brad, not even angry at the utterance, smiled and asked,

"... and why would I do that?"

"That bastard, Ian, is only your half-brother! HALF! I knew that woman was a slut from the beginning!"

"Be careful how you talk about my mother!" Brad’s voice dropped an octave, and he glared at them.

This time, even Molly nodded... a little too fervently, stepping closer as though to comfort him, but her words were anything but gentle. It was as if they had not heard of Brad’s warning.

"Can you imagine? Geneva, who was portrayed as chaste, slept with someone before marriage. She cockloaded your father! That child—Ian—isn’t even truly one of us! This is worse than any news I have ever heard! A Thornston, who is not really a Thornston?!

Our family’s business has all this while being handled by an outsider?! This is the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard! I knew Geneva was bad news from the day she first stepped into this family. That’s why I never liked her!"

Her hands, adorned with rings heavy enough to bruise, grasped Brad’s arm. "I’m so sorry you’ve been lied to your whole life. But we’re here now. We’ll help you. We’ll set things right. You deserve your rightful place. You deserve justice."

It was as if they were helping him out, but Brad knew best.

For a moment, Brad simply looked at them. There was no response.

Just a long, lingering stare. It was as if the room had frozen in that breath, making even the dumb three tense.

His gaze moved from one woman to the other, then down to where her hand clutched his sleeve. Slowly, he peeled it away. There was no anger in the gesture, nor was there any gratitude—just... silence.

Then, a faint expression flickered across his face.

It was unclear whether it was due to confusion, disbelief, or disappointment.

’So, they finally showed their faces. I thought they would never come out. Funny that they are trying the direct attack now after failing miserably in the background.’

Brad had not even gone after them because he thought that their games were childish, but they brought themselves to his doorstep? If he hadn’t already seen the shadowy hands pulling strings behind the curtain, he would have applauded their ’concern’.

But now these two overdressed relics with sharp words and foolish sons thought they could cut straight to him.

So desperate, they tried the direct approach, not bothering to hide behind others anymore?

He nearly scoffed. ’Do they really think I’m unaware? Who do they believe held the company together when Ian vanished? When the board shook and vultures circled for a bloodless coup?’

He clenched his jaw slightly. ’Who thwarted their takeover plan? Me. And yet they stand here now, spewing bile about my mother, dangling the carrot of "justice" like I am some brainless pawn. Idiots!

If they genuinely wanted me to be CEO, why did their sons come along? Why haven’t they renounced their possible claim, but rather are going around granting interviews?’

Brad mulled and answered his own question in his thoughts,

’Because they don’t want a new king!.... They want a puppet with my last name. And they just found the most probable cause!

His lip curled, just slightly. So naive. So utterly, laughably stupid.

’Let them squirm. Let them believe they were planting seeds. He’d let them dig their own graves with their schemes... or maybe not!’ Brad decided against that, while still looking at them with an unreadable gaze.

His smile broadened, as a final thought echoed, ’If they think that I am that clueless... they have no idea who they were really dealing with.

"I-"

He started.

*********

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