CHAPTER 334: NEW CHAIRMAN, NEW RULES

Augustine’s eyes swept over the directors seated around the table. "I hold the majority of shares in the Beaumont Group," he announced firmly. "That gives me the right to claim this position."

He handed a thick stack of documents to the director closest to him and instructed him to pass them around.

As the directors flipped through the papers, shock registered on their faces. They had just been demanding Gabriel’s resignation because of the recent scandals and were preparing to elect a new chairman through a board vote. But Augustine’s sudden arrival and undeniable claim had upended their plans.

Some accepted it readily, recognizing Augustine’s capability and his powerful ties with the Sphere Group. Others, who had secretly hoped to take Gabriel’s seat for themselves, were clearly displeased, though none dared to voice their protest.

Taking his place at the head of the table, Augustine leaned back in his seat, his gaze steady. "Any questions?" His tone carried a weight of authority that filled the room.

The directors exchanged uneasy glances but remained silent.

"Good," Augustine said coolly. "Then this meeting is over. Return to your work. I don’t want further chaos in this office. The old chairman is gone. New regulations will be introduced and published on the company portal soon."

One by one, the directors filed out of the room.

Gustave stepped into the conference room.

"What’s the update?" Augustine asked at once. "Is the autopsy report ready?"

Gustave shook his head. "Not yet. It’ll take a little more time. The police are still questioning Gabriel, but they can’t hold him much longer. His lawyer is already working to get him released."

Augustine’s expression stayed composed. "That’s fine. Let him walk out for now. He won’t remain free for long. We already have solid evidence linking him to my parents’ murder. That alone is enough to lock him up. Once Jeanne’s autopsy confirms the rest, his fate is sealed. Public opinion is already tearing him apart. There is no escape for him this time."

His demeanor carried unshakable certainty. A sense of satisfaction filled his chest as he thought the long-awaited justice was finally going to be served.

"And Denis?" he asked next.

"He woke up this morning," Gustave reported. "The doctors are monitoring him. He should be discharged in a few days. I spoke with Haris and told him not to reveal anything about his mother for now. He agreed to handle it. But..."

Gustave hesitated before continuing, "I worry Denis might misunderstand you and direct his anger at you. Maybe you should visit him and clear things up."

Concern was etched in his voice, but Augustine remained unruffled, as though he had already decided how to face Denis. For now, there were more urgent matters demanding his attention.

Instead of addressing Gustave’s worry, he stood up. "Let’s go and check the work. We have so much to do."

He walked out of the conference hall, Gustave following him.

At the hospital...

Once the final round of tests was over, Denis was wheeled back into his room. Every muscle in his body ached as he pushed himself out of the wheelchair and eased onto the bed with the nurse’s assistance.

When the nurse left, silence settled. Denis turned his head toward Haris, who stood nearby. "How is the investigation going?" he asked cautiously. "Did the police find out anything about Mom?"

Haris’s stomach tightened. He couldn’t bring himself to tell Denis the truth about Jeanne yet, afraid it would only make him more restless.

Many things had happened. Gabriel had been taken away for questioning, and Augustine had suddenly stepped in to seize control of the company as chairman.

Haris wasn’t sure if what was unfolding was right or wrong, but at least one thing gave him some relief—Augustine had managed to suppress the case against Denis. With the board’s focus now locked on Gabriel, Denis would have some time to clear his name and reclaim his position.

Still, Haris carried doubts about Augustine. But for now, until Denis recovered fully and regained his strength, he had no choice but to stay silent.

"They are still looking for her," he finally said, avoiding meeting his gaze. "The chairman has been taken to the station for questioning."

Denis’s face hardened, a coldness settling in his expression. Deep down, he couldn’t help but suspect his father. Ever since Tania came into the picture, Gabriel had turned his back on his own family, disregarding even his wife. Denis still struggled to believe his father could be so blinded by a woman like her.

He shook his head bitterly. "I don’t understand what has happened to him. Sure, Mom and Dad often disagreed. Their fights could get ugly, and sometimes Mom would leave the house for a while. But she never shut me out. She always confided in me. This time... she kept quiet about Dad’s affair with Tania."

A pang of guilt weighed on him. "That night, the butler called, telling me to go see Mom. But I was caught up with work and didn’t pay much attention to his work. When I finally went, it was too late. She was missing."

Emotion constricted his chest. Ever since he had heard her phone had been found on the highway, a dark premonition had haunted him—that Jeanne wasn’t alive, that something terrible had happened.

"I should have gone sooner," he said regretfully. "Maybe I could’ve stopped her from leaving. Maybe I could’ve saved her."

Despite everything, he refused to believe his father was capable of killing Jeanne. In his mind, it had to be an accident—something Tania had a hand in.

Fury flashed in his eyes as he thought of her. "That woman ruined my parents’ marriage," he growled through clenched teeth. "She poisoned Dad against Mom. I’m certain she is the one behind Mom’s disappearance."

Haris stayed quiet. The autopsy would reveal the truth soon enough about what caused Jeanne’s death and maybe even point to her killer.

"Don’t overthink," he said cautiously. "The police will find answers. For now, why don’t you rest? I’ll get you something to eat."

He turned to leave, but Denis’s voice from behind stopped him.

"You were going to tell me something," Denis remembered how urgent Haris had sounded over the phone. "Is everything okay at the office?"

He assumed chaos must have broken out since the chairman had been taken by the police.

Haris turned back slowly, hesitating whether to tell him or not. But then he thought Denis deserved to know this. After all, it was related to his reputation.

"Things aren’t good. Sensitive information has been leaked to rival firms. The chairman pinned the blame on you and even filed charges, accusing you of embezzling company funds. The directors are furious. They want you to resign."

"What are you even saying?" Denis blurted out in disbelief. "I never leaked anything. And stealing funds—that’s impossible. How could Dad accuse me of something so outrageous?"

He struggled to take it in, but his shock quickly morphed into anger. "It’s her. That woman twisted his mind. Now he sees me as an enemy."

Denis scrunched up his face, fury surging. "She drove Mom out of the house, put her in danger, and that wasn’t enough. She has turned my father against me. I can’t believe Dad is spreading lies and trying to force me out of the company. What’s wrong with him? Has he trusted her so blindly that he has forgotten his wife and son? What kind of spell has Tania cast on him?"

Haris worried that Denis’s anger would only make his condition worse. "Everything is under control now," he said in a steady, reassuring voice. "With the latest developments, the directors have shifted their focus to the chairman. The board has lost confidence in him. They don’t have time to think about anything else. Once you recover, you can clear your name and reclaim your position."

Still, he held back from mentioning that Augustine had already taken over the company.

"For now, you should concentrate on getting better," Haris added. "I’ll go get your meal." With that, he stepped out.

Left alone, Denis lay back on the bed, his thoughts restless. "Why, Dad? Why are you turning against your own family? Is Tania really worth all this?"

A shadow of sadness passed over his face.

~~~~~~~~

Gabriel’s lawyer finally secured his release from the police station. Since the autopsy report didn’t directly link him to Jeanne’s death, the authorities had no grounds to hold him any longer.

Gabriel felt triumphant. He had already anticipated that Denis would eventually discover Jeanne’s body, so he had prepared in advance. Using his wealth and influence, he bribed the doctor and ensured the report was altered. That was why he had remained confident during the interrogation, boldly denying any role in Jeanne’s disappearance.

But his satisfaction evaporated the moment his assistant delivered the news—Augustine had seized control of the Beaumont Group and been declared the new chairman while Gabriel was stuck in police custody for two days.

"That bastard," Gabriel spat. "How dare he? The Beaumont Group isn’t his inheritance to just walk in and claim. As long as I live, I won’t let him take it from me. Let’s go."

He stormed toward his car.

"Sir, please wait," his assistant rushed to stop him. "You can’t go there. Augustine has issued orders barring you from entering the company premises."

"What rubbish?" Gabriel roared, his rage boiling over. "That company is mine—my father’s legacy. Who does he think he is to stop me from setting foot on my own property? I’ll put him in his place today."

Gabriel jumped into the car and sped off, not even giving the assistant a chance to get in.