Chapter 125: It Looks Like Abandoning The Shaw Group
Alvin Lancaster subconsciously shook his head. ’There’s no way he could produce it.’
million in cash flow wasn’t a small sum. Rich people weren’t stupid; they wouldn’t just let that kind of money sit idly in an account.
Besides, from the way Pauline Shaw described it, this was her dad’s personal slush fund, and Yara Yates knew nothing about it.
That made it even more impossible. How could such a huge sum of money be unaccounted for without his spouse having any idea?
He had been so busy being happy for Pauline Shaw that he hadn’t considered this point at all.
’So, is this why my sister suspected something was wrong earlier? Her mind works way too fast.’
Jane Lancaster glanced at Beverly Lynch, a little surprised.
’As expected of sworn enemies. They know each other inside and out. She even immediately looked up the shareholder changes for Zenith.’
’No wonder Pauline Shaw has never won an argument against her in all these years and always has to drag me in to help.’
’This is simple. Either Auntie Yates was in on it, or Mr. Shaw had been planning to acquire this company for a long time.’
Pauline Shaw took a deep breath. She knew she could be a bit dense, but did they have to mock her for it?
"Couldn’t my dad have been planning to acquire this company as a gift for me all along?"
For some reason, Beverly Lynch’s tone softened, losing much of its previous hostility. "Of course he could! But didn’t you say you got into this company all on your own?"
Pauline Shaw: "..."
She stared directly at Beverly Lynch, and for a moment, she had the intense urge to rip her mouth right off her face.
Beverly Lynch said, "What are you staring at me for? Oh, by the way, my dad says your dad has a terrible eye for investments, not nearly as good as your mom."
Pauline Shaw was about to explode. "What exactly are you trying to say?" she said coldly.
Beverly Lynch replied, "I’m just giving you a friendly reminder not to be an idiot. Zenith and The Shaw Group are direct competitors. Their business overlap is huge. A lot of The Shaw Group’s former clients have been snatched up by Zenith. What’s your dad’s angle in acquiring Zenith? To have you go head-to-head with your mother?"
"That’s just too weird. The Shaw Group isn’t some hundred-billion-dollar conglomerate that can afford to take such a hit. For your dad to do this... it really seems like he’s abandoning The Shaw Group."
Jane Lancaster nearly choked on her wine. She was genuinely shocked.
’Beverly Lynch is way too sharp, isn’t she? It seems Mr. Lynch really did teach her well. She’s not just about spending money and being bossy.’
Pauline Shaw felt like she was about to have a breakdown. ’Even Jane Lancaster agrees with Beverly Lynch’s nonsense!’
"Why would my dad do that? The Shaw Group belongs to the Shaws!"
’Not necessarily.’
Beverly Lynch glanced at Jane Lancaster, pondering seriously. "The Shaw Group may be named Shaw, but the one who really holds the power right now is your mother. There used to be a rumor that your dad joked about being a figurehead CEO, that The Shaw Group had belonged to the Yates family for a long time. Your dad denied it as slander back then, but I think it might be true..."
"In that case, his takeover of Zenith really is to go against your mother!"
’Bingo. She guessed it. Mr. Shaw has been scheming for years, but he’s never gotten anywhere because he lost everyone’s support. Since he can’t have the company, he’d rather destroy it.’
Pauline Shaw grew agitated. "You’re lying! I’m his only daughter! What good would it do him to bankrupt The Shaw Group?"
She yelled so loudly that many of the people nearby turned to look.
Pauline Shaw took a few seconds to compose herself, then stared intently at Beverly Lynch. "Tell me. Why would he do that?"
Beverly Lynch glanced at Jane Lancaster but said nothing.
’I’ve figured it out,’ she thought, ’but I don’t know if I should say it.’
’Jane Lancaster has obviously figured it all out, too, but she’s not saying anything. Is she trying to protect Pauline Shaw?’
"Why are you looking at her? Aren’t you supposed to be so blunt? Spit it out!" Pauline Shaw pressed her.
Willow Summers couldn’t hold back any longer. "What other reason could there be? What if you’re not his only daughter?"
Such things were all too common in their circle; there was no end to the scandals of the wealthy. Many men maintained a public persona of a loving husband and doting father to keep shareholders and investors confident, while in reality, their private lives were a mess, with a whole string of mistresses on the side.
Willow Summers was dead set on marrying into a wealthy family, but sometimes she felt conflicted. ’Better not to get married at all than to end up in a situation like that.’
’But she loved money more, so marrying rich was still the goal. She just had to find a wealthy family with a clean reputation.’
The reason she’d originally cozied up to Beverly Lynch wasn’t just because Beverly was straightforward and generous to her friends, but more importantly, because of her family.
Zachary Lynch never put on a "devoted husband" act for the public, but he was genuinely a family man. He always went home early after work so his wife and daughter wouldn’t have to wait. On the rare occasion he got home early, he would even cook for them himself.
If she hadn’t stayed with the Lynch family for a while and eaten many of his meals, she never would have known Zachary Lynch was such a gourmand.
But he never bragged about cooking for his family to anyone outside.
He wasn’t like some men who would do one small thing and blow it up into a grand gesture, making sure the whole world knew about it.
’Love isn’t what you say, it’s what you do. You can’t just listen to a person’s words; you have to watch their actions, and more importantly, follow their money.’
’People might criticize her for being a gold digger, but at least her method could weed out 90% of the scumbags.’
"Of course, I’m just guessing. I could be totally wrong," Willow Summers added after a moment’s thought.
"If you’re just guessing, then don’t say anything at all," Jane Lancaster said, cutting the conversation short.
’What if Pauline Shaw actually investigates her dad? No. I can’t let that happen!’
Pauline Shaw was so furious her chest ached. She instinctively turned her head and glared at Jane Lancaster.
A suspicion flared in her mind. ’Was Jane Lancaster using Willow Summers to guide Beverly Lynch toward this line of thinking, all to humiliate me in public?’
’Even if her dad hadn’t done anything, once the seed of doubt was planted, a rift would inevitably form in their relationship.’
’Even if she didn’t succeed, what did Jane Lancaster have to lose by stirring up trouble?’
Alvin Lancaster grabbed Pauline Shaw’s arm. "Pauline, calm down. Don’t jump to conclusions."
For some reason, he had a strange feeling that Willow Summers’s guess was correct.
’As crazy as the speculation was.’
’But it was the only thing that made all of his actions and motives make sense.’
’What he found even more terrifying was the question of Pauline Shaw’s role in all this, if Mr. Shaw had indeed been scheming.’
’Leaking corporate secrets... It would be so easy to frame the whole thing as the love-struck daughter bankrupting the company, while the real mastermind gets away scot-free.’
’No wonder his sister’s inner voice had called Mr. Shaw a master manipulator from the start. He was even using his own daughter. Pauline Shaw was probably the knife aimed straight at Yara Yates.’
’And as for giving Zenith to Pauline Shaw... would he really keep that promise in the end? Probably not.’
——
In the restroom, Pauline Shaw splashed some water on her face and calmed down considerably.
She clenched her fists. After a moment’s thought, she sent a text to Caleb Lowell.
She didn’t know who to trust right now, so her cousin was her only option.
"Cousin, there’s something I need to ask you to look into for me. I’ll find you after the engagement party is over."
After sending the message, she looked at her reflection in the mirror, her expression growing resolute.
’I still don’t believe Dad could be that kind of person. It must be them. They just can’t stand to see anyone else happy.’
’Jane Lancaster, as soon as I prove my dad didn’t cheat and hasn’t been deceiving Mom and me, I’m going to shove the evidence right in your hypocritical face!’