Chapter 825 Every time Agnes returned to the Whitfield Manor, it felt like a gauntlet.
But ever since Nocturne came into the picture, her position seemed to have taken a turn for the better..
Tim put on a show of not accepting Nocturne, but Agnes could tell, Tim had a soft spot for Nocturne. Heâd always find some excuse to sneak a glance Alyssa genuinely adored Nocturne, and it was clear that Nocturne also genuinely enjoyed her company.
What Agnes hadnât expected was for Ryder to show up that day.
Ryderâs car pulled into the Whitfield Manorâs driveway almost in sync with Jaredâs.
They got out of their cars and bumped into each other.
Agnes felt a wave of awkwardness wash over her. Her mind was haunted by the image of her, as Ramona described, drunkenly trying to strip Ryder the night before.
She had no clue how to face him now.
Ryder, clad in a sleek black trench coat, merely glanced her way. He didnât bother greeting them and headed straight inside.
Agnes and Jared followed suit.
Tim and Alyssa were already in the dining room.
The table was set with a lavish dinner spread, but Timâs face was stormy. Upon seeing the group at the doorway, he said in a deep voice, âCome in, sit down.â
They all took their seats, and Agnes strategically placed Nocturne next to Tim.
He looked at Nocturne, and his expression seemed to soften a bit.
During dinner, Tim addressed Ryder, âI told you to go into business, but you insisted on medicine. Now, when youâre doing well in your medical career, you switch to business. I donât oppose you taking over the Thomas familyâs legacy After all, you have their blood. But Ryder, never forget that youâre a Whitfield too. You grew up here, in the Whitfield family. Whatâs this about you siding with the Thomas family against the Tim Group?â Ryderâs face didnât show much change as he replied, âGrandpa, are you talking about the Harmony Hollow project?â
Although Tim had long stopped meddling in the Tim Groupâs affairs, the Thomas Group snatching the Harmony Hollow property from the Tim Group was public knowledge, splashed across newspapers and media.
Tim was, of course, aware.
He scoffed. âYou know what Iâm talking about.â
Ryder said, âGrandfather, thereâs not much for me to say. Uncle told me when I was younger that the business world is a battlefield and deception is part of the game. I just won this battle, thatâs all.â
âIf your uncle hadnât stepped aside for you, do you think you could have outsmarted him? Your little schemes are crystal clear to me if you really want to beat your uncle, youâll need at least another ten years of practice.â
Ryder suddenly put down his fork, retorting, âGrandpa, youâve always been biased. I never understood why Is Uncle a genius and Iâm just a dunce? Why do you all think Iâm inferior to him? I donât need Uncle to be easy on me, and I wonât be either Iâll do what I want to do, even if it means hurting Uncleâs interests.â
Tim, also infuriated, retorted, âYou always say Iâm biased. How have I ever been biased? Havenât i treated you well all your life? If I were truly biased, would I have let you become a doctor? I let you pursue what you loved, while your uncle slaved away for the company. You call that biased? Do you have any idea your uncle had his own dreams when he was a student, just like you?â
Ryder replied, âGrandpa, if youâre talking about fairness, then I want half of the shares in the Tim Groupâ