Chapter 234

Chapter 234:

What an ungrateful person Madisyn was, Jeffry silently grumbled. But anxiety started creeping in as he prepared to meet Jared. Once they reached the top floor, they found the door to Jared’s office open, revealing a spacious room bathed in natural light.

As soon as Jeffry laid eyes on Jared, he quickly masked his unease with a flattering smile. “Mr. Cooper, it’s been a long time!”

Jared looked at him, his expression flat and unreadable. “Hello,” he greeted curtly before his eyes shifted toward Madisyn. Instantly, his demeanor softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Bo… Madisyn, please, have a seat.”

Madisyn gave a polite nod and gracefully settled onto the plush sofa, crossing her legs elegantly as she made herself comfortable.

Jeffry couldn’t quite figure out the nature of Madisyn’s relationship with Jared, but he pushed that thought aside. He had more urgent matters to focus on. “Mr. Cooper, we’ve brought some local specialties from Gemond for you. I hope you like them,” he said as Jenna handed over a gift box.

She flashed Jared a flirtatious look, playing with her hair, hoping to catch his interest. Jared was more handsome than she had expected, and a little interest from him could secure the future of the Chapman Group.

Jared glanced at the gift. “You brought a gift? I appreciate it, but I have everything I need. Perhaps you should take it back.” His polite refusal hinted at his disinterest in further cooperation.

Jeffry’s heart sank, but he maintained his smile. “To be honest, Mr. Cooper, we’re here today because we really need your help.”

“Go ahead,” Jared said calmly.

“Our Chapman Group is barely hanging on; we’re on the brink of collapse, Mr. Cooper,” Jeffry admitted, his voice tinged with desperation. “Given our history, could you lend us a hand?”

Beside him, Jenna looked at Jared with eyes full of hope—he was their last hope.

Jared paused, his eyes shifting to Madisyn, a move that unsettled both Jeffry and Jenna. After a tense moment, Jared finally responded, “Sorry, but we won’t be working together anymore.”

Jeffry’s legs almost gave out under him, but he steadied himself enough to ask, “Could you tell me why, Mr. Cooper? We had such a productive collaboration before. Why end it so abruptly?”

“You’re not a good fit,” Jared stated simply.

“What do you mean by that?” Jeffry pressed, seeking clarity.

Jared hesitated, looking thoughtful. Meanwhile, Jenna, unable to contain her frustration, blurted out, “Mr. Cooper, just be upfront—did Madisyn say something about us?”

Jared’s surprised look confirmed Jenna’s suspicions. “I knew it!” she exclaimed, her voice breaking. “It must be because of something she said that you canceled our deal, right? Madisyn was raised by my family. My parents treated her well, but now that she’s reconnected with her real family, she’s turned against us, pushing us toward bankruptcy. That’s just ungrateful!”

Tears streamed down Jenna’s cheeks, adding to her pitiful demeanor.

Jeffry’s expression darkened as he turned to Madisyn, his gaze sharp. “Mr. Cooper, please, did Madisyn influence your decision?”

Jared, who had been quietly contemplating his next words, suddenly adopted a chilling tone. “Yes, she did.”

Instantly enraged, Jeffry snapped at Madisyn, “Do you really despise the Chapman family so much? Are you intent on destroying us?”

“But she didn’t advise me to cancel the deal,” Jared interjected with an icy smile. “She told me to cooperate with you.”

This revelation left Jeffry and Jenna dumbfounded. Jeffry, struggling to comprehend, muttered, “What? What does that mean?”

How could Madisyn possibly dictate actions to Homelight Enterprise?

Jared clarified with a scornful laugh, “Did you really think I partnered with you for your skills? Honestly, you’re not competent at anything. If it weren’t for Madisyn’s covert support, the Chapman Group would have collapsed long ago, and you wouldn’t have reached your current stature.”

Jeffry was taken aback, his assumptions shattered. Jenna furrowed her brow and asked, “Mr. Cooper, why would you say this? Why did you listen to Madisyn?”

“Because she’s the actual owner of our company!” Jared declared emphatically.

The room went silent, the impact of his words sinking in. Madisyn owned Homelight Enterprise, a company that was many times more valuable than Chapman Group.

Seeing Jeffry’s and Jenna’s astonishment, Jared continued, “She founded the company years ago, and it has prospered ever since. When she noticed the Chapman Group floundering, she absorbed losses herself just to ensure our partnership. Thanks to her, you rose to prominence among Gemond’s elite. But the moment you found out she wasn’t blood-related to you, you discarded Madisyn ruthlessly. If not for your cruelty, I would have never severed our ties.”

Jeffry felt a wave of dizziness as he processed the bitter truth. He had always believed the Chapman family was Madisyn’s benefactor, but in reality, it was she who had sustained them all this time. Without her, the Chapman family would have collapsed long ago.

Now it all made sense—why so many of their business deals had fallen through, why their fortunes had started to decline after she left.

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