Chapter 128

In the study room.

Frederick had taken off his black suit and slung it over his arm, revealing a chunk of sturdy wheat–

coloured skin inside his white shirt, the first two buttons undone.

He was always indescribably handsome, especially at the moment, his divine face laden with a raw, aggressive edge.

Even in the presence of his own father, he didn’t tone down his distinctive traits.

Powell tapped his cane and sat down, voice stern, “Sit.”

Frederick strolled over, hands in his pockets, and slouched into the couch across from Powell, staying silent, not even willing to address him as “Dad“.

Powell sighed, disappointment flashing in his dark eyes as he looked at Frederick.

“You bring home a not–good–looking woman just to piss me off? I know you resent me for leaving you and your mother. But Maurice is innocent. Giving him half of the company’s shares was my decision, and it has nothing to do with him. I don’t want you two brothers hurting each other. Over the years, I’ve tried to balance between you two. I wanted to make up for what you lost back then, but I also couldn’t ignore him. That’s why I wanted you two to take turns running the company, supporting each other.”

Frederick didn’t listen to Powell’s good advice. He opened his eyes lazily and said outright.

“Take turns? Maurice never thought that way. What he wants is to take my place. I think you know that better than I do.”

Powell had no comeback. As their father, how could he not know Maurice’s intentions?

But what could he do?

The grudges between Frederick and Maurice had reached an irreconcilable point, and Powell could only try to mediate one and then the other.

Powell took a sip of his coffee, staying silent.

“Don’t forget, the Winston Group was a major aristocracy before I took over, but it wasn’t famous in the business world. You came to me, asking me to help the Winston Group out of its predicament.”

Frederick’s eyes were deep and intelligent, his words sharp, almost reminding that without him, the Winston Group wouldn’t have reached its present status.

At that time, the Winston Group was struggling, but Frederick was flourishing. He was willing to help out of love for his mother.

So, he proposed two conditions for the exchange.

First, let his mother return to the mansion.

Second, he wanted to control the Winston Group completely, and Maurice wouldn’t get anything.

Frederick took a deep breath and lit a cigarette in front of Powell.

“Now that the Group is doing well and unmatched, you want Maurice to take the credit? No way.”

Upon hearing this, Powell’s cane–holding hand trembled slightly.

He never expected that this seemingly calm kid had such awe–inspiring determination and power within.

At this moment, as a father, he had a tinge of fear for Frederick’s aggressive strategy.

He squinted, calming himself down, knowing he was at a disadvantage, he had to retreat.

“Frederick, your contribution to the Group is undeniable, but as the Group grows, so does our influence. That woman named Marguerite, she’s not pretty, and her background is unclear. In the Winston family, a woman’s past must be absolutely clean. Otherwise, any small thing can be blown out of proportion, which can affect the development of the Group. I know you have the ambition to expand the Winston Group, I am just worried that this woman might hinder your future.”

Frederick exhaled a puff of smoke and replied, “You’re overthinking. She’s not the woman you imagine.”

“Are you sure Marguerite is innocent?”

“I can’t predict if Marguerite will be my woman in the future, but at least for now, she is innocent.”

Powell was clearly angry, banging his cane on the floor.

“Do I not know you enough? Frederick, you’ve never brought a woman home. I know your thoughts.

There’s nothing going on between you two? That woman has no ulterior motives towards you? I’m worried you’ve been tricked.”

With the cigarette extinguished, Frederick looked at him and dropped a bombshell, “Marguerite won’t cheat on me, and we’re already married.”