Chapter 412

Chapter 412 Show Mercy to Jonathan

Joseph glared at Jonathan, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

”

Jonathan instinctively cowered. He lost his previous confidence, and softly protested, There’s no need

to go through all that trouble. If you don’t want me back on the board, then I won’t return. After all,

you’re the one in control of the Whitman Group. What right do I have to object?”

“I’m the one in control of the Whitman Group, but I’m also your older cousin. Uncle Pres is right. I

shouldn’t always dwell on your shortcomings and should try to discover your strengths instead,” Joseph

said, a smile playing on his lips.

With that, he promptly contacted the board of directors, as well as the finance and project teams. In

less than an hour, everyone arrived at the family home. In front of everyone, a meeting was held.

Jonathan had been on the board for five years and had been involved in seven projects. Out of those,

six projects incurred losses totaling about a hundred thousand dollars. Only one project was profitable,

but that project was requested by Joseph himself and

could not be counted.

When all the numbers were presented before everyone, Jonathan’s face turned pale. His lips trembled,

unable to utter a word. He had always known he was losing money, but he never expected the

numbers to be so staggering.

However, Preston still refused to back down even after the facts were laid out before them. It’s normal

to experience losses in business. The market hasn’t been favorable in recent years. Do you really want

to judge a person’s lifetime achievement based on a mere three years? Jon is just starting to grow.

He’ll surely improve in the future.”

Such shameless words even earned Harold’s contempt, despite Preston being his son.

“Of course not,” Joseph said.

Preston’s face improved slightly, a hint of relief flashing through his eyes. He thought that Joseph was

showing him some respect, but the next words that came shattered that glimmer of hope.

“So I should be the one to bear the cost of his trial and error?” Joseph asked.

“Yes. You’re Jon’s cousin. You’re his family,” Octavia spoke firmly, without a hint of shame.

“We’re better off without family members who scheme behind each other’s backs,” Joseph

stated.

Octavia trembled, a wave of fear washing over her. ‘Is he being serious this time?’

Joseph turned to Harold, his tone neither light nor heavy but deeply unsettling. “Mr. Harold, I will be

removing Jonathan from the Whitman Group and expelling Preston from the board of

directors. Do you have any objections?”

Joseph rarely called Harold “Mr. Harold.” When he did so solemnly, it indicated that something big had

happened.

Harold felt a twinge of sadness as Preston and Jonathan stared at him. He looked up at Joseph and

noticed his icy expression. Harold was certain that if he dared to voice an objection, he would be

expelled as well.

“You’re the one in control of the Whitman Group. I’ll let you decide,” Harold replied.

“Dad, you can’t do this! I’m your son. Have you ever heard anything as ridiculous as not having family

members on a company board?” Preston pleaded.

“Grandpa, I want to remain in the Whitman Group. I don’t want to leave. Please help me!”

Joseph remained unperturbed. He took Chloe’s hand and held it tightly as he walked away with large

strides.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

“A little.”

“Where do you want to eat?”

“I don’t know. Let’s decide when we get home.”

He nodded, glancing at her sideways. “Which home? Mine or yours?”

“Let’s go to yours.”

It was closer to her place by about half an hour, and she did not want to bother with the extra travel.

Joseph noticed her exhaustion and asked, “What do you feel like eating?”

“Are you okay with takeout?” she asked.

Chloe knew that he had never been fond of ordering takeout.

“No, I’ll cook,” Joseph replied.

Chloe was taken aback, her eyes welling up with tears.

Just after having a falling out with his family, Joseph still cared for her and wanted to cook for her.

Sobbing, she realized that even though he could be annoying at times, he could also be pretty great.

On the way back, Joseph also bought some groceries.

Chloe blinked. “Besides pasta, do you know how to cook anything else?”

“I went abroad to start a business, not to experience the life of a rich kid. Is there anything!

can’t do?” Joseph said, wearing a proud expression on his face.

“Fine, I underestimated you,” Chloe replied.

Soon, they arrived at Joseph’s house. Oreo, who she had not seen in a long time, crazily rubbed

against her, licked her, and rolled onto its back to ask for belly rubs. After playing with the dog. outside

for a while, she entered the house and saw Joseph engaged in a phone call out on the balcony.

Judging from the conversation, it was Harold calling, asking about the frame-up that Jonathan had

done. He wanted to confirm if it was true.

“Do you want me to call the person from the drug side and confront them face-to-face?”

Harold fell into silence.

Infighting was a taboo within families. Once such a situation occurred, the losses in terms of interests

were minor compared to the loss of family unity. People might start to stab each other in the back, and

that was the real issue. After all, internal strife was always a hundred times more terrifying than

external enemies.

“Don’t worry, I won’t show Jon any mercy.”

“Are you sending him to prison? I know that you’re furious with Jonathan and he deserves the

punishment, but it won’t be good for our family’s reputation if you send him to prison…’

Joseph gave no reply and hung up.

The room was dimly lit, with moonlight shining through the window, casting a gentle glow on the floor.

His tall and slender figure appeared lonely and desolate. Chloe had never seen. Joseph like this

before.

In her mind, he was always confident and in control of everything. He was the one who revived Fairlight

and the one in control of the Whitman Group. Everyone saw his glory, but they never experienced the

burden he carried on his shoulders.