Chapter 221

Chapter 221

“Are you a fool? Rhett grumbled, pulling Kristin closer and flicking her forehead in a mock scolding gesture.

Kristin instinctively winced, expecting pain, but he had tempered his touch.

“Six years,” Rhett mused, a frown creasing his brow, “If Hertha really had evidence of us being together from six years ago, wouldn’t she have used it by now? I mean, if she was the one from six years ago, why would she wait until now to spill the beans?”

Kristin had considered this, but if it wasn’t Hertha, then who? And that thought seemed even more troubling.

Rhett wrapped his arms around Kristin, typing away on his phone, composing a tweet that read, “Holding hands forever, growing old together.”

No sooner had Rhett’s tweet hit the internet than it went viral, skyrocketing to the top trend.

Many people left comments under his post about their own heartbreaks.

Rhett, breaking his usual silence, replied personally to the top three comments.

Comment A: “Mr. FitzGerald, it’s not even press conference time yet and you’ve already made an official announcement? Is it really Hertha? If it’s someone from the Haywood family, I’ll cry.”

Rhett replied, “My wife’s last name isn’t Haywood.”

Comment B: “Rhett, please don’t get involved with the Haywoods, and they’re vicious.”

Rhett replied simply, “Okay.”

“People of wealth marry their equals. Even if Rhett never marries, he’d never take someone poor.”

Rhett replied, “In the modem world, a match of equals has nothing to do with family history or wealth. If I find her worthy, and she finds me valuable, and it’s as simple as that.”

Rhett’s foray into responding to comments set the internet ablaze all over again.

At the FitzGerald Group headquarters, Holcomb was prepping for the press conference when a pale–faced PR rep burst in.

“Mr. Holcomb, “The PR rep stuttered, “Mr. Rhett has gone public with his relationship on Twitter.”

Holcomb’s face darkened instantly. He grabbed his phone, shot up from his seat, and slammed his fist on the table, “Who dared him to

be this bold? Bastard!”

Holcomb, livid, banged the table repeatedly, barely able to control his rage.

To him, Rhett’s pre–conference love revelation was the ultimate provocation.

He must deal with Rhett.

“Mr. Holcomb, Miss Hertha is threatening suicide. She’s distraught. We’ve called an ambulance.”

Holcomb trembled with fury, pointing at his assistant, “Call Rhett and tell him to come here.”

Rhett had indeed crossed the line.

This time, Holcomb would not let it slide.

In the conference room.

Nicola sipped her coffee leisurely in her high heels, “Vincent, Rhett’s digging his own grave, pure folly.”

Vincent’s mood was somber, his gaze fixated on a photo on his phone.

He knew about the tiny mole on Kristin’s left hand, and clearly, the woman in Rhett’s announcement photo was Kristin.

“I thought Rhett was clever, a tough nut to crack, that he had been biding his time all these years. I overestimated him,” Nicola chuckled, “Provoking Holcomb now is sheer idiocy.”

E ES F S S £ 3 2 5 0

Vincent remained silent.

“Vincent, our chance has come,” Nicola stood up.

This time, Holcomb should be ready to cut off his overly ambitious son, Rhett.

After all, Rhett had become uncontrollable.

“Are you even listening to me?” Nicola snapped, frustrated with Vincent’s lack of response.

Vincent snapped back to attention, asking softly, “Mom, is it true what you said five years ago about Kristin squeezing five million out of you?”

Nicola paused, “What’s gotten into you today? With everything going on, why bring this up?”

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10:34

pter

“I need to know if it was true,” Vincent insisted, his head throbbing painfully

“It’s true. She admitted it in court, remember?” Nicola rolled her eyes, moving toward the window with her coffee, “Let’s focus on the real Issue here. Holcomb is furious with Rhett, and with the board members present, he’s bound to make a decision. If you can secure tnore shares than Rhett, we can kick him out for good*

Nicola was determined to see Rhett out of the FitzGerald Group and the FitzGerald family.

Without the FitzGerald Group, without the family name, Rhett would have no standing, no pride.

Vincent clenched his fists and stood tall, “Alright.”

He would do everything to convince Holcomb to hand over the company to him.

He wouldn’t be outdone by Rhett.

Without the backing of the FitzGerald Group, what would Rhett be?

A phoenix rising from the ashes? Starting from scratch? Vincent would never allow him the chance to rise again.

He would crush Rhett, making him understand what he had been through over the years, trampled upon, belittled, and deemed

worthless.

“Hertha’s causing a scene with her suicide threat,” Nicola commented as sirens wailed below.

“Hertha’s a clever one. Without any public sympathy, she knows how to create it.”

“If it weren’t for the Haywoods‘ tarnished reputation, I’d actually consider pairing you with Hertha. A woman like that could really support you,” Nicola said gravely.

“Mom, what are you talking about? Ruby wouldn’t like hearing this,” Vincent frowned, signaling Nicola to watch her words.

“Ruby? A sickly mess, batty as a bedbug. If it weren’t for her status as a true–blue Turner heiress, she’d be nothing. Frankly, I wish she’d just kick the bucket and be done with it.” Nicola snorted dismissively.

“Mom.” Vincent was visibly upset, “Watch it, bad luck might hear you.”

With that, he stormed out of the office.

Outside the FitzGerald Group building, the place was swarming with reporters.

The whole media circus had shifted its gaze to Hertha after her suicide scare.

There had always been whispers about a fling between Hertha and Rhett.

Guilty or not, the story that Rhett was the scumbag who dumped Hertha, driving her to her desperate act, was sticking.

Rhett was too headstrong.

He had alienated so many people, and it was like a mass exodus.

When they all joined forces against him, how would he manage?

They were all waiting to see Rhett’s downfall.

At Rhett’s place.

York’s calls were blowing up Rhett’s phone, but he wouldn’t pick up.

With Summer and Liam off to school, Rhett of course seized the chance to get cozy with Kristin and stoke the flames of passion.

So, when York was hammering on the doorbell, Rhett pretended to be deaf to the world.

“Rhett, could something have gone wrong?” Kristin’s voice trembled with worry.

“You’ve rattled Holcomb’s cage, and he might just claw back the shares in your hands.” Kristin looked down at Rhett nestled in her arms, feeling a sour twist in her heart.

She wished he could just rest easy for a bit.

Life in such a high–stake family must be exhausting, right?

Even between father and son, there had to be such scheming.

“Have you ever thought about what you’d do if you left the FitzGerald Group?” When Rhett feigned sleep instead of replying, Kristin’s lips curved in a resigned smile.

“If I really lost everything, would you despise me?” Rhett asked, his voice hoarse.

“Never, Kristin replied with unwavering conviction.

“And if I couldn’t protect you anymore, would you leave me then?” Rhett feared Kristin might bolt.

“I wouldn’t.” Kristin’s gaze drifted, “I’d protect you. I won’t let that day come.”.

10:34

Chapter 221

If it ever came to the point of no return, she’d go to Hanson

She would sacrifice it all if needed, and it wouldn’t matter one bit, as long as Rhett was safe.

The sun, after all, should always hang high in the blue sky.