Chapter 384
One Night Surprise Novel
Chapter 384 Thatâll Be Best Courtney was at a loss for words. How was she supposed to explain to her daughter that her own parents were in the worst of terms, and that the reason Daddy brought her to the theme park wasnât to play with her but to threaten her mother?
âItâs getting late. You should sleep, Tina.â She fondled her head as she switched the topic.
Although Tina could be mischievous, there were often times where she would be Mommyâs good girl. At her motherâs instruction, she nodded and obediently went to bed.
Courtney accompanied her to sleep, though she didnât feel a tinge of drowsiness as she tossed and turned in bed the entire night.
Three days later, in the afternoon...
In the VIP room of the Melrose Peridot Golf Club, a waitress in an emerald dress served some tea to a couple of customers before tacitly leaving the room.
âSo youâre the boss behind the golf club all this time.â Alexander remained a straight face, though a trace of self-scorn could be seen on his face when he remembered Courtneyâs free entrance into the club.
Opposite him was Elijah, who drank his tea before refilling his cup as he calmly uttered, âJust a couple of investments I made in Melrose. Nothing odd about it, is there?â
âA couple, you say?â Alexanderâs face grew slightly tense. âMany properties under Sunhill Enterprise including hotels and theaters have been receiving various attacks for the past few days. Are you going to deny that it has nothing to do with you?â
Ever since Elijah brought Courtney to his manor, the Duncan Family received a court summons, followed by a tremendous amount of damage that slammed Sunhill Enterprise, and all the damage was deliberately targeted at the companyâs three main sources of income, in which all the traces of attack pointed toward Elijah.
No one would have expected Elijah to have such domination in his entrepreneurship in the market within such a short time after his return to the country.
Nonetheless, Alexander knew that Elijah didnât achieve such success so easily. After all, it took every competitor of Sunhill Enterprise many years to build up to where they were now. Therefore, Elijah must have made his plans very early on.
âI donât intend to deny it.â With a dull face, Elijah continued, âItâs just market competition. Iâm sure youâve had your share of competitors after so many years. Even if I have taken years strategizing how to take a slice from the countryâs market, Iâve never expected myself to resort to this.â
Alexander was visibly gloomier. âCouldâve just said youâre doing it for her, and I wouldnât even feel weird about it.â
The attack that was drawn upon Sunhill Enterprise was no mere healthy competition, where even the figures of market stock were obviously manipulated. Due to fund leverages, Sunhillâs shares plummeted. And both of them knew who caused it.
âHonestly, we could have talked it over. But if I hadnât done so, you, Mr. Duncan, would have continued thinking that Courtney is a woman you can take for granted.â
Alexander glowered, disagreeing with Elijahâs words. âIâve never thought of her that way.â
âBut your actions speak otherwise.â Elijahâs expression grew colder. âNow that it has come to this, all thatâs left are the kids. Youâll never get custody of Tina. As for the boy, youâd be wise if you listen to what I have to offer.â
Alexander clenched his fists. All his life, never had he faced such a formidable opponent like Elijah, who was now grasping Sunhill Enterpriseâs fate in his hand. One move of his finger could easily bring the company down, and none could tell how much effort the solution would require.
âHand Jordan over to Courtney.â
It was as Alexander expected. Although he had predicted what Elijah was about to say, actually hearing it was extremely nerve-
wracking.
In that instant, freezing silence filled the room as the two men gazed into each otherâs eyes, unwilling to step down.
âDid she ask for this?â Alexander coldly interrogated, âIs taking custody of Jordan her intention, or is it yours?â
Elijah withdrew his gaze. His freezing aura was inexplicably intimidating. âYou should know why Courtney suddenly chose to return despite living well in Americaâto look for her son, and thatâs her initial wish.â
Alexander felt even more perturbed.
âAs long as you agree to hand Jordan over to Courtney, I will bring her back to America. Itâs just one kid anyway. Since you were willing to have a child in order to succeed Sunhill Enterprise back then, Iâm sure you can let go of him for the survival of the company. Itâs not too much to ask from you, is it?â
Having said that, Elijah lowered his head as he toyed with the tea cup without even taking a glance at Alexander. It was utterly condescending.
Although Alexander kept trying to keep his grandfatherâs advice to talk peacefully in mind, he couldnât help but get tilted by Elijahâs words. Annoyed, he sprung up from his seat, seemingly getting aggressive.
âWhat kind of person I am, what Iâd do for the legacy of my companyâwhy do you assume you know them so well? Thereâs no way Iâll hand Jordan over. As for my company, itâs still too early for you to imply its downfall.â
Hearing that, Elijah put down his tea cup and raised his head to look at him. âYouâre an intelligent man. No matter how competitive you get, itâll eventually end up to be a war of attrition. At the end of day, itâs a matter of guts. Merely in this year, Sunhill Enterprise took part in hundreds of investments. Do you think you have the guts to exhaust its resources?â
âThatâs none of your concern.â Alexander leered at him. âYou might have underestimated Sunhill Enterpriseâs position in Melrose City.â
Elijah revealed a smirk and a pair of glistening eyes filled with deep ambitions. âWeâll see about that.â
Bang! The roomâs door was slammed shut. Instead of hurrying off, Elijah casually stayed in his seat, sipping on his tea as his assistant Lilian entered the room with a troubled face.
âPresident Grant, Alexander seems to have the intention to resolve this peacefully. Perhaps itâs time to tell him that Courtney simply wishes to see the boy every once in a while. Iâm sure heâll agree to it.â
Even a blind man could see that Elijahâs words were excessive for an egoistic man like Alexanderâinsulting, even. In this case, no matter what he said, Alexander would never agree to it. And Lilian couldnât figure out as to why Elijah, despite knowing the consequences, decided to provoke Alexander.
âItâs impossible for him to give up his boy.â He toyed with his cup as a surge of coldness flashed across his eyes. âPerhaps Courtney thinks that seeing Jordan from time to time is enough, but itâs not a good choice as it will surely eat her up in the long run. She still has decades left to live. Thereâs no need for her to burden herself with Alexander.â
âWhat if our lawyer fails to seize custody of the boy?â
After remaining silent for a second, he relaxingly answered, âThatâll be best. The boy is the biggest connection between Courtney and Alexander. Failing to acquire him allows Courtney to finally move on in America.â
Upon those words, Lilian frowned in confusion. Elijah was right. He wanted the best for Courtney, but she couldnât help but feel something was lacking.