Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Channing was very happy to receive Aurelia’s call. Although he found what she entrusted on the phone a little strange, he didn’t ask too many questions. Instead, Channing agreed cheerfully to try to help and asked Aurelia to wait for him to call
her back.
Things were off to a good start.
Aurelia secretly felt relieved after hanging up the phone.
If she had to be frank, she was really afraid that Channing would refuse when she made this call.
The political scene was a treacherous one. After undergoing several years of honing in the political scene, who knew if that lively young man who once harbored a secret admiration for her still held onto those tender feelings from the past?
Fortunately, Channing was still the same!
The second call Aurelia made was to Maddox, Marcellus‘ half–brother and the illegitimate child of Ricardo, the head of the Francois family.
He was a sinister individual who appeared weak and useless on the surface as well as being quiet and reserved. However, in reality, he harbored great ambition and was an extremely shrewd man.
If Aurelia hadn’t experienced a rebirth, she wouldn’t have believed that someone like Maddox could be capable of such scheming.
In her previous life, one year after she divorced Marcellus, that was, at the end of March 2007, Ricardo Francois died.
Of the 35% stake Ricardo held in Marcellus Corporation, Marcellus was given 25% and Maddox 10% respectively.
The inheritance of shares was absolutely unequal and unfair.
However, Maddox had already borrowed a huge sum of money from somewhere.
Maddox secretly bought more than 18% of the shares held by several other directors.
In addition to the 10% Maddox inherited himself, he already had more shares than Marcellus.
Unfortunately, what Maddox didn’t expect was that when Aurelia divorced Marcellus, she also surrendered her 5% shares to Marcellus.
It was this 5% that ultimately caused Maddox to lose, which resulted in him forming a deep–seated hatred,
The 5% of the shares were actually gifted to her by Marcellus‘ father to Aurelia back in the day as a special gesture to form a marriage alliance with the Swanson family.
It was part of the betrothal gift bestowed upon Aurelia when she married into the Francois family.
This meant that as long as Ricardo was alive, she could buy and sell her shares at will.
But once Ricardo died, she had to transfer the shares to her husband Marcellus if she wanted to give away the shares.
That was to ensure that Marcellus Corporation would always be in the hands of Ricardo’s favorite younger son, Marcellus.
In her past life, when Aurelia divorced Marcellus, she had no knowledge of his true intentions. It turned out that Marcellus had betrayed her father and abandoned the Swanson family in order to establish new connections with the upper echelons. of the political scene.
Naively, Aurelia had believed that Marcellus simply didn’t love her and wanted to bring in his mistress, with whom he had conceived a child outside of their marriage.
Driven by her pride, self–esteem, and stubbornness, Aurelia ended up receiving a mere 2 million dollars as alimony in the divorce settlement.
Later, when Marcellus mentioned his intentions to purchase the shares of Marcellus Corporation that she held, she foolishly and willingly relinquished her 5% of shares for the opportunity to acquire more money and benefits.
With a disdainful attitude, she had signed her name on the share transfer document without asking for any further. compensation.
Now, Aurelia wanted to slap herself hard.
What a fool she was!
She deserved to end up with such a tragedy!
Fortunately, the heavens gave her a new chance.
This time, Aurelia was determined to give Marcellus a hard blow with that 5% of the shares she held.
As such, this was why the phone call to Maddox was made,
Aurelia believed that with her taking the initiative this time, Maddox, that scheming opportunist, would not meet the same failure as in the previous life in the battle for control over Marcellus Corporation.
“Aurelia, did you need something from me? Does Marcellus know?” asked Maddox.
His voice on the phone remained timid as always, giving off the air of a helpless and unassertive man.
Unfortunately, Maddox would not have known that Aurelia had already seen through everything about him.
She smiled faintly and spoke in a clear voice.
“Max, you know it well. I hold a 50 stake in Marcellus Corporation. Now, I want to sell my shares. I believe you should be interested, Max. Let’s meet at 7 tonight in private room 288 of Paradise Cafe!”
After saying that, Aurela hung up the phone without waiting for his response.
She was sure that even if Maddox was hesitant, he would not let go of such an opportunity!
After hanging up the phone. Aurelia wanted to make another call, but she had already heard the sound of the door being opened with the turning of a key.
She hurriedly put the phone in her pocket and walked quickly to the door.
Just as Aurchia was about to put her hand on the doorknob, Michael’s face came out from behind the door.
“Dad, you’re back!”
“Auri, what’s the matter? Why are you in a hurry to see me?” With an indulgent smile, Michael casually asked in a relaxed
tone.
Obviously, in his mind, he didn’t consider Aurelia’s so–called important matter to be of great significance.
Although Michael’s daughter was clever and talented, she was still his little girl.
Even though Aurelia was already in her mid–twenties this year, her personality remained pure and innocent, just as it was when she was studying abroad and even after returning to the country.
Michael was grateful and reassured to have Marcellus as a son–in–law, since he was composed, tactful, took care of, and cherished his daughter.
Chapter 5
“Dad. I–I’m scared…”
Suddenly, Michael completely stopped smiling.
Then he turned to look at his darling daughter in shock.
Michael quickly set down his briefcase and keys upon seeing the worried and tearful expression on Aurelia’s face. “Auri, what’s wrong? Why are you crying? Tell me, who hurt you? Or is something else troubling you? What are you afraid of?”
However, Aurelia hesitated, remaining silent and simply looking at Michael with teary eyes.
In a state of panic, she rushed over and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck, repeatedly calling out, “Dad, Dad!”
That sight reminded Michael of when Aurelia was much younger. Whenever she felt upset or scared, she would always cling to his neck and call him Dad.
In the blink of an eye, his daughter had grown so much. She was now a married woman and soon to become a mother herself.
It had been a long time since he had seen her display such vulnerability and seek comfort in this way.
At that moment, he felt a mix of emotions–nostalgia, reminiscence, and an even greater sense of affection.
SEND GIFT