Chapter 541: Ungrateful Fool
Lucas winced, a sharp pain shooting through his head, just as the door burst open. Rupert stormed in. Right behind him were Dave and Bianca, both looking tense, afraid Rupert might lose control.
“Dad, please listen. Dave and Bianca—”
Before he could finish, Lucas slapped him hard across the face. “Shut up! You ungrateful fool!”
Wyatt rushed in from behind and quickly forced Rupert to the ground.
“Let me go!” Rupert yelled, struggling against Wyatt’s grip.
Realizing how serious things had gotten, Rupert looked at Lucas, his eyes full of disbelief. “Dad, what’s happening? Dave and Bianca set me up. This isn’t what it looks like!”
Just then, Franklin and the security team rushed into the room. Lucas raised his hand, signaling the guards to stay back. Only Franklin remained beside him.
Franklin didn’t say a word. He knew Lucas had a reason for letting him stay.
Rupert had spent the whole night trying to find Bianca but came up empty. When he finally got to Evans Mansion, he planned to blame Dave first only to find out Dave had already spoken.
“Dad…” Rupert said again in a trembling voice.
Before Rupert could say another word, a loud slap landed on his face. “Stop! Aren’t you ashamed? You betrayed me, and now you’re twisting the truth!”
Lucas's chest heaved and he looked pale. “Just answer me, did you really say everything in that recording?”
Rupert felt nervous as he scrambled for an excuse. “Bianca tricked me… I swear, I’m innocent!”
Seeing Rupert play the victim only made Lucas angrier. “Do you think I’m too old to see what’s right in front of me? Do you take me for a fool?”
“No, Dad… it’s not what you think. Please, just hear me out.”
“Enough!” Lucas shouted, his voice echoing in the room, filled with disappointment. “You’ve put the company at risk with your pride and recklessness. I believed in you. But now I know, I was wrong. You’re not worthy of leading the Evans Group.”
Lucas turned his back on Rupert, his face cold and firm. “Franklin, remove Rupert from all his roles in the company. Make it public. Freeze his bank accounts.”
Rupert’s face went pale. In a flash, everything he had worked for was gone. His dream shattered like glass. He felt like he was falling with nothing to hold on to.
But it wasn’t over yet.
Lucas went on, “Strip him of all authority. Send him home. For the next three months, he’s grounded, no going out, no visitors. He needs time to reflect on his actions.”
“Please, Dad,” Rupert begged, his voice shaking. “I know I messed up. Just give me one more chance.”
Lucas looked at him, clearly disappointed. “You’ve let me down. As long as I’m alive, you’ll never lead the Evans Group.”
He turned to Franklin. “Get him out of here.”
The security guards grabbed Rupert as he struggled to break free.
Just before they dragged him out, Rupert stared at Dave. His voice was low but sharp. “You really think this is over? I’ll come back from this.”
Then he let out a loud, crazy laugh. His eyes were wild.
Dave didn’t even look at him. He said calmly, “You were never a threat to me.”
Rupert’s laughter stopped right away. He didn’t expect Dave to look down on him so much that he didn’t even see him as a rival.
Dave stepped closer and spoke in a calm but firm voice. “What matters now is that you’ll pay for what you did to my parents. You’ll suffer for the rest of your life. And this… is only the beginning.”
Rupert’s face changed. A flash of fear showed in his eyes. To him, Dave felt like a dark force dragging him into something deep and terrifying.
He clenched his fists and the veins on his hands popped up because of anger. After all the years he spent scheming, he couldn’t accept losing to Dave now.
As the guards led him away, Lucas turned to Dave with a heavy sigh. “Is this really what you wanted, Dave?”
Dave didn’t answer. He could tell his grandfather had reached his breaking point. “Take care, Grandpa,” he said softly.
Then he gently took Bianca’s hand and led her out of the room.
As the door closed behind them, the silence returned and with it, the deep, familiar feeling of loneliness filled Lucas’s chest.
Dave sat back on the sofa at Waterfront Apartments, tired and worn out. The room was silent, but the weight on him was heavy. Bianca sat beside him, sensing just how drained he felt.
Both Lucas and Rupert were his family yet both had let him down.
Bianca moved closer and gently rested her head on his shoulder. She looked up at him, quietly admiring his features.
“Is there something on my face?” Dave asked, lowering his head. His eyes softened as he looked at her.
This woman, so smart, brave, and strong was the best thing that had ever happened to him. His past had been rough, but meeting Bianca felt like a rare stroke of luck.
In the stillness, their hearts beat together. They didn’t need anything dramatic. Just being beside each other was enough. Through every high and low, they had each other.
Bianca tilted her head and gave him a light kiss on the cheek, leaving a mark of lipstick behind.
“Nope,” she said with a grin. “But there is now.”
Dave held her hand gently. “When everything’s over, I’ll give you a wedding fit for a queen.”
The thought of a grand wedding filled Bianca’s mind too. But reality was hard to ignore. With Phoenix Alliance Group separating from the Evans Group, new problems were bound to come. The public attacks might stop, but there were still hidden threats waiting.
She knew she had to stay strong. Reviving Emerald Artists Agency became her new goal. A stronger agency meant she could stand by Dave and help him when tough times came for the Phoenix Alliance Group.
With that in mind, she made a silent promise to bring the company back to life.
Dave noticed the serious look on her face and understood what she was thinking. “Trust me,” he said, his eyes shining. “Just give me time. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“I do,” she whispered, feeling safe and warm in his arms like a fire on a cold night.
The Next Morning.
Sunlight poured through the window. Bianca slowly opened her eyes and saw she was wrapped in Dave’s arms. Even while sleeping, he looked amazing.