Chapter 71
Chapter 71:
Alistair Cullen barely spared him a glance, cutting straight past him to stand next to Rylie. He offered a respectful bow. “Miss Owen, I apologize for the way you were treated today. I’ll make sure the reception staff sends you a written apology for your review. Anyone involved in today’s disrespect will be dealt with accordingly, so please set your mind at ease. Also, Mr. Deandre Owen is waiting for you in Mr. Felix Owen’s office p>
Acknowledgment flickered in Rylie’s eyes. “Lead the way p>
Panic flashed across Fred’s face. “Wait!” he called out, unable to process what he was witnessing. He lunged forward, only to have the bodyguards block his path. Desperation colored his voice. “Mr. Cullen, please — let me through! Just a moment p>
Taking command, Alistair guided Rylie toward the private elevator reserved for executives. “You’ll find Mr. Deandre Owen on the tenth floor. I’ll have to leave you here, as other matters require my attention. Thank you for understanding.” A reassuring smile from Rylie put him at ease. “Don’t worry about it. I can go up by myself p>
The doors slid shut behind her, closing off the lobby and its chaos. Lingering by the elevator, Alistair waited until Rylie was out of sight before turning to address Fred.
The look he gave was frigid. “Mr. Dury, perfect timing. Mr. Felix Owen wants a word with you p>
A sharp jolt ran down Fred’s spine, like a cold gust cutting through him. He realized the situation was spiraling out of control. Sweat began to gather on his back.
He tried to steady himself, but his voice betrayed him. “M-Mr. Cullen, what does Mr. Owen want to discuss with me? Maybe we could talk about this inside p>
Alistair, stone-faced and unreadable, unlocked his tablet and pulled up a file. “In accordance with the addendum under Article 7, the Owen Group has the right to immediately sever ties with any party guilty of misconduct.” He looked up, sharp and direct. His gaze struck like a blade. “Mr. Dury, your comments about Miss Kirk already constitute a breach p>
Fred’s legs buckled slightly. He staggered, nearly falling, and grabbed hold of Casper’s arm, clutching it with such desperation that his nails nearly broke the skin. “Mr. Kirk! Is Rylie really… Is she really p>
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Casper’s lips trembled, but no words came. Fred clung to a small thread of hope. “Could there be some mistake? Rylie really is… an Owen? My wife picked her up from some remote town. There’s no way she’s tied to that family p>
Alistair’s voice cut in, laced with scorn. “Are you questioning the Owen family’s credibility? Miss Rylie Kirk was confirmed through DNA. Mr. Kendrick Owen personally verified that she’s his missing granddaughter p>
Casper stood frozen, his skin turning a pale shade of gray. “How is this even real p>
Not long ago, the Kirk family had expelled Rylie and publicly humiliated her over supposed misconduct. Surely, the Owen family knew about all of this.
Casper’s knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed.
“This can’t be true!” Fred shouted, his face twisted in panic. “She’s nothing more than a fake the Kirk family has raised for two decades p>
He scrambled to find his phone. “I need to call Mr. Owen right now! This whole thing must be some kind of error p>
Alistair let out a low, humorless laugh and nodded toward the nearby guards. “Mr. Owen wanted me to make this clear. The Dury family is fully accountable for the emotional damage his sister suffered after the broken engagement.” He tapped his tablet again. Fred’s phone buzzed immediately. “The Owen Group is canceling the entire three-hundred-million deal. The forty million you invested upfront will now be seized as a penalty p>