Ch. 901..910
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 901
Just as Nathaniel happily prepared to go to the meeting, his assistant hurried in, flustered. "Mr. Hall, bad news!"
Thinking that she had jinxed him, Nathaniel grew stern. "What bad news? How could there be bad news with me around?"
As the assistant ran over, she tried to catch her breath as she sputtered, "N- No, sir, it's Mr. Tanner...he..."
Nathaniel frowned. “Which Mr. Tanner are you talking about?"
‘It doesn't matter if there are too many Tanners here because I'll get rid of them in a moment, and the company will soon have nothing to do with them.’
"Mr. Tanner, the general manager!" She stomped her foot and gritted her teeth. "Joseph Tanner.”
Nathaniel was unperturbed. ‘What could that old fool do?’
He picked up his coffee cup from the desk and took a sip, saying slowly, "Oh, him! Didn't I tell you he's going to step down soon, and there's no need to bother about him? What's the matter?”
"He... jumped off a building to kill himself!”
Nathaniel did not go to the hospital, as the cops came for him.
He had not expected Joseph to resort to this to attract the police's attention. He thought Joseph could not create trouble if he installed a tracking device on his phone to tail Joseph. Yet, he jumped off the building.
Nathaniel thought he had everything under his control but underestimated the man.
As it was not his intention to kill himself, Joseph did not die. He only used this to lure the police so Damian could go to them without hindrance.
However, there were always risks in jumping off a building, no matter how one did it, and it was impossible not to get hurt.
Despite Joseph's careful planning, he hurt his lumbar spine and had to be wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life.
As Joseph prepared to jump, he was scared, but thinking that he could lose Tanner Corporation and everything he had, he gritted his teeth and did it anyway with his eyes closed. The good thing was the police came.
However, Nathaniel denied everything.
Damian had no concrete proof of his getting kidnapped by Nathaniel. Not only did he have no witnesses and evidence, but he also could not tell where Nathaniel held him.
Damian's story about himself getting kidnapped until he was released was one-sided and could easily be seen as slander. Furthermore, assisted by his team of lawyers, the police could hardly convict Nathaniel.
Nathaniel felt somewhat pleased with himself in this aspect.
He remembered how others slandered and harassed him, but now he could just sit where he was and let the lawyers handle everything. ‘That's why it's good to be rich. As long as we're rich, we can solve anything.’
Thinking he had spent too much time in the police station and that it was time to leave, Nathaniel smiled. "Officer, can I go now? I hope you guys can conduct a thorough investigation over such slander and defamation.”
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 902
Nathaniel saw Damian sitting there when he left the interrogation room. Damian bolted to his feet. "You swindled my family’s properties and made a fool out of me, you f*ckerl”
"Let me give you a piece of advice, you little pr*ck. Think twice before you spout nonsense. How did I make a fool of you? If I remember correctly, you were the one who reported your sister to the police.
"Tsk, tsk, people like you would even stoop to press charges against your own kin, and now you're targeting me with your slander! Please put this man under a thorough investigation, officers. Something might seriously be wrong with him!"
Nathaniel was so pleased with himself that he could hardly hide his excitement.
Although Joseph's suicide attempt had slightly disrupted his plans, he did not mind it so much. ‘Even if he had jumped off a building and become paralyzed from the waist down, he still wouldn't be able to convict me. I had everything taken care of long ago, and I wouldn't have gotten what I wanted so easily if I didn’t think my plans through.’
Damian was so angry that he lunged over to attack Nathaniel, but since they were at the police station, he immediately got held back.
Nathaniel became even bolder. "Look at him! This man is so prone to violence that he wants to hurt me. I seriously suspect his kidnapping and swindling are nothing but his imagination. Please look into whether he has a mental problem, okay? We can't let these people out in public to cause trouble!"
"F*cking drop dead, Nate!" Damian shouted in rage. He felt angry that someone he had never taken seriously would seize everything he had wanted and was mocking him in such a smug manner. Worse, the outsider had played his whole family.
"Tsk, tsk, there’s no need to be so mean with your words.” Nathaniel took two steps away and looked over his shoulder as if having remembered something. "Oh, I forgot that your Uncle Derrick has signed the share transfer agreement.
“Once I've processed everything, I will rename Tanner Corporation to Hall Corporation, and it'll no longer have anything to do with you or your family, you little pr*ck.”
"Why you! Ahh!"
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed, "Who says Tanner Corporation will change its name?"
Nathaniel was stunned and looked over in the voice's direction.
Derrick strode in at the door wearing a dark gray men’s haute couture suit with his hair combed meticulously. He looked spirited, no longer like a dying man.
"You..." Nathaniel looked at him with widened eyes in disbelief and wondered if he was hallucinating.
‘That's impossible! My men were guarding him. How did he manage to show up here?! Besides, he looks outstanding. How is this possible?’
"Why? Aren't you happy to see me? Didn't you say I've transferred the shares to you and that we'll complete the process? You should be thrilled to see me, shouldn't you?"
Derrick looked at Nathaniel with a cold smile.
Speechless, Nathaniel gulped and vaguely felt something terrible would happen soon. However, he knew he had to keep up his pretense no matter what.
He squeezed out a smile. "Yes, of course! I thought you weren't feeling well and needed to rest, but since you're here, it’s best to get it done together. Oh, yes, how's your wife? I heard she hasn't been in good shape. Why don't you hurry back to keep her company after we're done? You can leave everything to me.”
It sounded like he was showing his concern, but the truth was that he was threatening Derrick with his wife's safety.
Nathaniel could not be sure if the husband and wife had escaped together or if it was only Derrick. As he had received no calls from his men, he felt uneasy not knowing about the situation.
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 903
‘There's no need to worry about my wife. I can take good care of her.” Derrick smiled. "You should worry about yourself more."
He turned to the police officers. "I'd like to make a report."
Nobody had expected this turn of events. The supposedly dying Derrick was fine, and he also wanted to make a police report against Nathaniel with concrete evidence.
The crisis that had befallen the Tanner family seemingly ended overnight.
Things had returned to normal now that Derrick had returned. However, the top management of Tanner Corporation underwent radical changes as those who sided with Arianna and Nathaniel during the crisis got sacked.
Only then did people realize everything was part of Derrick’s plan.
Although Tanner Corporation seemed to be in its heyday, there had been many problems due to power struggles even among the management team, which ultimately hurt the company’s interest.
Due to the conflicts between Arianna's team, the old-timers, and those that Joseph had rallied in secret, several company projects suffered considerable losses.
It had always been Derrick who mediated between them to contain the problems.
However, as he was getting older, he knew he could not helm the company for much longer. If he gave the position to his son, some were bound to object. Also, he was not unaware of Arianna's ambitious goal.
Derrick had no problem giving some shares and powers to his niece, but he could tell from her greedy face that she wanted the whole company. He roughly knew what she had done behind his back but refrained from exposing her. still, there was no telling what Arianna would do if Benedict were to take charge one day.
For his son's sake, the company, and the Tanner family, he had devised a plan to lure Arianna into showing her true colors, then identify and kick out the troublemakers simultaneously.
Nevertheless, he had failed to guard against Nathaniel. Derrick did not expect him to come out halfway and almost ruin his plans.
Fortunately, Derrick discovered his scheme early and made such an arrangement that Nathaniel naively thought he had successfully kidnapped him.
As an established businessman with years of experience, he knew people from the police force and the underworld. How could he not learn about what Nathaniel’s accomplices were up to?
It was naive for Nathaniel to expect those small-time gangsters to hold Derrick hostage because they were nothing to Derrick. Still, it turned out to be good, as Derrick could simultaneously eliminate potential threats.
There were many new faces at the board meeting chaired by Derrick. "I have two things to announce. Firstly, I, Derrick Tanner, will step down as the chairman of Tanner Corporation so I can take a back seat.”
"Mr. Tanner..." Everyone else gasped in shock.
Now that the crisis was over, they did not understand why he chose this moment to step down and wondered what to do if new problems cropped up.
"Don't panic." He raised his hand and continued, "Even if I step down, I'll still be assisting the new chairman. The only difference is that the new chairman will be makingdecisions from now on.”
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 904
"Let's welcome our new chairman!" The door opened, and Benedict entered.
Many gasped since they all had heard that he had died. Not only was Benedict still alive, but he also showed up as the new chairman of Tanner Corporation. The quick-witted ones caught quickly realized that Derrick had planned much of what had happened for this very day.
Like a loving father, Derrick had gotten rid of all the obstacles so Benedict could safely replace him. Soon, everyone clapped to welcome him, knowing that they should at least show support for the new chairman.
Benedict walked over and said solemnly, "It’s not the first time I've been here, and it’s not the first time I've joined the meeting either. However, this is my first time standing here as your chairman. From now on, I'll be working hard with you all to make Tanner Corporation even greater."
"I believe Benedict needs no introduction, as you all know him. Let’s move on to the second agenda. Our company is going to launch a new project which could potentially contribute to the bulk of our profits in the future. Since Benedict is the person in charge, let's hear it from him.”
Benedict sat beside his father, removed a document from a folder, and handed a flash drive to the meeting secretary, who then connected it to a computer and brought up the presentation via projection.
Everyone was stunned to see the projected words on the big screen.” Wooden sculpture?"
‘This is something the company has never done before. Why should we do this? Besides, is it even profitable?’
"Yes, wooden sculpture.” Nodding, Benedict responded, "I know you guys must have doubts over this project, seeing that it's something the company has never done before."
After a pause, he continued, "Well, technically, we have done it. We've done it under wraps as the project was still developing and meant to be a preliminary trial.
"Over the last few months, I've gone to Middle Valley and some tropical areas to look for suitable wood materials and secure their suppliers. I've also researched the market. Since not many have paid attention to it, there are few competitors, and the market potential is significant.
"As artworks, wooden sculptures can obtain a very high collection value, and many enthusiasts offer sky-high prices. Besides selecting sculptors, I've also... Well, not long ago, I got an order with a profit that could last US for at least three years!"
Benedict pulled up all types of data analyses he had prepared so everyone could get his points straight away. Those who initially doubted the project now thought differently and became very interested.
"Not bad at all. Some of our projects are doing okay, but they are part of the sunset industries, and we must prepare ahead. Benny is right to have such foresight. I think the project is doable."
"Shouldn't you address him as Mr. Tanner now?"
"Y-Yes, Mr. Tanner! Under Mr. Tanner's leadership, I'm sure Tanner Corporation would have a great future."
"Way to go, Mr. Tanner! We're all behind the new project!"
Benedict relaxed a bit. After all, it was the first time he had taken charge of a project alone, and he felt slightly nervous. He exchanged a look with his father and revealed a slight smile.
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 905
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Joseph did not expect to meet his elder brother in this state and felt overwhelmed with emotions. He did not even know what to say. "Derrick. I..."
Having discovered what had happened over the past two days, Joseph went from shock to acceptance to slowly understanding the truth.
It was only a couple of months, but he felt like he had finally woken up from an endless nightmare. Joseph thought he had everything under control but now realized he was just a pawn in someone else's plans.
In the end, all he had gotten was this.
Derrick pulled a chair over and sat in front of his younger brother, asking warmly, "How are you feeling now?"
“How else would I be feeling? I'll have to live like this for the rest of my life." Joseph sighed, looking older than even Derrick.
"Derrick, I only have a favor to ask. I know I've done you wrong, but I hope you can promise me something since we're brothers, and I've ended up like this."
"Is it about your son?” Derrick thought about it and asked.
Joseph nodded. "He’s my only son. I have always wanted to give him the best and leave everything to him, but I didn't think all my efforts would be in vain. After so many years, I couldn't give him and his mother what they deserved, and he had grown up without a father. Now..."
Damian had gotten arrested for making a false report and perjury. Joseph's two children were in jail, and Eloise had given him the cold shoulder for quite some time. Meanwhile, Elizabeth visited him twice just to kick up a storm and left in tears.
Joseph had been in nurses’ care. He would have been more miserable if he was not rich or a member of the Tanner family.
"Joseph!" Derrick sighed. "Have you ever thought about Arianna?"
"Huh?" Joseph looked confused.
"I understand your concern for your son, but Arianna is your daughter. Have you ever worried about her?”
Joseph frowned, not quite getting what he was trying to say. "I surely have. I've given her the best since she was young and treated her like a princess.’
"Really? Still, all you cared about was what you could do for your son. Have you done the same for her?”
Stunned, Joseph answered after a pause, "After what she had done, I've already been fatherly enough not to hold a grudge against her."
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 906
Joseph thought about how Arianna had threatened his livelihood, ‘What kind of daughter would dare treat her father that way?’
Derrick shook his head and said earnestly, "Then, why did she do this? Have you ever thought about why she has such great ambitions? Also, have you seen what she has done for the company over the past few years? Isn't Ari being a bit too greedy with her ambitions? I've already given her so much. I even told her that once Damian inherited the company, she would be the first lady with power over Tanner Corporation. Yet, she’s still unsatisfied."
Derrick laughed when he heard that, "Look at you. You still don't understand what’s happening, even now. Since you feel you've given her so much, why are you letting your illegitimate son inherit the company? Why haven't you considered maybe Ari could also lead Tanner Corporation to success?
"I know there were troubles at the company over the past few days, and I've been in the hospital. I didn't bother stepping in because I wanted to see how you guys could handle it
"Look, it's obvious that your son isn't as capable as Ari. Not only was Damian's project a mess, but he also involved several perfumers, allowing himself to fall into all sorts of traps. Have you ever considered what would happen if we handed the company to him?"
What Derrick said had crossed Joseph's mind, but he deliberately ignored it. Joseph felt he had no choice because Damian was his only son. He also did not know to who else he could entrust the company.
"Well, Damian is just inexperienced. I believe he'll grow and learn from what has happened. Just give him a chance, Derrick! He’s still so young, and with his criminal record, I’m afraid it'll be hard for him to find a job elsewhere. Let him work with Tanner Corporation and learn along the way. I'm sure he will do well!’
"Oh, my dear brother, why are you still focused on Damian?" Derrick sighed, standing up to pour himself a glass of water. "I know you've always favored sons over daughters, but I didn't expect you to be so heavily biased. What about Ari? You keep saying Damian can learn, but why wont you give Ari a chance?"
"She's a girl. She'll marry into another family sooner or later," Joseph muttered.
"What century are you living in to have this mindset still?! You, as her father, bear the most responsibility for what Ari is today!"
Derrick did not hold back on his words as he sipped on water.
However, Joseph was still unconvinced. "Derrick, why are you targeting me? The only reason you're saying this is because you're on top. Aren't you the same? Haven't you given everything to your son?"
"This is where you're wrong!" Derrick turned and shot Joseph a piercing look. He continued, "I gave it to Benedict because I know he can bear this burden. I will never force it on him if he’s incapable.
"It is part of my plan to step back and give you guys a chance, but look at what happened! The company is in shambles, our people are fighting each other, and people feel pressured to choose sides.
"How many times has the company been on the news? How much has the company's stock dropped? Did you even think about any of this? You thought Benny was dead just because he hadn't been around, and what did you do next?
"He’s your nephew at the end of the day. Did you ever send anyone to look for him? Instead, Ari rushed to the hospital to tell me about his ‘death.’ Were you trying to kill me sooner?
‘When you guys were fighting among yourselves, Benedict traveled to different places to discuss future businesses and projects, bringing in huge profits for the company. Why wouldn't I hand the company over to him?
"Joseph, you never changed, even after so many years. Since we're talking about our sons and your daughter, I’d never change what I did even if Benny were born a girl because he is capable.
"Can you care about so many things after a hundred years? Aren't we supposed to be parents to our children? Think about all these years. Do you even deserve Eloise or Elizabeth? Do you even deserve your two children? Look at the absurd things you've done!”
Derrick initially did not plan to reprimand Joseph like this, but it seemed Joseph still had not learned a thing.
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 907
"Derrick, even if I'm in the wrong, you should help me take care of Damian... and...Ari,’ Joseph cautiously said after a moment of hesitation.
At this point, he had no one else to turn to except Derrick. The two were brothers at the end of the day. Joseph could only hope that blood was thicker than water and that Derrick would be willing to help.
"Well talk about it once they're out. They're children of the Tanner family anyway. However, anything that has to do with the company will be under Benny's care in the future. I won't interfere in any of the company's personnel changes. Besides Benny, people from the HR department will handle those. Regardless, I can assure you your children won't suffer.”
That was the best Derrick could do. If he allowed nepotism to continue in the company, Tanner Corporation would fall sooner or later. Joseph lowered his gaze, a little disappointed. He initially thought his children would have a chance to re-enter the company. Even if they could not hold a position as high as they did before, they would still at least be managers.
However, now that the power was in Benedict's hands, coupled with what Derrick had said, it seemed like there was no room for discussion.
‘Well, if that's the case, there's nothing much I can say,” Joseph sighed, "By the way, how did you think of such a sophisticated plan? After all, before you got hospitalized, we all followed the rules."
‘Following the rules?” Derrick sneered and looked at Joseph. "Do you honestly think I have no idea what happens behind closed doors? Do you think I know how often our company's projects have gotten in trouble? Do you think I've never questioned the suppliers about the materials they brought?"
"I..." Joseph had no idea his elder brother knew these things since Derrick had always feigned ignorance. Ultimately, Joseph bought into it. The little part of dissatisfaction in him immediately dissipated. "I see."
"Well, I'll leave you to rest. I'll-" Suddenly, the door opened as Derrick was about to say something.
Eloise stood in the doorway and was surprised to see him. A look of embarrassment flashed across her face before she quickly tidied up her hair. "D-Derrick, you're here.”
"Mhm.” Derrick nodded. He noticed her embarrassment and continued,’ Since you're here, I'll leave you two to talk. I happen to be leaving as well.’
"Derrick, wait!” She called out. Then she turned to look at Joseph on the hospital bed before pursing her lips, saying, "Since you're here, hear me out. I have something to say."
Derrick did not argue and stayed. Only then did he notice the folder in her hand.
Eloise opened the folder and revealed a stack of documents and a pen before passing it to Joseph, saying, "Joseph, sign it."
Joseph was startled. When he saw the words on the paper, his face turned blue.
"Divorce papers?! Eloise, have you lost your mind?! Why are you asking for a divorce at a time like this?!" Although Joseph wanted to get up, it was a struggle in his current physical condition, so he fell back onto his bed.
"I know it's a bit much for me to file a divorce now, but I don't want to delay it any longer. After so many years, I think I finally had enough," Eloise said,’ I've already hired a lawyer to draft the terms. You can take a look at how we'd divide the properties. I won't take advantage of you, but I'll take as much as I think I deserve.”
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 908
Joseph refused to accept it and threw the documents to the ground with a flick. ‘Il won't sign it! I won't sign it!"
"It's your choice. If you don't sign it, I'll sue you. Let's separate from each other for a while. Whatever it is, I know I won't stay with you any longer. I'm tired, Joseph, I genuinely am.”
"Tired? Eloise, we've been together for years. Now that I'm like this, you're just going to divorce me?!" Joseph growled as he patted his leg unconsciously.
"Joseph, you know that's not the reason. Indeed, many envy me for marrying into a wealthy family. I'm sure we're both aware of how much you've given me and what I've done for the family over the years.
"Still, you proudly parade around with your mistress for years and even bring your illegitimate child into our home. Have you ever stopped to consider how I'd look and feel? Have you honestly never considered getting a divorce?"
This question immediately stumped Joseph. He did think about it before. Every second he spent in Elizabeth's embrace encouraged him to consider filing for a divorce. However, divorce was not an easy task.
Initially, he thought he could carry on living like this. The worst thing that could happen was that he would have to attend to both of the women at the same time. He enjoyed having both of them in his life, but he did not expect this twist of fate where Eloise would file a divorce against him.
“I'm not going to sign the papers.” Joseph looked up and noticed Derrick still lingering around and called out to him," Derrick, please help me persuade her. This woman has lost her mind.”
"El..." Derrick’s eyes darted from Joseph to Eloise.
"Derrick, please don't try and talk me out of this," Eloise said earnestly.
"I was going to say, if you think this is the right thing to do, go for it.”
Joseph did not expect his brother to say such a thing, and his eyes widened in shock. "Derrick, what are you saying? Have you lost your mind too? Why are you encouraging her to divorce me?!"
"Joseph, as I said, you have yet to think things through. Do you think you've been doing your part as a husband and a father?"
"I don't want to hear any of that! Are you all trying to kill me?! All right, you'll get what you wish for! I'll jump off this building right now and die!" At this moment, Joseph seemed to have lost his mind and began yelling maniacally.
However, Eloise did not cave in, let alone soften her posture. Instead, she sharply retaliated, "Yes! You deserve to die! Go ahead and fall to your death, Joseph Tanner. Who do you think is to blame for what you've become now?
"Are you jumping off this building because you feel guilty toward me or because of the father you've been toward Arianna? No! It’s all for your son! Your son that you wanted so badly! It has nothing to do with Ari or me at all
"I don't want to be entangled with you like this anymore! Let me go. I'm tired!" Eloise bent down to pick up the divorce papers as she spoke, "Up until today, there has always been a grudge between US. After you sign this, we'll have nothing to do with each other anymore. You'll have your son, and I'll have my daughter with me."
This time, Joseph did not act out. Instead, he gloomily allowed her to push the papers onto his chest.
"Derrick!" Eloise turned around to look at Derrick.
Derrick raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
"I'm so sorry for everything from the past few years. Indeed, I had selfish intentions and plotted against you, so this is my retribution. You might not want anything to do with me anymore, but you and Stephanie will always be my family,” Eloise sighed deeply, looking miserable.
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 909
Eloise's recent experiences and her son and daughter's imprisonment were like a hail strike on her. The ploy she had spent half her life planning-how the Tanner family's properties would end up in her children's laps-came crashing down.
She was now alone, and nothing interested her anymore. She had fought and stepped on eggshells for years, yet, what was it all for?
Nathaniel turned out to be a monster she almost could not recognize, plotting against his sister. As for Arianna, Eloise did not have the heart to see her again. She had failed as a mother and as a wife.
Joseph cared for Elizabeth all year round and even raised a son with her. He even brought his illegitimate son home to try and inherit the family business. Eloise had nothing else apart from having the title of being his wife.
All her hopes and efforts came to nothing. It was all futile.
"No matter how selfish you were, you've still taken care of Stephanie all these years. The Tanner family is also yours. Even..." Derrick trailed off and glanced at Joseph, who had a gloomy expression, and continued, "Even if you're no longer married to Joseph, you'll always be a part of this family."
"Thank you, Derrick!" Eloise immediately burst into tears of gratitude.
Derrick cast a deep look at Joseph before sighing.
Lily was currently riding the waves of success as everything went smoothly. The collaboration was enjoyable, and the positive response she received after officially announcing her association with Grandeur was overwhelming.
Besides that, she had also received the investigation results into the Perfumers’ Society. Sources confirmed that Lawrence Adler had lost his sense of smell long ago. As soon as the news spread, other industries were shocked, not to mention the perfume industry.
How could he, as a perfumer and the president of the Perfumers’ Society, not be able to smell? What rights did he have to judge competitions, then?
At this moment, the contestants he had judged began to protest. They posted all sorts of statements, and Lawrence fell from his high horse overnight. It was truly embarrassing for him.
This was human nature. People would worship anyone superior, but after getting a glimpse of the human side of the person they looked up to, they would turn against them.
Anger would cloud their judgment, thinking their idol had deceived them, and their retaliation would be relentless.
Meanwhile, things had not been going well for Noah either. He had gotten dismissed because of his relationship with Lawrence. There seemed to be a significant change within the Perfumers’ Society, and it was hard to tell if everything could return to normal again.
Firstly, Lawrence's deceitful behavior caused dissatisfaction among the public. Secondly, there was an issue with the perfumers’ license. Moreover. Lily's collaboration with a big, international brand was simply a slap in the face.
As mentioned before, there was no such thing in this world, and the license was unnecessary. The so-called practicing qualification certificates and licenses were simply a threshold that the Perfumers’ Society had created. Therefore. most wondered if these things held any value.
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 910
Lily's name was constantly being looked up, even more so than during the time of her previous lawsuit with Nathaniel. The fact that her name was being connected to him once more annoyed her.
Even so, it was not anything extreme. People were just comparing the past with the present and expressing how they felt about it. Lily was initially branded a plagiarist and a liar and accused of stealing other people's work. All of her accusers now appeared to have received a slap in the face.
Nathaniel, on the other hand, went from being the president of MN Inc. to being shunned by the general populace. He was rumored to take over as chairman of the Tanner Corporation, but instead he wound up in jail. It was definitely worthwhile to remember these momentous events.
It was absurd to think that this was all actually happening, and even TV shows were less dramatic than reality. Their entire relationship was on display for the world to see, and now Lily had her devoted followers.
On account of this, searches for “Lily and Nathaniel,” "Lily and Lawrence," and "Lily and the Perfumers’ Society" were all extremely popular. Her name alone accounted for more than half of the most popular searches.
Lily had to stay inside and turn off her phone so she could avoid all the heat in peace. The netizens were going wild on the Internet, and someone even suggested that she take over the Perfumers’ Society. After all, she was the one who aired the industry's dirty laundry and shifted public opinion.
Lily had now become a legendary figure in this industry. The more one read about her, the more mythical she became.
Lily felt helpless. She had never wanted to be the center of attention, whether for good or bad reasons. It all started because she did not want to let a piece of paper prove her worth. She would not have gone to such lengths if the Perfumers’ Society had not singled her out for harassment, threatened to sue her, and forced her out of the industry.
However, she had no regrets. It was to be expected that Lawrence's sense of smell would decline with age. On top of the external factors that could have impacted his sensitivity, it was common for perfumers to overuse their noses.
He should have stepped away like a responsible man would in order to protect his good reputation. Instead, he stayed on top and did not care about the young perfumers whose lives he could have ruined with his decisions.
Could it be that power and money really blinded him?
It was rumored that Lawrence hardly ever left the house anymore. The criticism he faced in public was severe and he might not be able to handle much stimulation at his age.
The impact of it might be disastrous. Since Lily had not seen Lawrence, so she did not know his current situation. If they ever crossed paths again, she would ask him whether he thought it was all worth it.
"I'm sorry, but Ms. Christian is currently occupied and isn't able to answer your call. If you are interested in doing business with US, please leave a message. Thank you." All the business calls were being redirected to Olivia, and she was just repeating canned responses.
Helplessly, she sipped some honey water to soothe her throat. "All these calls are drying out my throat! Wouldn't I die of exhaustion if you really became president of the society?” Olivia whined.
Lily smiled and said, "No, because I won't be the president of any society!"
"With the Perfumers’ Society's current state, you're the only one who can appear in front of the public and rekindle their confidence in it. If you don't, the society might have to be dissolved.”