The Abandoned Bride's Flash Marriage - Chapter 19: Chapter 19
You are reading The Abandoned Bride's Flash Marriage, Chapter 19: Chapter 19. Read more chapters of The Abandoned Bride's Flash Marriage.
Quentin stared at the contract in disbelief. "You landed Verde Group's project at your first meeting?"
Gwyneth sneered, "Of course. It's all here, in black and white."
Years ago, when Verde Group was just a dozen people strong, she'd seen potential in their new energy project and thrown them a lifeline.
Later, as a key shareholder at Everprosper Group, she'd pulled out the investment to clean up the books before going public. She'd missed out on Verde's shares, but the favor was still remembered.
Melanie's eyes welled up. "Dad, even though Gwyneth got Verde Group's project, she doesn't know how Jenkins Group works—"
"I don't know?" Gwyneth called over a colleague. "Bring me those two folders." Inside were Jenkins Group's public data from the past two years, along with spot-on estimates about their internal restructuring and investment ratios.
Melanie gasped, "You've only been here a few days! How could you—"
Gwyneth gave her a cold look. "Jenkins Group's projects are all laid out. The financial reports are facts, and the rest is public knowledge. It's not rocket science. So, Dad, do you finally believe I'm ready for the Vice President position?"
Quentin was speechless—Gwyneth was really something.
Melanie stamped her foot in frustration. She wanted to keep playing the sweet daughter and made Quentin change his mind.
But Gwyneth pressed on. "But if Harrison keeps blocking those two projects, our funding chain will be in serious trouble by the end of the year. Dad—are you really willing to gamble everything for Melanie?"
If the cash flow broke, the Jenkins Group would go bankrupt within months. Before Melanie could say more, Quentin cut her off. "Effective immediately, Gwyneth is promoted to Vice President."
Gwyneth sneered and marched off to find her office without looking back.
Melanie sobbed even harder, "Dad, look at Gwyneth!"
"Enough! I'll handle this." Quentin said through clenched teeth. Then he ordered his secretary, "Tell Gwyneth to bring her husband for family dinner this weekend."
"Understood." The secretary quietly slipped away.
Quentin's eyes flared with a cold, murderous intent. For years, he had felt shackled by Gwyneth's mother. Only after her death did he finally feel free.
He couldn't believe that after more than a decade, Gwyneth, his so-called daughter, had returned to haunt him.
"Like a bad penny! Why didn't you both just die during childbirth? All I need is your valuable porcelain," he muttered to himself.
Gwyneth got a text from the secretary and quickly messaged Harrison: [My father's invited us for a family dinner this weekend. Let me know if you're free.]
The Lopez family was already tricky enough, while the Jenkins family was a whole other mess. If Harrison showed up, he'd be grilled about work projects the moment he walked in.
She didn't want him to get in trouble for her revenge. So she frowned and added: [I can say no for you.]
To her surprise, Harrison called right back. "I'm in."
"You don't have to go," Gwyneth said, pursing her lips. She was used to handling the Jenkins family by now.
"I can be there for you." Harrison's voice was steady.
And somehow, Gwyneth felt a flicker of something unexpected. Having someone in her corner felt kind of nice. After a moment, she agreed to meet Harrison and head home together.
That weekend, Quentin had the housekeeper prepare a lavish dinner. Diana and Melanie couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy—Quentin had only gone to such lengths for no one else but Harrison.
Harrison and Gwyneth arrived together. Gwyneth carried a couple of shopping bags from a quick stop she'd made while waiting for him. Harrison, in his custom-tailored suit, smelled faintly of alcohol, as if he'd just rushed over from a party.
"You ditched the opening ceremony early, but you still got plenty of drinks in. Better eat something to sober up." Gwyneth said, guiding him to a seat without acknowledging the others.
Harrison just pinched the bridge of his nose quietly and settled in as if they were the only ones there.
Quentin felt awkward, unsure of how to break the ice. He simply gestured for Diana and Melanie to join them and told the housekeeper to bring out the rest of the dishes.
The table was soon laid with an array of mouthwatering dishes.
But Harrison was sitting there with his eyes closed, looking like he was catching a few minutes of rest.
Quentin glanced over and decided to shift the focus. "You should've let me know Mr. Lopez had been drinking. I could've had the housekeeper get something to help him sober up.
"Anyway, you've been doing great at the company, but those projects are still dragging. Why not ask him for some advice while he's here?"
It was all business, no warmth. Gwyneth had long since learned to tune it out.
However, Harrison's eyes fluttered open, and he reached out to gently take Gwyneth's wrist. "What's up? Running into trouble?"
She didn't flinch. Instead, she placed a plate of food next to him. "It's because of you holding up those projects. Dad can't yell at you, so I'm the one taking the heat."
"Wha— I didn't mean it like that!" Quentin spluttered, his face turning pale.
Harrison let go of her wrist, his expression turning cold. "I held up the projects because you were too busy to visit Grandpa. I didn't expect it would backfire on you like this."
Gwyneth raised an eyebrow. She knew the project had been stalled before she even missed visiting Liam. Harrison was spinning a tale.
She propped her chin on her hand and teased, her respectful tone laced with a touch of sarcasm, "So, Mr. Lopez, what's the plan now? More obstacles?"
Quentin's eyes widened. 'Who does she think she is, talking to Harrison like that?'
Melanie, however, thought Gwyneth had gone too far. She just sneered, "Whoa, chill. You and your husband are supposed to be a team, no? Maybe the Lopez family doesn't think much of ours, and he's just caught in the middle—"
"Honey, whatever you say," Harrison cut her off smoothly.
Melanie's face twisted in frustration. 'The mighty Harrison's being gentle with Gwyneth! Why? How?'
Gwyneth knew Harrison was playing along. She took a deep breath and feigned reluctance. "But to be honest, I'm just the Jenkins family's daughter without any real shares. Whether the project stays or gets scrapped, I'll only earn commissions, not dividends..."
Quentin's eyes narrowed at her obvious stalling. "Don't be silly, honey. Remember I gave you 3% shares as your wedding gift?" he quickly interjected.
Diana gasped—Quentin'd never mentioned anything about shares before.
"Shares are one thing," Gwyneth continued, "but as Dad's daughter, I've hardly received any spending money all these years—"
"6 million. Use it freely," Quentin said hurriedly.
"And my mother's photo," Gwyneth said, her gaze sharp as she looked at Diana. "Now that Mom's gone, I feel like an outsider. If her photo can't hang on the wall of the memorial hall, I don't even know if I still belong."
Diana's eyes blazed with anger, her knuckles turning white as she clutched her fork.
The tension broke when Harrison spoke up, "Doesn't my mother-in-law's photo deserve a place in your family memorial hall?"
Gwyneth sneered, "Of course. It's all here, in black and white."
Years ago, when Verde Group was just a dozen people strong, she'd seen potential in their new energy project and thrown them a lifeline.
Later, as a key shareholder at Everprosper Group, she'd pulled out the investment to clean up the books before going public. She'd missed out on Verde's shares, but the favor was still remembered.
Melanie's eyes welled up. "Dad, even though Gwyneth got Verde Group's project, she doesn't know how Jenkins Group works—"
"I don't know?" Gwyneth called over a colleague. "Bring me those two folders." Inside were Jenkins Group's public data from the past two years, along with spot-on estimates about their internal restructuring and investment ratios.
Melanie gasped, "You've only been here a few days! How could you—"
Gwyneth gave her a cold look. "Jenkins Group's projects are all laid out. The financial reports are facts, and the rest is public knowledge. It's not rocket science. So, Dad, do you finally believe I'm ready for the Vice President position?"
Quentin was speechless—Gwyneth was really something.
Melanie stamped her foot in frustration. She wanted to keep playing the sweet daughter and made Quentin change his mind.
But Gwyneth pressed on. "But if Harrison keeps blocking those two projects, our funding chain will be in serious trouble by the end of the year. Dad—are you really willing to gamble everything for Melanie?"
If the cash flow broke, the Jenkins Group would go bankrupt within months. Before Melanie could say more, Quentin cut her off. "Effective immediately, Gwyneth is promoted to Vice President."
Gwyneth sneered and marched off to find her office without looking back.
Melanie sobbed even harder, "Dad, look at Gwyneth!"
"Enough! I'll handle this." Quentin said through clenched teeth. Then he ordered his secretary, "Tell Gwyneth to bring her husband for family dinner this weekend."
"Understood." The secretary quietly slipped away.
Quentin's eyes flared with a cold, murderous intent. For years, he had felt shackled by Gwyneth's mother. Only after her death did he finally feel free.
He couldn't believe that after more than a decade, Gwyneth, his so-called daughter, had returned to haunt him.
"Like a bad penny! Why didn't you both just die during childbirth? All I need is your valuable porcelain," he muttered to himself.
Gwyneth got a text from the secretary and quickly messaged Harrison: [My father's invited us for a family dinner this weekend. Let me know if you're free.]
The Lopez family was already tricky enough, while the Jenkins family was a whole other mess. If Harrison showed up, he'd be grilled about work projects the moment he walked in.
She didn't want him to get in trouble for her revenge. So she frowned and added: [I can say no for you.]
To her surprise, Harrison called right back. "I'm in."
"You don't have to go," Gwyneth said, pursing her lips. She was used to handling the Jenkins family by now.
"I can be there for you." Harrison's voice was steady.
And somehow, Gwyneth felt a flicker of something unexpected. Having someone in her corner felt kind of nice. After a moment, she agreed to meet Harrison and head home together.
That weekend, Quentin had the housekeeper prepare a lavish dinner. Diana and Melanie couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy—Quentin had only gone to such lengths for no one else but Harrison.
Harrison and Gwyneth arrived together. Gwyneth carried a couple of shopping bags from a quick stop she'd made while waiting for him. Harrison, in his custom-tailored suit, smelled faintly of alcohol, as if he'd just rushed over from a party.
"You ditched the opening ceremony early, but you still got plenty of drinks in. Better eat something to sober up." Gwyneth said, guiding him to a seat without acknowledging the others.
Harrison just pinched the bridge of his nose quietly and settled in as if they were the only ones there.
Quentin felt awkward, unsure of how to break the ice. He simply gestured for Diana and Melanie to join them and told the housekeeper to bring out the rest of the dishes.
The table was soon laid with an array of mouthwatering dishes.
But Harrison was sitting there with his eyes closed, looking like he was catching a few minutes of rest.
Quentin glanced over and decided to shift the focus. "You should've let me know Mr. Lopez had been drinking. I could've had the housekeeper get something to help him sober up.
"Anyway, you've been doing great at the company, but those projects are still dragging. Why not ask him for some advice while he's here?"
It was all business, no warmth. Gwyneth had long since learned to tune it out.
However, Harrison's eyes fluttered open, and he reached out to gently take Gwyneth's wrist. "What's up? Running into trouble?"
She didn't flinch. Instead, she placed a plate of food next to him. "It's because of you holding up those projects. Dad can't yell at you, so I'm the one taking the heat."
"Wha— I didn't mean it like that!" Quentin spluttered, his face turning pale.
Harrison let go of her wrist, his expression turning cold. "I held up the projects because you were too busy to visit Grandpa. I didn't expect it would backfire on you like this."
Gwyneth raised an eyebrow. She knew the project had been stalled before she even missed visiting Liam. Harrison was spinning a tale.
She propped her chin on her hand and teased, her respectful tone laced with a touch of sarcasm, "So, Mr. Lopez, what's the plan now? More obstacles?"
Quentin's eyes widened. 'Who does she think she is, talking to Harrison like that?'
Melanie, however, thought Gwyneth had gone too far. She just sneered, "Whoa, chill. You and your husband are supposed to be a team, no? Maybe the Lopez family doesn't think much of ours, and he's just caught in the middle—"
"Honey, whatever you say," Harrison cut her off smoothly.
Melanie's face twisted in frustration. 'The mighty Harrison's being gentle with Gwyneth! Why? How?'
Gwyneth knew Harrison was playing along. She took a deep breath and feigned reluctance. "But to be honest, I'm just the Jenkins family's daughter without any real shares. Whether the project stays or gets scrapped, I'll only earn commissions, not dividends..."
Quentin's eyes narrowed at her obvious stalling. "Don't be silly, honey. Remember I gave you 3% shares as your wedding gift?" he quickly interjected.
Diana gasped—Quentin'd never mentioned anything about shares before.
"Shares are one thing," Gwyneth continued, "but as Dad's daughter, I've hardly received any spending money all these years—"
"6 million. Use it freely," Quentin said hurriedly.
"And my mother's photo," Gwyneth said, her gaze sharp as she looked at Diana. "Now that Mom's gone, I feel like an outsider. If her photo can't hang on the wall of the memorial hall, I don't even know if I still belong."
Diana's eyes blazed with anger, her knuckles turning white as she clutched her fork.
The tension broke when Harrison spoke up, "Doesn't my mother-in-law's photo deserve a place in your family memorial hall?"
End of The Abandoned Bride's Flash Marriage Chapter 19. Continue reading Chapter 20 or return to The Abandoned Bride's Flash Marriage book page.