Chapter 41
Adam, feeling a sense of defeat, reluctantly retrieved Mr. Dean’s phone number and passed it to Herman.
Herman jotted it down on a piece of paper and, after a moment of hesitation, dialed the number.
“Dear old Dean…” he muttered to himself, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
At this moment, Herman fully believed Harrison’s words. If the Harrison family’s claims were accurate, it was likely that Hubert’s family had already informed the hospital. He knew he wouldn’t gain any useful information by contacting Mr. Dean directly. Therefore, he decided to play the part of someone who had regained his memory.
The phone rang, and after a few moments, Mr. Dean answered. There was a brief hesitation before he spoke, “Who is this?”
Herman’s voice was casual, yet laced with a quiet tension. “Tell me, old Dean, did Nash cure my illness?”
Mr. Dean’s voice sharpened with irritation. “Who are you, and who’s Nash? Did you dial the wrong number?”
Without waiting for an explanation, Mr. Dean hung up, leaving Herman listening to the empty, buzzing line. His expression shifted to one of deep contemplation.
It seemed that Mr. Dean truly didn’t recognize him, which confirmed his suspicions. The Harrison family had fabricated a web of lies, likely to claim the family assets for themselves. The inconsistencies in their story were glaring. While Harrison might be foolish, Lauren—coming from a prestigious family—shouldn’t have been so easily misled.
Herman let out a long sigh as he processed the implications of the call. Slowly, he laid back down, his mind racing with unanswered questions.
Meanwhile, in Mr. Dean’s home, his wife stirred drowsily and asked, “Who was that? Who called you so late?”
Mr. Dean leaned back against his bed’s headboard, lighting a cigarette. He took a long drag, the smoke curling around him as he responded, “It was old Lewis…”
Mr. Dean already knew the situation with Herman. What he didn’t reveal to his wife was that he had been warned the previous day: if he didn’t feign ignorance about Herman, accidents would befall his family. Initially, Mr. Dean hadn’t taken the warning seriously. But that afternoon, a stranger had picked up his granddaughter from school, and the next day, security around the Lewis estate was tightened.
The warning had come far too close for comfort.
The following afternoon, Herman took action. He hired nearly thirty additional security personnel, reinforcing the mansion’s protection. The estate was now a fortress.
As the day progressed, Kai came to visit, accompanied by Hubert’s family. The atmosphere was surprisingly light and joyful. Herman, beaming with pride, couldn’t stop smiling. After all, Helena’s marriage into a prestigious family was a great source of pride for the Lewises.
Just as the family was enjoying their meal, Hera burst in, excitement radiating from her. “Grandpa, the CEO of Drake Group is here!”
At these words, the room froze. The mention of Drake Group sent a wave of nervous energy through everyone.
Drake Group was one of the top ten companies in Jonford, with 16 branch offices across the country and almost 30,000 employees per location. It was among the top 50 companies nationwide. Their vast empire spanned multiple sectors: automobiles, mobile phones, computers, tablets, gaming consoles, and virtually every other electronic product imaginable.
Rococo, the chip company Hera was involved with, had a long-standing interest in collaborating with Drake Group. But so did Helena’s family company. The mystery of why the CEO of such a colossal corporation would personally visit the Lewis estate hung in the air.
“Come with me to greet Ms. Olivia…” Herman said, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and curiosity. Even Kai followed, intrigued by the unexpected guest.
Outside, a stunning woman leaned casually against a Ferrari. Behind her, a fleet of supercars stretched across the driveway, each more extravagant than the ones Kai kept in his own garage.
A short-haired woman next to Olivia looked around, bewildered. “Oli, is all this really necessary? It’s just a small family gathering. Why such a big spectacle?”
Another voice chimed in, filled with skepticism. “I don’t get it. Why would that despicable man make such a fuss over the Lewises? They can’t even be considered a third-rate family!”