StarNovel
Chapter 714 An Extraordinary Presence in the Industry
Charlotte could not believe a word when she heard from Lachlan last night that Joseph was the
mastermind behind her abduction. She could not understand why she had suddenly fainted despite
only having juice the previous night. Moreover, there were only her and Joseph in the private room.
On top of her doubts about what Lachlan said, hearing about Leanna's close call filled Charlotte with
fear.
Leanna comforted her gently. "Charlotte, I understand it might be hard for you to accept right now, but it
was indeed Joseph's doings."
As Charlotte heard this, tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably. She anxiously said, "But… Uncle
Joseph has always been kind to me when I was little. He would never hurt me or do such things. Could
it be a misunderstanding—"
"It's not, Charlotte. People change." Leanna gently explained, "Have you ever wondered why your
grandfather and father never mentioned him for so many years? And even during major incidents in
your family, he never showed the slightest concern or worry for them."
Charlotte's realization sank in as she absorbed Leanna's words. She attempted to speak but found
herself unable to utter a single word.
Leanna continued, "Perhaps his feelings for you were genuine, and he never intended to harm you. But
Charlotte, that doesn't mean he wouldn't harm others."
After rescuing Charlotte last time, Lachlan chose not to disclose the truth to her. Besides Aidan's
account, which she found hard to believe, there was also the undeniable fact that Joseph always
presented himself as a gentle and kind uncle in her presence, regardless of his actions.
He might have used Charlotte during the two incidents but had not caused her any direct harm.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtLeanna was unaware of Joseph's experiences in Jamesdon ten years ago. However, she sensed that
even within the heart of someone who had committed such heinous acts, a place of purity and
tenderness could still exist.
For Joseph, that place belonged to Charlotte. She was the innocent and adorable little girl who
believed in him unconditionally and relied on him. Even after ten years, she jumped for joy and
excitedly called him 'Uncle Joseph' when she learned he was still alive.
As for her, she had been well-protected since childhood. Apart from the people she disliked, there were
no absolute villains around her. She could not see the evil in Joseph, nor could she comprehend how
bad he truly was.
The reason why Lachlan chose to disclose this to her now was that she had overly let her guard down
regarding Joseph. She might have only fainted last night, but who could have predicted what would
happen the next time?
Charlotte kept her head down, seemingly upset, but Leanna patted her head. "Oh, Charlotte. Many
times, there is no absolute right or wrong in this world. If he has never harmed you, and your heart still
finds him deserving of your trust, it's okay to hold onto your feelings for him. Because to him, you're a
unique presence as well."
Charlotte raised her head with red eyes. "Really?"
Leanna replied, "Yes. Just remember that at the same time, he'll still go on to harm others, maybe even
the people closest to you."
Confused, Charlotte sat there motionless.
"Joseph is just your uncle. Once you strip away that identity, he's a different person."
Charlotte finally understood.
Leanna asked her, "Have you had breakfast?"
"Not yet…"
Leanna took out her phone. "What do you want? I'll order for you."
She believed she had said everything she could, and trusted Charlotte could discern right from wrong.
Otherwise, Charlotte would not be upset upon learning that Joseph was behind this. She explained in
the hopes of comforting Charlotte.
…
It was already noon when Zoe returned. She saw Charlotte and raised her hand to greet her, but
Charlotte turned and ran away. Hence, she looked at Leanna in confusion. "What's wrong with her?"
Leanna pulled Zoe into the office before explaining, "She already knows Joseph was behind those
things and feels ashamed to face you."
Zoe paused for a moment before chuckling. "That silly child."
Leanna asked, "Have you got your new SIM card?"
Zoe stretched lazily. "It's done. Took me a whole morning." With that, she added, "Are you feeling
better?"
Leanna nodded. "Much better."
"Okay, you go ahead and work. I'll go do my job."
"Zoe."
Hearing Leanna calling her, she looked back. "Yes?"
Leanna gazed at her but decided not to share her thoughts. Instead, she smiled and said, "It's nothing."
Zoe waved at her and left the office while Leanna sat back at her desk and let out a long sigh.
In the afternoon, Leanna finished drawing the new draft and stood up to stretch her neck. She picked
up her water cup, preparing to go out for some water.
As she walked out, she overheard the guests in the studio engaged in a lively discussion about the
recent events at Crossley Group. However, their focus was not on the sharp decline in the company's
stock price but rather on the unprecedented surge in its value. Many people were eager to buy their
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
shares but needed help to get in on the action.
Confused by the conversations, she hurriedly opened her phone in the pantry. The first news article
revealed that Complex Group had completed the initial round of financing for Crossley Group. In
addition, Southwest Group had also reached a strategic partnership with Crossley Group.
These two news articles came out one after another around noon.
Complex and Southwest Groups had both been globally recognized corporations, with the former
headquartered in Lachstein and the latter in Arcburg. With these recent developments, Crossley Group
could not only avoid bankruptcy and closure but also expand into the markets of the Eakruth and
Okrera continents.
The future development trend was terrifying. The investors no longer focused on the connection
between Crossley Group and these companies. Instead, they recognized that failing to purchase
Crossley Group's stocks at the moment would only result in potential losses.
At this moment, the upward trend of Crossley Group's stock price exceeded the highest peak in the
history of the Pearson Group.
If Leanna's speculation was accurate, Southwest Group was the company in which Aidan casually
invested, so she searched for more information about them. While limited news was available about the
company in Chiojan, she found ongoing discussions and explanations on various forums.
Information accumulated layer by layer.
The company started with only two or three young individuals and encountered numerous setbacks in
their entrepreneurial journey. Just when they were on the verge of giving up, a mysterious individual
unexpectedly invested in their venture.
Following that, the company experienced rapid growth. Within three years, it stood at the top of Navary
and collaborated with numerous multinational corporations. It secured the most significant benefits in
every major project it undertook.
It was an extraordinary presence in the industry and aroused people's intense longing.
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