Return Of The Prodigy
Return of the Prodigy Chapter 157

Sofia watched the scene unfold in complete shock. After some time, she managed to ask, "Did you do this, Adam?"

"He has himself to blame. I simply sent someone to investigate him and handed the evidence to the cops," Adam smiled and replied. Sofia was stunned. "Did he really kill someone?"

Adam nodded. "He killed someone, and it was none other than his wife. He married into his wife's family. After he killed her, he took over Sunshine Group."

Sofia opened her eyes in shock for a few seconds before finally snapping out of it. "No wonder he insulted you earlier. The same thing must have happened to him when he married into his wife's family. I'm sure people humiliated him the same way in the past!" Adam smiled ambiguously. "Come on. The show's over. Let's go back."

Sofia paused momentarily before shaking her head and saying, "No way! Why do we have to go back so soon? The show has barely started, and I want a front-row seat. Come on. Let's go to the next company!" Adam smiled and said, "That's all. I didn't make arrangements to go to the next company."

"Why not?" Sofia said in disbelief. "A lot of companies have cut ties with Hartley Group. Even if we visited every company, it would take days to finish the job. Out with the truth! Did you secretly visit the other companies already?"

Adam was at a loss for words. "I really didn't do anything to the other companies," he explained. "I just wanted to make an example of him to scare the rest into changing their minds. If I take out every single company, who is going to do business with us?" Sofia pursed her lips and said, "This must be the reason all these reporters are here, right? You wanted everyone to see what happened to Neil so that they would think twice about terminating business with Hartley Group, right?" Adam nodded in response.

Sofia sighed and looked disappointed. "I certainly hope some dumbass will continue going against you!" she said resentfully.

Adam did not know what to say.

-

Meanwhile, in the capital.

Chet made himself a cup of coffee as he said, "Grandpa, the Camden family has already moved in for the kill. It's about time we do the same."

Andrew leaned against the lounge chair shaking his legs as he rested his eyes. He smiled as he asked, "Why do you think we should do it? Didn't you say we should stay out of it?"

Chet smiled and replied eloquently, "Things have changed, so our strategies have to change. I have three reasons for the suggestion. First, if we act now, no one will suspect us of helping Mr. Drake. People would simply assume we were attacking the Camden family. Second, the Camden family is already involved, so it's too late for them to chicken out. Third, we would help provide Mr. Drake with cover." Andrew chuckled and said, "What do you mean by provide cover?"

Chet continued, "If we make a move as well, the Camden family will be completely unsuspecting of Mr. Drake. Even if it'll hurt them, they'll just assume we did it. It would never dawn on them that Mr. Drake was behind it. The Camden family is very prideful, so they'll throw all they have at us and refuse to back off. By the time they discover the truth, it would already be too late."

Andrew opened his eyes and laughed out loud. "You want to bait our enemy. It's brilliant. In that case, how should we handle Enrico?"

Chet went quiet for a few moments and replied, "I've hardly had any interaction with Enrico, so I don't know him well. Please correct me if I am wrong." Andrew nodded. "Go on."

Chet said, "Firstly, Enrico comes from a complicated background. The Hamiltons and Camdens are businessmen. Enrico does have some businesses under his belt, so I'm sure he just wants money. This means both the families are competing with him. "Secondly, Enrico wants to be the uncrowned king of Alameda County, so he would never want either of our families to gain power. Instead, he wants everyone to take orders from him.

"Thirdly, Mr. Drake might make him think twice about getting involved, but he is no fool either. Since he did not get involved, Mr. Drake would never get him implicated.

"I think he won't tell the Camden family the truth about Mr. Drake. Instead, he will let them do his dirty work by using them against Mr. Drake. This way, he will kill many birds with one stone since it will hurt us, the Camdens, and Mr. Drake. If he is able to get the members of the Chamber of Commerce to help, I'm sure he will be the last man standing!"

Andrew got up from the lounge chair altogether and looked at his grandson proudly. "I think you will be able to take over my position within two years!"

Chet did not respond. He simply took a fresh cup of coffee for Andrew and said, "More coffee?"

-

Meanwhile, at Enrico's residence.

A gust of cold wind blew, leaving a few yellowed leaves swirling in its wake. The atmosphere in the residence felt tense.

Enrico watched as the fallen leaves swirled and said softly, "It's almost winter, and a snowstorm is upon us. Something big is finally going to happen!"

Overnight, news about the arrest of the CEO of Sunshine Group had spread throughout Lisle. Neil's secrets along with the murder of his wife to usurp the company had taken over the headlines. Sunshine Group lost its reputation overnight and got seized by the authorities. It was one of the top three construction companies in town, but it got wiped out overnight.

Some rumors about the reason for Sunshine Group's collapse spread like wildfire as well. People said Sunshine Group finally met its demise after getting involved in illegal activities. Some said Sunshine Group cut business ties with Hartley Group, so Hartley Group was responsible for its ruin. Some others even said that Sunshine Group had offended the Camden family by refusing to cut ties with Hartley Group and the Camden family was behind it.

All kinds of gossip were flying in the air making the incident seem even more mysterious. Companies that had severed ties with Hartley Group naturally felt worried.

-

Meanwhile, at the CEO's office in Hartley Group.

"Adam, are you sure this will work? Why hasn't anyone called us yet?" asked Sofia quizzically holding a cup of tea in her hands.

Adam smiled and said, "Don't worry. No one knows the truth yet, so people are still waiting to see how the pieces land. I told you to just wait for things to unfold."

Sofia went up to Katie and asked, "Katie, why don't you make a call and replace out?"

Katie pondered for a couple of seconds before she nodded and said, "Okay."

She then called a construction company called Skyrise.

Someone answered the phone before long.

Did she get through already? That was unexpectedly fast. Sofia could not help smiling when the phone got through.

Katie smiled and said courteously, "Hi there, Mr. Ortiz. I'm Katie Hartley. I'm calling to see if you have changed your mind. Can you tell the construction team to start working? Otherwise, it's going to cause delays." "Katie, were you behind the ruin of Sunshine Group?" Mr. Ortiz asked in a heavy tone.

Katie was caught by surprise. She turned to look at Adam.

Adam nodded in response.

"That's right," Katie said.

Mr. Ortiz burst out laughing instantly. "I just knew you would say that. Even if you weren't the mastermind, you had to claim credit for it. You just want to use it to scare everyone! You're too naïve. Hartley Group is a tiny company. What makes you think I would believe anything you say about finishing off Neil? Even if you genuinely did it, do I look like I care? Do I look scared to you? The Camden family has blacklisted your company. Do you think you have what it takes to go against them?"

Katie did not know what to say, so she held on to the phone in silence.

Sofia glared huffily and said indignantly, "Adam, time to finish them off."

Adam said nothing, but someone else's voice could be heard from over the phone.