Female Novel
Chapter 349
Chapter 349
That morning, Leandro came into the office at ten. Late again.
Keen didn’t show up until close to eleven.
When Yasmina saw him, she perked up. “Oh boy, you’re in for it now. Showing up this late. Mr.Reynolds being late is one thing, but you showing up even later?!”
“I had stuff to deal with!” Keen shot back, then asked, “Mr. Reynolds was late today?”
Yasmina nodded, then chuckled. “Based on past experience, Mr. Reynolds is usually in a good moodwhen he’s late.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely.” Yasmina said. “Haven’t you noticed the atmosphere in the office today? It’s like a breath offresh spring air.”
Hearing this, Keen sighed. “Well, that might change once I give my report.”
With that, he turned and knocked on Leandro’s office door.
Leandro was looking over some files. Keen took a deep breath, then stepped forward. “Mr. Reynolds,I’ve got some information on Bowen.”
Without looking up, Leandro simply said, “Spill.”
“Bowen was born in the northern district of Sunburst City in 1986. His biological parents were in theconstruction business, then started a small real estate company. In 2002, the company went bankrupt.They were drowning in debt. They couldn’t pay it off, so they both jumped off a building. Bowen got
seriously sick that year and supposedly lost his memory when he woke up. He was then adopted bythe Smith family.”
Hearing this, Leandro slowly looked up. “Why did his parents’ company go bankrupt?”
Keen took a breath, then continued, “They were working on a real estate project, Avalon Palace, withthe Reynolds Group at the time. But the project was halted not long after it started and didn’t resumeuntil you took over the company.”
Of course, Leandro knew about this.
The Reynolds Group had been on the brink of collapse at that time, and many projects were halted,including Avalon Palace. When Leandro took over, he went against opposition and started with AvalonPalace. Not long after the project restarted, the government introduced a new urban plan, and theproject area became a key development zone. Consequently, Avalon Palace became a landmarkluxury residential area in Sunburst City, helping the Reynolds Group through a tough
time.
Before that, the initial development of the project was led by Bruce.
By evening, Leandro’s car pulled into Reynolds Vista Retreat.
The entrance hall was empty when he walked in.
Leandro was about to head upstairs when Karan came out from the kitchen area. Seeing him, shebeamed. “You’re back? I was asking the kitchen to prepare your/ favorite dishes, but I wasn’t sure ifyou’d be eating here, so I didn’t tell your mom.”
Leandro paused, then said, “I need to talk to my dad first, then I’ll have dinner with her.”
“Oh, I’ll go tell her then!” Karan said. “She hasn’t been eating well. Seeing you might make her eatmore.”
Leandro nodded, then went upstairs to Bruce’s room.
Bruce looked like he had just gotten home. He was still in his suit, sitting on the sofa, watching an oldmovie on TV.
Seeing Leandro, Bruce turned down the TV volume and turned to him. “You wanted to talk?”
Leandro asked directly, “Do you remember the Avalon Palace project in 2002?”
Bruce frowned in thought for a moment, then said, “I have some memory of it, why?”
“There were three companies working with the Reynolds Group at the time. Are those companies stillaround after the project was halted?”novelbin
Bruce was clearly uncomfortable at the question, but he answered honestly. “Some things happenedback then. The bank called in the loan early, the project’s funding chain broke, the Reynolds Groupnearly collapsed, and those small companies went bankrupt not long after.”
Leandro asked, “Was there a way to save them?”
“How?” Bruce said. “They did come to me for help, but we were in a tough spot ourselves. How couldwe help them? In cooperative projects like these, we share the glory and the losses. We can’t beresponsible for them just because our company has a larger share, right?”
Leandro did not respond immediately.
In truth, the failure of the project should have been Bruce’s mistake in decision-making. Yet, as Brucesaid, the risks in cooperative projects were shared. If the investment failed, one party could not bear all
the responsibility. In the business world, even family could disagree over business, let alone businesspartners.
But if someone wanted to pin the blame on someone, then Bruce and the Reynolds Group weresuitable suspects.
After all, the other companies had all gone bankrupt, but the Reynolds Group was still standing.
“Why are you asking about this all of a sudden?” Bruce asked. “Is something going on?”
1. Leandro said. “Just some minor issues, nothing worth mentioning.”
Just as he finished speaking, Gloria’s voice echoed from the hallway. “Leandro! Leandro!”
Leandro was about to open the door when Gloria walked in.
Seeing him, Gloria broke into a smile. “You haven’t been home for days. The cook made your favoritedishes today, make sure you eat plenty-”
Speaking of which, her gaze suddenly landed on the TV playing “Pedro Paramo”. The words stuck inher throat mid-sentence as she began shaking uncontrollably.
Bruce didn’t give her any attention, just kept sitting on the couch, watching the movie.
Suddenly, Gloria darted around Leandro, grabbed the vase from the table and chucked it at the
The water from the vase splashed onto the TV, and after a couple of flickers, it turned off.
“What the hell are you doing!” Bruce suddenly stood up.
Gloria was a mess, “She’s dead! Dead! What’s the point of you sitting here watching her favoritemovie? Is she coming back? Is she gonna look at you again? Did she even glance at you before shedied! You miss her so much, you can’t bear to let her go, then why don’t you go be with her! Why don’tyou!”
Gloria was practically screaming her head off. Bruce was so furious, he raised his hand as if to hit her.
Leandro suddenly stepped in, blocking Bruce. He didn’t say a word, but his eyes were filled withsorrow.
Bruce glared at him for a moment, then angrily pulled his hand back.
Leandro turned around and walked out with Gloria.
Gloria was still seething, cursing as she walked, “She even chose to die with another man, what doesthat make you! Pathetic! Ridiculous! Bruce! You’re a pitiful prick-”
The door slammed shut with a bang, cutting off Gloria’s shrill voice. Bruce, his ears still ringing, angrilyswept everything off the table onto the floor.