The Billionaire Twins Need A New Mommy! - Chapter 365

Chapter 365: I’d be the one tearing him apart.
Meanwhile, in Chairman Lancaster’s residence…

“Celestine.” The Chairman sat in his study, massaging the bridge of his nose as he considered what to expect tomorrow.

“I will help,” Celestine remarked calmly, staring at the Chairman. “Whatever it is, Chairman.”

The Chairman looked at her, only to see her calm, unchanging smile. He didn’t wonder why — Celestine was always composed; he had only seen her lose her temper once, and that was when he hadn’t given her any significant position in the NL Group, only a small portion of shares. He knew she had taken that to heart despite his good intentions.

“I will be going to the office tonight,” Travis chimed in solemnly. “Hopefully, tomorrow I can talk things over with Mr. Bennet.”

“Don’t bother,” the Chairman waved dismissively. “Atlas Bennet has given his word already, and Derek finally crossed the line.”

“And yet you let your beloved grandson cross the line, Chairman,” Celestine pointed out, her brows rising. “Until now, I couldn’t understand you.”

For a moment, silence filled the study as Celestine and Travis stared at the Chairman. The latter wondered about the Chairman’s reasoning for allowing Derek to run his mouth instead of stopping things before they blew up. Deep down, it wasn’t the Chairman’s bias for his only grandson — the Chairman wouldn’t risk the NL Group and the entire Lancaster family just for that.

“Focus on damage control for now,” was all the Chairman said. “About the Youngs… stop any projects we have with them.”

He set his eyes on Travis. Understanding the chairman’s avoidance, Travis lowered his head. He excused himself and walked away. Celestine watched Travis go with an arched brow but didn’t rise. She had things to discuss with the Chairman.

Once Travis stepped out of the study, he stopped a few steps away. Derek stood there, eyes cast downward.

Travis opened his mouth, then shut it. Without a word, he turned to walk away, only to stop when Derek spoke.

“You met Atlas Bennet before?”

Travis paused and glanced over his shoulder. Derek lifted his blank eyes at his cousin.

“And you knew he was with Lola?” Derek asked, but again, Travis kept quiet. He scoffed and ran his tongue along his inner cheek. “And you didn’t even tell me? Why? To make a fool of myself?”

“Derek.” Travis turned and faced his cousin. “I’m sorry for what happened tonight.”

“Sorry?” Derek laughed in ridicule. “My damn engagement party is ruined, and I became tonight’s laughingstock! What do you think a pathetic ‘sorry’ will do?”

A shallow breath escaped Travis. “I warned you many times, but you took things for granted.”

“You—” Derek ground his teeth, but Travis resumed his steps.

After several paces, Travis stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “I understand you’re upset, but you’re directing your anger at the wrong people. I’m not the one who made you look like a fool tonight.”

With that, Travis left. Derek watched his retreating figure, balling his hands into fists. He approached the study door and reached for the knob, then froze as he heard Celestine speak.

“Chairman, the only thing I asked in return was to allow me to take care of Derek.”

Deep lines appeared between Derek’s brows as he listened to his aunt curiously.

“Derek has a big heart even as a child, and the Youngs took advantage of that,” Celestine continued with a shallow sigh. “I know what happened tonight is partly his fault. However, I still believe it would be too rash to punish him by kicking him out of the company.”

“Celestine, that fool has put the NL Group in this situation. Even if you ask not to kick him out, the board will demand his resignation.”

She nodded. “Leave it to me, Chairman.”

Derek hung his head low and closed the door quietly. His grip on the knob tightened as he forced himself to acknowledge who the real culprits of tonight’s spectacle were: the Young family.

“They fooled me,” he breathed. Ridicule flickered across his face. “They made me act like a fool in front of everyone.”

His shoulders shook; his chest felt tight at the thought of how Melissa and the Youngs had deceived him. They had lied about supporting Lola and about whom Lola had married. Derek wondered what other lies the Youngs had told him.

As Derek walked away, bitterness swelled in his mouth.

*****

Inside the study, Celestine stared at the Chairman, who had remained quiet while listening. She glanced at the closed door, smirked, and looked back at him.

“Chairman, I might’ve said there were times I didn’t understand your intentions,” she said now, knowing Derek had left. “But during the fiasco, I kept asking myself why you kept yourself scarce.”

Her brows rose amusedly. “Do you hate this engagement so much that you’d rather let Derek make a fool of himself than marry Melissa Young?”

“Celestine, as you mentioned, Derek has a big heart, which the Youngs have exploited,” the Chairman answered without hesitation. “My words don’t reach him anymore; he’s too blinded by the Youngs.”

His frown deepened. “And the only arrangement I willingly agreed to was my agreement with the Alberts — not with the Youngs.”

Old as he was, the Chairman was no pushover. He had disapproved of the engagement from the start, but Derek refused to listen to anyone. The Chairman had agreed in the end, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t take a chance to show his grandson what he refused to see.

“I see.” Celestine rocked her head. “And to do that, you’re willing to risk the NL Group.”

Her smile stretched but didn’t reach her eyes. “Chairman, you truly loved your grandson,” she hummed as she stood. “Sadly, he doesn’t see that you favor him more than anyone else.”

She paused, lowered her head slightly, then turned, but not to leave just yet.

“Chairman, the announcement of the next head of this family is in a few months,” she glanced over her shoulder. “I may have a soft spot for my nephew because of my relationship with his mother. However, I suggest he step away from this bloody competition. If not Travis or anyone else eyeing the seat, I’d be the one tearing him apart.”

With that, Celestine walked away, leaving the Chairman watching her go.

This was the Lancaster family: they might care for one another, but power changes everything.