Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 258: Publicly Humiliated

Chapter 258: Publicly Humiliated

The shareholders’ faces grew increasingly serious as each of them reviewed the DNA report. Henry, in shock, looked from one person to another before slowly sitting down, unsure of where to stand. His father, James, was on one side, while on the other was Eric, his older brother, whom he had secretly admired. Conflicted and confused, he chose to stay silent and let events unfold naturally.

Eric’s taunting voice cut through the tension in the room. "If you still don’t believe me, feel free to call your friend. If I remember correctly, Professor Lee has always been close to you. I specifically asked him to keep this secret." Eric sat back, a smirk on his face. "Oh, and the doctor who told you about my blood type during my car accident? He passed away in that very same crash."

James’s face turned ghostly pale, as if the ground had fallen from beneath his feet. "Impossible!" he muttered.

He had long convinced himself that Eric wasn’t his biological son, which justified his cruelty and distance. Grace, of course, had played a major role in driving the wedge between father and son, further eroding what little bond they had left.

"James!" Eric’s voice was sharp and biting. "You relied on the words of some random doctor and decided I wasn’t your son? Doesn’t that make you feel ashamed? You’ve let a woman manipulate you all these years, and you don’t even realize it!"

Eric’s aura radiated power as he took several steps toward James, his presence overwhelming.

At that moment, a shareholder who had been reviewing the document stood up and spoke. "James, this really is Professor Lee’s handwriting." The man frowned as he addressed James. He was a longtime friend and one of the founding members of Nelson Group.

"Exactly! And let’s not forget, this lab is one of the most reputable in the world. It’s been in operation for hundreds of years without any scandals," another shareholder chimed in.

"James, we absolutely cannot allow this information to go public. If it does, Nelson Group will be severely damaged!" the shareholders began expressing their concerns. Eric’s words had clearly swayed them.

The fact that James had based his entire belief on the word of a single doctor, compounded with Grace’s recent scandals, had made the shareholders increasingly wary of both her and James. They realized that James, as her husband, had been manipulated all along.

How could they continue to trust someone so easily deceived?

Originally, many of the shareholders had resented Eric for exposing Nelson Group’s scandals. But on closer reflection, they realized that if Eric hadn’t revealed Grace’s misdeeds, she might have destroyed the company entirely. She had been digging the company’s grave, and no one had even noticed.

"James, this report is a forgery!" James’s face was contorted with rage, the veins on his forehead bulging. He simply couldn’t accept the truth in Eric’s words.

Eric sneered, his voice icy. "It doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not. I just want to warn you—stop letting women lead you around by the nose, or Nelson Group will fall apart under your leadership." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "As for your shares, I don’t care about them. If I wanted them, I could take them anytime I wished. But I don’t need them. Leave them for your foolish son."

James was seething with rage, his nostrils flaring, especially as he noticed the doubtful glances from the shareholders around him. In a fit of impulsiveness, he quickly dialed Professor Lee’s number.

After exchanging a few polite words, James cut straight to the point and asked about the incident from years ago.

Professor Lee’s voice on the speakerphone echoed throughout the room. "James, I had promised Eric confidentiality back then, but since you’re already aware of it, I won’t hesitate to speak. Yes, Eric came to me for a DNA test, and of course, our center’s reputation wouldn’t allow us to deceive him. But what surprised me the most was that after he learned you were indeed his biological father, he seemed... disappointed."

The words hit James like a brick. The speakerphone amplified his humiliation for everyone to hear. So it was true—Eric had indeed done a DNA test all those years ago.

"James, I know your relationship with Eric may not be harmonious, but as an outsider, I urge you to reconsider. After all, he is your biological son. Don’t be too harsh..." Professor Lee’s voice trailed off before James abruptly hung up the phone, his breathing labored and his chest tight with pain.

He couldn’t believe it. For more than a decade, he had treated Eric cruelly, all because he was convinced Eric wasn’t his son, believing Victoria had had an affair and that Eric was an illegitimate child. Every time he looked at Eric, his heart filled with disgust and anger.

Before the misunderstanding, James had genuinely loved Eric. But once he believed the lie that Eric wasn’t his biological son, his attitude had soured completely.

Now, James’s legs felt weak as he looked at Eric, his face pale as death. He remembered how Eric had once survived an assassination attempt while overseas, something James had never truly investigated because he didn’t care enough. He had thought, "If he’s not my son, what does it matter if he dies?" He had never once shown mercy.

And now, all of this was unraveling before his eyes, exposing just how heartless and foolish he had been.

Ella, watching James’s reaction, felt a wave of satisfaction rise within her. The slap in James’s face was brutal and well-deserved. He had foolishly believed Eric wasn’t his son, publicly declared their relationship severed, and handed everything over to Henry—only to find out that Eric was indeed his blood. The look on his face now was priceless, shifting between shock, confusion, and regret.

Eric’s voice cut through the silence, dripping with mockery. "Mr. Nelson, there’s no need for guilt. After all, you just declared that we’re no longer father and son. I’ve been waiting for this day. You and your mistress drove my mother to her death. You’re not worthy to be called a father!"

Eric’s eyes gleamed with bitter disdain. Not only had James driven his mother to despair, but during his time abroad, Grace had secretly manipulated things so that he had no money for basic necessities. He had survived through sheer willpower. When attempts were made on his life, James hadn’t even lifted a finger. And now, he had the audacity to sever their ties—exactly what Eric had been waiting for.

"You... you ungrateful child! You’re spouting nonsense! You and Professor Lee are conspiring to fabricate this whole thing. If it weren’t for you stirring up trouble, Nelson Group wouldn’t have lost billions!" James raged, his face red with anger and denial, unable to admit his own foolishness and mistakes.

Eric’s smile turned cold as he raised his phone. "I have a recording that I believe everyone here would be very interested in hearing."

Henry shot up from his seat, panic written across his face. "Brother! Don’t!"

Seeing Henry’s desperate reaction only made James’s expression darken further. He knew, instinctively, that the recording must be damning, likely related to either him or Grace, which explained why Henry was so anxious to stop it.

Henry, speaking quickly, blurted out, "Dad, I don’t want your shares. Give everything to Eric as compensation! Please, take back everything you just said..."

Seeing Henry’s frantic plea, James clenched his fists, unsure of what to do next. He felt utterly lost.

Eric chuckled, his tone dripping with malicious amusement. "Oh, I don’t want his filthy shares. And Henry, make sure to pass along a message to your dear mother—tell her to come see me promptly, or I’ll make sure everyone hears this recording."

This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om