Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 324: The Company goes wrong

Chapter 324: The Company goes wrong

"Order in the court! Order!" The judge banged the gavel, but even the officers couldn’t calm Grace’s furious outburst. Finally, Henry shouted, "Mom! Shut up! Haven’t you embarrassed me enough?"

Henry’s angry yell silenced Grace. She sat there in a daze, tears streaming down her face as she looked at her furious son. The son she had raised and nurtured had now turned his back on her, and it broke her heart.

The first trial concluded, and the judge sentenced Grace to ten years in prison.

Ten years!

For a woman, how many decades can one live? When Grace would be released, she’d have nothing left. She had lost her son’s love, her husband’s affection, and her reputation was in tatters.

After the court adjourned, Ella and Eric went to Sapphire Shores Tavern for dinner.

Eric’s mood was dark, clearly not satisfied with the outcome.

"What are you still thinking about? Grace might have been sentenced to ten years, but for her, prison isn’t the worst punishment. Losing her son, her husband’s affection, her reputation, and carrying a criminal record—that’s what will truly destroy her," Ella said.

Grace had married James to climb into high society, but in the end, what had she gained? Forget about a luxurious life—she wouldn’t even have a normal one. After ten years, she’d come out with nothing.

"Yeah, let’s order," Eric said weakly, nodding.

Ella ordered all of his favorite dishes and threw in some lighthearted jokes to lift Eric’s spirits, which eventually brought a slight improvement to his mood.

However, halfway through the meal, an unexpected guest arrived.

As the server brought the soup and left the door slightly ajar, there was a knock before someone pushed the door open.

It was James.

After not seeing him for months, James looked significantly older, his demeanor lifeless.

"What are you doing here? Don’t bother us!" Eric snapped, his disgust clear as he frowned.

James waited in silence as the server finished setting the soup and closed the door behind him. He then turned to Eric. "Those years... I failed your mother. I’m sorry."

Eric let out a cold laugh. "Sorry? Is that all? That was a human life, James! You don’t deserve to be called a husband, or a father. I’ll never call you my father again!"

James didn’t get angry. He simply looked at his only son, remembering the years Eric had spent alone abroad, cut off from money, forced to work for his living expenses and tuition, while constantly facing assassination attempts.

That must have been a miserable time. Back then, James had never checked on him, thinking that Eric wasn’t his real son anyway.

But a few months ago, James had personally traveled to Country W to collect Eric’s records. After reading them, he was overwhelmed with sorrow and guilt. But what was done was done, and no one could turn back time to undo the damage.

"Whether you accept me or not, it doesn’t matter. The entire Nelson Group will be yours, the businesses, everything... Henry said he doesn’t want any of it," James said bitterly. He didn’t have the courage to reveal Henry’s true identity to Eric.

"Please, Mr. Nelson, leave now before you make me lose my appetite," Eric responded coldly, acting as if he hadn’t even heard James’s words.

Ella remained silent, knowing how poorly James had treated Eric all these years. It seemed like karma had finally caught up with him.

James glanced at Ella, sighed softly, and left quietly.

Eric lost his appetite after that. He drank a small bowl of soup and set his utensils down.

"Eric, why don’t we take a trip?" Ella suggested with a twinkle in her eye. Tomorrow was Saturday, and she was free to go anywhere.

With Eric’s sour mood, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for a getaway.

Eric finally looked at her. "Where do you want to go?"

"How about cycling along the mountain road? We can enjoy the scenery as we ride," Ella suggested.

"That works, but it’ll have to wait until Sunday. I have some commitments on Saturday," Eric replied.

"That’s fine! Any day is okay as long as it makes you happy!"

"Sweetheart, why are you suddenly being so gentle?" Eric teased, smiling.

Ella pouted playfully. "Just trying to take care of *someone* who’s feeling a bit down."

In the middle of their playful banter, Eric’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and answered it calmly.

"Boss, we’ve got a problem. The Nelson Group’s new green project—the police staff housing—we found substandard cement at the construction site," John’s voice was tense and urgent.

Eric narrowed his eyes, his expression instantly turning cold. "I’ll head over right away. Are there any reporters on-site?"

"They’ve already taken photos. We managed to hold them off, but I suspect there are some moles in our ranks."

Eric’s face darkened even more. "Who was in charge of the latest materials?"

"The new deputy director..."

"Great. Stay put and don’t let any reporters get close. I’ll be there shortly."

Eric hung up, his face serious as he turned to Ella. "You should head home with the driver. I need to deal with this."

Ella put down her utensils and said firmly, "I’m coming with you!"

"Are you sure? You won’t be able to help, and it could get chaotic. Be good and go home," Eric insisted, worried about potential risks, especially with so many people involved. Even with precautions, unexpected trouble could arise.

Ella shook her head. "I just want to be with you. Don’t worry! With my brilliant mind, I won’t get in the way."

Eric sighed in resignation. "You really have a sharp tongue," he muttered with a small smile.

Though she smiled, Ella’s heart grew heavier. From Eric’s tone, she could tell this was no small issue.

On the way, Ella gathered more details about the situation. After a moment of reflection, she asked, "Nelson Group hasn’t had any issues with staff before. So how come the new deputy director messed things up right after he was hired?"

Eric’s face remained stern as he gently stroked her cheek. The driver sped along, trying to get them to the site as quickly as possible.

"The previous deputy director took a leave of absence two months ago due to his father’s poor health. I approved it, and I didn’t expect the new hire to be this reckless," Eric’s voice was filled with cold anger.

After all, this was a government project—one they had won through competitive bidding. It was a highly important project for Nelson Group, and for something like this to happen, it was clear that someone had tampered with the building materials.

"But don’t worry. I’ll handle this," Eric said gravely. "The Carter Group has been suspiciously quiet lately."

Ella’s expression turned colder. "You’re saying this could be Carter Group’s doing?"

"Exactly."

Ella fell silent. It seemed Mason was once again going head-to-head with Eric. The real question was whether Eric could navigate this crisis smoothly, especially since it involved a government contract.