Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby
Chapter 167: Cracks in the Foundation

Chapter 167: Cracks in the Foundation

Things had been deteriorating steadily for the Whitmore family. They weren’t sure whom they had offended, but it felt as if an invisible hand had been working against them for years. Their company, EverBuild Solutions Limited, had once been the leading supplier of construction materials in Manchester... back when its formidable founder, Esmeralda Langford, was still alive.

After her untimely death, the company’s meteoric rise began to wane slightly. Even so, they managed to retain their hold on valuable government contracts, a testament to the legacy Esmeralda left behind.

When William Whitmore stepped in as acting chairman, he worked relentlessly to maintain the company’s stature. Although newer firms emerged and overtook them in some areas, EverBuild still remained one of the largest players in the region. Many contractors felt at ease granting them projects, relying on the prestige of their name.

The true downfall began nearly five years ago. Since then, both turnover and profits have been steadily shrinking. William suspected sabotage from within. It coincided too precisely with the disappearance of Eleanor Whitmore.

That incident fractured the board. Some members loyal to Eleanor’s mother blamed William outright, attempting to unseat him from his chairmanship. Eleanor’s vanishing remained a mystery to the Whitmores. Early speculation pointed toward Elliot Grant... a close aide to Esmeralda Langford and the second-largest shareholder, with 16% of the company. Eleanor, the sole heiress to her mother’s 35% stake, had vanished without a trace. If Grant had managed to secure custodianship over Eleanor, he could’ve used her voting power to take over the company.

But events didn’t unfold that way.

Grant publicly accused William of orchestrating Eleanor’s disappearance. Fortunately, the police intervened and ruled out any foul play, clearing William of involvement. Despite this, the meddlesome old man continued trying to remove him from power.

William handled the matter decisively... rewarding certain shareholders with increased benefits and removing others from key positions. After that, his position became unassailable. Still, one fact continued to gnaw at his pride: he remained only acting chairman.

That, too, was thanks to Elliot Grant. It was he who invoked the seven-year presumed death rule, keeping William’s authority tethered to a technicality. But William had changed the game. By enriching shareholders and tightening his grip on the board, he had begun consolidating true power. He appointed his daughter, Jennifer Whitmore, to a key role in the company, and quietly began buying back shares on the market.

Now, William held 8% of the company, and Jennifer held 8.5%... stakes they had acquired quietly over time. Even if seven years were to pass and Eleanor remained missing, no one would dare challenge his rule.

Most within the company had already written Eleanor off. It was a deliberate narrative, spread from the top, to make William’s leadership appear inevitable.

That’s why Eleanor’s sudden reappearance in the city set off alarms in William’s mind. His first instinct was to eliminate the threat, but his attempt to assassinate her had failed. Worse still, she was now backed by the powerful Miller family. Though James had reassured him that Eleanor seemed to have lost her memory, possibly due to an accident during her disappearance. But William remained uneasy.

He pushed her out of his mind, at least for the time being. But EverBuild’s financial troubles had reached a boiling point. Just last month, he’d been forced to take a bank loan just to cover payroll. For a company of EverBuild’s size, that was a damning sign. He doubted any bank would lend in their current state, but somehow, their past reputation had still carried weight.

Several employees from the finance department had already resigned. They’d sensed the storm brewing long before the others. More were following suit. If the trend continued, EverBuild would face not only financial ruin but a debilitating talent drain.

William’s mood had soured considerably. He’d snapped at employees, berated those who slacked, and carried himself like a man under siege. The atmosphere in the office was bleak. Some long-time employees... who had given their lives to the company... had begun looking for jobs elsewhere. The rot was setting in.

But that wasn’t the only thing fuelling his fury.

Ever since Jeanne caught his secretary in his bed, she had vanished. Lydia hadn’t shown up for work since. Her phone was off. William had checked the hospital where her brother had once been admitted... he’d been discharged months ago. He even visited the address Lydia listed on her résumé, only to learn she’d moved out weeks prior. Desperate, he called in a favour from a friend in the police, but even they couldn’t find a trace of her.

He now believed Jeanne had done something to her.

William had always known Jeanne was ruthless, but never imagined she’d go that far. She had been incandescent with rage after discovering the affair, and William hadn’t dared question her since.

With his personal life in shambles and the company on the brink, Lydia’s absence was a final blow. She had been his only comfort. Now, with her gone, every minor inconvenience sent his temper flaring.

He exhaled deeply, steadying himself, and called in his new secretary... a loyal, grey-haired man who had worked at EverBuild for more than thirty years. He never imagined he’d be promoted to this position so late in life, but the pay rise pleased him.

William, on the other hand, was in no mood for pleasantries. The idea of replacing Lydia with another pretty face had crossed his mind, but his financial situation didn’t allow for indulgences. He had to tighten the reins, rebuild his base, and focus on survival.

When the secretary entered, William issued a string of new orders.

"I’m leaving for home. If anyone comes asking for money, tell them everything will be paid by next week. On your way home, stop by the NatWest Bank and request the manager to release the allocated funds this week. And tomorrow, before you come to the office, visit Mr. Sanders at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. They’ll be needing materials soon."

Having delivered his instructions, William left the office.

When William arrived home, he was met with an expected scene... Jeanne, Jennifer, James, and his mother, Phoebe, were all waiting for him in the drawing room. Despite the brewing tension between William and Jeanne behind closed doors, both maintained a cordial façade in front of their soon-to-be in-laws.

They had gathered to finalize the details of James and Jennifer’s wedding, which was now scheduled for the following week.

In light of EverBuild’s recent loss of several major contracts, the Whitmore family had decided to advance the ceremony ahead of the original date. After all, the Clifford family was considered one of the most prestigious in Manchester. A union with them would elevate the Whitmore’s social standing significantly. William intended to leverage the wedding to build stronger ties with the Clifford family’s business allies and secure much-needed cooperation.

Within the Clifford family, James’s position was currently solid. His grandfather, the patriarch and de facto power behind the clan... had recently thrown his support behind James. Though James was the fourth son, and his elder brothers had long vied for succession, the old man’s favour carried immense weight in determining the next head of the family. The current leader, James’s first uncle, had been grooming his own son for the position for years, but James’s recent success in forging cooperation with the influential Chen family had drawn the patriarch’s keen interest. His status in the clan had risen sharply as a result.

William knew all of this. That’s why he had urged Jennifer to push the wedding date forward. Reluctantly, she agreed... and James, though hesitant, acquiesced.

James had initially tried to delay the marriage as long as possible. He wasn’t ready to settle down. Years ago, Jennifer had been his only sexual partner, but his interest in her had dulled over time. Though she still satisfied him in bed, she was no longer enough. James had long since begun indulging himself with a variety of women, both in the Kingdom and abroad... many of whom were fleeting pleasures shared within his exclusive circle of friends.

He didn’t want to lose that life of unrestrained indulgence.

But everything changed when Jennifer announced she was pregnant.

Trapped by circumstance, James had no choice but to accept the situation. He knew his mother, Phoebe, would be livid if he tried to deny the child. She had been pressuring him for a grandchild for years. Besides, Jennifer’s mother and his own mother were both from the Baker family and distant cousins. The family ties were too delicate to risk offending.

The moment Phoebe heard she would be a grandmother, she took charge of the preparations. She was relentless in organizing every detail of the upcoming wedding, insisting it be grand and dignified... worthy of both families. James’s grandfather, too, expressed satisfaction upon hearing that an heir was on the way. A child meant continuation of the legacy... another thread in the Clifford family tapestry.

For nearly two hours, the group discussed logistics, finalized the guest list, and ironed out ceremonial details. Eventually, they decided to take a break. A maid arrived with a silver tray of carefully arranged snacks, and they began nibbling while revisiting the guest list, double-checking for any important omissions.

That was when William’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen. One of his assistants from the office.

He answered immediately. As he listened, his expression darkened, the weight of the conversation pulling the corners of his mouth into a tight, grim line. Everyone in the room noticed the shift. After a few terse acknowledgments, he ended the call and lowered the phone.

"That son of a snake," he spat, unable to restrain his fury.

Jennifer looked up, alarmed. "What happened, Dad?"