Chapter 4

"Verify? Ms. Scott, have you still not accepted reality?" Julian pointed at the manila envelope on the coffee table. "The documentation is all in there. Reports issued by the world's top valuation firms. Go ahead and verify every single one."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "However, let me give you one piece of advice. For every minute you waste, Reynolds Group's stock price will drop another 1%."

Zane finally stopped coughing. He pushed Maverick's hand away and slowly straightened in his chair.

"Bring me the documents." His voice was old and exhausted.

Cecilia walked over and carefully untied the string around the manila envelope. She pulled out the thick stack of documents inside and quickly flipped through them. Her face grew paler with every page.

"Dad..." Cecilia's voice trembled. "The documents are real. The reserve estimates, mining permits, and collateral agreements for all three gold mines are legitimate and legally valid."

Jocelyn snatched the documents from her and scanned them at lightning speed.

All the investment banking experience she had once been so proud of was completely useless at this moment.

The documents were flawless. They were like a carefully woven net of death, trapping Reynolds Group with nowhere to escape.

"Impossible," Jocelyn whispered to herself. "A transfer of gold mines on this scale couldn't have happened without Walton Street hearing something."

Julian picked up the delicate porcelain cup on the coffee table, gave it a disdainful glance, then set it back down. "Ms. Scott, the world is a very big place. Not everything is under Walton Street's watch."

He looked at the desperate members of the Reynolds family, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.

Zane closed his eyes. Two tears slid down his wrinkled cheeks. "In the end, I was the one who brought the Reynolds family to ruin."

"Dad." Maverick knelt in front of Zane and took his cold hand. "We aren't at the end yet. There has to be something we can do."

Zane shook his head. "It's too late."

He opened his eyes and looked at Adrian, who was standing nearby. "Go to my study and bring me the chairman's seal from the safe."

"Dad!" Jocelyn and Cecilia cried out together.

"We can't give it to him." Jocelyn bit down hard on her lip. "Once we hand over the seal, Reynolds Group will officially become Hoffman Group."

Zane sighed. "If we refuse, everyone in the Reynolds family will be driven into a corner by our creditors tomorrow. I'm old. I've nothing to fear from death."

He looked at Maverick, deep guilt filling his eyes. "However, you're still young—especially Yvonne."

At the sound of my name, I froze slightly on the staircase.

"She has never known hardship. She married into the Reynolds family, so I can't let her suffer with us."

Zane turned to Jocelyn. "Jocelyn, go get Yvonne. Have her sign the divorce papers. Maverick still has a trust fund in his name. It isn't part of Reynolds Group's assets. Have Yvonne take that money and leave."

Jocelyn's eyes turned completely red. She looked at her father-in-law, and finally, the tears spilled over. "Dad, Yvonne may not understand much about these things, but she is still part of the Reynolds family."

Zane waved his hand, cutting her off. "Go get her."

His voice left no room for argument.

Julian sat nearby, watching the heartbreaking scene with cold amusement. He even casually crossed one leg over the other.

"Zane, you certainly are loyal to your family." Julian applauded softly. "Too bad that when disaster strikes, everyone flies off on their own. I bet that spoiled little Yvonne has already packed her bags and can't wait to leave."

"Shut up!" Maverick shot to his feet, his eyes blazing red as he glared at Julian.

If Jocelyn had not grabbed him and held him back, his fist would already have slammed into Julian's smug face that was feigning friendliness.