Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
Silas, don’t be rude to your uncle,” Winston chided softly, defending Dominic.
Dominic wiped away his tears, stealing glances at Winston. Despite his stoic appearance, Dominic sensed that Winston’s illness was more serious than Alyssa had let on.
“Uncle Dominic, if you genuinely care for my dad and feel any remorse, please don’t oppose him. Focus on helping him in managing the business. Enough with the hypocrisy,” Jonah stated with a serious tone, his indifferent gaze fixed on Dominic.
Dominic clenched his teeth, seething with resentment coursing through him.
Despite Jonah holding the title of company president, his arrogance stemmed from being Winston’s eldest son. He showed no regard for Dominic’s seniority, speaking to him as if he were a superior reprimanding an underling.
The entire family, young and old alike, treated Dominic with the same air of superiority, looking down on him from their lofty perches. They never took him seriously.
How could Dominic swallow his pride in the face of such treatment?
“Let it go, Jonah. Your uncle knows when he’s wrong,” Winston interjected wearily, gesturing with a tired hand. He wanted to put an end to the discussion. “I’m fine now, Dominic. Your visit means a lot to me. You’ve shown that you still care. You can leave now.”
Winston had said all he could to salvage Dominic’s dignity.
“Winston, what happened this time was my fault.” Dominic’s tone turned grave. “But consider, throughout the years, how I’ve supported you. I’ve dedicated decades to expanding the KS Group, enduring countless hardships along the way.
“When you were unable to act, I was the one braving the elements and navigating difficult projects in distant and inhospitable places. I stood by your side every step of the way.”
Alyssa gritted her teeth, suspecting Dominic harbored some ulterior motive behind his sudden display of vulnerability.
Winston frowned and nodded. “Yes, I understand it hasn’t been easy for you all these years.”
“I’ve never asked for anything in return, only hoping that you would recognize our bond as brothers and let me off the hook,” Dominic continued, casting a venomous glance at Jeremy. “But I never imagined you would conspire with your future son-in-law to make my life difficult.
“If you have grievances against me, confront me directly. There was no need to air our family’s dirty laundry in front of outsiders and resort to such tactics to pressure and humiliate me.”
Jeremy’s eyebrows furrowed in surprise, and he swallowed hard, realizing that Dominic was directing his fury toward him as an outsider. Dominic was Winston’s brother, and any retaliation from Jeremy would likely play into Dominic’s hands, potentially tarnishing Winston’s favorable view of him.
Caught off guard, Winston looked at Jeremy with an inexplicable gaze.
While the others remained oblivious to the underlying tension, Jonah couldn’t bear to witness Dominic unfairly accusing Jeremy. Just as he was about to speak up in Jeremy’s defense, Alyssa intervened, swiftly coming to her lover’s aid.
“Uncle Dominic, what were you thinking when you misused public funds to cover your investment losses? Did you think no one would find out?”
Alyssa’s accusation left Dominic momentarily speechless.
“No one is an outsider here, not even Jeremy. He’s my partner. I won’t mince my words any longer. I’ll speak frankly,” Alyssa declared, firmly standing by Jeremy’s side.
Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she continued, “If you don’t want your actions exposed, then don’t engage in them. You’ve displayed greed and ignorance, dabbling in investments without sufficient knowledge and resorting to deceitful tactics.
“If my father hadn’t intervened, you would have faced legal consequences. Do you truly believe you’d be here discussing this nonsense if that were the case?”
“Alyssa, how dare you!” Dominic sputtered, attempting to defend himself.
But Alyssa was relentless. “If you were aware of the potential consequences of your actions, why did you engage in them? It’s clear you don’t understand the gravity of your mistakes.”
Jeremy gazed at Alyssa with admiration, silently appreciating her strength and conviction.
Dominic’s face flushed with anger. But before he could respond, Alyssa delivered her final blow. “Do you think Jeremy wanted to uncover your wrongdoing? He knows because I confided in him. There are no secrets between us. Thanks to you, for the first time, I can’t stand before my partner with my head held high.”
Alyssa’s biting retorts struck a chord within Dominic, igniting a surge of anger that left him feeling suffocated.
While Jeremy felt a swell of gratitude to see Alyssa standing up for him, he remained cautious, casting her a concerned glance and gently squeezing her hand to signal her to temper her words in Winston’s presence.
“That’s enough, Lyse. Let’s not dwell on this.” Winston’s face was grim.
“Uncle Dominic, you’ve committed a serious offense, and yet you’ve gone so far as to gather people to visit Dad. I had hoped for some change in you,” Alyssa remarked, her smirk dripping with sarcasm. “But instead, you’re deflecting blame onto others for your own mistakes.
“You’ve made a grave error, and yet you persist in your defiance, even after Dad has helped you. Seeing as everything has gone south, why not accept responsibility for your actions?
“You should handle the repayment of the 50 million on your own. It shouldn’t be too burdensome for a member of the Taylor family.”
Alyssa had not only fended the Taylor family but also redirected the consequences of Dominic’s actions back to him with fervor.
Dominic’s lips twitched with frustration, his outrage barely contained.
“Alyssa, you¡ª”
Winston became so agitated that a violent headache gripped his head. His hands, hidden beneath the blanket, trembled uncontrollably.
“Lyse, stop! Something is wrong with Uncle Winston!” Jeremy urgently whispered to Alyssa, noting Winston’s pale complexion.
Dominic observed the unfolding situation and let out a loud wail, paying no heed to Winston’s distress. “Winston, I’m devastated! I feel utterly disregarded as an elder! Perhaps it’s better if I simply cease to exist!”
Lyla and Colene rushed to Winston’s side, their hearts pounding with fear of his condition worsening due to Dominic’s outburst.
“Enough, Dominic. I’ve said I won’t pursue this further, and I mean it.” Winston’s breathing grew labored, and his voice lacked the vigor it once held.
Alyssa frowned. “Dad, you…”
Dominic continued, “I feel like I have no respect from the family. Even in the company, I’m constantly undermined…”
“Don’t worry. I will keep my promise and not demote you,” Winston reassured, his hospital gown damp with sweat as he struggled to maintain his usual composure.
Externally, Dominic appeared grateful, but internally, he sneered at Winston’s words.
Winston’s unwavering commitment to relationships and loyalty was his strength, but for Dominic, it was a limitless advantage. He could exploit this weakness to his advantage time and time again.
As Winston’s only brother, this was just one of the many reasons Dominic held sway over him.
Years ago, if Dominic hadn’t rescued the injured Jennifer on the beach, Winston might never have met the love of his life. Their heartwarming marriage and children might never have come to fruition.
This was the real leverage Dominic held over Winston.
Though Winston might have forgiven him, he still owed his children an explanation. So, he spoke sternly, “However, this is the final time. I’m not solely responsible for the KS Group. A manager’s role is to manage finances, not line his own pockets.
“If this happens again, I won’t help you. Furthermore, I’ll handle it impartially and pursue the matter fully. Do you hear me, Dominic?”
Alyssa couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
Winston had always been resolute and dominant in the business world, never backing down. He always meant what he said and answered to no one as he towered over the business landscape. So, why was he suddenly acting this way?
Alyssa couldn’t fathom Winston’s tolerance toward Dominic’s offense.
“Winston, the fault was mine. I’ll ensure the same mistake isn’t repeated. Please rest well. I won’t bother you any longer.”
Having been reassured by Winston, Dominic prepared to leave with a satisfied smile.
“Winston, I’ll see Dominic off,” Mandy spoke gently.
Dominic exited the ward with a smug grin.
Not long after, Mandy’s voice cut through the silence. “Stay where you are.”
Dominic pivoted on his heels, only to find Mandy closing in on him with a frigid demeanor. In an instant, her hand shot forward, delivering a sharp slap across his face before he could react.
“W-Why did you hit me?” Dominic’s eyes widened, his cheek stinging and a red mark forming.
“You know perfectly well why,” Mandy retorted, her demeanor stern and intimidating. Gone was the gentle and kind woman from earlier.
She continued, “I’ve waited far too long to deliver this blow. When Winston ended up in the hospital because of you, I should have struck you down then and there, tearing your mouth apart!”
There was nobody else around to witness the confrontation. Dominic abandoned his facade, meeting Mandy’s gaze with a scornful and malicious sneer. “Haha, who do you think you are? Are you under the delusion that you’re Winston’s real wife?
“You shamelessly clung to my brother, just like the other two. All of you are merely his playthings for when he grows bored. Now, you’re simply filling in for my deceased sister-in-law.
“You should be grateful that she passed away early, affording you this opportunity to bask in the spotlight. Otherwise, do you think you’d be who you are today? In days of old, you’d be no more than a mere concubine.”
Mandy’s eyes filled with rage. It wasn’t Dominic’s humiliation that triggered her, but his contemptuous and disrespectful mention of Jennifer. “You bastard!”
With fury coursing through her veins, Mandy raised her hand, but Dominic reacted swiftly, seizing her wrist and pushing her forcefully, nearly causing her to stumble.
“Hmph! You’ve overestimated yourself. Do you truly believe you hold any power here just because I’ve allowed you to linger out of respect for my brother?” Dominic spat out, rubbing his face before storming off, leaving Mandy standing in shock with her reddened wrist.