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    "The Graves Group is a family business, but that doesn''t mean we can do whatever we want! Your brother and I have worked carefully and meticulously, step by step, to build the stable position we have today! "And you? You gambled awaypany shares and kept it hidden from us for so long! Are you just stupid, or do you hate us so much that you''d hand our enemies leverage on a silver tter?" After i his outburst, Wace threw the belt in his hand at Jeff


    Jeff''s eyes widened in disbelief. He thought, How does Father find out so quickly? Who leaked the information?


    Panicking, he tried to exin, "Dad. I was set up! I was nning to get the shares back and make up for my mistake..." Wace sneered, "You''ve


    Jeff opened his mouth but couldn''t find the words to respon. How exactly were you nning to make amends? You were just stalling, hoping to cover it up until you couldn''t anymore! to respond.


    "Calm down, Dad." Nestor stepped forward, trying to soothe Wace. "The most important thing right how is getting the shares back Jeff''s n wasn''t entirely wrong.


    As soon as he spoke, Jeff''s face twisted with disgust. "Stop pretending to be all concerned! You''ve just been waiting for me to screw up so that Dad will give you the inheritance!" He thought. Finally found your You must be thrilled!"


    chance,


    didn''t you?


    Nestor looked at him coolly. "I prefer to earn what I want through my own abilities, not by resorting to underhanded tactics."


    He didn''t like Jeff, but he knew that blood ties were still important.


    Wace looked at Jeff with disappointment, thinking, ''Despite receiving the same education, Nestor is polite, capable, and a valuable right-hand man. But Jeff...


    At that moment, a servant approached and said, "Sir, Ms. Reese is here to see you."


    ''Maeve? Jeff''s expression darkened, a sense of foreboding creeping in.


    Wace took a deep breath. "Send her in."


    Yes, sir."


    A momentter, Maeve entered the living room, immediately spotting the disheveled Jeff kneeling on the floor.


    A


    She didn''t linger on him and instead greeted Wace. "Hello, Mr. Graves. It''s been a while."


    "Maeve, it''s been a while indeed," Wace replied, unable to hide the fondness in his gaze. "I''ve heard about your decision to break off the engagement. It must have been something Jeff did to upset you, right? On his behalf, I apologize." Maeve was momentarily taken aback. She had expected Wace''s attitude toward her to change after she broke off the engagement with Jeff, but he was just as warm as ever. She had underestimated him-Wace was a man of integrity and kindness. That''s part of why she''d mustered the courage toe here today.


    "Mr. Graves, I''m here today to talk to you about what happened between me and Jeff."


    Maeve took out a clear stic bag from her purse, inside was a broken camera.


    08:21 1 Thu, Det  .78%0 ?18%


    She then calmly recoured everything Jeff had done, including how he had tried to ckmail her with highly edited photos. though she spoke of that part more delicately. Jeff angrily interrupted her. "You ***** shut up! If you hadn''t cheated on me and I hadn''t caught you, I wouldn''t have done any of this to get back at you!"


    "Shut your mouth!" Wace''s anger red up again as he stepped forward and pped Jeff hard across the face. "Is this how you were raised, to call people names like that?* Blood dripped from the corner of Jeff''s mouth, but he red in silence, too furious to speak.


    Seeing the look in Jeff''s eyes, Wace shook his head in disappointment. "From this day forward, Nestor will take over thepany''s management. As for you... you''ll remain nothing more than the young master of the Graves family." s eyes widened in in shock. "You''re out of your mind, old mant


    Jetf''s


    Even Nestor looked surprised. "Dad?"


    Being reduced to j a panic. Jeffshed out, "You old man, you''ve always favored Nestor! I''m your son too! What right do you have to take away everything that should be mine?" "Because everything


    I to just the title of the Graves family''s young master meant that Jeff wouldn''t have ess to anything beyond that. It was clear Wace was ready to cut him offpletely.


    In a


    youThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    have was given to you by me!" Wace shouted, his anger boiling over. "If you''re so unhappy, then leave right now, and I''ll consider you no longer my son!" Maeve was stunned. She could tell that Wace wasn''t just putting on a show for her sake.


    No matter what, she was an outsider with a background that couldn''tpare to the Graves family''s. They had no reason to consider her feelings.


    She thought, "But... why is he reacting this way? What Jeff has done to me is certainly wrong, but it doesn''t seem serious enough to make Wace disown him... right? Maeve felt like she was missing something, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on it.


    After speaking, Wace turned and went upstairs, likely to contact awyer to draft the paperwork for transferring the shares.


    Nestor walked over to Jeff, who was now on the floor, pounding his fists in despair. Remembering all the cruel things Jeff had done to Maeve, Nestor found it hard to feel any sympathy for him. "Dad once had high hopes for you," Nestor said calmly. "Maeve looks a lot like Mom when she was young. Mom always talked about wanting a daughter, so Dad almost treated her like one. "He arranged your rtionship with Maeve to give you a chance. If you had been willing to work hard and stay grounded, you would have secured your ce in thepany "But you were too foolish, throwing away every opportunity handed to you."


    His final words were dripping with sarcasm.


    Jeff''s body trembled, sweat and tears mixing on his face as regret slowly filled his eyes.


    At


    first, he genuinely liked Maeve. But when Wace kept reminding him to treat her well and show her more care, he began


    to resent it.


    He had thought. As the proud young master of the Graves family, why am I being given such a trivial task instead of


    08:21


    something more important?


    Over time, his initial affection for her turned into rebellion against Wace''s orders.


    He thought. If only I had taken the old man''s advice and treated Marve well...


    Nestor didn''t linger by Jeff''s side. He turned to Marve and said, "Ms. Reese, Lapologize for what you had to witness today. I''d like to talk with you and then see you out." Maeve thought for a for a moment. "Alright,"


    It wasn''t


    t until they reached the front entrance of the vi that Nestor spoke again. "My brother was spoiled from a young age, and hecks a sense of propriety. But that doesn''t excuse his behavior. "The failure in in his upbringing is our responsibility. I don''t expect you to forgive him, but we sincerely apologize. "I''ll make sure he stays in line from now on and doesn''t bother you again."


    Hearing Nestor''s words, Maeve couldn''t help but think that even in the best families, there could be a bad apple. Despite being from the same family, Jeff seemed like aplete outlier. I appreciate it, Mr. Graves. And please convey my apologies to your father. ver intended toe between them, but I couldn''t tolerate Jeff''s harassment any longer.


    "Also, considering the kindness your father has shown my family in the past, I won''t pursue the matter of the hidden cameras and the photos. But that''s as far as my leniency goes." Nestor hadn''t expected her to say that and looked at her with surprise.


    He had initially thought that Maeve was favored by Wace because she reminded him of histe wife. But hearing her speak now, he realized he had underestimated her.


    He thought, A young woman with such grace, poise, and a sharp mind is a rarity, even among the daughters of wealthy families. Jeff really has no idea what a treasure he has lost." 0