Nobody knew her grandson better than Old Mrs. Adams. Yes, she’d spoiled him over the years, but that didn’t mean she was blind to his true nature. Jamie had always been something of a slacker, never one to take things too seriously. But now? Was it possible he had suddenly become sharp and capable? And if not, what exactly had changed?
As if reading her thoughts, Jamie continued his pitch, his voice steady and confident. “First, we need to keep the company stable. The last thing we can afford is for word to get out that we’ve been hollowed out. If that happens, every partnership we have will collapse overnight. Second, we need to get the cash flow back on track fast. Luckily, I have a way to secure emergency funding from the Ford family. That should buy us enough time to regroup. And, of course, we’ll track down Georgia. We can’t just let her walk away with all that money. But we need to be smart about it.”
He spoke with such ease, pacing the room like someone completely in control of the situation. Anyone watching him now might mistake him for a young prodigy-confident, calculating, and wise beyond his years. If you didn’t know Jamie, you’d think he was destined for greatness.
For him, today was exhilarating, a moment of triumph. The hours of preparation, the rehearsals in front of the mirror, the late-night coaching videos-all of it had paid off. He’d never felt more in his element.
Old Mrs. Adams listened to Jamie’s analysis, and for the first time in a long while, she was caught off guard. This wasn’t the Jamie she knew.
The carefree, cocky boy she’d grown used to was gone. In his place stood a young man, speaking with a seriousness and clarity that she hadn’t expected. Was this really her grandson? She could hardly believe her ears.
In truth, Jamie had spent days carefully crafting this strategy, going over every detail until he was confident enough to deliver it flawlessly. He had even made notes and rehearsed the lines until they felt natural.
All of this was for one goal: to prove himself worthy, to win the family’s trust, and to secure his place as the future head of the Adams family.
Old Mrs. Adams couldn’t help but ask the one question that weighed on her mind. “Jamie, can you really secure funding from the Ford family?” she asked, her voice laced with both hope and doubt.
The Ford family was a powerhouse in Hiphia, a name that commanded respect. They didn’t lower themselves to work with just anyone, especially not smaller families like theirs. If Jamie could truly bring them to the table, it would be a game-changer for the Adams family, opening doors to a future she had only dreamed of.
In Hiphia, the Ford family was the power behind the curtain, the one everyone respected-and feared. The Atkinson family might rule in Inassea, but here? Here, the Ford family was king. To say you had their backing was to say you had a future.
Jamie’s mention of a potential deal with them was enough to turn heads. Even Old Mrs. Adams, hard to impress as she was, couldn’t help but take notice.
He straightened up, his confidence unwavering. “Of course, Grandma. At this point, do you really think I’d lie to you? I’ve had some dealings with the Ford family’s daughter in the past. I’m sure I can make this happen. Trust me, I can handle this. I’ve always had a knack for business. I just haven’t had the chance to prove it. I know I haven’t always given you the best impression, but I promise you-I can make the Adams family thrive.”
Old Mrs. Adams sighed deeply, a mix of regret and sorrow crossing her face. “It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? If I had known the truth about Georgia earlier, I would never have let her run the company for as long as she did. I was blind, and now we’re paying the price.”
Her voice trailed off, but after a moment, she looked back at Jamie, her expression softening. “But maybe this is for the best. You’re not a boy anymore, Jamie. If you can secure this deal, if you can keep this family’s business going, I’ll make sure you get what you deserve. When the time comes, the head of this family will be you. I promise.”
Jamie’s heart raced. This was it-the moment he’d been waiting for. All his planning, all his effort, had led to this. His eyes gleamed with ambition. Finally, it was all going to pay off.
“Thank you, Grandma. I’ll make sure the Adams family becomes one of the most powerful names out there,” Jamie said, his voice brimming with confidence. He felt unstoppable now.
Georgia’s death had cleared the way for him-removing the one obstacle that had always stood in his path. If only she’d died sooner, everything would have fallen into place much earlier. But death wasn’t always the final word. If you crossed Jamie, even in death, there would be no peace. The thought made him smile as he adjusted his jacket, feeling a surge of power course through him.
Then came the applause.
Slow, deliberate clapping echoed through the room, breaking the tense silence. Jamie and Old Mrs Adams both turned toward the door, their eyes widening in shock. Walking in, side by side, were Kayden-and Georgia.
Kayden’s hands clapped together lazily, a smirk playing on his lips. There was something unsettling about his smile, a coldness that chilled the room. But it wasn’t Kayden who took everyone’s breath away. It was Georgia.
The moment Old Mrs. Adams saw her, she practically shook with rage, her face reddening in fury.
Jamie, on the other hand, looked as though he’d seen a ghost. His eyes bulged, and his mouth hung open in disbelief.
“You-you’re supposed to be dead,” Jamie stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. “How… how are you still alive?”
He cut himself off, realizing too late that he’d said far too much. His hand shot to his mouth, trying to cover the slip, but the damage had been done.
Luckily for him, Old Mrs. Adams was too enraged to notice his mistake. But inside, Jamie’s mind was spinning. How could she be here? Georgia wasn’t supposed to have survived. It didn’t make sense.
He thought back to last night, to the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Hiphia, where every major player in the city’s underworld had gathered. The whole thing had been orchestrated by Cheetah, the most feared crime boss in the city. No one escaped Cheetah’s grip alive.
And hadn’t the Ford family made it clear they wanted Georgia gone for good? Even with all their power and connections, they hadn’t been able to finish the job. How was she still standing?
“Jamie!” Georgia’s voice brought him back to reality. Her eyes, full of accusation, met his. “I can’t believe you would go this far. Did you team up with our enemies to remove me just to take over the family business? I thought you were just jealous and wanted to push me out. But you actually tried to kill me. And now you stand here in front of Grandma, acting like I’m the bad one? What are you doing, Jamie?”
Jamie blinked, stunned by her words. He felt his pulse quicken, and his mind scrambled for a way to recover. “Wait… are you even real? Are you… are you a ghost?” he blurted out, sounding more ridiculous with each word.
Immediately, he realized how foolish he must have sounded. Of course, she wasn’t a ghost. Ghosts didn’t walk through doors. Thinking quickly, he pivoted, his expression hardening. “Me? Hurt you? Don’t be absurd, Georgia. You’re the one with the poison in your heart. You stole everything from the company-moved all the assets right under our noses.”