Ayan immediately rushed to the hospital, where a number of media and journalists were gathered downstairs and in the underground parking lot, all eager to get their hands on the latest news.
Upon seeing this scene, Ayan naturally felt very displeased.
He said to Kian, “Go and arrange for these people to be driven away.”
Kian nodded lightly and said, “Mr. Simpson, I will call the police now and have them come over to handle it directly.”
“Alright, do it in Derek’s name. Since the hospital belongs to him and he’s too busy to come, I’ll take care of it,” Ayan instructed indifferently. He then took the elevator straight up to his grandfather’s ward.
Ayan’s appearance here was naturally captured by the cameras, but before anything could be released, Kian intercepted them.
These journalists were familiar with Kian’s face, and some even had regular dealings with him. They couldn’t be more familiar with each other.
After a brief conversation that combined courtesy and firmness, Kian ordered his bodyguards to take away their cameras and recorders, coldly saying, “How dare you spread rumors and cause trouble for the Simpson family? Go back and ask your bosses how much courage they have.”
Kian smiled indifferently and continued, “It would be best not to talk about today’s events. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee whether you can continue to survive in this industry. Moreover, what you’ve done won’t bring any benefits to yourselves apart from benefiting your company. After all, if responsibility is really pursued, you will be the first ones to be blamed.”
After saying that, Kian informed them that the police had already been called. If they didn’t want to get involved, they should leave.
Kian was Ayan’s secretary and had been by his side for many years. His words represented Ayan’s intentions, so these journalists naturally believed him.
Kian didn’t linger any longer and left with their cameras and recorders.
Inside the ward.
The old man lay on the hospital bed, his face pale. Fletcher sat beside him, extremely worried. Dr. Ellis and other doctors were also present. The situation looked very bad.
Ayan pushed open the door, and Fletcher immediately stood up and said, “Chat with your grandpa for a while.”
Ayan walked over with a calm face and sat down on the chair that Fletcher had just vacated. He looked at his grandfather lying on the bed with a slightly solemn expression.
In a low voice, he asked, “Grandpa, is there anything uncomfortable?”
Callum sighed and said, “What exactly is going on with those things online? How can such words be said?”
“Grandpa, don’t take it to heart. It’s just a bunch of random speculations that have nothing to do with the Simpson family. The person who stirred up the trouble has never worked for us. Seems like someone intentionally tries to provoke the Simpson family,” Ayan reassured him in a low voice.
His words were not completely untrue. The person claiming to work for the Simpson family was obviously lying. Over the years, everyone working for the Simpson family had been carefully selected and thoroughly investigated. Even though they were getting older, they were still well taken care of by the Simpson family. Those with children were given money for cars and houses to settle down in their later years, while those without children were sent to the best nursing homes.
Those who could work at the Simpson family ad alongside his grandfather were rewarded handsomely.
The reason why Callum reacted so strongly was probably because he mistakenly thought that someone he hadn’t taken care of properly or someone he had taken care of but who had turned against him was involved.
Callum was a person who valued relationships greatly. So upon hearing this news, he naturally became uncontrollably agitated.
After Ayan’s comforting words and presenting strong evidence that it wasn’t their own people saying such things, the old man’s heart finally eased slightly.
Dr. Ellis also felt that there was nothing serious about it, so he left the ward with other doctors and Fletcher.
Dr. Ellis wanted to talk to Fletcher about moving the old man back home. With Ayan by his side, he wouldn’t have any more unnecessary thoughts.
Now, only Ayan and Callum remained in the ward. Ayan spoke softly, “Grandpa, there is something else I need to ask you again.”
“What is it? Just say it directly.”
“Do you still remember Preston whom I mentioned to you a long time ago? I told you before that he is Camille’s friend. Do you have any impression?”
After a short silence, his grandfather said faintly, “I seem to have some impression of him but not very deep. What happened?”
“There is a high probability that this incident is directly related to him,” Ayan said as he continued observing his grandfather’s reaction because if his grandfather had hidden Camille’s background from him, there might still be other things he was hiding as well. Therefore, Ayan didn’t want to miss any expression or look on his grandfather’s face.
But perhaps his grandfather really didn’t know anything because there was no change in his facial expression even though he seemed to be trying hard to think about it.
His grandfather spoke casually after thinking for a while, “What does this person have to do with Camille? Why would he target us like this?”
“It’s not about Camille. It’s about the Simpson family,” Ayan said calmly. His expression became even more serious as he continued speaking, “Preston has repeatedly mentioned that the Simpson family have wronged him, but he doesn’t mention what we did wrong exactly. He has been finding various ways to target me personally as well as our family and Simpson Group.”
Ayan briefly explained some of Preston’s actions to his grandfather. Originally, he wanted to keep this matter from his grandfather, but now, Preston had become more and more outrageous. It felt like he would stop at nothing until he got what he wanted. If things continued like this, his grandfather would eventually find out anyway.
Ayan didn’t want to hide anymore. It would be better to tell his grandfather everything honestly.
Perhaps he could get answers from his grandfather.
However, after listening to this, Callum fell into silence. He didn’t respond, but the expression on his face grew somewhat serious.
Ayan asked softly, “Grandpa, what are you thinking? Have you remembered someone you initially had a good relationship with, but it turned sour later? Or has there been any significant event involving Simpson Group in the business world?”
The so-called “significant events” naturally referred to matters of life and death or bankruptcy, as the business world was akin to a battlefield. Every day, companies went under, but if it didn’t directly affect them, people tended not to pay much attention.
Callum thought seriously for a moment but ultimately came up with no results. The old man said, “Simpson Group has always operated under my leadership in a straightforward manner. We don’t resort to ruthless tactics to force others into a corner. However, if you’re asking whether any companies have gone under during their partnership with Simpson Group due to their own mismanagement, then yes, there have been many. But those reasons have nothing to do with Simpson Group!”
Ayan naturally believed what his grandfather said.
So what kind of relationship did Preston actually have with the Simpson family?