Chapter 102
Chapter 102
“What are you talking about?” CEO Weiss narrowed his eyes. “I have always treated him as my son! How dare
“Calen is your child, and yet you let Isabella lead this project!”
you-”
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“The proposal was won by Izzy. The bidding was won by Izzy. Even the board agreed that this is something Izzy should handle!” Weiss interrupted coldly. “What makes you think this is personal?”
“You-” Cecil’s breath caught as frustration surged through her. Her chest tightened painfully, unable to comprehend why her own husband wouldn’t simply assign the project to Calen. “Fine,” she snapped, pursing her lips as she rose to her feet. “If that’s the way you want it, then so be it! But don’t come crying to me if problems arise. You can let Izzy take full responsibility!“”
“What do you mean, by that!?” Renard asked. “Cecil, what do you mean by that!?”
Without giving him a reply, Cecil stormed out of the room, her expression dark with anger.
What she didn’t expect, however, was to see Calen standing just outside the office, his shoulders stiff. She froze for a moment, her gaze locking onto his. Judging by the troubled look on his face, it was clear he had overheard part of the argument.
“I-” Calen swallowed hard, his voice faltering.
“Follow me,” Cecil said curtly, brushing past him without another glance.
Obediently, Calen fell into step behind her.
Cecil walked into her study. “Lock the door behind you,” she said as she rushed toward her bar to make herself a drink. “Look-” Calen started. He looked at his mother’s stressed appearance and sighed. “I know I promised to-”
“I didn’t ask a question, Calen,” Cecil interrupted her son. She leaned against her desk and stared at him. “You are of marriageable age. It’s only right that you focus on your marriage as well. I chose Izzy not just because she has been with you for years. It’s because she’s someone from the Rossi Family. Your marriage to her would bring you endless benefits and backing.”
“Mom…” Calen frowned.
“Renard is not your biological father, and both of us know that,” Cecil said. “I know he has treated you like a son since you were young, but we cannot ignore the fact that you are not biologically his.”
Calen pursed his lips. He had known this since he was young. However, Renard Weiss never treated him like a stranger. Instead, he trained him to follow in his footsteps.
“Calen, I want you to remember this…” Cecil made a deliberate pause. “You are the sole heir of the Weiss Family. Marrying Izzy would seal that fact. She and the Rossi Family will ensure that the other members of the Weiss Family won’t be able to touch you even if your father is gone.”
Calen frowned. He always knew his mother wanted Izzy because she was going to inherit the Rossi fortune, but he never thought she was doing this because of the Weiss Family.
“Ma… Father treated ine like his son. What’s there to worry about The Weiss Family-
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Chapter 102
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“Is complicated.” Cecil said, turning her gaze away from her son Does this mean Calen doesn’t know a thing about the trouble inside the Weiss Family? Had he been hiding under a rock all this time? No, she thought inwardly. This cannot continue. It seems she had spoiled Calen too much. She had been protecting him in secret, and as a result, she had raised someone this… clueless!
Cecil sank into the leather chair behind her desk, swirling the glass of amber liquid in her hand. She stared at Calen for a moment, her gaze piercing.
“You have one week,” she said. “One week to gain Izzy’s trust back. If you can’t, I’ll handle things myself. I’ll make sure she steps down from the project, and you’ll take the lead.”
Calen’s brows furrowed, and he shifted uneasily. “How exactly would you do that?” he asked. The board voted for Izzy. Moreover, they won the bid because of Izzy’s proposal. Taking her down is going to be hard.
Cecil took a slow sip from her glass before setting it down on the desk. “That’s not something you need to worry about,” she replied, her tone dismissive. “Your focus should be on making Izzy yours. The shares she’ll inherit in the Rossi Group are significant, Calen. Even if you don’t inherit the Weiss Family, with her by your side, you could manage the Rossi Group and cement your position.”
Calen clenched his fists at his sides. “Izzy isn’t the type to let anyone control her.” He always thought she was lenient and would soon go back to him but the current situation has become even more complicated. “How am I supposed to convince her to marry me in one week?”
“That’s for you to figure out,” Cecil said bluntly, leaning back in her chair. “You’ve known her for years. Use that to your advantage. Do whatever it takes to win her back. Flatter her, charm her or grovel if you have to. But make her yours.”
Calen hesitated. “And what if she refuses?”
Cecil’s gaze hardened. “Then you’re more useless than I thought,” she said. “But I’m not giving you the luxury of failure. I’ve done everything to shield you and secure your future. The least you can do is make sure it’s worth something.”
Calen’s shoulders stiffened. He wanted to argue but knew it would be pointless. Instead, he nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line.
“Good,” Cecil said, picking up her drink again. “Now, stop standing there like a child and go fix this mess.”
Without another word, Calen turned and walked toward the door. He paused for a moment, his hand resting on the handle but whatever thought crossed his mind, he chose to keep it to himself. He left the room, closing the door behind him.
Cecil leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable as she stared at the closed door. If Calen failed, she would have to intervene. But for now, she would wait.
Calen stormed into his room, slamming the door shut behind him. His jaw was clenched, and his hands were already reaching for his phone. He quickly dialed Albert’s number, pacing the length of the room as he waited for the call to
connect.
“Did you find out where Izzy is staying?” he asked the moment Albert picked up. Earlier, he had sent Albert to tail the car Izzy and Liam was in, determined to uncover her current residence.
“Yes, sir,” Albert replied, though there was hesitation in his voice However, there’s… an issue.”
Calen stopped mid–step. “What issue?” he demanded, his voice sharp.
“Well,” Albert began, clearly uneasy. “Miss Rossi went to Mr. Horvath’s residence. I managed to get into the condo building and checked the records. Miss Rossi doesn’t own a unit there. The unit she entered belongs to Mr. Horvath.”
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Chapter 102
Calen’s brow furrowed. “And? What does that mean?”
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Albert hesitated before continuing. “The guards informed me that Miss Rossi is registered as one of the occupants of Mr. Horvath’s unit. She has full access to his residence and can come and go as she pleases. In fact… she’s the only other person listed besides Mr. Horvath.”
Calen froze, the words sinking in like a dagger. His grip on the phone tightened. “Are you telling me she’s living with him?” he asked, his voice low, dangerously controlled.
“Yes, sir,” Albert confirmed. “That’s what the records show.”
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Calen ended the call abruptly, his hand trembling with a mix of rage and disbelief. For a moment, he stood still, his breaths coming in sharp, uneven bursts. Then, with a guttural growl, he hurled the phone onto the bed, clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“Very good,” he muttered under his breath, a bitter, mocking laugh escaping him. “So that’s what this is about, Izzy? Running straight to that bastard, shacking up with him just to spite me?”
He stared at the floor, his mind swirling with anger and humiliation. His voice rose, sharp and venomous. “You think you can humiliate me like this? You think you can just throw me away for him?” His chest heaved as the words spilled out, raw and unfiltered.
“You’ll regret this, Izzy,” he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. “You’ll pay for this. I’ll make damn sure you do.”
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