Phineas was grinning from ear to ear, an unexpected delight lighting up his face.
The old man clearly had his favorites.
As his grandson, Ryan Hetfield hadn't received any shares, even though he was nearing adulthood.
Yet Claude, that peculiar creature, already held five percent of the company shares at such a young age.
But what did it matter if he was a creature? Claude had promised to fully support Phineas within the Hetfield Group in exchange for Morwenna.
Morwenna was of no use to him anymore; trading her for such benefits was a no-brainer for Phineas.
With Claude's help, Phineas calculated that he would end up with an additional five percent of shares.
Even if Norbert passed and the shares were divided evenly, Phineas would still have the majority and control of the company.
As for Stuart coming back to claim Morwenna, well, let him deal with Claude, that peculiar creature. It was no concern of Phineas.
This was a win-win situation for Phineas, and he was more than happy to let Claude take Morwenna away.
...
Claude knocked Morwenna out when she resisted leaving and brought her to a villa.
He avoided the house near the Hetfield Estate, fearing it might cause trouble being so close.
When Morwenna awoke, she found Claude sitting by her bedside.
She was lying on a soft mattress, covered with blankets that smelled like sunshine. The room was decorated in warm tones, exuding a cozy atmosphere.
She jerked upright. "Where's Norbert Hetfield?" she demanded.
Claude feigned a look of hurt. "Ms. Winslet, please, don't cause a scene. Even if Norbert were still here, he wouldn't want to see you like this."
"I need to go back. I... I at least have to help prepare Norbert Hetfield's funeral," she insisted.
"Ms. Winslet, it's not up to me. Phineas won't allow you to return. There are people to take care of Norbert's arrangements. Your priority is to take care of your health; your current condition is quite poor."
"I don't care! He was my grandfather. I should be involved in the arrangements," she protested.
"Ms. Winslet, what would you achieve by going back? Cause a scene at Norbert's funeral? You can't stand up to Phineas. Rest and let me know if you need anything."
With that, Claude got up and left the room.
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