No matter how Barnaby kept his voice hushed, Christina managed to hear his every word.
Remaining calm, Winston smiled and took a huge step toward Barnaby. “You've done your fair share of grumbling behind the backs of those who feed you, Barnaby. Why don't you reveal all the things you used to do back then? We can go down together. I'm just a nobody, though. I'm nothing compared to prestigious folk like you.”
Seeing the elderly man quiver with rage, Winston continued smugly, “Nigel is a lost cause. Wouldn't it have been great if you chose me as your right-hand man instead of him? Too bad it's all in the past. I have my own establishment now, and I don't need anything from you.”
Barnaby gritted his teeth. “I can crush your little company with just my finger!”
An insidious look flashed in Winston's eyes. “Yeah. That's why you've been secretly plotting against me ever since Nigel and I fell out and he went to jail. You convinced David to divide our assets and gave him all sorts of other ideas. Well, you got what you wanted. I nearly died by my own cousin's hands, and most of the company's shares and funds belong to him.”
“That's what you get for being too greedy,” Barnaby taunted mercilessly.
Winston lit a cigarette, took a puff, and blew out a cloud of smoke. Then, he smirked.
“That's why I don't intend to leave things the way they are anymore. I'm a sore loser who can't handle seeing others doing better than me, and I have no qualms about getting even with you. I'm going to come clean to the Gibson family and appeal for leniency.”
His last few words hit Barnaby like a bomb, shattering the latter's composure.
“You've gone mad, Winston!”
The younger man smirked. “What else can I do when I have nothing left?”
Barnaby glanced toward Christina warily before gripping Winston's wrist. “Please remember where we are now. This isn't a place for you to do whatever as you wish. Let's talk somewhere else.”
Winston chuckled. “A hundred million. Nothing more, nothing less. I'll do whatever you ask as long as you agree.”
A hundred million was the exact amount David had robbed of him.
Barnaby had instigated the affair, so it didn't seem like a stretch for Winston to reclaim what he had lost.
The old man glared at him. “You're asking for the world!”
A hundred million was about half of his net worth. Winston was practically skinning him alive!
In response, Winston retracted his hand and commented shamelessly, “It's your choice. It's not like I'm forcing you to hand over the money with a knife over your throat.” Then, his lips curled maliciously. “It's about time. I'd like to have a chat with Mrs. Hadley. We have quite a few common topics to discuss.”
Barnaby gave in just as the former was about to leave. “Let me think about it. Come with me for now. We can talk in detail.”
Winston quirked his brows in satisfaction. “Mrs. Hadley is watching us. I have to get in there and pay my respects to prevent her from feeling suspicious. Don't worry, though. My lips will stay sealed as long as I get my money.”
Christina stood nearby watching as Barnaby reluctantly let Winston off. “I'll be waiting for you inside the car at the entrance. Don't take too long,” said the elderly man.
With that, he strode away.
Retracting his contemptuous gaze, Winston turned around and walked toward Christina, wearing a gentle expression.
“Hello, Mrs. Hadley. I'm here to pay Mrs. Lazuli my last respects.”
“Thank you, Mr. Labarge,” Christina replied cryptically. “Are you well-acquainted with Old Mr. Stone?”
Winston kept his answer vague. “We've worked together a few times, but we're not exactly close. I just so happened to bump into him today, so I thought I'd say hi.”
Christina said nothing more and let Winston in.
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The readers' comments on the novel: Let Me Stay The Night
This is chapter 63, it got reupload as 64, can you please fix it?...