Dumped Then Claimed By A Billionaire (Nerissa and Owen) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Riding The Wave

At this moment, Lennox never imagined that later on, he’d be itching to whisper hundreds of times a day in Nerissa’s ear that he wanted to marry her, just hoping she’d hear him.

Of course, that was a story for another time.

Riley frowned slightly as she looked at Lennox. “Is marrying your savior so cliché?”

Lennox furrowed his brow. “Seeing a girl who’s easy on the eyes and immediately thinking about marriage? That’s what’s cliché, isn’t it?”

‘That’s not marrying your savior; that’s just lust at first sight. I won’t like Nerissa, let alone marry her for saving me, Lennox thought.

“Fine.” Riley nodded. “Remember what you said today, and please promise me you’ll never be a cliché. Otherwise, I really will laugh at you.”

Lennox’s thin lips curled slightly.

“What are you smiling at?” Riley frowned a bit.

Lennox’s tone was slow and deliberate. “Riley, why would you think something like that would ever happen to me?”

‘Not getting caught up in the mundane. Not becoming ordinary, he wondered.

Lennox was a man with plans and goals for his future; he would never let any person disrupt those ambitions.

If Lennox hadn’t just narrowly escaped death, Riley might have been tempted to slap him.

The car drove through the thick night, stopping fifteen minutes later at Nerissa’s residential community.

Luke stepped out of the driver’s seat and respectfully opened the rear door. “Ms. Jamison, we’ve arrived.”

Nerissa leaned out to get out of the car.

Luke then pulled out the bank card Riley had given him at the hospital. “By the way, Ms. Jamison, my mom asked me to give this to you. The password is six sixes.”

Nerissa accepted the card gracefully. “Please thank Mrs. Merritt for me.”

“No need to be so formal, Ms. Jamison. This is the payment you deserve.”

“I’m heading upstairs now.” Nerissa seemed to remember something and glanced back at Luke. “I’ll come back in half a month for Mr. Stratford’s follow-up.”

“Got it.” After a moment’s thought, Luke added, “Ms. Jamison, wait a second.”,

“Something else?” Nerissa stopped walking.

Luke pulled out his phone, a little nervous. “Can I add you on WhatsApp?”

He quickly explained, “So I can pick you up when you come back for Lennox’s follow-up.”

Tonight, Nerissa had completely won over Luke.

At this moment, she was a goddess in his eyes, almighty and unstoppable.

“Sure.” Hearing there’d be a free driver to pick her up in half a month, Nerissa took out her phone and opened WhatsApp.

Beep. He scanned it.

Nerissa’s WhatsApp name was simple, just a capital N, with a profile picture of a girl’s side profile sketched in clean lines.

Luke guessed the N stood for Nerissa, her first name’s initial. He sent the friend request and labeled her contact with just Ms. Jamison.

After adding him on WhatsApp, Nerissa walked into the apartment building.

Luke drove away.

As Nerissa opened the door, she noticed the living room light was still on.

Hunter was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through his phone.

When he saw Nerissa return, he immediately stood with

your bick” Successfully unlocked!

“Grandpa.” Nerissa looked up at the clock on th Vall: it was really past of a.m. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“I’m getting old and can’t fall asleep early,” Hunter replied, though the real reason was that he was waiting for Nerissa to

1/4

Chapter 23 Riding The Wave

come home.

Even though Nerissa had told him she’d be out late, Hunter still felt uneasy

Just then, Hunter couldn’t help but yawn.

Nerissa quickly said, “You should get some rest. You don’t need to wait up for me anymore.”

“All right.” Hunter nodded and began pulling the curtains closed to get ready for bed.

Nerissa went to her room and started washing up.

Though it was late, she took a medicinal bath. She set an alarm because she feared falling asleep in the tub during the hour-long soak.

After the bath, Nerissa took out the bank card Luke had given her and transferred all the money into her own account, then glanced at the balance.

It started with a 3, and it was seven figures total.

The Stratford family was indeed generous.

But Lennox’s life was worth every penny.

Nerissa certainly wouldn’t let that money just sit idle in the bank. She planned to double it quickly so she could invest in the Kinsbeat Game.

*****

After dropping Nerissa off, Luke returned to the hospital.

Though Lennox was basically fine now, he still needed to stay for observation for another day before discharge. Riley and Ethan were already gone. Curious, Luke asked, “Where’s my mom, Lennox?”

Lennox flipped a page in the financial newspaper he was reading. “I sent them home first.”

Luke nodded.

Lennox went on. “You sent her back?”

“Yes,” Luke said.

Lennox continued, “Did you find out who’s behind Calloway Group?”

He was genuinely interested.

The ability to grow the Calloway Group so quickly was not something to be underestimated.

“Nothing concrete yet.” Luke sat beside the bed. “Lennox, I honestly think you’re overthinking it. There’s no mysterious puppet master. Owen is the real mastermind. You should just accept it.”

Lennox narrowed his eyes. “Owen definitely isn’t.”

Seeing Lennox so stubborn, Luke sighed in helplessness.

Just then, Ethan walked in carrying two insulated containers. “Lennox, Riley had the housekeeper get some medicine ready at home. You should drink this. And this is some soup.”

Ethan’s gaze shifted to Luke. “Luke, you’re the only one here with Lennox tonight. Should I stay, too?”

“I’m fine on my own. You don’t have to,” Luke said.

Lennox took the medicine tray Ethan handed him and sipped the bitter liquid. “Ethan, I’m nearly recovered. Neither of you needs to stay tonight. I can manage on my own.”

“How can you manage alone? Let Luke stay with you,” Ethan said, looking at Luke. “Alright, I’m heading out. Luke, I’m counting on you to look after Lennox. If anything happens, call your mom or me immediately.”

“Got it, Dad,” Luke nodded.

After giving his instructions, Ethan turned and left.

*****

At Kinsbeat Game headquarters, Clive sat at his desk, buried in paperwork.

The company was going through a turbulent period, and there were many issues demanding his personal attention. Clive hadn’t slept well for over two weeks straight.

A sudden knock echoed through the air.

“Come in,” Clive said without looking up.

2/4

Chapter 23 Riding The Wave

A figure stepped inside.

“Clive, still burning the midnight oil?” The visitor was Clive’s old friend Ivan Arkwright.

Ivan had watched Clive build Kinsbeat Game from the ground up, and then watched it gradually spiral toward decline and

chaos.

Ivan placed a cup of warm milk in front of Clive. “Here, have some milk and take a break.”

Clive pinched the bridge of his nose, exhausted, and pushed the milk aside. “Honestly, I’d rather have an iced Americano than warm milk right now.”

“An iced Americano? Look at you! What are you trying to do? Try to kill yourself?” Ivan rolled his eyes.

Clive leaned back in his chair, saying nothing.

Ivan hesitated before choosing his words carefully. “Clive, there are things I’m not sure I should say.

“But we’ve been friends for over a decade, so I want to be honest with you. While Kinsbeat Game still has some value, you should get out now.

“Wade’s gone, and there’s no one else in the country who can help you make a AAA game like before.”

Kinsbeat Game wasn’t just an empty shell. As long as Clive wanted, he could protect what remained. Otherwise, Owen wouldn’t have considered acquiring it.

But if Clive kept holding on like this, it’d be ruin all around. He’d lose Kinsbeat Game and end up spending the rest of his life dodging loan sharks.

As a friend, Ivan didn’t want to watch Clive sink deeper into trouble without knowing how to save himself.

Clive knew Ivan spoke from the heart.

Almost all the fair-weather friends had disappeared recently. Ivan was one of the few still genuinely concerned.

But Clive wasn’t ready to give up on Kinsbeat Game.

It was his youth.

It was his dream.

He had to prove to everyone that Clive could make a great game.

Clive pressed his temples, looked up at Ivan, and said, “Kinsbeat Game still has Ms. Jamison. I trust her.”

Ivan had never met the legendary lady, but from Clive’s description, it sounded like she was just a dreamer making empty promises.

Ivan couldn’t help but say, “She claimed she’d cover your funding gap. It’s been three days. Where’s the money?”

Clive was desperate enough to try anything.

If Nerissa really had that kind of power, the money would’ve arrived by now, not dragged out this long.

She wasn’t just useless, and she might end up being the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Sighing, Ivan added, “Clive, you should face reality. Do you really want to watch your wife and Mike live a life of hardship with you?”

Mike was Clive’s eight-year-old son, just in second grade.

When he thought of his son, Clive’s expression shifted.

He had started from nothing, so if the company failed, he could handle that.

But his son was so little.

At this moment, Clive felt a flicker of doubt.

After all, everything he did was for his son.

Ivan continued, “Clive, Owen from Calloway Group is riding high right now. He’s gathered almost all of Aosthorne’s top game talent.

“You can’t beat them. It’s better to cut your losses and sell Kinsbeat Game to them. At least that way, your wife and Mike won’t suffer.”

When a man reaches a certain age, his concerns go beyond just his career; they include those around him.

Just then, Clive’s phone buzzed.

He picked it up; it was a WhatsApp message from Nerissa.

3/4