Dumped Then Claimed By A Billionaire (Nerissa and Owen) novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25 The Program Fund

Though Ivan’s abilities were limited, he couldn’t just stand by and watch his old friend, Clive, end up homeless.

Seeing that Ivan had misunderstood both Nerissa and him, Clive quickly explained, “No, it’s not like that.

“Ms. Jamison didn’t run off with the data at all. In fact, the finance department just called me and told me she’s fully covered the funding gap for Kinsbeat Game.”

‘What? Fully covered?’ Ivan wondered.

Ivan thought he must be hearing things wrong, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Clive, are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

“No mistake,” Clive said, pulling out a screenshot that Lucia from the finance department had sent him. “Here, look. This is the screenshot Lucia sent me.”

Seeing the huge amount on the screen, Ivan finally dared to trust his eyes.

Oh my god.

Ivan couldn’t help but sigh, “Ms. Jamison really didn’t lie.”

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, Ivan wouldn’t have believed it was true.

It was 30 million.

No one in their right mind would invest one hundred million into a nearly bankrupt game company.

Nerissa was truly bold.

It took Ivan a moment to process, then he raised his glass. “Clive, congratulations, finally some clarity.”

Clive smiled, “I’ve said it all along. Ms. Jamison wouldn’t deceive me.”

Ivan continued, “Ms. Jamison must be some wealthy heiress from a top financial empire.”

‘If she wasn’t a top-tier heiress, how could she casually pull out such a massive sum?’ Ivan wondered.

It was 30 million. And this was an investment doomed to fail.

Clive clinked his glass against Ivan’s. “Whether she’s a top heiress or not, I don’t know. But I do know Ms. Jamison is no ordinary person.

“Ivan, I have a feeling she’s going to lead Kinsbeat Game to win this year’s Celestial Dome Awards.”

At the mention of that, hope shone brightly in Clive’s eyes.

Before, he only had about a 20% chance of winning the Celestial Dome Awards, and now his confidence had grown to 70%.

‘The Celestial Dome Awards?’ Ivan wondered.

Hearing that, Ivan looked up at Clive as if wanting to say something, but after thinking it over, he said nothing.

Ivan wanted to warn Clive that Nerissa might just be a wealthy heiress trying to prove herself on a whim.

Money alone didn’t guarantee true strength.

Kinsbeat Game lacked not just funding, but genuine partners with real capability.

Clive couldn’t place all his hopes on her. The Celestial Dome Awards were personally established by Lennox and were internationally recognized with high prestige.

Nowadays, not only had Wade jumped ship to Calloway Group, but top talents from all industries had flocked there too.

For Kinsbeat Game, just maintaining a foothold in the gaming world was already impressive.

As for the Celestial Dome Awards, that wasn’t something Clive should be worrying about right now.

But Ivan was afraid Clive would be disappointed if he said this, so the words died on his tongue. Instead, he raised his glass. “Clive, don’t say anything more.

“Whatever choices you make from now on, I’ve got your back. Also, there’s always room for you and your wife at my place.”

“Thanks, Ivan.” Clive raised his glass and toasted with him.

*****

At Stratford Group, a man dressed in an immaculate white shirt held a glass in his hand, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window on the 38th floor, overlooking the world & powerful, Pommanding aura radiated from him.

A soft knocking echoed in the air.

Successfully unlocked!

“Enter.” He turned his gaze slightly, just one word, yet full of authority.

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Chapter 25 The Program Fund

Several days had passed, and Lennox’s condition had improved considerably.

His assistant stepped inside. “Mr. Stratford, it’s time for your medicine.”

Lennox turned slightly and took the medicine the assistant offered. His hands were elegant, with well-defined knuckles, a sharp contrast against the white porcelain dish.

The black liquid medicine gave off a foul odor, but he drank it down in one gulp without even furrowing his brow. Every move he made exuded an innate nobility, unlike any forced display of status.

“Mr. Stratford, here are your candies.”

The medicine was bitter, so the assistant had prepared some candies, handing them over immediately.

But Lennox raised his hand to refuse. “Leave.”

“Understood.” The assistant bowed respectfully and left the room.

Almost as soon as the assistant left, Luke came in. “Lennox, how are you feeling today? Any better?”

“Much better,” Lennox replied. “Though this morning, when I coughed, there was some blood.”

‘Blood?’ he wondered.

Luke immediately tensed and interrupted anxiously, “Blood? How much?”

“Not much, just a little,” Lennox answered.

Luke pulled out his phone. “I’ll ask Ms. Jamison on WhatsApp if this is normal.”

“Huh?” Lennox asked with curiosity.

Luke explained, “Nerissa, I mean.”

“Do you have her on WhatsApp?” Lennox asked.

It naturally referred to Nerissa.

“Yes.” Luke nodded.

Lennox’s gaze flicked coolly toward Luke. “When did you add her on WhatsApp?”

“That night I sent Ms. Jamison home.” For some reason, as Luke said this, he suddenly felt a chill crawl up his neck, as if an icy layer had settled there. He instinctively reached back to touch his nape.

‘How strange. There is nothing unusual,’ he wondered.

At that moment, Lennox picked up a pair of scissors beside him and snipped, cut off a branch of the asparagus fern that was stretching over his desk.

The tender branch fell onto the desk.

Luke felt that creeping unease intensify.

He even got the impression that Lennox might want to get rid of him.

After all, adding Nerissa on WhatsApp couldn’t be such a heinous, unforgivable offense.

་ ་

At that moment, Lennox asked again. “Are you close to her?”

The voice was faint, yet wrapped in an icy layer.

Before Luke could answer, Lennox spoke again, his tone cold and distant. “There is an unbridgeable chasm between you and her in intelligence, ability, and knowledge.

“Even if I gave you ten more years, you wouldn’t be able to catch up or stand beside her.”

“Chasing? I’m not trying to chase Ms. Jamison,” Luke said, clearly confused.

Then he added, “I just see Ms. Jamison as my idol. Chasing an idol isn’t like chasing a girlfriend. Even if it takes ten years, twenty, or thirty, I’ll keep chasing. Ms. Jamison will always be my idol.”

By the end, Luke’s eyes were shining bright like stars.

Sure, Lennox used to be his idol.

But from now on, Nerissa was.

The cold glint on Lennox’s face faded away almost completely without him realizing it. He tapped his fingers on the desk but said nothing more.

Luke tilted his head toward Lennox, noticing his unusual behavior, and squinted. “Lennox, to be honest, are you jealous that I added Ms. Jamison on WhatsApp but you haven’t?”

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Chapter 25 The Program Fund

Lennox had never discussed any woman with him before.

Nerissa was the only exception.

‘So, Lennox must be jealous,’ Luke wondered.

“Jealous?” Lennox snorted coldly. “I’m not as childish as you.”

‘Just a WhatsApp? I’m not jealous at all. Not even a little bit. And I have zero interest in adding Nerissa on WhatsApp. Not at all, he wondered.

“Oh, well, if you’re not jealous, fine. I thought maybe you wanted to add her too.” Luke was about to say more when a WhatsApp notification popped up with a reply from Nerissa.

Seeing her explanation, Luke relaxed and handed the phone to Lennox. “Lennox, look. Ms. Jamison says your symptoms are normal because the lung lesions are healing, so your body is clearing out toxins.

“You just need to keep taking your medicine and not worry about anything else for now.”

“Okay.” Lennox nodded slightly, then asked, “By the way, any progress on that matter?”

“That matter?” Luke blinked, momentarily confused.

“Who’s really behind Owen?” Lennox clarified.

Luke gave a helpless smile. “Lennox, you still haven’t given up on that? I told you. There’s no so-called mastermind. Calloway Group is held up by Owen himself.

“I investigated thoroughly and even looked into Nerissa, Owen’s ex-wife. Besides Owen, she was the only one with free access to his office during that time.

“But how could Nerissa be that mastermind? She’s just a girl from the slums. So that person has to be Owen himself.” To avoid any misunderstanding that Owen’s ex-wife, Nerissa, and the doctor treating Lennox might be the same person, Luke made a point to clarify, “Lennox, don’t get the wrong idea.

“Owen’s ex-wife, Nerissa, and Ms. Jamison, who’s saving you, are definitely not the same person.”

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