He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 288

"Jacqueline was forced to take on all of Bishop Industries' massive debts," Franklin continues. "Honestly, Scarlett's mother is a tragic woman. At the time, we felt a bit of pity for the widow and orphan and planned to let them off the hook. But your mother and aunt had always been deeply jealous of her glamorous life. They used the opportunity to kick her while she was down, forcing her to pay up and subjecting her to endless bullying and humiliation."

Yardley had never known that his family and Scarlett's shared such a deeply rooted, venomous history. Franklin's words send a chill down his spine, and he grabs his father's arm.

"Dad, you're saying you hired people to short their stock back then? That's... that's exactly what's happening to the Flynn Group right now! So you think Sean or his son has gained power and is coming after us for revenge?!"

A cold sweat breaks out over Yardley's body. His legs go weak, and he slumps into a nearby chair.

Franklin looks at him, his eagle-like eyes sharp and cold. "Do you understand why I swallowed my pride for Scarlett just now?" He claps a heavy hand on Yardley's shoulder. "To protect our empire, a real man must know when to bow. Until we find out exactly who is pulling the strings behind the scenes, you must stay on her good side. Do not provoke her. Give her whatever she wants to buy the Flynn Group some time to breathe. If you hadn't foolishly forced her hand by taking the child, she wouldn't have launched this attack on our stock. I'm not afraid of the woman herself; I'm terrified of the invisible empire backing her. We have to prepare for the worst. If the Flynn Group collapses, we need an exit strategy. After all, your mother and I helped destroy the Bishop family."

Yardley is reeling. He sits frozen, unable to find his voice.

Suddenly, a memory hits him like a freight train. He remembers the day he and Scarlett secretly got their marriage license, and the first time they visited each other's families. The complicated, dark look in Franklin's eyes back then was almost identical to the way Jacqueline had looked at him. When his mother found out, she exploded in a rage, hurling horrific insults at Scarlett and telling her to get out.

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