The CEO Gets What He Wants novel Chapter 422

Cayden actually bribed someone?

Nicole couldn't imagine how the elegant, yet haughty Cayden could be involved in corruption. Nonetheless, the news undoubtedly came as a shock to her.

Holding her breath, she continued to eavesdrop on her adopted father's conversation with his secretary.

“Last month, Mr. Sheen of the city council was suspended for being involved in a massive corruption case. In an attempt to mitigate his crimes, he exposed everyone who was involved and revealed the details of how it happened. Unexpectedly, Cayden Moore's name was among them. He's a titan within Ackleton's business community and has contributed significantly to the city's economic development. Mr. Lambert, here's the evidence that implicates Cayden in the case.

“Mr. Sheen is a careful man and is vigilant in all his dealings. He has secretly recorded everyone who has ever bribed him in an attempt to preserve evidence. What should we do about it, Mr. Lambert? Under normal circumstances, a member of a company's senior management would be dealt with by the book. However, Cayden's status has made the situation more delicate.”

As Cayden controlled two-thirds of Ackleton's economy, he wielded significant influence in the city.

If something were to happen to him, the stock market would be destabilized. Not only would it impact Ackleton's economy, but foreign investors would also refrain from investing in the city out of fear, causing a chain reaction that would spiral into a crisis.

What Nicole heard next was the sound of documents being flipped through.

After a long time, William's sonorous voice finally rang out. “We can't touch Cayden for the time being as the repercussions are huge. Let me consider the matter first. If it's indeed necessary, we will have to escalate the matter to our superiors.”

William shook his head.

He felt it a shame that Cayden, whom he admired, was involved in the case.

The daring and capable Cayden was someone whose business acumen was unrivaled. Furthermore, he was both fearless and ruthless in his methods. Those qualities enabled him to turn Trident Group from a company facing bankruptcy into a multinational conglomerate in just a few short years.

It also wasn't lost upon William that every successful businessman had a dirty history.

If no one had any dirt on Cayden, William could still turn a blind eye to the former's actions. Unfortunately, someone had recorded him in the act of bribery, cementing his guilt in the matter.

“Suppress the matter for the time being until I figure out what to do.”

The thought of the domino effect that Cayden's arrest would bring caused William to hesitate in taking action. Hence, he gestured to his secretary and suggested, “Since it's rare for you to be here so early in the morning for work, Mr. Lachlan, why don't you join me for breakfast? Come, let's head downstairs together.”

Alfred replied, “I would be happy to oblige.”

As the sound of their footsteps rang out, the study's door swung open suddenly.

Jolted by it, Nicole frantically pretended that she was about to knock. Stroking her chest from the fright, she asked, “Dad, I was just about to knock— Oh, Mr. Lachlan is here too. Mom asked me to inform you that breakfast is ready.”

William didn't suspect anything, as he was always happy with how sensible and obedient Nicole was.

Thus, he replied with an easy-going smile, “What a coincidence. Let's go down together then.”

However, the sharp Alfred shot Nicole a thoughtful look. Staring at the innocent expression on her face, he kept his words to himself.

Despite her calm facade, Nicole felt a chill down her spine when she saw Alfred giving her a look of suspicion.

It wasn't until he went downstairs with her father that she finally heaved a sigh of relief.

Even though nothing ever escaped Alfred's attention, Nicole was confident in her ability to stay calm. I didn't give myself away, did I?

Before she went down with them, Nicole scanned her father's study from the corner of her eyes.

When she thought back to the two men's conversation, a brazen idea popped into her mind even though she was still reeling from the shock of the earlier revelation.

After sitting through breakfast with her mind elsewhere, Nicole hurried to a particular hospital.

That hospital only served the rich, celebrities, and anyone who was a socialite. Due to the privacy it accorded, it was popular with high society. That was the reason why Nicole went there to take a test.

When she arrived at the doctor's office, she was greeted by a female doctor in her thirties. The doctor had ordinary features but maintained a good figure.

After she handed Nicole a DNA test report, the latter anxiously opened the envelope to retrieve it with trembling hands.

When she saw that it showed a match of 99.99%, her face lost all color, and her body began to shake uncontrollably.

As the urge to tear up the report swelled within her, Nicole's lips quivered as she spoke. “No, this is impossible! Doctor, could there have been a mistake?”

“Ms. Lambert, if you don't believe the results, you can get another test in a different hospital. As a doctor, my medical skills and reputation are of the utmost importance. There's no point in me trying to ruin them.” The doctor sounded upset.

The doctor was well-known in the hospital and specialized in many areas. Having served many VIPs and received a lot of positive reviews, she glowered in response to the doubt Nicole had cast upon her.

Meanwhile, the distraught Nicole was in no mood to pay the doctor any heed. As a bout of weakness descended upon her body, she staggered forward before leaving the doctor's office.

Upon walking to the hospital's washroom, she opened the door to one of the cubicles and hurried inside.

The moment she locked the door, she tore the report into pieces in a bout of rage.

Her eyes were spitting fire while chaos reigned in her mind.

How is this possible? How can Avery be Claire's biological daughter? However, how can the DNA match be as high as 99.99% if it isn't true?

Avery was the only person Nicole couldn't accept as Claire's daughter.

After she littered the floor with torn pieces of the report, the audacious idea in her head came back to the forefront of her mind.

Closing her eyes, she forced herself to calm down.

It wasn't until fifteen minutes later that she emerged from the cubicle. Coincidentally, she encountered a girl with big eyes entering the washroom.

Recognizing Nicole, the girl exclaimed excitedly, “Are you the Nicole from the movie Orphan? I'm a huge fan of yours. Can I have your signature?”

Overwhelmed by her own problems, Nicole was in no mood to entertain the fan by reverting to her demure idol act. Thus, she shoved the girl aside in her exasperation.

The girl was consequently stunned as she watched Nicole's leaving silhouette. Returning her gaze to the mess on the floor, she carefully picked the torn pieces of paper up and managed to vaguely make out some of its contents.

She then muttered to herself, “Oh my God, I can't believe Nicole, who acts like a goddess on the silver screen, is someone like that! Not only does she not have the decency to flush, but she also littered the floor with trash. She's such a disgusting person...”