Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Miss Sherman, the Escape Artist
Joel Hale had followed Vincent Grant.
Hearing what Sophia Shaw said, he was very displeased. "Miss Shaw, President Grant founded and developed the Grant Group himself. His willingness to split it with you fifty-fifty is already a sign of great sincerity. Why must you be so sarcastic?"
"Enough!"
Vincent Grant snapped.
Joel Hale flinched at his boss’s shout and didn’t dare say another word.
Levin Sawyer had also attended the meeting today. Seeing Vincent Grant chase after Sophia Shaw, he followed as well.
He strolled over nonchalantly, his hands in his pockets.
"President Grant, you still don’t get it, do you?" he began. "Faye now owns half of Lead Aerospace’s shares. Her financial power is no less than yours. Who would want your measly shares?"
Levin Sawyer had always kept Sophia Shaw’s original shares for her. After she returned to Lead Aerospace, he returned them to her bit by bit.
Afraid she wouldn’t accept them, Levin Sawyer specifically chose to give them to her each time she made a major breakthrough.
She had reclaimed half of Lead Aerospace purely through her own genuine abilities.
"All she wants is the compensation payment. At the end of the day, she just wants what’s fair. President Grant, you might as well just pay her what you owe instead of playing all these convoluted games, making it seem like you’re so deeply in love."
’Not much love, and not very forthcoming with the money either,’ Levin Sawyer thought, shaking his head.
"President Grant, all these years, you’ve gotten away with whatever you wanted simply because you were banking on Faye’s love for you. It’s quite shameless!"
"Isn’t that the truth?" Leah Evans, who had just come over to settle accounts, chimed in. "Back when you were throwing money at Joanna Sherman, why didn’t you mention that half the shares belonged to Faye? When you invested in the Sherman Family’s business and let the Shermans bully your own wife’s biological uncle, why weren’t you willing to split your assets to help Faye save him? It was all because you knew our Faye wouldn’t leave you. You just picked on the easy target!"
"Now you see our Faye’s value and you’re here yelling about giving her shares. President Grant, how can you be so thick-skinned?"
"Don’t tell me you’re still trying to take advantage of our Faye."
Leah Evans and Levin Sawyer despised Vincent Grant the most, so they took any chance they got to tear into him.
Joanna Sherman was fuming, but she knew she didn’t have the moral high ground, so she didn’t step forward to help Vincent Grant.
Instead, she took a step back, intending to slip away.
Leah Evans saw this and deliberately shouted, "Is the Eldest Miss Sherman preparing to leave already?"
Joanna Sherman: "..."
In front of everyone, Leah Evans gave her a big thumbs-up. "The Eldest Miss Sherman’s escape skills are truly impressive, and your sense of smell is quite sharp, huh?"
"When my Faye was struggling and fighting alongside Vincent Grant, you were nowhere to be seen. But once he became successful, you smelled an opportunity and came right back. Not only did you swoop in to reap the benefits, but you shamelessly tore Faye down, completely forgetting where the money you’re enjoying now came from!"
Leah Evans was famous for her quick, venomous tongue. Having finally gotten a chance, she wasn’t going to stop until she’d had her fill.
"Now that Vincent Grant is getting an earful, all you can think about is saving your own skin!"
"Let others take the heat while you enjoy the rewards? The Eldest Miss Sherman, is this what you call true love for President Grant?"
Leah Evans aired all of Joanna Sherman’s dirty laundry in one breath, and after finishing, she even threw in a question of conscience.
A flash of panic crossed Joanna Sherman’s eyes. She quickly said, "You know exactly what happened back then! I was a victim too. Why are you taking it out on me!"
"Actually, there are still a lot of things that aren’t clear," Leah Evans said meaningfully.
Before she could finish, Joanna Sherman hurriedly interrupted, "Vincent, I still have to go study. I’m leaving."
She turned and ran off.
It was as if she was afraid Leah Evans would trap her if she was a second too late.
Leah Evans slowly narrowed her eyes.
’I was just talking. What’s she so flustered about?’
Sophia Shaw had long known the real reason why Joanna Sherman left back then. But without concrete evidence, Vincent Grant wouldn’t believe her. Rather than waste her breath, it was better to let him slowly discover the truth himself.
So she said, "Let’s leave it at that for now. I have to get back to work."
She casually tossed a card to Leah Evans. "Help me sort out the compensation payment and donate it directly to charity."
Leah Evans shouted, "You got it!"
Looking at Vincent Grant’s exceptionally pale and defeated face, she felt utterly satisfied.
’A late apology is worse than dog shit, and he thinks people actually want it!’
Levin Sawyer also knew Sophia Shaw’s attitude toward work. He was a little reluctant to see her go, but could only say, "Don’t work too hard. And don’t worry, Bun is with me and she’s doing great. You don’t have to worry about her."
"If you miss her, give me a call. I’ll bring her to see you anytime."
"Okay."
Vincent Grant watched the interaction between Levin Sawyer and Sophia Shaw with a heavy gaze.
Their tone was intimate, as if they were the real family.
---
Joanna Sherman sat at a junior engineer’s desk, forcing herself to get through a day of basic data entry.
The drastic drop from her position as chief engineer to doing tasks only newcomers would do was a huge blow, making it impossible for her to concentrate.
Looking at the office full of rookies, Joanna Sherman clenched her fists tightly.
’I can’t let this go on!’
’If I just sit in this rookie office and let Sophia Shaw suppress me, when will it ever end?’
’Vincent Grant is already paying more and more attention to Sophia Shaw. If I don’t come up with a plan soon, I’ll really lose!’
The thought of losing felt like a thousand ants crawling all over her.
She had to find a way to recapture Vincent Grant’s attention!
Joanna Sherman pushed her computer away, grabbed her bag, and quickly walked out of the office.
---
Joanna Sherman went to Vincent Grant and Sophia Shaw’s marital home.
"Auntie Joanna!" Cedric Grant called out when he saw her.
Joanna Sherman looked over and saw a hint of joy on his face.
Her tense heart relaxed a little.
’Good, Cedric Grant’s attitude toward me hasn’t changed.’
"Auntie Joanna, are you here to pick up Stella?"
This was what Cedric Grant was actually happy about.
With Stella Grant living at home, he felt too embarrassed to go find his mom and ask her to come back.
Joanna Sherman, unaware of his thoughts, deliberately and affectionately patted Cedric Grant’s head. "That’s right. Auntie Joanna is taking Stella home tonight."
"Great! I’ll go pack Stella’s things right now!"
Cedric Grant ran off in a flash.
Joanna Sherman: "..."
’I thought Cedric Grant would be sad and reluctant to see her go. Was I... wrong?’
Cedric Grant quickly packed Stella Grant’s things, and the nanny came out holding her.
Joanna Sherman took Stella Grant but didn’t get in the car. Instead, she looked at Cedric Grant. "Cedric, Auntie is going to a surfing competition today. Want to come along?"
Cedric Grant hesitated.
He didn’t want to go.
Before Cedric Grant could say anything, Vincent Grant walked in through the door.
Joanna Sherman walked over to him openly. "Vincent, you’re back just in time. I’m going surfing, and Cedric has always been interested in it. Let’s take him with us."
Cedric Grant: "..."
Joanna Sherman’s words made it sound as if he was dying to go.
Not wanting to make Joanna Sherman lose face, Cedric Grant couldn’t bring himself to voice the refusal on the tip of his tongue.
Vincent Grant looked at his son.
He usually tried his best to give Cedric Grant whatever he wanted.
So he said, "Alright."
The nanny said with a grin, "Cedric, you’re so lucky! You get to watch your Auntie Joanna perform again!"
Cedric Grant: "..."
In the past, he really had loved watching Joanna Sherman surf. He had even made a pact with Vincent Grant that he would learn to surf when he turned ten.
But now, he didn’t feel that way anymore.
Cedric Grant got into the car sullenly.
At Cedric Grant’s request, Vincent Grant had specially arranged for a minivan for Stella Grant.
Cedric Grant watched Vincent Grant driving in the front seat. He wanted to ask about Sophia Shaw countless times, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything.
’Auntie Joanna is still someone I admire. I can’t act like I don’t care about her just because Mom is more impressive.’
Cedric Grant swallowed the words he wanted to say and took the initiative to hold Stella Grant.
Soon, they arrived at the surfing club.
Joanna Sherman gently patted Cedric Grant’s shoulder. "Cedric, Auntie is going to get changed. You’re in charge of protecting your little sister, okay?"
"Okay!" Cedric Grant nodded firmly.
He stood very seriously by the door, holding Stella Grant.
People were coming and going outside the locker room.
Seeing such a young boy taking care of his little sister, some people couldn’t help but cast admiring glances his way.
"Hey, little guy, are you here with your mom? You’re so good at taking care of your sister at such a young age. You’re amazing!"
Cedric Grant had always been able to do whatever he set his mind to exceptionally well. Hearing the praise, he didn’t get arrogant and replied loudly, "I came with my auntie. This is my little sister, her daughter."
"My auntie is the best surfer in this whole club!"
Surprise flashed in the eyes of the crowd. "Really? Your auntie is amazing. What’s her name? Juliet Judd or Sylvia Jacobs?"
