Chapter 414 Two Equally Dangerous Choices
Quentin was sine that Kelly would eventually be forced to sell the Wagner Group shares she had inherited from ey to the Walmers.
After all, the Wagners were practically family, and Patrick was Zev’s uncle.
They had meticulously planned everything, and their scheme seemed foolproof. The problem? They had seriously underestimated Kelly’s sharp mind.
Even without Wade’s warnings about the Wagners, Kelly had already begun to grow suspicious of them.
Despite the Lockharts‘ extensive resources, Zev’s talents, and Ken’s influence, they hadn’t been able to detect even the slightest hint of danger. That in itself was unsettling.
Moreover, Ken’s sudden defection–leaving Wade’s side to join the Wagner Group–was a glaring red flag.
It was a sign to Kelly that she needed to be wary of Wagner Group’s intentions.
“Kelly, are you really going to sell your Wagner Group shares to them?”
Before she could reply, Kelly received an unexpected call from an unfamiliar number. It was Shawn.
His voice sounded rushed and strained, as if he was being monitored or forced to keep his tone low. Somehow, he had managed to reach her using a different phone line.
Kelly frowned. “Lockhart Group is in a financial bind. I need to save the company.” Her shares were now the only solution left. They had become essential.
“Don’t sell …” Shawn’s voice was tight. “Even if you have to sell, don’t sell them to Wagner Group. Don’t let Patrick get his hands on them…‘
”
“Why?” Kelly hesitated, her mind racing. She was about to ask more questions when Shawn hurried on.
“Kelly, I don’t have much time. I want to buy your shares, but I don’t have enough money. If Wagner Group buys them under the company’s name, Patrick and Gary will take control. Gary doesn’t run the company, but that means Patrick would hold complete power over everything.”
Kelly stood still as she processed his words.
“I’m in a weak position at Wagner Group right now,” Shawn continued, his voice strained. “But the reason I can still influence things is because Patrick doesn’t yet have full control. His shareholding is limited, so despite his title as chairman …
“Protect yourself!” The line crackled, and suddenly, Shawn’s voice was cut off.
Kelly stood there, staring at the phone in her hand. It was clear now.
For years, Patrick hadn’t been the true power at Wagner Group. He was merely a figurehead, practically an employee working for Wagner Group all these years.
The shares had been split between him, Helena, and Gary.
Kelly had once suspected Gary more due to his stronger influence, but now it seemed that Patrick could be just as dangerous–or perhaps both were involved.
1/3
Chapter 414 Two Equally Dangerous Choices
Who was truly behind everything, and whether both siblings had hidden motives, would only be uncovered with the truth and evidence.
Her heart was pounding as she stared at her phone.
Is Shawn under Patrick’s thumb now? Has Patrick anticipated this call?
The last words Shawn had spoken–telling her to protect herself–kept echoing in Kelly’s mind.
If she gave up the shares, she would be vulnerable. It was clear now that the only way to stay safe was to hold onto them for the time being.
Selling them wasn’t an option–not yet.
But if she didn’t sell, how could she resolve the financial crisis threatening Lockhart Group?
“Kelly, the Wagner Group representatives are here. Mr. Hardison and Mr. Brooks are with them.” Hanson entered the room, interrupting her thoughts.
Kelly paused, taking a deep breath. “Let Mr. Hardison and Mr. Brooks in,” she said, her voice steady.
She needed to talk to Sidney and Vincent.
Both Sidney and Vincent had risked buying shares in Wagner Group, but they knew what was at stake. Wagner Group’s 10% share wouldn’t have much impact on them personally, as it was a family–run business.
Sidney and Vincent were helping Kelly out of goodwill, not for any significant financial gain.
Kelly bit her lip, trying to steady her thoughts.
I have to stay calm until Zev comes back.
“Kelly, what’s going on?” Sidney asked as he walked in, noticing her pale face. Vincent looked equally concerned.
“Shawn told me not to sell the shares. He said they’re my lifeline,” Kelly explained, turning to face both men.
They exchanged thoughtful looks. “He’s right,” Sidney said after a pause. “Once you hand over the shares, you become a target. If something happens to you, your children will inherit everything, and whoever is behind this can easily control Lockhart Group once they possess those shares.”
Tyb ”
If they get rid of Zev and me, our children will become their puppets.
Kelly’s mind was racing. It seemed that when Sylvester and Helena passed away, they had the same thought.
They attempted to turn Zev into a puppet, but they hadn’t counted on Wade’s strength or Zev’s decision to attend military school.
And when Zev returned, he wasn’t as easy to manipulate as they had hoped.
It wasn’t until Quentin arrived at Lockhart Group that the plans to remove Zev really started to pick up
steam.
Zev trusted Quentin, so he revealed his true abilities to him. But Quentin saw Zev as a potential threat and moved quickly to neutralize him before he became too powerful.
777
Chapter 414 Two Equally Daigorous Choicer
That explained why Quentin and those behind him were so eager to eliminate Zev
Everything clicked into place now.
When Zev had been playing the fool, things had seemed quiet. But once Quentin arrived, everything changed.
Because Quentin found out the truth: Zev had been pretending all along.
“Right now, two projects are facing serious financial problems, Vincent said, his gaze fixed on Kelly. If the funding dries up, there will be no way to recover. If you don’t sell the Wagner Group shares… “The amount of money at stake was huge; it wasn’t something they could come up with on their own. Even if he and Sidney pooled their resources to buy the shares, it would only provide a temporary fix for Lockhart Group’s
crisis.
“Since Quentin wants you to sell, it’s clear he’s trying to corner you,” Sidney said. “The issues with the projects show that Quentin and the others have set everything up. They’ve deliberately concealed the true financial situation, inflated the project orders, and signed contracts they knew would be impossible to fulfill. The only way to fix it is by selling your assets.”
Sidney shook his head. He and Vincent weren’t in a position to raise the necessary funds quickly. The amount was simply too much.
Even if they did manage to buy the shares together, they’d need a solid reason for doing so, like expanding the company, or else their investments would be at risk.
Wade had left behind valuable assets, but they couldn’t be liquidated quickly.
The only way to get the funds they needed fast was by selling the shares.
Patrick was likely counting on this. That was why he wanted to acquire Kelly’s shares through Wagner Group.
Kelly stood still, her head pounding as she weighed her options.
Selling the shares was just as risky as keeping them.
If she sold, she feared that without Zev, her safety would be at risk. If anything happened to her, Zev would lose control of the situation.
But if she didn’t sell, the company’s crisis wouldn’t be resolved, and things might spiral out of control. She was trapped between two equally dangerous choices.
Send Gifts
864
B
