His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 295: Corporate Takeover

Harold and Irene scrambled after them, rushing out the door. However, the moment they stepped into the hallway, the bodyguards stationed outside formed an impenetrable wall, blocking their path.

Arthur spun around, his face twisting with fury. "Are you seriously holding us prisoner here, Julian?" He whipped out his phone, his thumb flying to dial 911.

Before he could connect the call, four security guards surged forward. They snatched the phones from Arthur's and the others' hands, shoved them hard, and forced them back into the living room, pressing down firmly on their shoulders to keep them in place.

A chaotic struggle ensued. The living room was thrown into disarray as everyone tried to break free.

Vivian was paralyzed by terror. Her face drained of color as she watched the violence unfold, panic completely taking over.

Frederick slammed his hand against the table, the sound echoing through the room. "Julian! What the hell do you think you're doing?" he shouted, his voice a mix of rage and helplessness.

The guards ignored the protests and manhandled everyone back onto the sofas.

Lily clung to her father's arm, tears streaming down her face. "Dad, please, help me..."

Fear hung thick in the air. Everyone watched Julian, desperate to decipher his next move, terrified of his power.

Julian, however, remained the picture of calm. A faint, cold smirk played on his lips as he leisurely picked up his cup from the coffee table and took a slow sip.

He set the cup down and looked up. Harold had gone pale, sweat beading on his forehead. He swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he spoke. "Julian, look... my daughter made a terrible mistake. She doesn't want to marry you anymore. Can't you just let this go? You know she suffers from depression."

"Speaking of illnesses..." Julian let out a short, mocking laugh. "Mine is far worse."

The malice in his smile sent a chill down everyone's spine.

Lily shrank back in fear. "Dad," she whispered, "that's not the Julian we knew. No matter what you say, he's not going to have any mercy on me."

Arthur chimed in, his voice tight. "The guy is twisted. He's not happy, so he's determined to make sure none of us are either."

Irene was shaking visibly. She looked at Julian with pleading eyes. "Julian, please. We'll agree to whatever terms you want. Just let my daughter go."

Julian cast a glance at one of his guards, who immediately stepped forward and handed him a document.

Julian placed it on the table. "Sign it."

Harold picked up the papers, his eyes skimming over the clauses. As he read, his face darkened considerably. "You want to buy my company? This price... it's far below market value!"

Lily panicked. "Dad, no! Don't sell it! If you sell the company for this, what happens to us? He's a lunatic. He'll destroy us just for revenge."

Julian let out a cold, scornful laugh, raising an eyebrow. "So, you won't divorce, you won't marry me, and you won't sell the company. That leaves you with only one option."

"What option?" Lily asked, her voice trembling.

"I short your company's stock. I'll send you back to square one. Delist it. Drive you into bankruptcy. And leave you with billions in debt."

Julian had built one of the top ten corporations in the world. His ruthless business tactics were legendary and feared.

Harold's hands shook uncontrollably. He gritted his teeth, realizing he had no way out. "Fine. I'll sign."

"No, Dad!" Lily screamed. She snatched the pen from his hand and threw the papers across the room. "I already promised Arthur he could run the company for you. If you sell it for peanuts, you're just handing it to him!"

Harold looked at his daughter with heartbreak. "This is the debt we owe him."

"We are the ones who wronged him!" Harold yelled back. "If I don't sign, are we just waiting for the end?"

Harold snatched the pen back. He scribbled his signature on the contract and pressed his thumb firmly against the ink pad, leaving a red fingerprint on the page.

Julian picked up the document, glanced over it briefly to ensure it was in order, and handed it to his guard. He buttoned his suit jacket with practiced ease. He turned his cold gaze toward Frederick, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "So, this is the ideal daughter-in-law you always wanted. What a joke."

Frederick's face turned an ugly shade of purple. He wanted to speak, to lash out, but the words died in his throat. The veins in his neck bulged ominously, and his chest heaved. He looked like he was on the verge of a stroke.

Julian took a few steps toward the exit, then paused as if remembering something. He turned to look at Vivian.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I've already sold Rosehill Estate," he said casually. "You have two weeks to move out."

Vivian was stunned. "What are you talking about?" she shrieked, her voice pitching up in hysteria. "Your father already transferred the deed of Rosehill Estate to my son's name! That is my son's home!"

Julian remained calm, indifferent to her outburst. "Didn't Caleb tell you? He sold the estate to me for 1.8 billion. I flipped it and made a tidy profit."

Vivian's vision swam. Her legs turned to jelly, and her face went deathly pale. She began to crumble to the floor.

Frederick caught her just before she fell. He was shaking with uncontrollable rage, his face dark as thunder. He roared at Julian, "You ungrateful son! Have you lost your mind? You sold our home? Where are we supposed to live?"

Julian showed no reaction to their anger or their despair. "The old family estate. It's perfect timing. You can go back and live with Grandma."

Vivian looked as though she might faint at any second. She collapsed against Frederick, sobbing brokenly.

Harold and Irene hurried over to help support Vivian.

Lily watched Julian, her eyes wide with a mixture of hatred and fear.

Arthur narrowed his eyes, a dark, sinister look flashing through them.

Julian's gaze swept across the room until it landed squarely on Arthur.

Their eyes locked. Arthur tried to maintain a look of defiance, clinging to his last shred of stubborn pride.

Julian saw right through him. He spoke calmly, "As for the gold digger trying to steal the family fortune, we aren't finished yet."

Gold digger.

The word hit a nerve. Every head in the room snapped toward Arthur.

Arthur's face instantly darkened. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white, glaring at Julian with pure malice.

Julian offered a light, indifferent smile. Then, flanked by his bodyguards and clutching the signed contract, he turned and walked out, exuding an air of absolute confidence and ease.

Left in his wake, Vivian wept bitterly, pounding her fists against Frederick's chest. "This is all your fault! All your fault! He used to have no ambition. He was willing to walk away from the business just to live a simple, happy life with Iris. Why did you have to force him to divorce her? Why did you force him to marry Lily? Look at what's happened! Now he wants everything. He takes it all. He leaves us with nothing..." She dissolved into tears. "Is this what you wanted? It's all your fault!"