Chapter 1196
No.1
She dabbed at fake tears with her delicate fingers.
Her performance successfully manipulated the crowd.
Eleanor patted her hand comfortingly. "Nonsense! Even ex-convicts deserve second chances. Your past mistakes don't define you. Don't overthink it."
"But Adrian is right. We should scale back the festivities." Victoria turned to Adrian with feigned gratitude. "Thank you for your advice. I agree completely. However... as you see, all the guests are here. Everything is prepared. We can't cancel now. If you had concerns, you should have voiced them earlier. I would have listened."
Her words subtly implied he was too late to object.
Adrian nearly exploded at her blatant hypocrisy.
Victoria continued her act of false benevolence. "Regardless, I appreciate your concern. If you need anything—career opportunities, housing assistance—please let me know. I'll help however I can."
She deliberately highlighted his unemployment and homelessness.
Eleanor glared disapprovingly. "Victoria, don't be foolish! He was disowned for being useless! Why help someone who just insulted you?"
No.2
"Exactly! He's twenty-five and still mooches off friends daily! Any money given to him would be wasted! And after his rudeness! Your kindness is misplaced!" Richard added angrily.
Victoria shook her head meekly. "Please don't say that. I'm sure Adrian has hidden talents. How about this: you gave me a factory for my birthday last year. Let Adrian manage it. We can guide him through the process. Family should support each other."
She sounded impeccably gracious and considerate.
No one knew the factory was already bankrupt and drowning in debt.
This particular factory was the least valuable asset owned by the Montgomery family.
It specialized in crafting architectural scale models for the Montgomery Group.
Richard had initially handed this factory over to Victoria as a test of her capabilities.
She endured six grueling months there, learning the ropes through sheer perseverance.
Since their output was limited to real estate models, the annual dividends were pitifully low.
No.3
They barely scraped past two hundred thousand dollars each year.
Victoria had long wanted to rid herself of this burden.
Yet she played the generous benefactor, offering it up with false magnanimity.
Adrian’s eye twitched in irritation.
Did she genuinely think he was destitute?
Did he appear to be in need of her charitable donations?
“That factory was a gift to you!” Richard snapped, cutting Adrian off before he could speak.
“How could you even consider giving it away?”
“Especially to this worthless fool who can’t even stand by his own family…”
No.4
“He attempted to sabotage the wedding! He deserves nothing from you!”
“Father, I only want Adrian to find his footing and build a proper career,” Victoria pleaded, her voice dripping with feigned concern.
“Absolutely not! You’re being far too kind-hearted!” Eleanor protested vehemently.
Adrian finally lost his patience.
He let out a derisive scoff.
“Hold on. Just stop right there.”
“Which one of your eyes sees me begging for charity?”
“Which ear heard me ask for that pathetic factory?”
“That place barely brings in three hundred thousand a year.”
No.5
“Aren’t you ashamed to make such a grand gesture out of nothing?”
His tone was laced with open mockery.
Victoria lowered her head, adopting a wounded expression.
“Adrian, I… I only wanted to help.”
“This is the only asset I have to offer…”
Alexander, observing the entire exchange, pulled Victoria into a comforting embrace.
“Victoria, the world is full of ungrateful people.”
“You try to help them, and they fault you for not giving enough.”
“Don’t waste another second on someone like him.”
No.6
“What a thoroughly ungrateful man!” Margaret chimed in with disapproval.
Richard spoke with blunt contempt.
“You’re a jobless failure with no prospects.”
“How dare you look down on a factory that generates a steady two hundred thousand annually?”
Victoria kept her head down, pretending to be hurt.
Secretly, she relished the upper hand.
Did he really think he could insult her?
The situation had completely reversed in her favor.
This was the price for crossing her!
No.7
However…
Adrian met everyone’s gaze with an icy smirk.
“Who told you I’m a jobless failure?”
“I am the President of GoldenPhoenix Entertainment. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
He pulled a stack of business cards from his pocket.
He tossed them into the air with a flourish.
Dozens of cards fluttered down around them.
Each one was printed in gleaming gold foil.
[President of GoldenPhoenix – Adrian Sinclair]