He locked eyes with her, breathing heavily, his face pale with disbelief. His eyes glistened, the edges reddened with emotion.
People around them thought he and Dolores were a match made in heaven. They were close in age, had natural chemistry, and even their careers complemented each other.
But never in his life had he imagined that the first person to stand against him dating Dolores would be his own mother. And not just oppose it but tear it down completely.
His heart ached. He had gotten used to his mother s scoldings over the years. She rarely offered praise. But this this cruel dismissal of Dolores was something he couldn t stomach.
Hester looked stunned by his sudden outburst. Her eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
Dustin, are you raising your voice at me now? Do you think you re so capable that you no longer need me meddling in your life?
She sprang to her feet, her tone sharp and scathing. Don t forget when the Wade Group was crumbling, it was me who stepped up and saved this family s legacy!
Dustin stood frozen, watching her with pained eyes. His chest felt tight, his heart thudding so hard it hurt.
I had no one to rely on. Your father was useless he only made things worse! She jabbed a finger toward his face, trembling with anger. If it hadn t been for me, your
Grandfather wouldn t have died in peace. He handed more than half of the Wade Group s shares to me so I could keep this company safe from your father, and from you! And now you dare defy me? You ungrateful child!
Seeing her so worked up, Dustin felt a wave of guilt crash over him. But behind that guilt, pain still simmered. He clutched his forehead, trying to suppress the pounding in his head. His voice came out hoarse. Mom, that s not what I meant. I just want you to see Dolores for who she really is
But Hester cut him off again, her tone sharp. If I say she s not good enough, then she s not worth considering!
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Her voice echoed through the room. Dustin, I m warning you if you insist on going against me, I have plenty of ways to make things hard for her. I won t just sit back and let her drag you down.
Why do you have to be like this? Dustin whispered, clutching his head, his eyes burning with frustration.
Hester exhaled sharply and sank back onto the couch. Her tone had lost its edge, but not its weight. Because you re part of this family. And as the only heir, your duty is to protect the company s future. If you can t even make the right choices in your personal life, how can I ever trust you to take over what I ve put my heart and soul into?
Dustin clenched his jaw, his fists trembling slightly. He turned away, refusing to meet her gaze.
I don t want to take over the Wade Group, Dustin said quietly, yet with unmistakable resolve. I ve been at CR Corporation for years. That s where I see my future.
Hester, who had just begun to calm down, was instantly riled again. She slammed her hand on the desk with a thunderous crack that echoed across the room. The sheer force of it made her palm sting, but she didn t flinch.
Her eyes locked onto Dustin s, icy with rage. CR Corporation belongs to Collin! Do you really want to live your whole life beneath him? Like a servant?
Despite the sting in his chest, Dustin stood his ground. Collin and I have been friends since we were kids. He s never treated me like a subordinate. I m at CR Corporation because I chose to be.
Hester s fingers twitched as if she wanted to slap the stubbornness out of him. To her, staying at CR Corporation meant Dustin would always be second best. But if he took charge of the Wade Group their legacy he might just have a shot at surpassing Collin. She could almost picture it: Dustin rising up, turning the tide, and becoming the richest man in Grester. But instead, he was throwing away that future, just like his useless father.
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