Chapter 290 Fire
Gigi managed to convince Edgar to come with her to the interview. As long as she promised not to release the exposé.
“What is the point of this interview, then?” Gigi did not understand why he made her promise him this. “Edgar, I just want to share our good news with everyone. Is that so hard to ask?”
This would deter any women who had their eye on him, forcing Edgar to admit that they are exclusive, and securing her position as the future Mrs. Royden.
Just in case, Gigi made sure that the reporter would include Jean’s past scandals in the final exposé. The contrast would prove how in love Gigi and Edgar were with each other.
It would also help her career after she gave birth. Not once did she think that Edgar would go against her. “There’s no need for it. We’ll talk about it after you’ve given birth.”
He had ordered Miles to buy a piece of land in Gigi’s name overseas. No matter what happens to them in the future, she will be well taken care of.
It was a form of compensation in a way. Gigi refused to listen to him. “You can’t do this to me, Edgar. You…” Edgar did not budge and left no matter how she screamed and begged.
“Gigi, what do we do now?” Mona shook her head forlornly. “You had better get Edgar under control.” “I know. I can’t wait any longer.”
Gigi gritted her teeth and immediately told the reporter to change the headline for the exposé.
She then called Andy. “Edgar is keeping a woman in his home, but I’m unsure if it’s Jean. I need you to get rid of her tonight. I don’t care if you rape her or burn her to death. Just get rid of her.”
“Are you trying me use me to secure your position as his wife? Dream on,” Andy coldly replied.
Gigi bit her lip so hard that it turned white. “This will benefit the both of us. Both you and my son are in line to inherit the Royden Group. That should be enough reason for you to do it.”
This is what it meant to be called a Royden.
…
At dusk. Jean sat staring unseeingly out the window for a long time as if she was waiting for something. After cooking dinner, Susan came looking for her, “Madam, it’s dinner time.”
Jean shook her head and came to her senses. “I don’t feel like eating.”
She didn’t really have the stomach for food right now. Ben had texted her not too long ago, informing her that Edgar had drowned out news of the auction failure with news of Royden Group’s new technology in their soon-to-be-released smart product.
Jean didn’t feel satisfied even though she had forced Edgar to be on defense. She was reflecting on what she did do wrong.
“You didn’t eat much at lunch. Your body won’t be able to handle it if you continue on like this.” Susan sighed. Jean smiled wanly at her. Now that she’s become like this, who would even care?
“I…”
Whatever she was about to say was left unsaid because she smelled something burning in the air. “Susan, did you remember to turn off the gas?”
“I did.” Susan was about to go back downstairs to check when suddenly something exploded. The two of them jumped up in fright. “Run!”
They ran downstairs and out the stairs at the side of the house. Just as they had emerged from the house, there were two more large explosions, and the house was engulfed in flames.
Massive tongues of flames licked at the sky as if a dragon was trying to escape.
“Madam, are you okay?” Even though Susan was in shock, she wanted to ensure that Jean was alright.
Jean shook her head as she watched the fire grow. All of a sudden, she shoved Susan away as she ran into the burning building.
“Madam!” Susan was not fast enough to stop her. Fire blocked her path.
Edgar arrived just after the firefighters came.
“What happened?” He frowned. Looking at the few people who escaped and stood outside, he asked, “Where’s Jean?”
Susan’s hand shook as she pointed to the house. “Madam, she…”
Crash.
The beams holding the ceiling collapsed.
Ember and ashes flew into the air while the firefighters tried their best to keep the fire from spreading.
Edgar stood frozen. He could hear the rushing of his blood roar in his ears. “No.”
He started for the burning building but was stopped by the firefighters before he could go any further. “Sir, the fire is out of control. We cannot let you go in.”
“She’s still inside!”
Edgar struggled against them until he saw a slight silhouette appear from within the flames.
“Jean!”
He ran towards her and clutched her to his chest. She was barely conscious from inhaling so much smoke.
“Wake up! Please wake up!”
Jean opened her bleary eyes. Her hand loosened, and a beautifully made jewelry box fell to the ground. It was the bangle that she had auctioned off at the bidding.
“You… Just because of this?”
Edgar’s voice was shaking. He cradled her to his chest and gently placed her in the car, immediately taking her to the nearest hospital.
Coincidentally, the hospital would be the one where Gigi was about to give birth.
The doctor saw to her and announced that Jean’s condition was stable. They still needed to keep her for observation as she had inhaled too much smoke.
Edgar was not allowed into her room, so he could only watch her from outside.
Soon enough, the police concluded that the fire was set by a man who had just been released from prison.
They caught him, and he admitted that he was the one who set fire to Edgar’s house.
This was all corroborated by the security cameras they had around the house.
He pleaded guilty when caught. His motives behind it were that he hated the rich and found that large house to be an eyesore. Which he then lit on fire.
Typically, nothing would come from such random and unpremeditated behavior. After all, his words could not be trusted, and it wasn’t like he could compensate them.
Even if they were to investigate further, the most that would come of it was a few more years in prison. And this man wasn’t the type to care about that.
The trail of clues seemed to end there.
“Mr. Royden, you have a video conference scheduled for tonight at the office.” Miles softly reminded him.
“Has Jean found a consignor for the bangle?” Instead of finding out who was behind the fire, Edgar was more interested in why Jean was willing to put her life at risk just to retrieve a bangle.
“All we know is that the bid was won by a foreign businessman. I’ll let you know if we find out more details.”
Edgar frowned. He was about to leave for the elevator when Miles’s phone rang.
After answering the call, he proceeded to report back to Edgar.
“Mr. Royden, your interview with Ms. Reece made headlines.”
Edgar was silent before he took a deep breath and said, “Take care of it.”
“Yes, sir.”
He had enough influence to drown whatever news Gigi made before it could gain any traction.
He was Edgar Royden. He would not submit to or be controlled by anyone.
Which was why that afternoon, Sam Reece received some bad news.
He was informed that Royden Group would permanently cease all cooperation with Reece Group. Effective immediately. Reece Group, which was just starting to recover, plummeted in market shares from the announcement.
“What’s going on? How could he do this? My daughter is pregnant with his child and is currently hospitalized! How could he do this to me?!”
Sam bellowed. “Tell Edgar to come see me. I need to talk to him face to face.”
Miles adjusted his glasses.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Mr. Royden is extremely busy. I can pass him a message if there’s something you need to tell him.”
