Chapter 422


    Cayden actually bribed someone?


    Nicole couldn''t imagine how the elegant, yet haughty Cayden could be involved in corruption.


    Nheless, the news undoubtedly came as a shock to her.


    Holding her breath, she continued to eavesdrop on her adopted father''s conversation with his


    secretary.


    “Last month, Mr. Sheen of the city council was suspended for being involved in a massive corruption


    case. In an attempt to mitigate his crimes, he exposed everyone who was involved and revealed the


    details of how it happened. Unexpectedly, Cayden Moore''s name was among them. He''s a titan within


    Ackleton''s businessmunity and has contributed significantly to the city''s economic development.


    Mr. Lambert, here''s the evidence that implicates Cayden in the case.


    “Mr. Sheen is a careful man and is vignt in all his dealings. He has secretly recorded everyone who


    has ever bribed him in an attempt to preserve evidence. What should we do about it, Mr. Lambert?


    Under normal circumstances, a member of apany''s senior management would be dealt with by the


    book. However, Cayden''s status has made the situation more delicate.”


    As Cayden controlled two-thirds of Ackleton''s economy, he wielded significant influence in the city.


    If something were to happen to him, the stock market would be destabilized. Not only would it impact


    Ackleton''s economy, but foreign investors would also refrain from investing in the city out of fear,


    causing a chain reaction that would spiral into a crisis.


    What Nicole heard next was the sound of documents being flipped through.


    After a long time, William''s sonorous voice finally rang out. “We can''t touch Cayden for the time being


    as the repercussions are huge. Let me consider the matter first. If it''s indeed necessary, we will have to


    escte the matter to our superiors.”


    William shook his head.


    He felt it a shame that Cayden, whom he admired, was involved in the case.


    The daring and capable Cayden was someone whose business acumen was unrivaled. Furthermore,


    he was both fearless and ruthless in his methods. Those qualities enabled him to turn Trident Group


    from apany facing bankruptcy into a multinational conglomerate in just a few short years.


    It also wasn''t lost upon William that every sessful businessman had a dirty history.


    If no one had any dirt on Cayden, William could still turn a blind eye to the former''s actions.


    Unfortunately, someone had recorded him in the act of bribery, cementing his guilt in the matter.


    “Suppress the matter for the time being until I figure out what to do.”


    The thought of the domino effect that Cayden''s arrest would bring caused William to hesitate in taking


    action. Hence, he gestured to his secretary and suggested, “Since it''s rare for you to be here so early


    in the morning for work, Mr. L, why don''t you join me for breakfast? Come, let''s head downstairs


    together.”


    Alfred replied, “I would be happy to oblige.”


    As the sound of their footsteps rang out, the study''s door swung open suddenly.


    Jolted by it, Nicole frantically pretended that she was about to knock. Stroking her chest from the fright,


    she asked, “Dad, I was just about to knock— Oh, Mr. L is here too. Mom asked me to inform you


    that breakfast is ready.”


    William didn''t suspect anything, as he was always happy with how sensible and obedient Nicole was.


    Thus, he replied with an easy-going smile, “What a coincidence. Let''s go down together then.”


    However, the sharp Alfred shot Nicole a thoughtful look. Staring at the innocent expression on her face,


    he kept his words to himself.


    Despite her calm facade, Nicole felt a chill down her spine when she saw Alfred giving her a look of


    suspicion.


    It wasn''t until he went downstairs with her father that she finally heaved a sigh of relief.


    Even though nothing ever escaped Alfred''s attention, Nicole was confident in her ability to stay calm. I


    didn''t give myself away, did I?


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Before she went down with them, Nicole scanned her father''s study from the corner of her eyes.


    When she thought back to the two men''s conversation, a brazen idea popped into her mind even


    though she was still reeling from the shock of the earlier revtion.


    After sitting through breakfast with her mind elsewhere, Nicole hurried to a particr hospital.


    That hospital only served the rich, celebrities, and anyone who was a socialite. Due to the privacy it


    orded, it was popr with high society. That was the reason why Nicole went there to take a test.


    When she arrived at the doctor''s office, she was greeted by a female doctor in her thirties. The doctor


    had ordinary features but maintained a good figure.


    After she handed Nicole a DNA test report, thetter anxiously opened the envelope to retrieve it with


    trembling hands.


    When she saw that it showed a match of 99.99%, her face lost all color, and her body began to shake


    uncontrobly.


    As the urge to tear up the report swelled within her, Nicole''s lips quivered as she spoke. “No, this is


    impossible! Doctor, could there have been a mistake?”


    “Ms. Lambert, if you don''t believe the results, you can get another test in a different hospital. As a


    doctor, my medical skills and reputation are of the utmost importance. There''s no point in me trying to


    ruin them.” The doctor sounded upset.


    The doctor was well-known in the hospital and specialized in many areas. Having served many VIPs


    and received a lot of positive reviews, she glowered in response to the doubt Nicole had cast upon her.


    Meanwhile, the distraught Nicole was in no mood to pay the doctor any heed. As a bout of weakness


    descended upon her body, she staggered forward before leaving the doctor''s office.


    Upon walking to the hospital''s washroom, she opened the door to one of the cubicles and hurried


    inside.


    The moment she locked the door, she tore the report into pieces in a bout of rage.


    Her eyes were spitting fire while chaos reigned in her mind.


    How is this possible? How can Avery be ire''s biological daughter? However, how can the DNA


    match be as high as 99.99% if it isn''t true?


    Avery was the only person Nicole couldn''t ept as ire''s daughter.


    After she littered the floor with torn pieces of the report, the audacious idea in her head came back to


    the forefront of her mind.


    Closing her eyes, she forced herself to calm down.


    It wasn''t until fifteen minutester that she emerged from the cubicle. Coincidentally, she encountered a


    girl with big eyes entering the washroom.


    Recognizing Nicole, the girl eximed excitedly, “Are you the Nicole from the movie Orphan? I''m a


    huge fan of yours. Can I have your signature?”


    Overwhelmed by her own problems, Nicole was in no mood to entertain the fan by reverting to her


    demure idol act. Thus, she shoved the girl aside in her exasperation.


    The girl was consequently stunned as she watched Nicole''s leaving silhouette. Returning her gaze to


    the mess on the floor, she carefully picked the torn pieces of paper up and managed to vaguely make


    out some of its contents.


    She then muttered to herself, “Oh my God, I can''t believe Nicole, who acts like a goddess on the silver


    screen, is someone like that! Not only does she not have the decency to flush, but she also littered the


    floor with trash. She''s such a disgusting person...”