Chapter 9
1369 Words
"What? Are you out of your mind, old man?"
Jonathan's voice rang out in disbelief. The Scott Group's market value was in the hundreds of billions. Thirty percent of the shares meant thirty billion dollars, along with control over the company.
Robert's eyes narrowed as he shot Jonathan a sharp glare. "I'm not out of my mind. Dr. Cooper saved Shirley's life. This is what he deserves."
Jonathan's face flushed with anger, his fists tightening at his sides. A dark glint flickered in his eyes. "Dad, have you ever thought about me? I'm your son!"
Robert let out a cold snort. "Forget about it. Giving you those shares would be a waste."
Shirley spoke up softly. "Dad, please don't argue with Grandpa. I think his decision is right. I'm fine with giving the shares to Daniel. I still have twenty percent of my own shares, and I'm willing to give them to Daniel too."
Shirley leaned her head against Daniel's chest, her expression glowing with happiness.
Jonathan's eyes burned with fury as he turned to Shirley. "You traitor! How can you side with an outsider over your family?"
Shirley's voice trembled slightly. "Dad, how can you say that? Brother Daniel saved my life."
Daniel raised his hand, shaking his head. "Mr. Scott, I can't accept these shares."
"Dr. Cooper, please don't refuse," Robert insisted. "This is my way of showing my gratitude."
Robert's gaze was firm. He wasn't just thinking about repaying Daniel. He was thinking about Shirley's future. Jonathan's ambition made him dangerous and unreliable. After Robert was gone, someone trustworthy needed to be there to protect her.
Brian stood silently nearby, his expression unreadable as his thoughts churned.
But Daniel still refused. "I didn't save her for money. I can't take these shares, no matter what."
"Daniel, the day after tomorrow is my birthday. Will you come?" Shirley's eyes softened as she looked up at Daniel. Now that she had recovered, she was determined to win Daniel back from Natalie.
"Of course," Daniel said with a gentle smile. He decided he'd have to find the perfect gift for her.
"Focus on your recovery, and you'll be fine. I'll take my leave now," Daniel said, preparing to go.
"I'll walk you out," Brian offered, following him.
***
Meanwhile, at Telicom Group headquarters in the capital of Dorexas.
Telicom Group was a short-video live-streaming giant with a market value in the trillions.
In the conference room, a tense meeting was underway.
"Before his death, Mr. Ronan Foster transferred twenty percent of the company's shares to someone named Daniel Cooper!"
The room erupted into chaos.
"Twenty percent? That's an enormous amount!"
"Who is the man called Daniel Cooper? Why haven't we heard of him before?"
"Why would Mr. Ronan Foster do something like this? Could it have anything to do with that time years ago when he was kidnapped overseas and rescued?"
The voices overlapped, the air thick with confusion and disbelief.
"Be quiet!" The man at the head of the table slammed his hand down, silencing the room. He was Matthew Foster, Ronan's eldest son.
Matthew's expression was cold and determined. "We don't know who Daniel Cooper is yet, and our priority is to find him and get those shares back—whatever it takes."
"But how?" someone asked, their voice hesitant. "There are billions of people in the world. Where do we even start?"
"Use every resource we have," Matthew ordered. "Start with my father's network. Track down anyone who might have a connection to him. We will find him." He'd been certain that after Ronan's death, the company would be his. But Ronan seemed to have tricked him.
If Daniel joined forces with Yolanda, the company would undoubtedly slip from his grasp.
Unbeknownst to them, a small surveillance device lay hidden beneath the table, recording every word they said.
"Daniel Cooper?" In another office, a strikingly beautiful young woman sat watching the surveillance footage on her monitor. Her delicate brows knitted slightly, and her rosy lips parted as if she was lost in thought.
Her name was Yolanda Foster, one of the executives of Telicom Group, and Ronan's daughter.
She murmured to herself, "That name... sounds familiar."
Suddenly, her eyes lit up, realization dawning on her. "It's him..."
A mix of doubt and surprise flickered across Yolanda's face. Years ago, on a business trip abroad, she met an extraordinary man. His name was Daniel Cooper.
"Could it really be the same person? I remember him saying he was from Jerovania."
Without hesitation, Yolanda picked up her phone and called her secretary. "Book me a flight to Jerovania immediately."
***
Brian pulled up to the hospital entrance and stopped the car.
"Dr. Cooper, I owe you big time for this. Consider it a favor. Here, take this premium card. It gives you 70% off at any Scott Group business. Anything you need."
"It's the least I can do. Even without you, I would've stepped in to save Shirley." Daniel pocketed the card, eager to end the conversation. Without another word, he turned and walked away.
As Daniel walked, a woman walking past him suddenly froze. She whipped around, staring at his back as if she'd seen a monster.
"It's him," she whispered.
Her face turned ashen, and her legs gave out beneath her. She collapsed to the ground, trembling violently, her eyes wide with terror.
Years ago, when she was still a college student, this man had left a scar on her life that would never heal.
Her body shook uncontrollably as memories of that day flooded back, dragging her into the torment she had tried so hard to bury.
"He's walking around like nothing happened," she murmured bitterly, "while my entire life has been ruined."
People nearby began to glance at her curiously, but none of them could understand the anguish consuming her.
She pressed both hands over her mouth, trying to stifle her sobs, but tears streamed down her face anyway.
"Why?" she screamed silently. "Why, after all these years, do I have to see him again?"
Daniel had noticed her earlier but had already dismissed her as unimportant. He had long forgotten her, and she had never even received an apology.
Back then, when she woke up from being drugged, the first thing she saw was him.
Summoning every ounce of courage she had, Chloe Hayes scrambled to her feet and ran after him, blocking his path.
"Daniel Cooper," she said, her voice trembling. "Do you remember me?"
Daniel frowned, his expression calm but confused. "Who are you? I don't think we've met."
Chloe's eyes widened, and tears welled up in her eyes. "You don't remember me?" Her voice cracked. "Have you forgotten what you did to me?"
Daniel's confusion deepened. "I don't know what you're talking about. Are you sure you've got the right person?"
Chloe's emotions erupted. "How could I mistake you? You destroyed my life! You snatched my virginity! Your face is the last thing I'll forget for the rest of my life!"
By now, a small crowd had gathered, whispering among themselves.
"What's going on?"
"Looks like some kind of grudge."
Daniel looked at the distraught Chloe and seemed to feel a slight stir in his heart, but he still said, "Miss, calm down. What happened?"
"It's been three years! Do you have any idea what my life has been like these past three years? You ruined my life, and now you don't even recognize me. Daniel, I hate you!" Chloe screamed, tears streaming down her face.
Her voice carried endless pain and anger as if she was pouring out all the grievances and inner turmoil she had endured over the past three years.
The crowd, sensing her emotion, began to look at Daniel with suspicion.
"Are you Chloe Hayes?" Daniel said at last.
He finally realized she was the campus belle Ethan had drugged and r*ped three years ago. Back then, Daniel had taken the blame to protect Ethan. To make it believable, he had even spent the night with her, naked, holding her in his arms.
Chloe's eyes burned with fury as she heard him say her name. "So you do remember what you did," she spat. "You monster!"
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