Chapter 7 - Withdrawing Cooperation with the Holton Family
1479 Words
Alexander Fairmont's voice successfully pulled Helen Holton back from the brink of losing her composure. The rush of anger was suddenly doused as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, halting all her actions in an instant.
Meanwhile, the commotion finally caught the attention of the people inside the villa, and Charles Fairmont stepped outside.
"What's going on?"
As the current head of the Fairmont Group, Charles Fairmont was a well-known figure frequently appearing in media and financial reports. Helen Holton recognized him immediately, and without further concern for her ongoing conflict with Eleanor Holton, her expression shifted. She quickly smiled and greeted him.
"Charles, I’m Peter Holton’s wife from Holton Building Materials. I didn’t expect to find you at home. How wonderful."
Charles Fairmont’s gaze swept over Helen Holton, Eleanor Holton, and Alexander Fairmont. His expression remained neutral as he asked:
"Mrs. Holton, hello. Is there something you wish to discuss?"
Given Charles Fairmont’s position, he didn’t need to be this courteous. He wasn’t one for pleasantries, but since the person before him was from the Holton family, who had raised Eleanor, he extended more patience, assuming she was likely here to discuss Eleanor's living habits or similar matters.
Helen Holton, not fully understanding his words, immediately felt her vanity swell when he asked if she had something to explain. This was the head of the Fairmont Group asking her to give instructions!
This indicated the importance of her company in his eyes.
The frustration from earlier, caused by Alexander Fairmont, dissipated, and she instinctively puffed out her chest. “Yes, there is something I need to discuss.”
Helen Holton cast a triumphant glance at Eleanor Holton before quickly pulling Catherine Holton aside. “Charles, this is my daughter, Catherine Holton.”
Catherine Holton greeted him sweetly, “Hello, Uncle Charles.”
“Well, you see, I know that the Manchester landmark project is underway, and the government plans to select eight students from the four major universities to represent the city in a promotional video. The final list will be handed to the Fairmont Group.”
Helen Holton continued, “For some reason, my daughter’s spot was taken by someone else. I’m here to ask the Fairmont Group to help us secure that spot for her. It’s just a small favor.”
Charles Fairmont’s brow furrowed slightly.
He knew about the project, but it was under the purview of his third brother, and he had not been involved.
It wasn’t his style to get involved in private matters under the guise of work.
However, seeing that the woman before him had raised Eleanor, Charles Fairmont couldn’t help but consider it further.
Fine. He would treat it as a repayment for the Holton family’s care of Eleanor.
With that thought, he relaxed and said, "I will look into this. I’ll have my secretary check who took your daughter’s spot."
“It was Eleanor Holton,” Helen Holton nearly blurted out, eager to speak.
Charles Fairmont froze, his hand mid-motion to take out his phone. He looked at her, clearly stunned. "Who did you say?"
“Eleanor Holton,” Helen Holton repeated, thinking he hadn’t understood. She even pointed at Eleanor Holton, “It’s her. This child was previously adopted by our family. She’s an ungrateful wretch—bad-tempered and a liar. I didn’t expect her biological parents would be workers in the Fairmont family. I’m not trying to slander her, but some children’s behavior is ingrained. No matter how much I tried to raise her well, some things can’t be changed…”
Helen Holton relentlessly trashed Eleanor Holton’s character, and Alexander Fairmont’s face darkened. He now understood what Eleanor had meant when she said "someone was throwing her under the bus."
The butler and maids stood in stunned silence.
To criticize the young lady in front of Charles Fairmont? Was this woman out of her mind?
Eleanor Holton had long grown used to Helen Holton’s verbal attacks. Even when she had just been mocked by the butler earlier, it hadn’t fazed her.
But now, with Alexander Fairmont and her biological father present, Helen Holton’s words ignited a surprising anger in her.
Why? Why did this woman, the one who had just accepted her as family, still despise her so much?
Did Helen Holton not realize how her words would be received by others?
She knew.
But she didn’t care. She simply wanted everyone to hate her.
When she was little, if any teacher showed her kindness or praise, Helen Holton would slander herself to the teacher in various ways, ensuring they thought she was a bad child.
Teachers never imagined that a mother would malign her own child. They believed Helen Holton’s words, thinking her to be the problem child.
The more disliked she was, the more Catherine Holton could suppress her.
Helen Holton’s dislike and slander had become second nature, just like now.
Eleanor Holton’s clenched fists tightened as she listened to Helen Holton’s incessant tirade. Eventually, she couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Shut up!”
“Shut up!”
Two voices rang out simultaneously, both speaking in unison. Eleanor Holton instinctively turned her head toward the other speaker.
It was Charles Fairmont, his face a storm of fury.
His usual cold demeanor became even more imposing, exuding a palpable pressure.
Helen Holton was immediately silenced by the force of his glare.
With a cold expression, Charles Fairmont’s voice was thick with authority as he fixed his gaze on Helen Holton. “The Fairmont family’s daughter is not for you to criticize, outsider. Butler, escort them out!”
Helen Holton was stunned by his sudden outburst. She didn’t quite catch his remark about "the Fairmont family’s daughter" and tried to argue, but before she could, the butler had already swiftly escorted her and her daughter out.
Charles Fairmont’s eyes followed them as they were ushered out with efficiency, and he turned to Eleanor Holton. “Is this how the Holton family treated you?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them, realizing how obvious the answer was.
If they could dare to slander her in front of him, who knows how they treated their adopted daughter in private?
He had assumed that Eleanor had been well taken care of by the Holton family, at least ensuring she never wanted for anything, but now… it was clear just how wrong he was.
Charles Fairmont grew more incensed as he thought about it, turning to Alexander Fairmont and ordering coldly:
“Call your third uncle. Tell him to withdraw all collaboration with the Holton family.”
The collaboration had originally been arranged to repay the Holton family for raising Eleanor. It was highly beneficial to them, with lucrative profits and an emphasis on helping them rise even further. But now, knowing how the Holton family had treated Eleanor behind the scenes, Charles Fairmont refused to continue offering them any favor.
They didn’t deserve it!
Alexander Fairmont, his smile returning, immediately took out his phone. “Got it.”
Eleanor Holton stood there, stunned, watching Charles Fairmont’s reaction. As she lowered her head, a faint smile unconsciously tugged at her lips, one she hadn’t even noticed herself.
Her new brother and father seemed different from the Holton family.
…It was nice.
Outside the villa.
Helen Holton and Catherine Holton were unceremoniously shown the door.
Neither of them understood why Charles had suddenly exploded in anger.
And what did his earlier words mean?
A Fairmont family daughter?
Who?
The butler, seeing that they hadn’t yet grasped the situation, thought to himself how foolish the Holton family must be.
They had raised Eleanor, and with that debt, the Fairmont family would surely owe them a great deal in the future. Yet the Holton family still didn’t realize who the "ungrateful adopted daughter" they’d been badmouthing actually was.
As a butler, he valued professionalism and never would stoop to rude remarks. So he decided to politely clarify.
“Eighteen years ago, Charles lost a daughter. Today is the day our young lady has returned home. Naturally, Charles can’t tolerate anyone slandering her. Please leave now.”
With that, he turned and instructed someone to shut the villa gates.
Helen Holton and Catherine Holton were left standing outside, dazed and confused.
Helen Holton leaned on her daughter for support, staring blankly at the closed gates.
“What did he just say? What did he mean by ‘young lady’? Who?”
Catherine Holton couldn’t believe what she had just heard—or rather, she didn’t want to believe it.
“It’s impossible… We must have misheard.”
The "Fairmont family’s daughter" couldn’t possibly be Eleanor Holton.
It couldn’t be her!
Helen Holton slowly turned to her daughter, her legs suddenly giving way beneath her. She slumped to the ground.
“It’s over. We’re finished!”
- Writer
