Reborn From Oblivion

John shook his head, "Not at all."

Griffin was caught off guard.

John didn't seem in a rush to explain himself. Instead, he took a moment to scan the room. There were only a few familiar faces among the Dawson family's staff; most were new hires. His expression grew serious. Turning to Griffin, he asked, "Where's Chef Brown?"

Griffin felt a wave of shame wash over him, though he couldn't quite pinpoint why, and he lowered his gaze.

Mrs. Dawson stepped in, her tone defensive, "Chef Brown was always making a mess of things, so I gave him a bit of money to retire peacefully."

John's face remained emotionless as he asked, "Really? And just how much did you give him?"

Mrs. Dawson, brimming with self-satisfaction, replied, "A few thousand. Considering how clumsy and slow he was, that was more than generous."

No sooner had she finished than John's hand swiftly connected with Griffin's cheek. He didn't have much strength, but the act of a servant striking his master dealt a heavy blow to Griffin's pride.

Mrs. Dawson, fuming, stepped protectively in front of Griffin and demanded, "Why did you hit him?"

John, maintaining his stern demeanor, ignored her and spoke directly to Griffin, "Uncle Brown saved your father's life. If he hadn't turned the car around during that accident, your father and I wouldn't be here today. He chose to risk himself for your father, which left him disabled. Your father vowed that as long as he lived, Uncle Brown would always have a place with us. And you allowed this woman to mistreat Uncle Brown. You are so ungrateful. You couldn't even tell right from wrong. This is why the Dawson family has fallen so low." Griffin hung his head in shame.

Mrs. Dawson, still arguing, retorted, "We're not ungrateful. Uncle Brown is just foo old now, and he can't helpnovelbin

us anymore... giving him money to retire wasn't wrong!"

This was precisely the moment John had anticipated. He fixed Mrs. Dawson with a piercing stare, as if his experienced gaze could see right through her.

"Do you know why I'm here today?" John asked her pointedly.

A wave of unease washed over Mrs. Dawson.

Griffin chimed in, "Maybe my father saw the news about Dawson International nearing bankruptcy and sent you to save it?"

John let out a derisive snort, "Your

father knew from the moment he fell

ill that with your lack of foresight, Dawson International was destined to fail. Whether it goes bankrupt or not, he doesn't care."

Griffin's heart sank, "How could he just stand by and watch Dawson International collapse?"

Then, something clicked. "So, what brings you here today?" he asked John.

John shifted his gaze to Mrs. Dawson, then handed Griffin a leather envelope.

Puzzled, Griffin took it and opened it. Inside, he found a stack of photos showing a young and attractive Mrs. Dawson in intimate embraces with another man.

At first, Griffin couldn't believe his

eyes and questioned the evidence.

But as he flipped through each photo, especially the one showing the man with his illegitimate child and wife, looking like a happy family at an amusement park, his disbelief turned into seething anger.