Chapter 223

Before the slap could land, Clifford caught his wrist.

Wallace glared at him, seething with rage. "Are you rebelling against me?"

Clifford's lips curved into a slight smile. "We're discussing work right now," he said slowly. "And since this is about work, let's not bring our father-son dynamic into it. I'm not just the CEO of the Lambert Group; I'm also a shareholder. We are equals. It would be inappropriate for you to raise your hand to me."

“Fine! Fine! Fine!” Wallace spat, shaking off Clifford's grip. “If you want to talk business, let's talk business! The Lambert Group is in deep trouble under your management, and you think you can just walk away? I'm telling you, no chance! If you want to resign, you'll fix this mess first. Get the company back on track, and then you can submit your resignation!"

Clifford raised an eyebrow and let out a soft laugh. "Alright."

The nonchalant smile only fueled Wallace's fury.

"Get out!"

Clifford gave a slight bow and turned to leave. His every action was perfectly composed, yet his very calmness felt like a provocation. In a moment that demanded panic, he was serene, and his deference seemed to mock Wallace's authority.

After Clifford left, Wallace paced the room, fuming. Unable to make sense of it, he picked up his phone and made a call.

It was answered quickly, but the other end remained silent. Wallace hesitated, his expression hardening with a complex mix of emotions.

"What is it?" the voice finally asked.

"Well... you've seen the news about the Lambert Group, haven't you?"

"I have. So what?"

Wallace fell silent again, struggling to find the right words.

The voice on the other end spoke again. "What, having regrets? Weren't you so confident in this son of yours?"

"I may have been wrong."

"And what if you were? It's too late to turn back now."

Wallace sank into his chair, his body feeling heavy. He stared at the ceiling, a new resolve hardening in his tired eyes. "No. There's still a chance."

"What kind of chance?"

"I'll give you my shares, and Yolanda's. Combine them with your company, and we'll have enough to force him off the board!"

The person on the other end laughed. "So, you're proposing a merger?"

“Is there any other way? We need to get through this crisis, and this lets us kick him

out at the same time. It's a way to kill two birds with one stone."

"And Yolanda? Will she agree to this?"

Wallace sneered. "Of course, she will."

"Alright, then."

The call ended with a silent, mutual understanding. Wallace tossed his phone onto the desk and sighed, closing his eyes. Although he had once valued Clifford, the boy had grown too art showing ho respect even for his own father. If he let him continue unchecked, the consequences would be

unimaginable.

...

Meanwhile, Clifford sat in his car, his

fingers lightly drumming on the

steering wheel. After a moment, a

small smile played ce

removed the Bluetooth earpiece from his ear and tossed it into the storage compartment.

As he drove away from the Lambert family estate, he dialed Renata's number.

Renata was still with Polly, who was nearly recovered. Her injuries hadn't been severe; after all, she wasn't truly suicidal and had eased up before hitting the tree.

When Renata saw the incoming call, she quickly stepped out of the room to answer. The voice on the other

end made her grip the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white, her Whole body trembling.

Clifford drove back to Aqua Harmony Haven. He found Latisha on the sofa, bored and picking at the scab on her knee. The scab had fused with the gauze, and its peeling edges were driving her crazy.