?Chapter 423:


    “I was thinking of scheduling a day to personally apologize. Do you think your parents would be open to a visit soon?”


    “There’s no need for that, Mr. Burgess,” Bruce replied, his tone courteous but resolute. He knew the incident wasn’t entirely Leah’s fault.


    If Corrine hadn’t acted so aggressively, the whole ordeal might never have happened, sparking a media frenzy that thrust both the Burgess and Ashton families into the spotlight.


    At his words, Corey lifted his gaze, locking eyes with Bruce in a steady, scrutinizing look. Back in the day, Leah and Bruce had been inseparable, childhood friends always by each other’s side.


    It wouldn’t have been an exaggeration to say that Corey had watched Bruce grow up. But the man before him now was different. The young, carefree Bruce once known had been reced by someone far moreposed, cloaked in mystery. Bruce was no longer easy to read; his presence was almost inscrutable.


    As their conversation continued, Leah moved about the room, her hands busy with serving coffee and arranging fruit for Bruce.


    A soft smile tugged at the corners of Corey’s lips, and he lifted his coffee mug with a teasing glint in his eyes.


    “I’ve spent over 20 years raising my daughter, only for her to care more about another man than her own dad. Look at this—my mug’s empty, and yet she doesn’t even think to refill it.”


    Leah’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she shot him a yful re.


    “Dad, what are you talking about?”


    Bruce couldn’t help but admire her shy charm, but a fleeting shadow darkened his gaze, a hint of something unreadable flickering in his eyes.


    “Stop sitting around drinking coffee. Come and eat,” Sonia called, cing bowls of homemade cream soup onto the dining table and gesturing for everyone to join her.


    On the surface, the meal appeared harmonious, but beneath it, the air was thick with unspoken thoughts and silent tension.


    Corey asionally steered the conversation toward hispany’s operations, probing for any opportunity to secure a project from Ashton Group. However, Ashton Group had only just found its footing after months of hardship, and Bruce had already made several crucial transfers to stabilize its finances.


    Any interference from the Burgess family now would risk derailing everything Bruce had carefully nned.


    New chapters now on .c?m


    In the adult world, sometimes silence was louder than any words could ever be. Corey lowered his gaze, the coldness in his eyes carefully masked, and smoothly shifted the conversation.


    “Parents always make long-term ns for their children’s future. Leah is my only daughter, and naturally, I want to ensure she’s well taken care of. I’ve watched you grow up too, Bruce, and I trust you’ll look after Leah.”


    Bruce opened his mouth to respond, but Corey raised his hand, cutting him off.


    “The Ashton family hase a long way, and that’s a testament to your skills and methods. I don’t mean anything else by it, but as I get older, there wille a time when I’ll need to step aside. Everything in the Burgess family will eventually fall to you two.”


    Corey continued, his tone steady but firm, “With Leah’s birthday next month, I n to officially pass the reins of thepany to her. But Leah’s been in the entertainment business for years and knows little about the corporate world. I hope you’ll support her in this.”


    “Dad!” Leah gasped, her voice thick with shock.


    .


    .


    .