Chapter 677
The moment Jake saw Keira, his eyes lit up.
Oliver, on the other hand, frowned. "What are you doing here?"
Keira walked over and went straight to the point. "I think your son has potential, so I\'m planning to invest in him to start a company."
Oliver was stunned for a moment. Then, his face turned red with anger. "So you\'ve decided to go against me?"
Keira shrugged. "I didn\'t think too much about it. I just want to give an old classmate a chance."
Oliver took a deep breath, struggling to keep his temper in check. "You..."
But Keira had already turned to Jake. "Remember in college when we talked about starting a chemical company after graduation? Well, now I want to invest in you. Will you accept?"
Jake was caught off guard. He looked at Keira, wanting to ask: Are you investing in me to spite my father or because you feel sorry for me?
But before he could say anything, Keira cut him off. "You know me. I don\'t let emotions drive my decisions. I\'m investing in you because I think you\'re the right fit."
Jake had strengths that set him apart. His social skills and his ability to draw people together were even better than Keira\'s and arguably better than Lewis\'s as well.
Jake clenched his fists, his jaw tightening.
Nearby, Oliver yelled, "Jake, you\'re not allowed to accept her investment! She\'s in league with Lewis! She\'s doing this on purpose!"
But Jake completely ignored him and nodded at Keira. "I accept." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Oliver was furious, practically stomping in rage. "You ungrateful child! You\'re betraying your family!"
Keira paid no attention to him and instead transferred some money to Jake. "Here\'s your first month\'s salary. Next, you need to register the company, file for a trademark, and start hiring."
Jake nodded immediately. "I\'ll keep the investor updated regularly."
Keira smiled. "Email works for me."
"Got it."
With just a few words, the two of them finalized the deal. By now, Oliver was so angry he looked like he was about to explode. He shouted, "Jake, are you mistaking her for the Keira Olsen who died? She\'s just taking advantage of you! Are you accepting her investment because you\'re still hung up on her? Do you think Lewis will let you off the hook?"
Jake tightened his fists, then suddenly smiled. "I always thought my one bad decision in college made me lose someone special. But now I realize I was never worthy of her, to begin with."
He lowered his eyes, took a step back, and said, "Ms. Olsen, I look forward to working with you."
Jake smiled again.
He had lost so much weight recently, and the defeat hanging over him had made him almost unrecognizable. But now, this smile seemed to lift all the burdens off his shoulders, like he\'d finally let go of everything.
Keira smiled back.
This was the Jake she remembered from college—the one who pursued her for four years.
Back then, he never looked down on her for being poor, nor did he distance himself because of her withdrawn personality.
In truth, she owed him gratitude. During a lonely chapter of her life, he had been there for her.
They exchanged glances, both sharing a look of mutual understanding.
He had let go of his guilt toward her.
She had finally forgiven him.
Oliver\'s face turned livid with rage. "Fine! Go ahead and take her scraps! Do you even realize what you\'re giving up? You\'re throwing away your claim to the Horton family\'s main inheritance! You want to stick with her? Fine! I\'ll bring Selena and her mother back home and make sure you know I don\'t need you anymore!"
He spat out those words before storming off.
Jake watched him go.
Keira walked over and asked, "Any regrets?"
"None." Jake smiled. "I just suddenly realized… he\'s actually pretty pitiful."
"What do you mean?"
"My mom loved him so much, but he never appreciated it. Selena and her mother are only using him, but he\'s completely blind to it."
Jake laughed bitterly. "But it doesn\'t matter now. From here on out, we have nothing to do with each other!"
Keira nodded in understanding.
Just as she was about to say goodbye, a man walked over, holding up his phone and recording a video of Keira. "Hey everyone, check this out! Isn\'t this the girl who got exposed recently, the one they said was cozying up to spies?"
As soon as he said that, several people gathered around, surrounding Keira.
She frowned.
Jake immediately jumped in. "You\'ve got the wrong person!"
The man ignored him and moved closer, shoving his phone in Keira\'s face. "No, I haven\'t! How many people are this pretty in real life? Miss Olsen, care to explain why you\'re so friendly with spies? Don\'t you know being kind to bad people is cruel to the good ones?"
"I bet she\'s in on it with the spies!"
Someone in the crowd shouted, and the next thing they knew, a cup of milk tea was hurled straight at Keira!