Chapter 559 - 551: Countdown to the Main Story’s End (Part 3)

Nicholas Ainsworth subconsciously demanded, "Who’s here?!"

"Toby Dalton."

Nicholas Ainsworth gritted his teeth, cursing under his breath, "Damn it!"

He already knew Toby Dalton was in Fravia and had a feeling the man would come looking for him.

But he didn’t want him to come—he really didn’t. Quentin Grant’s men were watching from the shadows. If news of Toby’s visit to the Ainsworth Residence got out, wouldn’t that just make Quentin even more suspicious of the Ainsworth Family?

"Let’s go. We’ll see what he wants." Turning, he walked through the main gate with his umbrella.

Standing at the living room entrance, his gaze fell upon the sofa inside. Toby Dalton was dressed in a blue suit, which still couldn’t hide his handsome features.

"You’re back?"

"How dare you come looking for me." Nicholas Ainsworth walked in and sat down across from him.

Toby Dalton narrowed his eyes. "What, now that I’ve lost my power, you can’t bear the sight of me?"

"My every move is under Quentin Grant’s surveillance. And you—I just got back from seeing him, and you show up right after. I’m sure he already knows you’re here."

Toby Dalton snorted. "Have you already joined his side?"

Nicholas Ainsworth leaned back on the sofa, draping his arms over the back. "It’s not our turn to have a say in anything right now. He told me in no uncertain terms today that he’s going to acquire the Ainsworth Group. It’s about to be under a new name. Do you think I’m happy about that? I’d love to take him down, but do you think that’s even possible? We couldn’t even manage to team up back when you still had power. He’s suppressed so many of the Ainsworth Group’s orders. If the company wasn’t on the brink of collapse, if I had any other choice, do you think I would have gone to him?"

Hearing this, the last glimmer of hope in Toby Dalton’s heart was extinguished.

’A comeback is impossible now.’

"So you’ve really decided to let him acquire the Ainsworth Group?"

Nicholas Ainsworth closed his eyes. "I’ll take it one step at a time. Right now, I can’t worry about anything else."

"But I really can’t accept this..."

Nicholas Ainsworth gave a cold laugh. "Unwilling to accept it... It’s useless to feel that way. The moment I discovered his men were monitoring me 24/7, I immediately halted my plans with Martin Grant. Continuing would have only gotten me killed faster. If I make even the slightest move, I have no doubt that Quentin Grant will be ruthless. Take this as friendly advice: you’re in the same boat. Don’t go looking for death. Don’t even think about getting lucky."

Toby Dalton heard his words and knew he wouldn’t get any help here.

"On my own, I’m powerless to turn the tide. Are you really going to hand over the Ainsworth Group?"

Nicholas Ainsworth chuckled coldly. "Of course I’m not willing. But for now, I’ll stall for as long as I can."

Toby Dalton stood up. "Alright, I’m leaving. I’ll only cause you more trouble by being here."

Nicholas Ainsworth nodded but didn’t get up. He just said, "It’s raining outside. Let my men drive you to your hotel."

"Alright."

Toby Dalton left the Ainsworth Residence, his mood utterly foul. He arrived at his hotel and was shown to his room.

His stomach was rumbling, so he ordered a lot of food. By the time he came out of the shower, it had already been delivered.

He opened a bottle of red wine, poured half a glass, and sipped it leisurely. After he finished eating and drinking, his phone suddenly buzzed with a text message.

It was from an unknown number. The message read: "How dare you trespass on my turf. Whatever your reason, there’s no reason for you to remain alive. Also, just so you know, my special agent was the one who took care of your second-in-command. You should at least die knowing why, right?"

Seeing the message, a bone-deep chill washed over Toby Dalton, and rage consumed him.

He was seething with anger when a sharp pain suddenly shot through his stomach. He clutched his stomach and chest as black blood trickled from his mouth. A few seconds later, he fell stiffly onto the sofa, no longer breathing.

A moment later, several people entered the room. They quickly disposed of him, along with the food and wine on the table, cleaning the place until it was spotless, as if he had never been there at all.

"What?!" Nicholas Ainsworth shot up from the sofa. "Toby Dalton is dead?"

"Young Master, you had us watch the front and back entrances of the hotel. Half an hour later, some people came out carrying a long box. When we went to check Toby Dalton’s room registration, it had mysteriously vanished. It’s obvious he’s been secretly dealt with."

Nicholas Ainsworth’s hands clenched into fists. ’Who else but Quentin Grant could pull something like this off? It’s true that those in power are ruthless.’ "Alright, you’re dismissed."

"Yes, sir."

Nicholas Ainsworth paced back and forth in the living room for a long while before finally heading upstairs and knocking on Mr. Ainsworth’s door.

"What is it?"

"Dad, I’m afraid the Ainsworth Group is done for."

Mr. Ainsworth was instantly shocked. "What do you mean by that?"

"Let me explain everything in detail..." He went inside and slowly recounted everything to his father.

Hearing this, Mr. Ainsworth was also furious, but in the end, he let out a long sigh. "If we’re powerless to stop him, then just let him have it. After all, if you lose your life, you lose everything. The company will be his anyway. But you must remain the manager of the subsidiary."

Nicholas Ainsworth nodded. "That’s a given."

After leaving his father’s room, Nicholas Ainsworth immediately dialed Quentin Grant’s number.

He had to call several times before the line connected.

"Speak."

"I’ve decided to accept your proposal, but I have one condition."

"What is it?"

"Let me be the general manager of the subsidiary."

"Of course."

Nicholas Ainsworth let out a breath. "Then it’s settled."

After hanging up, Nicholas Ainsworth called Martin Grant directly to tell him what had happened. He also warned him not to contact him again to avoid trouble.

Martin Grant was also extremely frustrated by this sudden turn of events. The plan had been called off just like that, leaving him completely on the back foot.

But there was nothing he could do.

The rain outside grew heavier. Nora Ainsworth leaned against the window, gazing at the hazy beauty of the night, and said slowly, "Quentin, you know, I actually love rainy days. I didn’t used to. I always felt that too much rain just made everything muddy. But now, it feels like the rain is washing away the dryness of the days to come. Rain is the best way to freshen the air. Rainy nights always feel so beautiful."

Quentin Grant walked over and handed her a glass of dry red wine. He stood shoulder to shoulder with her, looking outside with her. But instead of continuing the conversation about the rain, he said with great seriousness, "Nora, from now on, we can live a peaceful life. That day has finally arrived."

Nora Ainsworth was surprised. "Hmm?"

"I’ve dealt with Toby Dalton. The Ainsworth Group will soon become a subsidiary of our Grant Group. Tell me, what else is there for us to worry about?"

Nora Ainsworth’s eyes widened, her face breaking into a smile. "That’s wonderful, Quentin! I’m so happy."

He tilted his head back and drained the red wine from his glass. His lips, moist and cool from the drink, pressed against Nora Ainsworth’s. They shared a light kiss, like a couple newly in love.

"I’m only twenty-nine this year, and you’re twenty-six. Shouldn’t we think about having a third child?"

Nora Ainsworth looked a little worried. "Quentin, I want a daughter. What if it’s another son?"

"It’s fine. If it’s a son, it’s a son. We’ll just have another one after that."

"What if the next one is a son, too? Our family will have too much yang and not enough yin."

"Then we’ll have him, and then I won’t let you have any more."

Nora Ainsworth grinned. "I thought you were going to say we should keep trying."

He took the wineglass from her hand and placed it on the windowsill next to his own. He said to her, "I don’t want to spend all our future years with you being pregnant. If we do that, will we have any time for just the two of us? Our world would be completely taken over by a bunch of little rascals."

Nora Ainsworth stood on her tiptoes, cupped his chin, and gently grazed it with her fingers a couple of times before laughing. "Oh, dear heavens, please grant me a daughter! I want a daughter! Give me a daughter!"

Quentin Grant wrapped his arms around her and led her toward the bed. "Our daughter is on her way. Are you ready?"

"Mhm. Come on~"

Quentin Grant stood by the bed, undid his buttons, and pounced on her.

Under the lamplight, the two of them became one, their minds free of burdens, leaving only an abundance of love.

...

"By the way, that old friend of yours, Maeve Sutton, is getting married too."

Nora Ainsworth, catching her breath, replied, "I know. She’s marrying the Chapman Family’s son, William Chapman, right? He’s famous for being a good-for-nothing with a violent temper. He smashes things whenever he’s displeased. His terrible reputation is already well-known."

"The Chapman Family sent me an invitation."

"Are you going?"

"I wasn’t planning on it. I was just going to have the butler prepare a gift and send a red envelope."

Nora Ainsworth sat up. "Why not go? Leon said that Maeve Sutton was always tormenting Holly Wood. Besides, we used to be friends. Of course we should go. I’ll only be at ease about her not having the energy to harm anyone else in the future if I see she’s not doing well."

Quentin Grant grunted in agreement. "Alright, I’ll listen to my dear wife."

For a rare moment, Nora Ainsworth acted shy. "Who’s your wife?"

"You are, of course." Quentin Grant reached out and pulled her over. Nora Ainsworth lay sideways, resting her head on his stomach.

He continued, "Nora, it wasn’t easy for us to get to this point. You’ve suffered a lot."

"There you go again..." Nora Ainsworth replied lightly. "Doesn’t overcoming hardship allow you to better appreciate the true meaning of life? I feel like I’m the happiest woman in the world right now. Truly, incredibly happy."

His hand stroked her hair. "That’s because you’re my woman, and the mother of my children."

Nora Ainsworth hummed in contentment. "That’s what I’m most proud of."

The two of them lay in silence, listening to the distant, drifting sound of the rain outside, savoring the tranquility of the moment.

「The next day.」

Nicholas Ainsworth arrived early at the Grant Group with several of the company’s directors.

When Quentin Grant arrived, Nicholas Ainsworth had already been there for a few minutes.

They went to the conference room together. Quentin Grant negotiated the contract, and the Ainsworth Group was officially renamed, becoming a subsidiary of the Grant Group.

It was said that the Grant Group had no shortage of subsidiaries; the Grant Family had established one in nearly every corner of the world.

But this was the first one in this city.

He stood up and extended his hand to Nicholas Ainsworth. "I hope that as an employee of our Grant Family from now on, you will conduct yourself as one. As the general manager of the subsidiary, you must lead by example. Otherwise, this general manager position can be replaced at any time."