Chapter 91

I nodded, giving him a look that said, "Finally, you get it."

"Let's start with Earl. You had a falling out with him at the company, so there's no way he wants to see you succeed, right? And Elora knows she can't be with you anymore, so she teamed up with Earl to stage this whole thing. I'm sure the kid is still with them."

Brandon seemed to understand, but also didn't: "But what about my mom? And Renee?"

I paused for a moment, looking at Brandon. "I don't know Renee well, but isn't she the one calling the shots in your family?"

Brandon fell silent, probably thinking about the situation in Southeast Asia. After all, he couldn't discuss that with me.

"If you close this overseas deal, do you think Renee can still control you? Her biggest fear is you slipping out of her grasp. Your mom probably thinks the same way."

"Brandon, you need to wake up. I'm the only one in this family who's on your side."

"If I hadn't acted the way I did earlier today, Joanna would have blown up your phone by now, telling you the deal was off!"

Brandon finally realized, his face turning pale.

He gritted his teeth. "I get it, honey. Thank you."

I believed he was sincere. After all, Brandon valued his interests above all else.

He lowered his head in silence for a moment, then suddenly looked up at me. "Honey, you've been back for a while now. Where's the kid?"

I was taken aback, not expecting him to change the subject so quickly.

"The kid is with my mom. I thought it would be easier for you to focus on the verification process if I came back alone. Once it's done, I'll go back. I haven't spent enough time with my mom this trip."

Brandon looked at me for a long time. "Next time you want to see our mom, let me know. I'll go with you."

I didn't know what he was thinking, so I just nodded. "Got it."

Brandon sat for a long time, then suddenly stood up. "Honey, I'm going out for a bit. You should get some rest."

I looked at him. "Tomorrow is the verification day. Make sure you're prepared."

Brandon's face was unreadable, but he nodded and left.

I had a feeling something was off with Brandon, but I couldn't pinpoint what.

I thought for a while, then called Kelly. After checking on the three kids, I felt a bit more at ease.

The day's events had drained me, and I was exhausted. I went to bed and fell asleep quickly.

When I woke up, it was already the next morning.

Today was the day the foreign company was coming to verify the funds. If Brandon wanted to secure this deal, he had to transfer the money back from overseas.

Just then, Paula unexpectedly asked to meet.

We arranged to meet at a secluded café. Paula was already there when I arrived.

She saw me and said, "Mrs. Jordan, I know where Jason is."

I was shocked. I never expected Paula to drop such a bombshell right away.

"Are you sure? The whole city is looking for Jason."

Paula nodded. "The kid was never lost. Shirley took him."

I was stunned. "Shirley? Why?"

Paula continued, "Why else? Brandon's orders. Shirley might be crazy, but she wouldn't dare touch the Jordan family's kid without Brandon's approval."

A chill ran down my spine.

I thought of Brandon's gloomy face last night. Was he acting the whole time?

But why would he act? Did he figure out my plan and want to sabotage the overseas deal?

But he seemed so dedicated to securing this deal. Why would he do this?

I couldn't make sense of it, so I looked at Paula.

"Are you sure?"

Paula nodded. "I'm sure. I recorded their conversation."

I was thrilled and asked Paula to play the recording.

She opened her phone's recording app, and I heard a commotion.

Then Brandon's voice: "I'm so pissed. Elora is such a bitch, cheating on me with Earl while being my lover!"

Then Shirley's voice: "Mr. Jordan, calm down. I suspect your illness came from Elora. I saw her go into a hotel with a man."

"Fuck, that bitch!"

Brandon seemed to throw something in anger.

Shirley seized the opportunity to drive a wedge between them.

"If Elora had your child, it would be one thing. But now the kid is Earl's. Why not just kick them out? They're just in the way."

"Bullshit, Jason is my kid!"

I was stunned and exchanged glances with Paula.

She nodded, signaling me to keep listening.

"What?"

Shirley was taken aback, her voice unsteady but trying to sound gentle. "But there are photos of Earl and that boy in the news."

"Earl must be mistaken, but I'm sure Jason is my kid."

"Now Caroline is mad at me because of this. She ran back to her hometown without a word. She never used to do that. She's been getting more defiant lately."

"She'll eventually demand a paternity test for Jason. What then? Am I supposed to give up my own kid?"

Shirley was silent for a while, then suddenly spoke. "Why don't you secretly hide the kid for now?"

"That way, when Caroline wants a paternity test, she won't find the kid. Later, you can bring him back and forge the test results."

Brandon was silent, seemingly considering the plan's feasibility.

"Alright, let's do that. Be discreet."

The recording ended, and Paula looked at me. "That's all I have. That's why I'm so sure."

I nodded, trying to hide my thoughts from Paula. "Got it. You can go now."

After Paula left, I returned to my car, feeling deflated.

Brandon had been acting the whole time. He knew where the kid was from the start.

But why did things escalate like this? If the recording was real, Brandon just wanted to deceive me, not cause a public uproar.

So where did things go wrong?

As I pondered, I suddenly thought of someone.

Earl.

He was the mastermind behind all this. Maybe he figured out Brandon had taken the kid and played along, staging this drama to prevent Brandon from closing the deal.

And the online rumors were all orchestrated by him.

It all made sense now.