Trading My Ex for His Uncle

Richard's call at that moment filled Clark with dread.

"Grandpa..." he began hesitantly.

Richard's voice crackled with anger. "Don't call me Grandpa! I don't have such a foolish grandson! The news about that woman's pregnancy has caused a huge scandal, and it's already affecting the Sumner Group's stock prices. You need to resign and leave the company immediately!"

Clark's face drained of color. "Grandpa... what about my transfer to the subsidiary?"

"Don't even think about it. The board is extremely dissatisfied with you right now. You need to handle this scandal. If you can't clean up this mess, don't bother coming back to the company!" Richard bellowed. The words struck Clark like a bolt of lightning, and panic washed over him. "Grandpa, I promise I'll resolve this as quickly as possible. There won't be a next time. If the board members have concerns, I'm willing to start from the bottom at the subsidiary."

If he was expelled from the Sumner Group altogether and barred from the subsidiary, it would be nearly impossible to return to the company in the future.

A long silence followed before Richard's cold voice broke through. "We'll discuss this later. For now, you should take a break and think carefully about what you should and shouldn't do."

With that, Richard hung up.

Despair flickered in Clark's eyes. He knew his grandfather was truly disappointed in him. His cousin, Brandon, had always been eyeing his position. Now that he was leaving the Sumner Group, Brandon would surely seize the opportunity to climb the ladder.

By the time Clark resolved the situation with Jordyn and tried to return, would there even be a place for him at the Sumner Group?

Resentment and frustration churned inside Clark, but he was powerless to change anything.

As he brooded, his phone rang again.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

He picked it up and asked coldly, "What is it?"

"Clark... I don't know how, but the news about my pregnancy got out, and now reporters are swarming outside my apartment. What should I do?" Jordyn's voice trembled with panic.

"Lock the door," Clark ordered, his tone firm. "I'll send someone over to deal with the reporters."

"But even if you get rid of them, they'll just come back. Someone even splashed paint on my door and threatened me... I'm scared..." Jordyn sobbed.

Clark frowned. "I understand. I'll come get you soon. We'll find a new place for you to stay temporarily."

He hung up, ready to leave, when the office door suddenly flew open with a loud bang. Six board members stormed in, their faces dark with anger.

The lead board member slammed a document onto Clark's desk. "Mr. Sumner, look at what you've done! The Sumner Group's stock price dropped by a point today! Do you have any idea how much money

the

company has lost because of you?"

Clark looked up, his gaze cold. "Mr. Colton, next time, please knock before you enter."

Hugo Colton sneered. "We just held a board meeting and unanimously decided to terminate you. Starting tomorrow, you won't need to come in anymore."

"As long as I'm still the CEO of the Sumner Group, you knock before entering my office," Clark insisted, his voice steely.

"I've said what I came to say. I hope you'll have your things packed by the end of the day. The new CEO will be taking over tomorrow," Hugo warned.

Clark's expression darkened. "Who is the new CEO?"

Before Hugo could answer, a cold voice came from the doorway. "It's me."

Clark turned to see Brandon standing there with a smile.

Clark's hands clenched into fists.

It had taken Clark two years to earn the respect of the board members, and now, their grandfather was appointing Brandon-who had been with the company for only a short time-as CEO?

A surge of bitterness and rage rose within Clark. No matter how hard he worked, he could never measure up to Damon in Richard's eyes. Now, he couldn't even compete with Brandon. How could he accept this?

"Clark, you look surprised to see me," Brandon said, smirking.

Clark's face was icy. "You've only been with the company for a short time. What makes you qualified for this position?"