Chapter 298

John was starting to think Michael was talking nonsense. Sure, some of what he said made sense, but when you really thought about it, it was almost laughable.

Michael, with a thoughtful nod, started telling John a story.

"When I was a kid, I lost a key. I looked everywhere in my room but couldn't find it. I tore the whole house apart, but still couldn't find any trace of it. Eventually, I gave up. But a few days later, while changing clothes, I found the key in the pocket of a shirt I wore two days earlier. Since then, whenever I lose something and can't find it after one search, I stop looking. Because eventually, it'll just show up." Michael shrugged, thinking back on that life lesson.

John got what Michael was saying, and Mason looked at Michael with admiration.

"We're always thinking about competing," Mason said, staring off into the distance, "but sometimes, taking a break can give you a new perspective."

John still felt uneasy. He thought maybe he would eventually hear from Jasper, but what if the other three found him first? By then, he'd get nothing.

"Damn those three major families, Paxton and his crew are just a bunch of idiots, making a big deal out of a secret that might not even exist," John angrily pounded the bed.

Mason winced, "Watch it, you hit my leg!"

John quickly pulled his hand back and started massaging Mason's leg.

Michael almost burst out laughing. Suddenly, his phone buzzed, and he checked it. His brow furrowed a bit.

Noticing Michael's change in expression, Mason asked, "What's up?"

Michael put his phone away and said, "It's my wife Estella. She's back from overseas and she's meeting a big director to talk about a new movie where she's the lead. She ran into some trouble at a restaurant, something to do with Paxton's wife."

"Need my help? Last time your wife was here, she didn't stay long. Maybe she should stay with us this time," Mason offered.

Michael shook his head. "It's nothing serious, just some minor issues. I can handle it."

With that, Michael got up, said goodbye to Mason, and left the hospital room.

After Michael left, John turned to Mason, curiosity in his eyes, "How did Michael's wife end up dealing with Paxton's wife? And you didn't seem to know about Michael's wife going abroad."

Mason shook his head with a smile, "How could I find out something Michael wants to keep secret?"

John remembered a time when Mason had doubts about Estella's true identity. But when John asked Mason why he was suspicious, Mason just looked at him and said nothing.

John wanted to ask again, but given his strained relationship with Mason, he figured Mason wouldn't tell him anything, so he kept quiet.

Meanwhile, after leaving the hospital, Michael sat in his car, his expression growing darker.

The info came from Leo, Isabella's driver who was at her farewell gathering.

Leo's message was short and sweet: [Isabella and Estella met, Zoey wants to kick Isabella out of the restaurant, and they had a conflict.]

Michael quickly texted Leo back, asking him to secretly start a video call so he could see what was going on.

Soon enough, Leo sent a video call request. When Michael answered, he saw the restaurant on the screen, with Isabella standing in front of two women, looking like they were in a standoff.

Rewind to half an hour earlier, Isabella had just arrived at the restaurant to meet up with her colleagues.

Dwayne was there too. Once everyone was there, Isabella asked him to say a few words as the leader.

Dwayne hesitated but went for it, raising his glass and saying, "Even though Isabella isn't our director anymore, her contributions have been huge. Honestly, I'll miss her, but I can't stop someone from moving up! Now that Isabella's taken over the family company as the president, let's wish her company even more success in the future!"

After Dwayne's toast, the gathering wrapped up. He wasn't the main event, and since no one really liked hearing him talk, he kept it short.

Dwayne's tactfulness made his colleagues like him more. The gathering was still cheerful until two women showed up.

"Ms. Foster, this restaurant is owned by our Brown Family. It's new, but the food is just as good as any Michelin-starred place. I know you like it quiet, so I'll book the whole place for us later," Zoey greeted Estella with a warm smile.

Estella smiled back faintly.

But when Zoey asked the restaurant manager to clear the place, his face fell, "Mrs. Brown, if you had told me a day earlier, maybe I could've done it, but now it's not possible because the restaurant is already booked." The manager looked stressed. Kicking out all the customers from a newly opened restaurant was a big deal, and the manager couldn't handle that.

As for Zoey? Forget it. As the wife of the family head, she was way more important than a lowly manager. Would Paxton punish his wife? No way. If the restaurant faced backlash, Paxton wouldn't blame his wife; the manager would be the scapegoat.

The manager looked at Zoey, hoping she'd cut him some slack and go to another restaurant.

Estella, seeing it was a lost cause, was ready to let it go, but Zoey saw Isabella and told the manager, "Get these people out now. If you can't do it, I'll call Paxton."