Chapter 178: Clifford Way of Handling Situations
Nearby members of the Clifford family had no inkling of what was unfolding. Positioned at the front rows, they couldn’t see the shifting tide behind them. Though they noticed Jonathon whispering to Jacob, followed by his walk toward the stage, no one thought much of it. They assumed it was business as usual.
On the stage, Nicholas Clifford stood watching the slideshow... a carefully curated series of photographs that chronicled James and Jennifer’s shared memories. He was visibly pleased. The pictures showed a pair deeply in love... laughing in their school uniforms, walking hand-in-hand in their teenage years, celebrating birthdays, graduation. To him, it was a love story.
Nicholas had married the woman chosen for him by his family. But, against all odds, he had loved her deeply. He had never once betrayed her, not in word nor in deed. Even after her death, he had remained devoted. His life, and even much of his success in business, he often attributed to the peace and strength she had given him.
So, when James chose to marry for love... even if that love came from a second-rate family, Nicholas had been quietly supportive. The Whitmore name didn’t concern him. What mattered was that his grandson had chosen sincerely.
And with a great-grandchild on the way, it was, to him, the beginning of a new Chapter... a happy one.
But Jonathon’s sudden approach unsettled him.
"Dad," Jonathon said in a voice that those near them could hear, his face unusually tense, "there’s a problem with one of our recent contracts. I need your immediate guidance. Could you please come to the side for a moment?"
Nicholas turned to look at his eldest son. He saw the urgency in his eyes. Though reluctant to miss the final slides, he nodded and followed Jonathon to the far end of the stage, away from the guests’ view and earshot.
There, Jonathon turned to him and spoke in a hushed but deliberate tone.
"Father... I know this will sound melodramatic, but I beg you to promise me something first."
Nicholas’s eyes narrowed slightly. "What is it?"
"Whatever I’m about to show you... no matter how furious you feel, no matter what comes to mind... you must not react here. Not in front of all these people. Not at this event. We’ll deal with it at home. Calmly. Quietly. I need your word on that."