The Moment She Changed – J.S. Caldwell 8

The Moment She Changed – J.S. Caldwell 8 Summary

 

The next day, a shocking scandal erupted in the city’s business world as Anderson Enterprises, Dad’s company, was exposed for financial fraud and tax evasion. The evidence was undeniable, and the whistleblower had submitted all relevant documents to the authorities. Simultaneously, a video I had secretly recorded the night before went viral online, revealing Dad using my late mother’s heirlooms to gain favor with Mr. Lee. The video’s provocative title sparked public outrage, with many condemning Dad’s shameless actions and questioning his morality.

 

The fallout was immediate and severe. Anderson Enterprises’ stock price plummeted, banks demanded repayment, and business partners withdrew their support. Mr. Lee publicly distanced himself by canceling his investment. The company Dad had painstakingly built collapsed in a single day. The shock caused Dad to suffer a stroke, and he was hospitalized. Ethan and Alex desperately sought help but found no support, as no one wanted to be associated with the disgraced Anderson family. They repeatedly tried to contact me, pleading for assistance, but I ignored their messages.

 

Eventually, Lily called me, sobbing and begging me to stop destroying the family. She reminded me that Dad and my brothers had been good to me, urging me to visit Dad in the hospital, claiming he didn’t have much time left. I listened quietly, then coldly rejected her plea, stating that Dad’s condition was his own doing and that we were no longer family. I ended the call, resolute in my decision to stay away.

 

Shortly after, Shane messaged me to congratulate me on the fallout, confirming his involvement in orchestrating the exposure through his extensive network. He revealed that his company had connections at the tax office and with the media blogger who released the video. Shane also informed me he had found results on something I had asked him to investigate—Lily’s background. From the start, I had suspected a secret between Dad and Lily, and now I was about to uncover the truth.

 

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The next day, a bombshell rocked the entire city’s business world. 

Dad’s company, Anderson Enterprises, was exposed for financial fraud and tax evasion. 

The evidence was irrefutable, and the whistleblower had submitted the full set of documents to the tax and 

business authorities. 

At the same time, a video went viral online. It was the one I secretly recorded last night, showing how Dad 

had used my mother’s heirlooms as leverage to please Mr. Lee. 

The title of the video was highly provocative. 

#RuthlessBusinessmanAuctionsLateWife’s Heirlooms for Sympathy!# 

The video went viral, and the public outcry was immediate. 

Everyone was shocked by Dad’s shameless actions. 

[Is this even a person? Using his dead wife’s belongings to please someone else?] 

[So disgusting, selling out his dignity for money.] 

[Mr. Lee isn’t a saint either, they’re both just as corrupt.] 

Anderson Enterprises‘ stock price plummeted, hitting its daily limit. Banks came knocking for debts, and partners started pulling out of their contracts. 

Mr. Lee quickly distanced himself, publicly announcing that he was canceling his investment in the company. 

When you’re down, everyone piles on. 

In just one day, the company Dad had worked so hard to build over the years collapsed. 

Dad suffered a stroke from the shock and was rushed to the hospital. Ethan and Alex were frantic, running around seeking help but hitting dead ends everywhere. 

No one dared to be associated with the Anderson family at this point. 

They kept calling me, but I didn’t answer. Their messages flooded in like a barrage. 

Ethan: [Joan! I’m begging you, can you help clear this up? This company is Mom’s, and it’s yours too! You can’t just let it go down like this!] 

Alex: [What the hell is wrong with you?! You’ve destroyed us all, and you’re happy about it? Do you want me 

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to come find you and make sure we both go down together?] 

A few minutes later, Alex sent another message, his tone completely changed: [Joan, I’m sorry. I was a jerk, I’m the one who’s in the wrong.. Please come back, Dad’s not doing well, he wants to see you… If you come back, we’ll kick Lily out and give you everything back, okay?] 

I didn’t respond. They must have been desperate to think of having Lily call me. 

Bored and curious, I decided to see what she had to say. 

As soon as I answered, I heard her crying on the other end. “Joan, why are you doing this? Uncle Andersonand the brothers have been so good to you, how could you be so heartless and destroy them like 

this?” 

“They’ve lost everything now–no company, no home. Are you satisfied?” 

I quietly let her cry on the phone until she was done. “Is that why you called me? To say all this?” 

She paused before replying, “I… I just wanted to persuade you. Family shouldn’t hold grudges, you to the hospital and see Uncle Anderson, he… he doesn’t have much time left.” 

should go 

“He’s in that condition because he brought it upon himself.” 

“And we’re not family. You and I don’t even have anything in common, don’t try to involve me.” 

With that, I hung up. 

Soon after, Shane sent me a message: [Nice job.] 

[It was okay, thanks.] 

Although I didn’t send the whistleblower’s tip or release the video, I knew Shane had to be involved. 

The Quinn family’s business empire spanned the country, and Shane had built a network of information far beyond what I could imagine. 

He had casually mentioned that he had a friend at the tax office, and that the famous media blogger who had released the video was someone his company had invested in. 

The resources he had used for me were far more extensive than I had realized. 

[By the way, I have results on the thing you asked me to check.] 

My heart skipped a beat. Back when Lily first came to stay at our house, something had felt off to me. 

Dad was always so sentimental, but his behavior toward the daughter of an old friend seemed excessive. 

I had a feeling there was some secret between her and Dad that I didn’t know about. So, I had asked Shane to 

look into Lily’s background. And now, I finally had the answer. 

Conclusion

 

This chapter paints a vivid picture of betrayal and the crumbling of a once-powerful family empire, exposing the raw emotions and fractured relationships that lie beneath the surface. Joan’s decisive actions, driven by a mix of hurt and resolve, have irrevocably altered the dynamics within the Anderson family, forcing each character to confront the consequences of their choices. The public exposure of her father’s misdeeds and the viral video serve as a harsh reckoning, laying bare the cost of ambition and deceit.

 

Amidst the chaos, Joan’s refusal to be swayed by guilt or pleas for reconciliation highlights her strength and determination to seek truth and justice on her own terms. The involvement of Shane and the uncovering of hidden secrets hint at deeper layers yet to be unraveled, but for now, Joan stands firm, embodying the painful yet necessary moment of transformation that defines this chapter.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of secrets and betrayals that have shattered the Anderson family. Joan’s resolve and the fractures within the family will be tested as hidden truths come to light, threatening to upend any fragile alliances that remain. The emotional stakes are rising, and the consequences of past actions will weigh heavily on everyone involved, especially as Joan confronts the reality of her father’s condition and the true nature of those around her.

 

Tensions between Joan and her brothers, as well as the mysterious Lily, are far from resolved, and the revelation about Lily’s background hints at more complexities yet to be unraveled. With Shane’s involvement and his vast network, new information could shift the balance of power, but at what cost? The next chapter will keep readers on edge, wondering who can be trusted and how far Joan is willing to go to protect herself and uncover the full truth behind her family’s downfall.