Wayne's frustration grew, evident from his furiously twitching mustache.

Despite his cunning, Wayne's advanced age was a disadvantage against Jarrod's youthful sharpness.

Banging his cane on the floor, Wayne challenged, saying, "Don't beat around the bush. The Hampton family had never mistreated you, right? You broke off the engagement, yet we never protested."

Jarrod looked away, his gaze darkening with the memory. When he had ended the engagement, he had offered the Hamptons control over a multi-billion dollar joint venture as compensation. The Hamptons' was a tacit of his it acceptance approval compensation. Bringing up now was quite distasteful.

Wayne, perceptive as ever, picked up on Jarrod's unspoken acknowledgment of the situation.

The project in question was valued in the billions. Becoming part of it could have significantly increased Wayne's fortunes, but that depended on Jarrod being swayed by Vicki, or Vicki becoming more influential in Jarrod's decisions.

However, Jarrod's staunch independence made it clear Vicki fell short of these needs. Opting for a high-value project was a more reliable choice than betting on an unpredictable relationship.

Wayne's voice mellowed slightly. "Yes, you offered a project as compensation, but you must realize that accepting it was as much for your peace of mind as it was for ours."

Jarrod's expression changed abruptly at Wayne's words.

Clearly, Wayne's words had tactically twisted the fact in his favor, treating Jarrod with disdain in a bid to milk more gain from Jarrod.

Sadly, Wayne had targeted the wrong individual. Jarrod wasn't inexperienced. He had navigated numerous challenges throughout the years and grasped the intricacies of such scenarios better than most.

With composure, Jarrod replied, "Mr. Hampton, I hold you in high regard due to your seniority. Your tenure in this field exceeds mine, but that doesn't imply my ignorance. You made a deliberate choice back then, weighing the advantages and disadvantages, correct?"

Jarrod continued, "You must realize that you could have declined that profitable project and potentially manipulated my sense of guilt. However, since you accepted it, that meant our agreement was finalized. The Hampton family has reaped substantial gains beyond their initial investment over time. Should you persist in bringing this up, I don't mind sharing this with the public. What are your thoughts?"

Jarrod's extensive retort rendered Wayne speechless.

Wayne had always acknowledged Jarrod's prowess. Uttering this speech while exuding tranquility, Jarrod's words made Wayne shiver.

Despite this, with his seniority and experience, Wayne fired back, "Mr. Schultz, you insinuate that I am to blame in this matter. I am an elderly man, approaching you with humility, and this is how you repay my gesture? Are you attempting to hasten my demise?"

Wayne's final recourse was to assume the role of the victim. Given his age, mortality posed little threat if it meant safeguarding his family's future. He had realized that, while his illegitimate progeny were numerous, the scandal encircling his Legitimate offspring, Lowe, would deliver a devastating blow to the Hampton family's reputation and prospects.

Should the scandal spiral out of control, the Hamptons would face difficulty producing noteworthy heirs and sustaining their standing in the corporate realm. Consequently, Wayne resolved to shield the family's younger members at any expense. He regretted having crossed Jarrod, who was anything but ordinary.

Any other opponent could have been easily dealt with through traditional means. It was regrettable that Vicki had fallen under Jarrod's sway. Wayne, drawing upon his extensive experience, discerned which individuals were approachable and which were best avoided.

Jarrod exhibited clear independence and resilience, yet his profound affection for Nicole astonished Wayne. Jarrod's commitment had even extended to matrimony, underscoring Nicole's considerable sway over him.