StartNovelChapter 279
The mansion was a blazing inferno, with smoke spiraling into the night sky as the distant wails of firetruck sirens
cut through the chaos. Naomi collapsed to the ground, disbelief clouding her vision. She clutched Ryan's
shoulders, her voice laced with desperation. "What are you saying? What do you mean?"
Ryan's face was smeared with ash, his eyes devoid of their usual sparkle. "Dad's still inside. The fire started in
his room... It's too late... There's no saving him..."
In a frantic rush, Naomi tried to dash into the blaze, only to be scorched by a sudden flare that licked her arm.
Tears streamed down her face from the heat and smoke, yet she pushed on, determined to reach him.
Clara sprinted over, yanking Naomi away from the blaze. "Letgo! Letgo! Johnny!!" Naomi struggled
fiercely, her nails leaving angry marks on Clara's skin.
Clara, having no other choice, raised her hand and knocked Naomi unconscious. As Naomi went limp, Clara
dragged her over to Ryan, who was still in tears, no longer resembling the composed heir he usually was.
"Clara, sobbing..." Ryan cried out, his voice a broken whisper.
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Clara, unable to bear his helplessness, slapped him hard. "Stop it! Crying won't solve anything. Think about who
could've started this fire. The Bradford family's company needs you now."
Ryan's face was streaked with soot, his tears carving clean tracks down his cheeks. Wiping his face, he clung to
Clara's leg. "Clara, don't leave me."
Clara's patience was wearing thin, her temples throbbing with frustration, but she resisted the urge to shove him
away. She called 911, arranging for an ambulance to take Naomi to safety, then coordinated with the arriving
firefighters.
The fire raged on until dawn, leaving only charred ruins in its wake. Clara's clothes were singed, and she looked
as though she'd been dragged through ashes.
Amid the devastation, identifying Johnny's last resting place was impossible; everything was reduced to soot and
ruins. Clara sifted through the remains, the structures crumbling under her touch.
The police arrived to investigate the cause of the blaze. Clara, spotting Ryan sitting dazedly in the distance,
hurried to brief the officers. "Please keepin the loop about any developments. You can reachdirectly."
As the officers began their examination, Clara pulled Ryan to his feet. Overnight, tragedy had struck their family,
and at nineteen, Ryan was overwhelmed.
"I'll take you to my place," Clara said, guiding him to her car. "You'll shower and rest. The police will handle the
investigation. There's a tough road ahead, but Dad transferred sshares to me... I'll prepare a transfer
agreement. You're going to be the CEO of the Bradford family company."
Ryan, who had coasted through life without a care, felt the weight of responsibility for the first time. "Clara,
maybe we should sell the shares."
The car screeched to a halt. Clara grabbed his collar. "Listen, Ryan. This company was Dad's life's work. He built
it from nothing. It's not tto sell. I'll pave the way for you, give you tto grow."
Ryan, intimidated by her intensity, nodded silently, the tears slowing.
Back at Clara's place, she sent Ryan to clean up, handing him an oversized t-shirt
to wear. She washed up quickly, her hair still damp as she emerged. Just then, the doorbell rang-it was Johnny's
assistant.
Ryan recognized Cole, Johnny's loyal and efficient aide, known for his silence and speed. Cole had already
prepared the share transfer documents.
Clara signed the papers and instructed Cole, "List all the Bradford family properties and stores. Givetheir
current market values, and sell what you can within a month."
Cole, though surprised, complied without question. Clara, sensing his hesitation, was about to explain when Cole
spoke. "Ms. Clara, Mr. Johnny always said you were the one with vision. He trusted you with Anna's future
because he had faith in you."
A wave of emotion hit Clara. She owed her father so much, but he was gone, and she'd never get the chance to
repay him. All she could do now was care for her brother.
She glanced at Ryan, who sat on the sofa in her oversized t-shirt, and advised, "Cole will get you sclothes.
Stay put for now. Last night's events will likely hit the news. The company's shares will dip, and Greysen will
make his move."
Greysen had been waiting for an opportunity to take over from Johnny, even causing trouble during his illness.
With Johnny gone, Greysen would undoubtedly try to coerce the Bradford family into relinquishing their shares.
The biggest threat was if he approached Quinn. If Greysen secured Quinn's ten percent stake, he'd have
significant influence, second only to the CEO.
Quinn, disillusioned by recent events, would likely seize any chance to make things difficult for Clara.
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