He Got Engaged to His First Love On the Day I Died-Chapter 157: The Car Rolls and Plunges into the Bottomless Abyss

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: The Car Rolls and Plunges into the Bottomless Abyss

’No, that’s not an option.’

"Let’s drive a little further. There might be another deceleration ramp where the road is wider. That way, his car won’t be in as much danger."

Natalie Morgan tried to reason with Henry Hughes.

But Henry Hughes, completely overcome by his emotions, had already lost all sense of judgment.

The deceleration ramp was just ahead, drawing closer and closer. He gripped the steering wheel, his eyes blazing with intensity...

CRASH! A deafening roar.

The car shot over the rumble strip and was brought to an abrupt halt by a mound of dirt and barricades on either side. The chassis shuddered violently, and then the vehicle was still.

At the same time, the force of the impact shoved Theodore Grant’s car from its lane. It tumbled across the road, carving a tragic arc through the air.

Out of control, it plunged into the seemingly bottomless abyss.

Natalie Morgan ripped off her seatbelt and ran frantically toward the spot where Theodore Grant’s car had gone over.

"Theodore!"

"Theodore!"

She screamed his name hysterically toward the spot where he had fallen, her voice laced with despair.

Tears streamed silently down her face, soaking her cheeks and drenching her heart in sorrow.

Henry Hughes approached, trying to lead her to safety, but she spun around like a madwoman and struck him with a vicious slap across the face.

"How could you do that? That’s murder, do you realize that?"

Her voice trembled with rage, each word forced through clenched teeth.

Her fury was uncontrollable.

She grabbed his shirt, her eyes bloodshot. "Do you have any idea who he is? He’s Theodore Grant, the CEO of the Grant Group! He came to save us out of kindness, and you just let him die so you could live? How could you?"

"How was I supposed to know he was Theodore Grant? Besides..."

’So what if he’s a CEO?’

’Everyone is equal in the face of death. Is it wrong for me to want to live?’

"...Besides, he knew the risks when he came to save us. He did it voluntarily. It’s not my fault."

To think that this seemingly kind young man could say something so heartless.

Natalie Morgan shook her head bitterly, a cold smile twisting her lips. "Is that what you really think? He saved our lives, and you see it as something he brought on himself? Henry Hughes, I was so wrong about you. Get out. Get out right now."

"All I know is that I’m alive, and my parents still have a son. As for everything else..." He couldn’t worry about anything else.

"Get out! Get out!"

’Maybe Henry Hughes wasn’t wrong.’

’He just wanted to live.’

’But did Theodore Grant deserve to die?’

’Countless times, I’ve wished he would disappear from my life, but...’

’But not like this.’

The massive traffic accident sent shockwaves through Riverden.

Salvage ships, cranes, even helicopters and maritime search and rescue teams worked day and night, scouring the sea.

Meanwhile, Natalie Morgan sat in the Grant Group’s boardroom, holding Momo and listening to Claire Grant engage in a war of words with the other board members over the matter of succession.

Her gaze was distant, her mind endlessly replaying the scene of Theodore Grant’s car plunging off the cliff.

The scene had been so traumatic that she had dreamt of it every night since the accident.

Momo, oblivious to what was happening, snuggled obediently in Natalie Morgan’s arms, playing with his Ultraman toy.

The doors to the conference room were suddenly thrown open.

Sean Lane walked in.

Natalie Morgan lifted her vacant eyes, and her pupils constricted at the sight of him.

’He really knows how to pick his moments.’

’Theodore’s fate is still unknown, and he’s already here to pick the bones clean.’

"What’s all the fighting about, sis?" Sean Lane swaggered up to Claire Grant, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. "So Theodore Grant is dead. Don’t you still have me? From now on, the Grant Group is mine. I guarantee you can stay on as vice president."

"Who told you Theodore is dead?" Claire Grant shoved him hard, years of suppressed anger finally boiling over. "Sean Lane, who the hell do you think you are? An illegitimate son, and you think you can be the CEO of the Grant Group? Are you even qualified?"

"Claire Grant, I’m trying to be civil by calling you ’sis,’ so don’t be shameless. Right now, I’m the only one who can take over the Grant Group." Sean’s expression darkened.

He straightened his suit and turned to the board veterans. "Theodore Grant is dead," he reminded them. "You all know the Grant family tradition: it’s passed down to the men, not the women. No matter how capable Claire Grant is, she can never be CEO. Think carefully about who you should bet on to best maximize your own interests."

The veterans exchanged speechless glances.

Sean Lane shrugged with a smug, detestable air. "You’re not still hoping Theodore Grant will make it back alive, are you? An out-of-control car, a cliff thousands of feet high, the bottomless sea... You’ve all lived long enough to know what that means, don’t you?"

"I know you’re not thrilled about endorsing me for CEO. That’s fine. I can have my father come and speak to you personally."

Sean Lane looked completely self-assured.

He was gloating, a petty man reveling in his moment of triumph.

Momo angrily threw his Ultraman toy at him. "Bad uncle!"

"Hiss..." Sean Lane picked up the Ultraman toy, then strode over to Natalie Morgan and her son. "...That’s not very well-behaved, little one."

As he spoke, he snapped the toy in two with his bare hands.

He tossed the pieces at Momo’s feet.

Then he leaned down toward Natalie Morgan and smiled. "Theodore Grant is dead anyway. Come be with me, and I’ll raise the boy as my own son."

"Sean Lane, I think you’re insane," Natalie Morgan spat, glaring at him with disgust.

Claire Grant couldn’t bear to listen any longer.

’Sean Lane wants to be CEO of the Grant Group.’

’I can’t possibly let him get away with this.’ 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Sean Lane, even if Theodore’s chances of survival are slim, he still has a son. It’s not your turn to take this position."

"That little whelp? He’s not even weaned." Sean Lane scoffed in disdain. "He can come and fight me for it in eighteen years."

"You..."

Claire Grant knew Sean Lane had no respect for her.

For now, they were at a disadvantage.

However, the board veterans wouldn’t be so quick to agree to a change in leadership before Theodore Grant’s death was officially confirmed.

The meeting ended on a sour note.

「In the empty conference room.」

Two women and a child, all looking utterly exhausted.

"Claire, I was actually thinking..."

Natalie Morgan’s thoughts were simple.

Three years ago, her identity as the Young Madam of the Grant family had been buried along with her faked death.

’If Theodore really is dead this time...’

’...I’ll take Momo and go back to Fenchest.’

’I’ll go back to being Willow Childs, the art teacher. Far from all this chaos, my son and I can live a good life.’

’It would be better than staying here, with so many eyes on us, surrounded by malice and danger.’

’But to just leave now, so callously... my conscience won’t allow it.’

"Natalie, I know what you’re thinking. Theodore’s chances are slim, and the Grant Group is facing a lot of problems. Mom was hospitalized because of his accident..."

Claire Grant had been so busy these past few days that she was mentally and physically drained. "...I can barely catch my breath."

She took a deep breath.

It seemed she was trying to force herself to calm down.

If she lost her composure, Sean Lane would lead them all by the nose.

"Natalie, why don’t you take Momo back to Fenchest for now? Once things have settled down here, I’ll bring you both back."