Mason quipped, "A guy who''s all about his career? No way he''s getting bossed around at home."


    Benjamin wasn''t convinced. "Is Nathan really that tough? I just can''t buy it."


    But he quickly found out he was wrong.


    When Dawson International got snapped up by Maple Company, they wasted no time firing everything back up.


    "How''d they pull that off so fast?"


    Cameron was nursing a drink at the bar, his old buddies buzzing around him, eager for the scoop on the big news shaking up the Capital. "Cameron, Nathan must''ve shelled out a ton for Dawson International, right?"


    Cameron gave a wry smile. "Oh yeah, it was a hefty price."


    But the Rond family was drowning in debt, and the cash Nathan forked over just barely covered it. Cameron didn''t pocket a single cent. Dawson International went from being an industry titan to a humble, family-run joint. His title, Mr. Dawson, was now just for show.


    Benjamin was puzzled, "Where on earth did Nathan get all that cash?"


    Cameron''s eyes flickered with uncertainty. "Could it be from his mom?"


    Benjamin chimed in, "Sure, his mom was a whiz in business, but half of what she made got scooped up by my dad as marital property, and some was snatched by his uncle and aunt. He must''ve been left with scraps."


    Cameron felt a chill, his face growing more somber. "That''s fishy. He was just a kid, and I''d never heard of him having any money-making ventures. How''d he suddenlye up with such a fortune? It''s more than our family amassed over generations."


    Benjamin suddenly dropped to the floor, worry etched on his face. "My granddad always said he was a sly fox. Looks like he was right. I totally underestimated him."


    Cameron chuckled, "A fox? If his money''s sketchy, what''s there to fear?"


    He gave Benjamin a reassuring pat on the shoulder, "Hang in there, man." Benjamin, however, couldn''t shake his unease.


    Cameron left the bar, his mind anything but settled. Nathan''s mysterious aura was like a heavy, making it hard for him to breathe. He was itching to unravel the truth.


    en


    He headed to Griffin''s hospital room. Griffin had been bedridden for a while now, too weak to get up.


    His health was sliding downhill, and the docs said it was a lost cause, meaning his illness wasn''t going away.


    "Why''d youe?" Griffin greeted Cameron weakly. "I figured you''d never visit me in this lifetime."


    Cameron replied, "That was the n."


    Griffin''s eyes brimmed with disappointment.


    "I let you and your mom down. I brought this on myself. It''s not your me to bear."


    Then, surprised, he asked, "So why are you here?"


    Cameron locked eyes with him. "I want to know why Dawson International went belly up."


    Griffin felt ashamed. "Isn''t it clear?


    Your dad was duped by your pmom, thinking she was yed him like a


    o but


    Cameron shook his head. "I doubt she had it in her."


    Griffin was stunned. "What''re you getting at?"


    Cameron exined, "Nathan buying Dawson International and the payment matching the debt perfectly? Don''t you find that odd?


    Why him, and why did he seed?


    know Dawson International like the back of his hand?"