Love's Change of Heart

Chapter 741 Anyone Else but You

Aidan's expression remained unruffled as he eyed Joseph. "Should I write a reflection for you?"

"President Pearson, don't forget that Justin wouldn't have ended up like this if it hadn't been for you," Joseph reminded.

"That's between him and me. It has nothing to do with you."

"President—"

Leanna cut him off. "Mr. Woodley, didn't you say that a lot of people are curious to know how you rose from the dead? Well, I am. Why don't you go ahead and tell us?"

Joseph's smile slowly vanished as he glanced out the door.

At some point, a few reporters managed to work their way into the crowd. They recorded every single word Joseph said earlier.

Now, they were silently moving to the side in preparation to leave.

Joseph turned back around and said, "Miss McKinney, you should first ask them whether they dare to let me expose the truth."

Before Leanna could respond, Charles called out wearily, "That's enough. This is Grandpa's funeral. Can't we let give him a final sendoff in peace?"

Charlotte opened her mouth to speak, but in the end, she didn't say anything.

Charles addressed all the Woodleys and said, "None of what Joseph said is true. Once the funeral is over, I will give you all an explanation. So, out of respect for the deceased, I hope you can all save your questions for now and wait until the funeral is over."

Since Charles had put it that way, the other Woodleys didn't voice their questions.

Just then, someone rushed over to Charles. "Something happened, Mr. Charles…"

Charles frowned. "What is it?"

"The ancestral hall… caught on fire."

Charles whipped around and glared at Joseph. "Is it your doing?!"

Joseph smirked and raised both his hands. "I've been here all along. How could you possibly blame it on me?"

"Why, you're—"

"Charles, haven't you noticed that someone has been missing the whole time?"

Thanks to Joseph's reminder, everyone realized that they saw no sign of Lachlan.

Joseph continued, "According to my knowledge, Lachlan has always wanted to bring Naomi back, even at the cost of being at odds with all the family elders. Nevertheless, it's not that strange to me. Kian Woodley went so far as to stick his hands into Highside. All Lachlan did was kill a few family elders and seize his chance during Philip Woodley's funeral to set the family traditions in the ancestral hall on fire so that he can secure his position as the head of the family. What's the big deal?"

This time, before Charles could say anything, Charlotte beat him to it. "You're being ridiculous!"

Joseph turned to her. "Charlotte."

Charlotte stepped forward with a burst of courage that even she didn't know she had. "Those old rules and traditions should no longer be in place, but Lachlan never wanted to go against the family elders. He had been talking to them all along and he definitely didn't kill them…"

"How would you be able to stand here at Grandpa Philip's funeral and say such things if he hadn't brought that woman back first?" Charlotte began to choke up. "Don't be like this, Uncle Joseph. Since you're back, can't we just all get along…"

Joseph smirked. "Charlotte, I know that you're engaged to Lachlan, but that's no reason to have such blind faith in him. He's targeting the family elders now, but his next target will be your father. Do you think he's a good guy?"

Aidan piped up, "Right from the very beginning, you've been trying to divert everyone's attention from Mr. Kian Woodley to Mr. Phillip Woodley and now to Lachlan. What you're after is the position as the head of the Woodley Family, isn't it?"

"You must be joking, President Pearson. I have never coveted anything that belongs to someone else, and I wouldn't step on the bodies of others to get what doesn't belong to me."

"That's because you wouldn't get it even if you tried. Everyone else has a shot, except for you."

Joseph's smile stiffened as his eyes grew cold.

"Why have you gone silent now?" Aidan queried.

Joseph adjusted his glasses and responded curtly, "You have a way with words, President Pearson. I can't possibly outdo you."

Just then, someone came over from the ancestral hall and said that the fire had been contained. While there was some damage to the exterior, the memorial plaques were unharmed.

Philip's funeral officially started.

To everyone's surprise, Joseph didn't say anything else. He stood there quietly as if he were indeed here to attend the funeral.

Charlotte left with Charles.

Leanna took Aidan by the hand and walked to the back before whispering, "Where's Lachlan? What on earth is going on today? Joseph…"

"What do you think Joseph wants to do?" Aidan asked.

Leanna shook her head. "It's just as you said. He kept switching targets from Mr. Kian Woodley to Mr. Philip Woodley and then to Lachlan. And now… I can't tell what he's up to."

Aidan smirked. "Exactly. He despises the entire Woodley Family."

Leanna couldn't keep up. "The entire Woodley Family?"

"Why else do you think he could've been driven away from Jamesdon in total secrecy?"

Once the funeral party arrived at the cemetery, there was less chatter.

The atmosphere grew somber.

Joseph took off his glasses and wiped them with a piece of cloth.