Chapter 220

Adrian Valdemar deflated instantly after hearing Henry Chamberlain's warning.

"Let's not... It's just a trivial matter. No need to bother Grandfather..."

Henry saw right through his unease and responded flatly, "Hmm."

"How do you plan to handle the breach fee?"

Adrian hesitated. "Didn't you say you could issue me a certificate?"

Henry frowned. "But... the CEO just explicitly ordered me not to."

Adrian's eyes widened. "What?"

"What kind of CEO is she? You're the executive assistant, second only to my brother in the company. Why listen to her?"

Suppressing a laugh at his outburst, Henry said, "She is my direct superior now, appointed by the Patriarch himself. Maybe... you should take it up with him?"

Adrian rolled his eyes. "If I dared approach the Patriarch, would I be here begging you?"

"Then what?" Henry spread his hands. "I have to follow her orders unless I want to lose my job. You understand."

Adrian gritted his teeth. "That woman is ruthless."

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "How about... you lend me some money?"

Henry sighed. "Young Master, you overestimate me. If I had two million in savings, why would I still be working?"

Adrian looked shocked. "My brother pays you that little?"

Henry chuckled. "Young Master, my annual salary is already top-tier in the industry. It's just that your financial perspective differs from ordinary people's."

This sheltered young master could casually squander two million on a breach fee—what did he know about the struggles of earning money?

After a long silence, Adrian finally said, "Forget it. I'll figure it out myself."

At worst, he'd just finish filming that awful drama.

So what if people mocked him?

As Henry watched Adrian leave, an inexplicable pang of sympathy struck him.

He shook his head.

An illusion. It had to be.

How could this pampered young master possibly be pitiable?

Still...

Was cutting off his financial support really the right move?

The kid did seem genuinely distressed...

After all these years in the entertainment industry, he'd gained nothing but infamy...

Henry lingered at the door for a moment before knocking on Sophia Laurent's office again.

Inside, Sophia was browsing through Adrian's gossip headlines.

The more she read, the more appalled she became.

Compared to other wealthy heirs like Nathan Lowell and Christopher Lowell, Adrian's reputation was abysmal.

The internet mercilessly mocked him:

"Worst actor alive."

"More temper than talent."

"Professional diva."

"Plastic-faced pretty boy."

The most ridiculous was the plastic surgery rumor.

With the Valdemar family's impeccable genes, surgeons probably used their features as reference models.

What surprised her most was that despite the relentless criticism, Adrian had never once flaunted his family background.

In the entertainment world, he was notorious for:

Assaulting reporters.

Envying peers with fans.

Sabotaging others' fan events.

In short, his name was synonymous with scandal.