Chapter 155: Obadiah Stan

In New York City, within an upscale convalescent facility, Obadiah Stane stretched and kicked his legs like an old grandfather.

“Mr. Stane, it’s time for your medicine,” the nurse said softly, holding a tray with his daily pills as she addressed Obadiah Stane gently.

“Aren’t I supposed to be discharged today?” Stane hadn’t worked for a long time, but the aura of his former high status still lingered. “Is Tony that brat refusing to let me leave?”

“You’re mistaken,” the nurse replied with an unchanged expression. She was personally selected by Pepper and worked under her direction, so she had no fear of Stane.

“Mr. Tony Stark has been very busy lately and doesn’t have the energy to manage your affairs. These pills are the last ones for you after discharge.”

“I won’t take them!” Stane waved his hand, pushing the medication aside. Just hearing Tony’s name ignited his anger.

He had been awake for many days, with hardly anyone visiting him. Tony hadn’t appeared at the company for a long time either, and no one cared about him.

He knew the reason well enough. Tony had gotten lucky, hooking up with some mysterious influential faction, and Pepper was cunning. In just a few months, she had basically uprooted all of Stane’s power.

“Mr. Stane, if you don’t cooperate with your treatment, I will have to refuse to sign your discharge papers,” the nurse warned promptly.

“You—!” Stane stood up and pointed at her but had no more words. A fallen phoenix was worse than a common chicken!

“Fine! I’ll take it!” Stane said fiercely, swallowing the medicine as if it were poison.

Of course, these were not poisons but legitimate supplements; the nurse’s attitude was Pepper’s instruction.

Tony had almost lost his life in the Middle East because of Stane. Pepper hadn’t taken a hard hand while Stane was unconscious—that was generous of her. Now that there was a chance, why wouldn’t she provoke Stane a little?

That afternoon, before his discharge, Obadiah stood by the window, staring down at the courtyard below.

Tony! Just wait! I will drag you into this place too, and you’ll never get out again! Stane thought bitterly.

“Mr. Stane, aren’t you leaving yet? If you plan to stay another day, there might be an overnight charge,” the nurse said as she approached him.

“Where’s my driver?” Stane asked coldly.

“Sorry, the Stark Group didn’t arrange a driver for you. Our drivers are currently out for a group training session, so you’ll have to use public transportation,” the nurse continued. “If you don’t know the route, I can teach you how to check it on the smartphone.”

“No need!” Stane pushed her aside and headed for the door.

Pepper’s people had loaded the phone with a decent amount of money, so Stane didn’t have to take public transit. But taking a taxi? That was beneath him!

After Stane disappeared from view, the nurse pressed her earpiece. “Miss Pepper, is there anything else I can do?”

“No, you did very well this time, very responsible. I think you’re suited to be the deputy director of the convalescent home. I will recommend you to the director.”

“Yes, yes, thank you very much for your suggestion. Contact me anytime if there’s anything else,” the nurse grinned broadly.

From today onward, she was no longer an ordinary nurse—she was about to stand atop a pile of people!

Meanwhile, standing by the roadside, Stane made a call—the only former subordinate he still had contact with.

“Where are you?!” Stane’s tone still carried the force of command.

“Mr. Stane, I’m at the company. Miss Pepper has ordered all employees not to leave their posts today and to prepare for a meeting.”

“I was going to arrange a car for you, but then I remembered something…”

“What is it?” Stane asked.

“You no longer have a position at Stark Industries. It’s complicated to charge the company accounts, so you’ll have to take a taxi yourself. If you’re short on money, just say so.”

Stane slammed the phone to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

In the office of the Stark Group’s president, the man who had just spoken with Obadiah was groveling before Pepper.

Pepper waved him off. She disliked him, but when Obadiah fell, he was the first to surrender to them, so she couldn’t just kick him out.

After the man left, Happy approached Pepper’s desk with a pile of documents.

“Miss Pepper, don’t you think this is going a bit far?” Happy worried that Obadiah’s anger might cause trouble.

“Not at all!” Pepper’s expression darkened. “If it were up to me, I’d throw him in jail for attempted murder!”

She ground her teeth; Tony had almost died! Yet seeing Obadiah’s current state, Tony didn’t want to pursue it further.

Instead, they used some “legal” means to strip Obadiah of his management rights. His dividends alone would keep him well-off for life.

After wandering for several hours, Obadiah returned to his suburban villa.

With his phone smashed and no cash on hand, he refused to bow to those people. He still had to deal with Tony Stark!

Since Tony had gone soft, Obadiah wouldn’t hold back. This time, he would reclaim Stark Industries and expel Tony, and sell Pepper off to make movies!

At the villa’s gate, Obadiah felt utterly defeated. The iron gate was covered in dust, and through it, the courtyard looked chaotic and dusty, like a haunted house.

He had only been away a few months! What did this mean?

It meant not a single servant had come to clean during all that time!

Beep... the fingerprint lock clicked open, and Obadiah stepped into the courtyard, raising a cloud of dust.

Suppressing the madness within, Obadiah walked step by step to the villa’s first floor.

The huge living room was as dusty as outside, with even more cobwebs due to the structure.

He walked to the end of the living room—the spot he liked most. From there, he could see everything below, and the raised platform gave him the feeling of a king or emperor.

“Ahhh!” Seeing his favorite place in such disarray, Obadiah finally exploded.

Crash! Vase after vase flew from his hands in all directions, shattering on the floor with a cacophony.

Panting heavily, Obadiah’s strength waned. Age had caught up with him; his body was failing, especially after the major surgery he had barely survived not long ago.

“Powerless rage...” a deep voice sounded.

“Who—who’s there?” Obadiah shouted, looking around.