As ten percent was a substantial amount, she was worried that grandfather would not agree to it.The only thing she could do now was wait.Soon, Howard returned to Common Clinic.Alone this time, he had the transfer agreement for the shares with him.“Thea, dad has signed the agreement. Once Benjamin signs here, he will own ten percent of the family’s shares. Now that you have the transfer agreement, could you call Alex and tell him to resume the partnership with Eternality?”Thea studied the agreement carefully.Once she verified that it was authentic, she cheered in joy. “Jamie, grandfather has agreed! Yes! Finally, my dad will have some standing.”“Thea, please call Alex. The trucks are at Eternality taking the materials away. Once we get this out of the way, we can celebrate properly later,” Howard said.Thea looked at James.James nodded, saying, “Call him.”“S-should I?” Thea was nervous. Alex owed James a favor after all, not her.James said, “Of course. Go for it.”
Gladys was out the entire day, so she missed the news.She was unaware of the press conference the chairman of the Celestial Group had held, the fact that Celestial Group had canceled their partnership with Eternality, and how Thea had leveraged her return to the family against Lex by making him pass ten percent of the shares over to them.She froze at Thea's words. "Transfer letter for ten percent of the shares? What shares?"Gladys stared blankly at the document Thea held out."Mom, grandpa wrote this transfer contract," Thea said. "He signed it himself. If Dad signs it too, ten percent of the family's shares will be his."Gladys promptly snatched the file from Thea's hands and read through the contents carefully. She cheered in delight when she was done, hugging and kissing the contract. "Haha! It's real!" she squealed. "It's an actual transfer contract! We finally have ten percent of the shares! The old man finally came to his senses!""Let me see that, Mom," David said inc
The Gourmand was famous in Cansington. It was the grandest restaurant around, though its establishment was divided into several tiers.The private rooms it had available in order of the most luxurious were Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Black Iron. Apart from that, it also had a public hall.Even at the public hall, a meal at The Gourmand costs thousands of dollars.It was peak time, so the public hall was filled with customers. The line they had to wait in was more than thirty people long.Gladys started complaining again."You're useless, Benjamin. Look at Howard. He's a Bronze member of The Gourmand. He doesn't even have to wait when he comes here, he can just walk straight into the private room."And you. Some soldier you are. No money, no power… Look at John's son-in-law. Now that's a respectable man. He's a Silver member of The Gourmand. Just one phone call from him will send a waiter straight out to welcome him in. Ugh. Why did my daughter have to marry a poor man?"G
Thea had been the object of ridicule for ten years. Every time she stepped outdoors, her face would be hidden under a veil.She thought she was used to this. But right now, the crowd's words pierced into her like knives. She kept her head lowered, not daring to meet the onlookers' gazes. Self-hatred started rising inside her."This is it? I wouldn't want her even if you paid me.""The most beautiful woman in Cansington? The media must've been blind when they said that."Thea may have been staring at the ground, but she could vividly picture the sneers that were on the crowd's faces. It was too much to bear. The lump in her throat grew and a single teardrop fell from her eyes. Belinda was pleased with Thea's reaction. She lifted Thea's chin, staring at the scabbed-over cuts on her face that were still in the process of healing. "Such a beautiful face," Belinda said with a laugh. "What a pity. Haha!""W-what are you doing?!" Thea jerked herself out of Belinda's grip in a panic a
However, James pulled her back up. "This doesn't concern you, Thea," he said simply. "I was the one that hit her. She can come at me if she wants. I won't let this affect the Callahans.""Come at you? Alright." Belinda's temper flared at his words. She took her phone out and called the manager of The Gourmand. "Mr. Thomas? It's Belinda Frasier, Gold member of The Gourmand. Someone hit me right outside your restaurant. I need some of your security guards. Now."Belinda glared at James as she hung up. "You're dead meat. I'm not letting you off, even if you knelt down and begged me to. I'm breaking both your legs today, or my name isn't Belinda Frasier!"Gladys rushed forward to try to appease her. "I'm really sorry, Miss Frasier. This is all my good-for-nothing son-in-law's fault! I'll apologize for him, so please forgive us! Just pretend we farted!"Gladys was terrified.Getting a portion of the family's shares was a once-in-a-lifetime feat. She definitely wanted to avoid angerin
The Blithe King of the West. Commander of the army on the western border. He was a man above all, a figure with near-unparalleled power.His aura emanated powerfully as he approached.The outside of The Gourmand was quiet as everyone held their breaths.This was the Blithe King, the new commander-in-chief of the five armies!They had only ever seen him on screens. Now that he was here in person, they were so shocked at the sheer command his presence demanded that they did not dare to even move.Niel and the security guards remained on the ground, trembling slightly.Gladys had been sobbing on the ground but went quiet when she saw the Blithe King, not daring to even breathe too loudly. She had seen the news. She knew this was someone even more terrifying than Trent Xavier. Belinda, too, held her breath in fear.Everyone was intimidated. Only James seemed calm.He had met the Blithe King once, back when he was appointed commander.Surprise flashed across the Blithe King's fac
Benjamin was about to say something when Gladys beat him to it. “Oh, now you want to talk? What were you doing earlier on, cowering in the corner? It’s so embarrassing being your wife. I want a divorce!”There was a crowd at The Gourmand’s entrance.However, none of them were interested in their family argument. Their minds were still on the Blithe King.“The Blithe King’s succession ceremony is in five days.”“Oh, yes. I heard that it’ll be held at Cansington’s military region. Apparently, the ceremony will be open to the public, but only the most powerful and influential people will receive an invitation.”“That’s what I heard too! Only the true upper-class families who are rich and powerful enough will be able to attend.”“Ah, I bet the only people who will get invited are the celebrities.”Everyone was busy talking about the Blithe King.Not James though. He sat on a chair outside The Gourmand, smoking a cigarette.To save her family, Gladys had embarrassed herself thoroug
Several people were waiting outside The Gourmand.They were all queueing up to enter the restaurant. Before this, they were discussing the Blithe King. After they heard what James said, the crowd erupted in titters.“The Diamond Room? Looks like the Callahans’ son-in-law is good at something after all—boasting.”“He’s a nobody! He can’t even afford a car. Remember how he used to pick Thea up from work with an electric motorcycle? If he can’t even afford a car, how can he afford the Diamond Room?”“Rumor has it that it’s not enough to be rich to use the Diamond room. The Gourmand’s owner hails from an important family in the Capital. He’s from a true upper-class family. Hardly anybody in Cansington could secure a reservation for the Diamond Room.”“Not even The Great Four could get access to the Diamond Room.”James’ words were a joke to them.Their jeers angered Gladys once more and she rounded on him. “You idiot! Haven’t you done enough?”“Hush, Jamie.” Thea put her hand on Ja