Chapter 78
When the crowd got a good look at Celena’s gift, the room erupted with laughter and sneers.
“What the hell was that? It’s so dark and smells weird!”
“Is that some kind of ointment? Cheryl gives a tea set worth several hundred thousand dollars, handcrafted by a renowned artist, and Celena brings out a jar of ointment? How embarrassing!”
“Seriously, it’s just pitiful! You can tell who’s more thoughtful. No wonder Reginald kicked Celena out in favor of Cheryl!”
Celena, seeing her gift discarded, dashed over, ignoring the insults thrown at her. She picked up the jar of ointment from the floor. With tears streaming down her face, she pleaded with Reginald, “Grandpa, your legs ache! I know you’re always in pain, so I got this especially for you! Grandpa, I do care… oh, Grandpa…
The scornful murmurs of the Stone family surrounded her. Their piercing stares cut deep, leaving Celena no choice but to crouch down on the floor, sobbing as she wiped away her tears.
She had convinced herself that her grandfather had forgiven her long ago, that he understood she meant them no harm.
However, Reginald had crushed that belief with his own hands.
Cheryl felt a pang in her chest as she listened to Celena. She had not realized that after seven years of being cast out, Celena still remembered them. Disgust etched deeper into Cheryl’s features as she sneered, “You really think a bottle of bargain-bin ointment is going to win Grandpa’s forgiveness and make the whole Stone family forgive you? You believe a simple jar of cream is your ticket back into the Stone family?”
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Liam gave Cheryl a frosty look and retorted, “So what you’re saying is, if Celena came bearing a gift hefty enough, she’d be welcomed back into the Stone family?”
Cheryl did not get a chance to reply before Liam pressed on, “Then tell me, if Celena’s offering includes a slice of the Walker family’s estate and a chunk of their project funds, would that count as hefty enough for you?”
“It would! As long as she brings part of the Walker family’s assets and secures some of the projects and the funds, I’ll allow her back into the Stone family,” Reginald interjected abruptly.
The Walker family had crumbled, sending shockwaves through
Drunham City. However, the real show was behind the scenes, where the city’s power players circled the Walkers’ vast empire like vultures.
The Stones, one of those families, knew that even a sliver of the
Walker fortune could mean a windfall that would dwarf their annual
earnings.
However, the competition was fierce, and everyone wanted a piece of the pie.
To complicate matters, Mr. Lynch had stepped in to claim the Walker assets. With his hands on the reins, especially over the more sensitive parts of the business, the remaining assets were up for grabs. Malcolm Lynch, the city’s iron-fisted mayor, had made it clear he was looking for the most powerful families and businesses in Drunham City to take over those spoils.
Getting time with Malcolm was tough for the city’s high rollers, let alone trying to get a deal with him.
Reginald was intrigued when he heard Liam, a down-on-his-luck ex- soldier, mention getting a cut of the Walker assets. However, skepticism quickly set in. Was Liam just exaggerating to look good in
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front of the crowd?
Reginald played along, eager to see how Liam and his partner Celena
would lie their way out.
Yet…
“Let’s call it a deal!” Liam said with conviction.
