CHAPTER 168: CHAPTER 168: HEARTACHE

Between the father and son, the tension was palpable.

Noah bit down on his cigarette, listened, and showed no expression, only a faint tug at the corner of his mouth.

He took a drag, slowly exhaled the smoke, and then spoke, "Alright, old man, you go ahead and act."

Julian, with one hand in his pocket, emitted a cold and hard aura, pointed his finger at him, and said angrily, "You brat, you have truly forgotten your roots!"

After saying this, he turned and strode towards the bedroom.

In the bedroom, Rosalind leaned against the headboard, her silk nightwear reflecting a sheen under the light, making her complexion even paler and dull.

Julian entered the room, seeing she was awake, his cold demeanor instantly softened, shaking off the cigarette smell as he approached.

He picked up the water cup, sat on the edge of the bed, and carefully helped her drink half a cup of water.

"Has Noah come by?" Rosalind asked softly.

Just then, the sound of an engine starting came from downstairs.

Julian replied nonchalantly, "Said a few things to him, told him to leave."

Rosalind leaned into her husband’s embrace, her voice hoarse, "I heard everything... Julian, The Grants never engage in infighting, it’s just a laughing stock for others. If outsiders seize the opportunity to strike at him..."

Julian snorted coldly, "It’s his own doing. He should have anticipated the consequences when he embarrassed you publicly."

"Rosalind, let’s just act like we don’t have this son. He can marry whoever he wants, we won’t interfere."

"I’ll publicly announce that Noah is no longer related to The Grant Family."

Rosalind suddenly grabbed his arm, "Julian, you’re sentencing him to death!"

The Grant Family is large and well-established. Over the years, because of handling many major cases, they have made quite a few enemies. Without the shelter of this big tree, how could those enemies let Noah go?

Julian saw his wife still worrying over their ungrateful son, feeling even more indignant, "Let’s just say he died when he was nine years old!"

That was, of course, spoken out of anger.

During that kidnapping incident, everyone in The Grant Family felt guilty and heartbroken for Rosalind and her son, especially Julian as the husband and father, considering the case arose because of him.

During that event, if Rosalind hadn’t followed the kidnappers’ car closely, just half an hour later, Noah would have had his limbs severed or been injected with crippling drugs...

Julian was angry at Noah for repeatedly breaking the heart of his mother, who loved him like her own life!

But he also understood Noah’s stance, and added, "If not for the family protecting him secretly over the years, he would have died eight hundred times already! Talking about individualism and freedom in this system? I’ll make him understand the cost!"

Rosalind’s heart was pained like a knife twist, "It’s all because of Vera! How could a woman with a criminal background enter The Grant Family’s door? I meticulously picked Vivian for him, what’s not better than her? Vivian’s current mission in Lorraine is for national pride! Such a young lady is perfectly matched for him, what did I do wrong?"

"Julian, I don’t want him punished or hurt, I just wish he could wake up!"

"I want him to understand what kind of girl is truly his match!"

Julian gently patted her shoulder, soothing, "Don’t let that brat anger you to sickness again."

...

During a break in dance troupe training, Vera was washing her hands at the sink when her phone screen suddenly popped up with a news alert: "Solstice Group’s ’Capital Bay’ project suddenly faces a bank loan suspension, potentially risking a financial chain rupture."

Solstice is Noah’s company.

Vera’s actions paused, her heart sinking.

A waft of perfume approached, reflecting Vivian’s figure in the mirror, as she deliberately opened the faucet at the neighboring sink.

"Senior sister, I heard Noah got sanctioned by Uncle Grant." Vivian’s voice was subdued, "The Vista Bay project, the bank just decides to stop lending."

Vera moved her gaze away from the screen and continued washing her hands, only faintly saying "oh."

Vivian pulled a piece of paper to dry her hands, speaking with regret, "Speaking of it, it’s because of the charity banquet that night, he publicly contradicted Aunt Grant and me... The Grant Family ultimately needs to give The Langdon Family an explanation."

Vera turned off the faucet, walked to the dryer.

The warm airflow noise instantly filled the space.

Vivian saw Vera ignoring her, furrowing her brow, raising her voice a bit, "Senior sister, if you really care for him, you shouldn’t make things difficult for him anymore. Leaving him, for both of you—"

"Buzz—"

The dryer noise abruptly stopped.

Vera turned around, looking calmly at Vivian, "Finished?"

Her eyes were clear, showing no trace of emotion, "I’ll pass your words on to Noah, so he knows how much you care for him."

Vivian was momentarily speechless, her expression changed slightly.

Vera didn’t stay any longer, and walked straight out.

Vivian watched her upright figure leave, furiously furrowing her brow.

In an instant, she calmed down.

Not worth engaging with her.

A woman climbing up from the bottom, finally clinging onto an aristocratic heir, how could she easily let go?

The love story of Cinderella and the prince only exists in fairy tales.

Reality demands a suitable match.

She, Vivian Langdon, was born to be the matching princess for Noah.

...

Solstice Group, President’s Office.

Noah stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the commercial district, his handsome face expressionless.

His partner, the Ford Family heir Silas Ford, lazily sank into the sofa opposite, swirling his wine glass, "The old man hit hard, really not caring about you?"

A domestic bank suspends loans, and no other bank would dare to take over this project.

The Grant Family’s influence is evident.

Noah turned back, snorted, "He thinks cutting off the bank’s resources will force me to kneel and beg."

Silas smirked, "The old man severely underestimated you, a rebellious child!"

At this moment, the president’s office door was pushed open, the group’s Chief Financial Officer and Overseas Project Director hurried in.

"President Grant, BMF fund from Grestin and GIC from Solara have returned messages, expressing interest in our open database, willing to start joint investment negotiations on the ’Capital Bay’ project."

"Additionally, our own cross-border funding pool can certainly cover the project’s operational expenses for the next three months."

Noah finally turned around, his gaze sharp, "Notify everyone that there’s a global investor teleconference at nine tonight."

"Tell those hesitant investment banks that Solstice’s door isn’t open to anyone. Whoever doesn’t join this time won’t touch my projects ever again."

The CFO responded, "Yes."

The two promptly exited.

Silas eyed his strategizing demeanor, sipped some red wine, "Might as well, use the old man’s hand to reshuffle!"

"Kick out those short-sighted investors, bring in international giants, the situation’s even better."

Noah settled in the opposite sofa, his long legs naturally crossed, as he was about to grab his cigarette pack, his phone rang, displaying the word "wife" on the screen.

It just caught Silas’s attention.

"Heh, already calling her ’wife’ while still in pursuit..."

Noah glanced at him faintly, swiped the screen, answered, "Vera."

Silas put down his wine glass, sensibly exited.

Meanwhile, Vera sat on a long bench in the dance troupe’s garden, a black training suit with a cream-colored blazer draped over her shoulder.

"Noah, I saw the news, heard it’s Uncle Grant’s doing, correct?"

Noah leaned back into the sofa, "Yes, it was Julian’s handiwork."

Vera’s brow furrowed tightly, her heart sank deeper, her tone betrayed concern, "Are you alright?"

Why does it have to get to the point of turning father against son?

Noah reclined into the sofa, closed his eyes, kneaded his brow, his voice hoarse, "I’m fine, just some small turbulence, worried about me?"