Chapter 20: Raymond Chickens Out
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Raymond stood beside Ryan, struggling internally so much that his face contorted.
Refuse to give in to Ryan?
Ryan would not hesitate to make the evidence public, no doubt about it. What awaited him was spending the rest of his life in prison.
Before this, he thought Ryan was a loser. But now, he realized everyone was wrong. This seemingly hopeless loser was actually not useless at all.
Now that Ryan had known his dirty secret, others might not get away, too.
But if he gave in to Ryan’s demand, he was afraid that there would be no chance of a comeback in the future. He had no hope of getting control of Mears Corporation, which was worth several hundred million dollars.
Just when Ryan was about to count to one, he chickened out. “Grandma… I have something to say.”
What?
All eyes were on him and Ryan. The strange things that Ryan uttered to him just now had aroused everyone’s curiosity.
What happened in the alley two years ago?
Grandma shifted her body slightly as she sat on the chair. “Please, Raymond.”
Raymond sighed and took a deep look as he glanced over at Ryan before he spoke. “Grandma, I have thought it over. I deeply feel that my ability is not good enough to take on this important task. Let Lumi continue to be the president of Mears Corporation. I had better remain as a trust fund baby, eating and drinking and having fun.”
‘What the hell?’
‘Did I hear it wrong?’
The face of everyone present changed. They were all dumbfounded!
What was going on?
Was Raymond not hell-bent on getting the president post earlier? He changed his mind and gave up the position in the blink of an eye.
This was not logical at all.
Grandma almost bounced up from the chair. “What are you talking about, Raymond? Are you sick?” Grandma’s breathing became heavy.
She, Raymond and Anthony had been planning for years for today. They were now just one step away from success, and Raymond changed his mind?
Not only that, he abdicated his right in front of so many people.
Was he mad?
Raymond felt equally terrible. But Ryan had something on him. However reluctant he was, he could only do what Ryan had told him to do.
“Don’t worry, Grandma, I know what I am doing. Ryan has woken me up, making me realize my mistakes and shortcomings. I should apologize to him and Lumi. Grandma, Dad, Third Uncle, don’t persuade me otherwise as I have already decided. I will never hold the position as president. I sincerely recommend Lumi.”
He dared not want the position of president. He would be done for if he did.
Rape and murder, if convicted, were enough to send him to prison for at least a decade.
How many decades could one live?
Raymond sounded sincere, so much so that even Ryan almost believed him. It was a waste that he was not an actor.
Raymond was so determined that even if Grandma wanted to continue to force Lumi’s hand, she could no longer find a reason. If she forced Lumi to resign from the position of president, who was going to succeed Lumi?
The second uncle, the third uncle, and Grandma herself were all old, basically unable to manage the company. So it was impossible to ask them to take up the job.
Anthony, Raymond’s father, was the most anxious person. “Mother, this… Raymond…”
He knew his son very well. If it wasn’t a matter of life and death, Raymond would never say what he had said.
Grandma frowned and glanced at Ryan. Raymond changed his mind all of a sudden after Ryan had said something to him. “What did you say to Raymond just now, Ryan?”
Just as Ryan was about to speak, Raymond interrupted. “Grandma, you don’t have to ask brother-in-law; he really said nothing. He just inspired me, and I think he is right. That’s all.”
While speaking, he hastened towards his grandma and father.
“What the hell is going on, Raymond?” Anthony asked with a grave face after Raymond came close.
Raymond had a frustrated expression on his face. “Grandma, Dad. Ryan knows what happened two years ago. He has photos and some key evidence in his hand. I have to give in.”
Both Grandma and Anthony looked shocked in their eyes.
When they looked at Ryan again, there was an extra sense of complicated feeling inside them.
Grandma and Anthony knew what Raymond had done two years ago. Both of them had made plans and used certain relationships to protect him.
Now Ryan had found out about that incident. Not only that, he had photos as evidence.
Still waters run deep; Ryan was something.
Ryan did not evade Grandma’s eyes. “Now that Raymond has given up the position of president, Grandma. According to what you have just said, Lumi will be the only person who can hold the office as the president. Does anyone have any problem with that?”
Ryan deliberately asked in front of everyone, “It just so happens that everyone is here. Do you all have anything to say? Let’s talk.”
How Anthony wished he could lunge up and bite Ryan when he saw Ryan’s expression.
What was the point of talking now?
Now that Raymond had chickened out, there was no point in fighting anymore.
All eyes were on Grandma, who was expected to state her stand.
Grandma’s face turned pale. She could not watch Raymond being sent to jail, as Ryan had something on him. So she had no choice but to compromise as far as the president’s position was concerned.
“Well, since Raymond is unwilling to be the president, then Lumi can remain as the president. It is so decided.” After Grandma announced her decision, the others could not say much, however dissatisfied they were.
Standing beside Ryan, Lumi let out a long sigh of relief.
At first, she thought today was the end of the road. But the situation took a one-eighty turn and was resolved with just a few words from Ryan and Raymond. She felt as if it was a dream.
“What have you said to Raymond, Ryan?” she asked quietly as she curled her hand around Ryan’s arm.
“It is a secret,” Ryan said with a mysterious smile.
Robert had also come over and looked at Ryan with a thoughtful expression on his face. “You are really full of surprises, Ryan.”
Everyone sat down in the living room. Anthony hosted everyone with refreshment while waiting for somebody to arrive before the banquet started.
That ‘somebody’ was none other than Allan Moore from Moore Corporation.
Allan was coming for Lumi today. But Ryan looked indifferent, as he had something on Allan, too.
At one end of the table, Grandma, Anthony, Jonathan, Jerome, and Lilian were whispering with each other.
Meanwhile, Ryan, Lumi, and Robert were sitting behind a table by themselves.
About ten minutes later, a hearty voice from a young man sounded at the entrance. “I am sorry, Grandma. I am late.” A young man dressed in a white suit quickly walked in. His eyes brightened up when he saw Lumi. “Lumi, you look even more beautiful now since I last saw you a few days ago. I really like you very much.”