Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
Landon then rose from his seat slowly. He turned his body to face Cornelius. He had a fiery look in his eyes.
“Grandpa, I came here today because there was something I wanted to inform you and everyone here about. I want to take Lauren as my wife. Please give us your blessings.”
Upon saying that, Landon looked at Cornelius and behaved in a very respectful manner.
Cornelius stared at Landon with wide eyes. This scene was shocking and unimaginable to everyone present.
Landon had been wayward since young. He was someone who loved to boast and flaunt. He’d never behaved politely to others or acted so seriously before.
For the sake of marrying Lauren, he was willing to humble himself.
“Landon, I don’t think Ms. Lauren is good enough for you.”
Cornelius looked at Landon with a sharp gaze. His tone was full of contempt and disdain. “I don’t care if it’s Ms. Betty or Ms. Lauren, whom you like. Neither of them can change the fact that they are the daughters of a murderer.
“Sophia has been sentenced to death. Video clips of her trial have spread across the internet. Everyone is badmouthing her. What do you think it would mean for you to marry her daughter? Are you trying to clean up after that bitch, Sophia?”
Penelope nodded in agreement.
Preston and Sylvia continued eating and drinking. But they both had mocking smiles on their faces, albeit covertly.
As for Landon, he felt as if he was being exposed to a blizzard. His eyes were red, and he felt chills spreading to his extremities.
“You are my grandson. Your status is much more noble than Jeremy’s. You can get any woman you like. Why must you marry a murderer’s daughter? People will laugh at you if news about this gets out!”
Cornelius looked frigid. He shook his head. “You’re not compatible with her at all. I cannot give you my blessings.”
“Grandpa! Sophia is the one who sinned. What does that have to do with her daughter?”
Landon raised his voice. The veins on his temples were popping. “Moreover, Lauren wasn’t even born when Sophia committed her crime. She is completely innocent. You can’t discriminate against her like that!”
“What was done by the previous generation cannot be held against the next, yet they can significantly influence the subsequent generation,” Cornelius spoke in a firm tone. He was not going to empathize any longer.
He continued, “What kind of a daughter would Sophia be capable of raising? Just look at her eldest daughter. What was her name? Betty, was it? She took advantage of her mother’s position to oppress Zoe!
“Penelope hid this from me for a long time before she eventually decided to disclose it. They are born to the same mother. How much better would her younger daughter be?”
Penelope chimed in in agreement immediately, “You’re absolutely right, Dad! You took the words straight out of my mouth!”
“Grandpa! You have only ever met Lauren briefly. You’ve never even spoken to her before. You’ve never tried to understand her before. How could you just pass judgment on her like that?”
Landon gritted his teeth. His blood was boiling. He couldn’t bear to listen to all these. He couldn’t even bear to hear a single word.
Lauren was now living in her own world, filled with happiness and warmth. It was also the world that Landon had worked hard to build for her.
Unbeknownst to Lauren, an entirely different world existed on the other side. Stepping outside would subject her to sharp words and gossip.
He wanted to shield her from all the hurt. He wanted the entire Harper family to acknowledge her. It wasn’t his wish to keep her hidden like a secret lover.
It was clear that taking this step was far more challenging than he had imagined.
“You are now in a different position, Landon. You are soon going to be the Harper Group’s president. You will be the face of our family. In the past, you used to enjoy yourself out there. That was fine. But your actions now will have a direct impact on the corporation.”
Preston leaped at this chance to strike while the iron was hot. He pretended to be considerate of everyone.
“There are no outsiders here today. So, I’ll be very honest. It wasn’t a walk in the park for your grandfather to build our family business.
“He has two scars of a few inches long on his back. Those were the scars from his early days when he started out. You should be very familiar with the beginnings of the Harper Group.
“All these years, Grandpa and your father have worked so hard to put the Harper Group back on the right track. You should know this better than anyone else.
“Our corporation isn’t very stable now, and our reputation has also taken a hit, thanks to that woman from the Taylor family. What would people say about us if you were to marry that murderer’s daughter now?
“I know that you’re both in love. But those who don’t know would think that we are under the Walsh family’s control. They might assume that the Walsh’s have got a hold on us. Wouldn’t your grandfather’s and father’s efforts all go to waste then?”
Penelope was reminded of her husband, Bill, who had died in the helicopter accident. She couldn’t restrain her emotions and started getting teary-eyed.
Preston’s words resonated strongly with Cornelius. “You’re right, Preston! Landon, marriage is not a small matter. You can’t simply act on impulse.
“I want you to have a clean break from Ms. Lauren as soon as possible. She is far from qualified to marry into our family!”
“I’m capable of shouldering the responsibilities over the Harper Group. You don’t have to worry for me, Uncle Preston.”
Landon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, his eyes were filled with unyielding determination.
He added, “Also, I have made up my mind. I will marry Lauren. She is the only one that I will wed!”
“You!” Cornelius slammed his hand on the table. He glared at Landon, who had a resolute expression on his face.
Landon was exactly like Bill when he was being stubborn.
“Grandpa, I didn’t come here to hear you say these things.”
Landon lowered his gaze. He sat back down on his chair with his fists clenched tightly under the table. “Right now, most of the projects and businesses under the Harper Group are managed by me.
“I also have my shares, along with Dad’s. If I were to transfer them to someone else or cash them out, it would be a great loss to the corporation.
Cornelius’ and Preston’s jaws dropped.
They couldn’t believe that Landon was throwing away his future because of Lauren. He even resorted to threatening the Harper Group.
“The Harper Group will have a promising future if you follow my wishes. Otherwise, I can only tackle the problem using my own methods.”
Landon smirked. “It’s not a big deal for me to transfer my projects to Jeremy or Alyssa. We’re friends anyway. If I were to help them today, they’d return the favor in the future. Don’t you think so?”
“Landon! Are you out of your mind? What are you talking about?” Penelope was so mad that she started shaking.
Cornelius stared straight at Landon. The tension between them was so thick that it could be cut with a knife.
The thing he was most worried about had happened. Landon had gotten more and more powerful. He had achieved so much that he dominated over him.
Landon was like Alexander the Great in his prime. However, Cornelius himself was no longer the powerful Philip II!
He was getting old. He was losing control over Landon. Moreover, he was his only grandson. While Preston harbored ambition, he lacked the competence to match his aspirations. The Harper Group’s future still had to be in Landon’s hands.
However, Cornelius couldn’t give in just like that. As the head of the family, he was being threatened by his grandson! He felt humiliated.
Right at that moment, Preston’s cell phone vibrated. He pulled it out and glanced at it impatiently.
His eyes widened suddenly. He got up to answer the call outside.
There was no one in the corridor. Preston answered the phone call. “Hi, Zoe. To what do I owe the pleasure of receiving your call?”
“I miss you, Uncle Preston,” Zoe said in a forcefully honeyed voice. The sound of her voice was enough to give one goosebumps.
“There’s been much less laughter at home because you’re not in Solana City. Cornelius and Penelope had abandoned you. I really can’t stomach that.” Preston lit a cigarette. He narrowed his eyes and took a puff of his cigarette.
Despite sounding cheerful earlier, Zoe now choked on her tears. “I wish I could go back home too. But I’m sure you also know that Landon hates me to the core.
“I’ve been feeling so lonely at Yoarkley. Not being able to go back home makes me feel as if I’ve been sentenced to death! Uncle Preston, I want to go home. I miss Grandpa and Mom.
“I know that you love me the most, Uncle Preston. Would you mind talking to Grandpa about letting me return to Solana City?”
“I wish that you could come back too. But even your grandfather doesn’t have a say now. Landon is the one who is in control of the Harper family.”
Preston was well aware that the relationship between Landon and Zoe had strained beyond salvage. He seized the opportunity to sow discord again.
“Furthermore, Landon just told us that he wants to marry Ms. Lauren. He said that it had to be her. Once they get married, even I won’t have a place in this family. As much as I want to help you, my hands will also be tied!”
Zoe was silent for a moment. Out of the blue, she lowered her voice. “I might be able to help you, Uncle Preston. If so, would you be able to think of a way to help me return to Solana City?”
“You’re saying that you can help me? How are you able to do so?”
Preston raised his brow doubtfully. He took the opportunity to share his conditions. “Are you able to stop Landon from marrying that lady from the Walsh family? He has already disclosed his intentions. If he really ends up becoming Mr. Javier’s son-in-law… You will end up having challenging days ahead of you, Zoe.”
“I can do that, Uncle Preston. However, I’ll need to first leave Yoarkley and return home. Only then will I be able to help you.”