“Hi, Cristofer,” he greeted, squinting his eyes as he glanced at Cristofer’s forehead. “Have you taken care of the wound on your forehead?”
Cristofer nodded and responded, “Yes, thank you for your concern, Uncle Nelson. It’s just a minor injury. You didn’t have to come to see me in person.”
“Enough with the pleasantries, Cristofer. You should know that I have always treated you as my son,” Nelson reminded him.
“I know that,” Cristofer nodded calmly.
“You look much better than before. It seems that Miss Hudson really plays an important role in your life.”
Before Cristofer could say anything, Mr. Field, dressed in a suit and standing behind Nelson, spoke up with a smile. “Mr. Lopez, I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Hudson a few days ago. I must say, I was quite impressed with her.”
“You met her?” Cristofer’s brows furrowed.
“Yes, I visited her company a few days ago. Miss Hudson is both beautiful and intelligent. It’s rare to come across such a captivating woman. It’s no wonder Mr. Hans is so enamored with her that he would be willing to sacrifice his promising future for her,” Mr. Field expressed.
Cristofer listened to Mr. Field’s words but remained silent.
Nelson then smiled and remarked, “Miss Hudson is indeed a remarkable woman. Sadly, she is still a woman. Women are skilled actors; they can pretend to love you deeply. And just when you’ve fallen for them, they will mercilessly hurt you and leave. They can be quite destructive.”
“Mr. Lopez, as the old saying goes, even heroes can be captivated by beauty. It’s only natural for Mr. Hans to be infatuated with Miss Hudson. Besides him, Tim, the youngest son of the Roberts family, also has a crush on her,” Mr. Field added.
Nelson’s expression twisted into a sneer as he retorted, “As I’ve always said, women are nothing but stumbling blocks to men’s careers! Only the irrational ones would give up their careers for them! But since Tim has an interest in Miss Hudson, I can do something to assist him.”
“Uncle Nelson!” Cristofer, who had remained silent until now, couldn’t tolerate it any longer. “I understand that you want me to be your successor, but I’m afraid I won’t live up to your expectations. I simply want a peaceful life. Even if you force me to take over your business, it’s meaningless if my heart isn’t in it.”
Nelson let out a sigh and responded, “I know you’ve wholeheartedly devoted yourself to being with Miss Hudson. Cristofer, you possess exceptional business acumen and should have a more glorious future. You are the only one I deem worthy of being my successor. I truly don’t wish to see your future destroyed by a woman. I’ve already paved the way for you. If you follow my instructions, you’ll undoubtedly achieve extraordinary feats in the business world and become a legend of this era.”
“But, Uncle Nelson, I don’t aspire to be a legend,” Cristofer firmly stated.
Nelson’s face darkened. “Cristofer, don’t be so stubborn!”
“I’ve made up my mind, Uncle Nelson. What do I need to do to convince you to let me go? Name it, and I’ll do it,” Cristofer declared.
Nelson snorted and questioned, “Are you truly willing to give up the company for Estelle?”
“No matter how many times I consider it, my decision remains unchanged,” Cristofer affirmed.
“Very well!” Nelson exclaimed in anger. “Since you want to sever ties with me so badly, let’s settle this matter today. It was I who helped you during your most difficult times. Therefore, you owe me a debt of gratitude.”
Cristofer nodded. “Alright. What do you want me to do to repay you?”
At that moment, Mr. Field interjected, “Mr. Hans, this isn’t the appropriate place to discuss this matter. Join us at Mr. Lopez’s seaside villa tonight.”
“Okay.”
For so many years, Nelson had always kept a low profile and never attended any business parties.
The business world was full of ups and downs, but he was always powerful and unshakable.
It could be imagined how shred and sophisticated Nelson was.
Back then, after Cristofer assumed control of the Hans Group, he built a successful empire and developed numerous connections in the business world. However, during that period, he had never come across the name Nelson, nor was he aware of when Nelson had made the decision to select him as his heir.
****
When Cristofer arrived at Nelson’s villa, it was already past eight o’clock in the evening.
The villa was remotely situated on the seafront, and there was no road near it. Therefore, Cristofer had to get out of the car halfway and walk to the villa.
When he arrived at the gate of the villa, Geoffrey Field was waiting for him.
Seeing Cristofer, Geoffrey said politely, “Mr. Hans, you are late. Mr. Lopez has been waiting for you for a long time.”
“I was caught in a traffic jam,” Cristofer stated.
“Really?” Geoffrey responded with a fake smile. “Wasn’t it because you were picking up your son from school and taking him home that you got delayed?”
Upon hearing this, Cristofer immediately lifted his head and gave Geoffrey a cold glare.
Sensing the tension, Geoffrey hurriedly backtracked, saying, “Alright, alright. You were stuck in a traffic jam, fine? No need to give me that intimidating look.”
“Where is Uncle Nelson?”
“He’s in the study.”
Cristofer entered the villa without bothering to engage with Geoffrey.
The villa spanned five stories, and for convenience, Nelson’s bedroom and study were located on the first floor. The study’s light was still on as Cristofer approached.
He knocked on the door and called out, “Uncle Nelson.”
Nelson, now wearing glasses and dressed in a sleek black suit, held a book in his hand. He slowly turned a page and replied calmly, “You’ve finally arrived. Would you like to take a seat?”
“No, thank you,” Cristofer declined. “I’m here to repay my debt to you. Once that’s done, I’ll leave promptly, allowing you to retire early.”
Nelson sneered and retorted, “I doubt you’ll be able to stand firmly later, so you’d better take a seat.”
Cristofer clenched his fists, but he remained composed. He had mentally prepared himself for whatever was to come during this encounter.
Suddenly, his attention was drawn to the nearby sofa. “Uncle Nelson, the sofa cover looks quite nice. Is it newly purchased?” he inquired, attempting to shift the focus of the conversation.
“Yes. Is it beautiful?”
The sofa cover featured a white base with delicate light purple floral patterns, similar to the dress Cristofer had bought for Estelle.