Martin, who had been watching everything, couldn’t stand it any longer and said, “Jessica, why don’t you just keep quiet for a moment? Don’t make trouble for Sophia and Leo. Can’t a family live in harmony?”
Jessica turned her head and glared at Martin fiercely, saying, “Martin, shut up and eat your food!”
“Mom, you’re an educated person. Learn to respect others, okay?” Sophia didn’t know how to handle her eccentric mother.
Jessica put on a tearful and aggrieved expression, saying, “Fine, you all gang up on me. I might as well not live anymore!”
After saying this, Jessica angrily waved her hand, slammed the door, and left the house.
Nora was getting worried and wanted to go after Jessica to persuade her to come back.
“Nora, don’t bother with my mom. Let her go out and cool off by herself,” Sophia intervened.
Nora, still concerned, said, “Sophia, what if Jessica does something drastic…”
“You underestimate my mom. She values her life a lot,” Sophia knew her mother, and she was sure Jessica wouldn’t do anything drastic.
Due to Jessica’s commotion, the appetites of Sophia, Leo, and Nora were seriously affected when facing a table full of delicious dishes.
The only one unaffected was Martin, who was completely immersed in the pleasure of the food.
It had to be said that in this family, the one with the best mentality was undoubtedly Martin, the father-in-law.
Martin, enjoying his retirement, was devoted to antiques. Besides antiques, family matters or conflicts had no impact on his mood whatsoever.
Regarding Jessica’s tantrums and even physical altercations, Martin had long been accustomed to them.
He knew he couldn’t change Jessica’s personality, so he chose not to. As long as Jessica didn’t interfere with his antique pursuits, everything was tolerable.
After dinner, Leo, Sophia, and Nora helped clean up the dishes in the kitchen.
Just as the two were heading upstairs to their bedroom, the villa’s living room door opened from the outside.
Jessica, looking dejected, had returned.
Seeing the cleaned dining table and Leo and Sophia heading upstairs, Jessica felt a deep sense of grievance.
Despite her grievances, Jessica knew she had to compromise with reality.
After slamming the door and leaving, Jessica suddenly realized a serious problem: where would she go next, and where else could she go?
Living in the Cloud Dream Mountain villa was her greatest confidence and the biggest asset to flaunt.
Leaving the Cloud Dream Mountain villa meant Jessica, in Langstel, would be like a homeless wanderer, with nothing to her name.
From the moment she moved into Cloud Dream Mountain Villa No. 9, Jessica had decided in her heart that she would never move anywhere else in her lifetime.
Only by living in the top-tier Cloud Dream Mountain villa in Langstel could Jessica derive enough vanity and satisfaction.
Earlier, when she slammed the door and left, it was just an attempt to provoke Leo and Sophia, making them worry and come after her to bring her back. The advantage of doing this was to invisibly elevate her status within the family.
However, despite all calculations, Jessica didn’t expect that neither Leo and Sophia nor her husband Martin would come after her.
Well, if they didn’t come after her, that was fine. These heartless people even ate dinner without her. She wondered if they left any food for her.
Ultimately, hunger tore through all of Jessica’s pretenses, and she stormed into the kitchen…
The next day, at the Henley’s Mansion, Bruno held the first family meeting since he took charge.
Five minutes before the meeting began, everyone from the Henley family, including Sophia and Leo, had gathered in the meeting room, except for Bruno.
Bruno’s plan was to make a grand entrance at the last minute, fully showcasing the style befitting the matriarch’s successor.
“Today’s family meeting is probably about electing a new chairman, right?”
“Definitely. As the saying goes, a country can’t go a day without a ruler, and a family can’t go a day without a head. Our family can’t be without a leader.”
“I think there’s no need for an election process. Bruno was the designated successor to the chairmanship while the old lady was still alive. Bruno’s abilities are evident to everyone. Only he can inherit the old lady’s aspirations and lead the family into the ranks of first-class families.”
“Exactly! I don’t understand why someone would propose Sophia! If she becomes the chairman, half of the family’s wealth would fall into the hands of an outsider!”
Leo sneered at the discussions of these self-righteous Henley family relatives.
Leo had never paid attention to the property of the second-rate Henley family!
These self-proclaimed Henley family relatives were indeed foolish and absurd!
One minute before the meeting began, Bruno arrived, exuding an air even more grandiose than the old lady. His self-satisfied appearance seemed to tell everyone that he was the supreme authority.
Walking to the main seat, Bruno swept his eyes over the Henley family members. After lingering on Sophia and Leo for two seconds, he slowly took his seat.
“Dear family members, although Grandma has left us, her aspirations are deeply rooted in our hearts. Fulfilling Grandma’s wishes is the greatest filial piety we can offer her.”
“Thanks to the efforts of our ancestors, our family has come a long way. Although our family business is not small, there is still a significant gap compared to first-class families.”
“For the sake of family heritage, to become a first-class family, and to provide better blessings for future generations, we must continue to work hard in this ever-changing society!”
“As the eldest grandson of the family, I must shoulder the responsibility Grandma left behind. As the family head and chairman of the Henley’s Corp, I will lead the family towards becoming a first-class family!”
“One of the agenda items for today’s meeting is my succession as the family head and chairman. Relatives of the family, please express your opinions.”
Bruno started with a lofty speech, setting the tone. Bruno’s shamelessness had reached an unparalleled level.
“Bruno, I have no objections. I wholeheartedly support you!”
“When Grandma was alive, Bruno’s succession as the family head and chairman was already a given. I have no objections!”
“The person qualified to succeed as the family head and chairman of the family is none other than Bruno! Also, my first suggestion after Bruno becomes the chairman is to eliminate the rats in the family.”
“Rats? What rats?”
“Those who freeload on the family, what else can they be but rats?”
Hearing that the Henley family members were turning their attention to Leo, Sophia couldn’t sit still. She was about to stand up and argue, but Leo pulled her hand, signaling her to stay put.