“Grandpa, since they’ve all come, and they mean well wanting to visit you. Why not let them stay?” Aurora spoke gently.
“Since Aurora has spoken, you guys can stay for now,” Oswaldo responded to the others in a completely different manner than he did with Aurora.
Without Aurora, the three of them couldn’t even stay. Thinking of this made their expressions quite sour.
“Oswaldo, how have you been feeling lately?” Genevieve pretended as if nothing had happened.
Oswaldo looked disdainful. “I would be better off if you didn’t come at all.”
Every time Genevieve spoke, he retorted sharply, a situation she would have avoided in the past. However, for her children’s future, she had to face him suppressing her anger.
At one point, when her relationship with Oswaldo was at its worst, she even whispered in Magnus’s ear not to visit him, hoping to pressure Oswaldo into compliance, since, for the elderly, family ties were crucial.
They even chose not to return for a family reunion, hoping that Oswaldo would let down his guard in his extreme loneliness. Genevieve calculated well but underestimated him.
If he could be so easily manipulated, he wouldn’t have been in charge of the Montgomery family for so many years. It was precisely because of the long-standing battles between Genevieve and Oswaldo that Ivy and Zachary had not truly entered the Montgomery family.
“Oswaldo, I came here to discuss something…” Genevieve began in a low voice, intending to discuss matters concerning Ivy and Zachary.
“Aurora, came over. We haven’t finished our conversation,” Oswaldo ignored her, knowing exactly what Genevieve was about to say.
“Alright, Grandpa. Let me help you over here.” Aurora assisted him to the side.
The others in the room exchanged glances, wondering when they could ever get to the main topic.
Genevieve hurriedly called Magnus. Now that Aurora had returned, she must settle this matter quickly, or it would only drag out.
When the aroma of the meal filled the air, Magnus arrived. Although Oswaldo still looked grumpy, there was more sparkle in his eyes than when Aurora had arrived.
Old people indeed loved lively gatherings. At the dinner table, Genevieve specially served Oswaldo a bowl of soup. “Dad, have some soup.”
Although he snorted coldly, he did not refuse. Aurora looked on and remained silent. Midway through the meal, Genevieve tugged at Magnus’s sleeve.
Magnus then began, “Dad, I have something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Anything’s fine, but if it’s about them, save your breath,” Oswaldo cut him off, as if he already knew what he was going to say.
“Dad, Genevieve has been with the Montgomery family for many years, having borne two children for the Montgomery family, and she has worked hard. These years, they have never had a proper status, and the children are so grown now. Dad, you…”
The old man instinctively looked towards Aurora, who, although she remained silent, had a face full of sorrow.
“She’s worked hard? What about Victoria? She gave birth to Aurora. When she was pregnant with your child, this temptress knew you were married but still seduced you!”
“She caused Victoria such sadness that she eventually passed away. Over the years, the three of them have only known how to spend money lavishly, and the education of the two is a complete mess. What makes them qualified to enter the Montgomery family?”
“Grandfather, we are not as bad as you say. Although you don’t acknowledge us, there is no doubt that the blood of the Montgomery family runs through our veins. You have always favored Aurora since we were children. She is not necessarily better than us. She just spent a few years in America. Who knows what she did there? If you won’t let us into the company, then she shouldn’t be allowed either. Everyone should be treated equally,” Ivy stated directly.
“You dare talk to me about equal treatment? You should have never been born into this world. Aurora is the legitimate daughter of the Montgomery family, and you are merely illegitimate children. What right do you have to demand to be treated like her? It’s utterly ridiculous. And you say Aurora is not much better than you? Let me tell you. While you have been indulging in pleasures, she has already started a company in America, and it’s thriving. You’re not in the same league. Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to in school. Partying, womanizing, clubbing, buying luxury cars, buying extravagant goods, failing all your subjects, and now you have the audacity to say these things in front of me?”
“What? She actually started a company?” Genevieve and Ivy exclaimed, standing up from their chairs in surprise.
Even Magnus looked incredibly incredulous. “Aurora, is this true?”
Aurora elegantly wiped the grease from her lips with a napkin and replied simply, “Yes, it’s true.” She didn’t boast. She merely stated it lightly.
Yet her demeanor appeared evasive to others. “A company? Some shell company, perhaps? I bet it just took a little money to register a name. If that’s what counts as starting a company, I might as well open one tomorrow.”
Zachary’s face was full of mockery, clearly showing his disbelief that Aurora had started a company.
Aurora wasn’t visibly angered, just calmly remarked, “If you can manage to get a company public in one day, I think Grandfather should hand over the entire Montgomery Group to you.”
Did she imply her company was now a public company? The others were stunned, “Aurora, do you mean to say you turned it into a public company in just over three years? Where did you get the money and connections for that?”
Becoming a public company in just over three years was indeed incredible, especially for someone like Aurora who started with nothing. What had she been through all these years on her own?
“Dad, connections can be built gradually, and the money was earned bit by bit,” Aurora said, her expression serene. Even though she knew how hard she had worked to get her company to this stage, her face remained calm.
“Earned bit by bit? How much money does it take to start a company? Aurora, do you think just saying a few words is enough? I suspect it’s not that simple. It’s hard enough for a woman to establish herself in a foreign country, let alone start a company. I just don’t believe it,” Genevieve said skeptically.
If starting a company were so easy, then public companies would be everywhere. How could a young girl like her achieve such a feat?