“My daughter will be more beautiful,” Reuben said, patting Callie’s hand.
Callie smiled happily. She used to envy Marilyn for having her father’s protection, but now she no longer needed to envy anyone.
Ylosea.
It was Nelson’s last day here, and he needed to give instructions regarding the division’s work goals for the next year. As night fell, the division’s main leaders accompanied him to a banquet in the liveliest part of Ylosea.
After a few rounds of drinks, he wasn’t drunk. The division’s executor handed him a cigarette first. “I heard Mr. Oconnor loves Winston cigarettes.”
Nelson didn’t even look at him. “I quit.”
“Quit?” The man was a bit surprised and then awkwardly took it back.
Nelson never drank excessively. The amount he drank today was already a sign of respect, but the group couldn’t understand the deeper meaning and discussed whether to change venues.
“The lakeside scenery in Anbusea is beautiful at night.”
Nelson didn’t express his thoughts for a long time. After a moment, he looked out through the hollowed-out window at the lively scene outside. “Anbusea is so proper, yet it has such a vibrant place.”
Anbusea developed a virtual economy and wasn’t a tourist city, so although it wasn’t the provincial capital, it was more cautious in its dealings.
Someone immediately responded, “The Quinn family’s industry. In all of Anbusea, only they dare to get a nod from above.”
In the flickering light, Nelson’s eyes were sharp. “A major taxpayer has that kind of clout.”
Then someone quietly discussed, “I heard the second son of the Quinn family returned to Ylosea. He’s competing with the eldest son for inheritance rights. He appeared at a newly opened mall yesterday, maybe to declare his status.”
“What second son? He’s just an illegitimate child. He only studied for a few years. Does he have the ability to compete with Jamir?”
“Didn’t Jamir just return to the country recently? How does he have such means?”
“You don’t know? Jamir is a posthumous child. His mother relied on him to secure her position in the Quinn family.”
“Wow, old Mr. Quinn was really something, even managed to have an illegitimate child. The two are only a few months apart.”
The group laughed along, and Nelson also showed a faint smile.
Jamir’s mother was resourceful. As soon as the old man died, she immediately moved into the Quinn family and secured most of the assets. The family members all hoped she was carrying a son.
And she was.
Moreover, he was a capable son.
“What is the name of the Quinn family’s second son?” he slightly turned his head and asked Anthony.
“Sammy Quinn.”
“Get him here within two hours. I want to send Mr. Quinn a gift.”
Anthony hesitated for only a second. “Yes.”
It turned out that Nelson wanted to reclaim what he lost in negotiations with the Oconnor Group here.
At the top floor of the Bulgari Hotel, two glasses of red wine swirled in their cups.
“If no one had told me, I wouldn’t have known that the big shot Mr. Oconnor was in Ylosea,” said the visitor humbly. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and carried something in his hand. “I hastily prepared a meeting gift, Mr. Oconnor, please don’t mind.”
Nelson glanced at it briefly. “Mr. Quinn is easy to meet; it only took an hour.”
Sammy’s face stiffened at the sarcasm but didn’t lose his temper. “Mr. Oconnor’s invitation is one I would naturally accept. After all, people line up from here to Ylosea just to meet you.”
Nelson didn’t smile. “You look haggard. I might have a way to make you look less so.”
Sammy’s eyes lit up; they both knew what that meant.
“May I ask why you are helping me?”
Nelson raised his glass of red wine. “I’m in a good mood today.”