“Charlotte, Emily, please have a seat,” Robert said calmly.
Charlotte, who had been kept waiting for several hours, was seething with anger but had no outlet for it. After all, they were there to ask for help, and when asking for help, one must have the right attitude. She led Emily to the sofa in the reception area and sat down.
Robert finished his work and then sat down on the single-seater sofa opposite them, instructing the secretary to bring over some coffee.
“No need. We’ve had enough coffee to be full,” Charlotte replied sarcastically.
However, the secretary still brought a cup of coffee and placed it on the coffee table in front of Robert.
Robert took a sip of the coffee and spoke in a light tone, “I was thinking of finding time to talk to you, cousin. Since you’re here, there’s no need to schedule a time.”
“Robert, what is it?” Charlotte asked.
“Not long ago, Alice and I finalized our divorce,” Robert said.
“What?” Charlotte’s eyes widened in surprise. “Something as major as a divorce, how could you not discuss it with me first!”
Alice had been placed by Charlotte to keep an eye on Robert, to ensure he remained under her control. Somehow, Alice had failed in her duty by not informing her about something as significant as a divorce.
Robert set down his coffee cup, crossed his legs casually, and looked at Charlotte with deep eyes. “I am free to marry and free to divorce. That’s not your concern.”
“I am your cousin. You’re the only family I have left. How could I not be concerned about something as major as a divorce? Well, it’s done now, and Alice must not have been a good wife. In the future, I’ll find you someone better. You’re so busy with work; you need someone to take care of you,” Charlotte prattled on. If she could place one Alice, she could certainly place someone else.
Robert glanced at her indifferently and said calmly, “No need. I’ve resigned from my position as CEO of Moonlit Art Inc. and will be moving abroad soon. I won’t be that busy anymore.”
“What did you say!” Charlotte, who had only been surprised by the divorce news, was now utterly shocked and almost speechless.
Robert’s demeanor remained even-tempered as he continued, “I had the secretary give you a card with five hundred thousand on it. If you don’t waste it, it should be enough for your retirement.”
“Five hundred thousand ? Are you treating me like a beggar? Moonlit Art Inc. is such a large enterprise, and you don’t plan to give me half? Don’t think you can get away so easily!” Charlotte’s face twisted with greed, becoming exceptionally ugly.
Robert picked up a cigarette pack from the coffee table, lit a cigarette unhurriedly, and a smile with a hint of sarcasm played on his lips.
“What does Moonlit Art Inc. have to do with us? Charlotte, have you forgotten that Moonlit Art Inc. belongs to the Allen family?”
Having possessed something for too long, she actually thought it was hers! It was astonishing how shameless people could be.
However, Charlotte didn’t even know the meaning of shame. She stood up angrily from the sofa and shouted, “Your brother-in-law has fallen, and now even you want to step on us. Robert, you ungrateful wretch. Don’t forget, you owe everything you have today to my cultivation.”
“Cousin, if you want to settle scores, then let’s settle them properly,” Robert said, taking a drag of his cigarette and exhaling a thin mist. He still sat there, slightly leaning back and looking at Charlotte with nothing but disdain in his eyes.
“When the chemical plant accident happened, if my father hadn’t protected your father, he would have died long ago. But we didn’t get a penny of the compensation. Your entire family didn’t appreciate my father’s life-saving grace and instead embezzled the money he exchanged his life for.
My mother, with nowhere to turn, knelt before your father, begging him to pity us orphans and widows. He only agreed to fund my education out of fear that the embezzlement would come to light. Of course, he only funded my tuition. My mother worked several jobs to raise me, falling ill because of it. She passed away from overwork and illness right after I finished high school.
I worked part-time while attending university. I had already passed the civil service exam, but you had David cancel my interview to use me for your purposes. Later, when I established myself at Moonlit Art Inc., you feared I’d slip from your control and interfered in my marriage, forcing a wife upon me.
Over the years, you ‘borrowed’ over four million from me, and every time your daughter caused trouble, I had to clean up the mess. You think I’m an ingrate? Then I’d like to ask you, Charlotte, what do you think you are?”
Charlotte was left speechless by Robert’s questioning, her face twisted in rage.
“Mom!” Emily tugged at Charlotte’s sleeve. Charlotte sank into the sofa.
The atmosphere was tense. Robert slowly smoked, one cigarette after another, filling the air with smoke.
Charlotte, coughing from the smoke, finally broke the silence. “Fine, you have power and influence now. I can’t do anything to you. But for the sake of family, help Emily one more time.”
Robert’s calm gaze, through the smoke, settled on Emily, scrutinizing her.
Emily rubbed her eyes until they were red.
“Emily was thrown out by the Clark family. Stellan wants to divorce her. As her uncle, you should stand up for her,” Charlotte said.
Robert laughed lightly and extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray.
“Cousin, you overestimate me. I’m just a businessman. Even if I stood up for her, the Clark family might not care.”
Emily started crying immediately, her sobbing endless and irritating, as if she would cry herself to death if Robert didn’t resolve the issue.
Robert frowned, took a sip of coffee, and spoke calmly. “If Emily doesn’t want a divorce, she could get the Turner family to help. The Clark family might not respect me, but they will certainly respect Andrew.”
“You mean I should ask Isabella for help? Robert, are you joking?” Charlotte sneered. They were in a never-ending feud with Isabella. Helping them would be the last thing on her mind.
“Uncle, please help me,” Emily pleaded tearfully.
After a moment of silence, Robert reluctantly nodded. “Alright, I’ll talk to Isabella for you. But know this, this is the last time I’ll help you.”
After seeing Charlotte and Emily off, the office suddenly felt quiet and empty.
Robert sat on the sofa, lost in thought. It wasn’t until the sky outside began to darken that he came to his senses. He picked up the phone on the coffee table and dialed Isabella’s number.