If Linford didn’t purchase the land so they could get rid of the hot potato, they would have submitted to Clara’s scheme.
Mr. Wayne was smart. If Linford had purchased the land, he must have figured out their situation. They didn’t even need to explain anything anymore.
“Linford, what do you want from us?” Mr. Wayne sighed.
Drew smiled. These two were not that stupid after all.
Linford’s voice was cold and hard, “I need you to prove my words when I need you.”
Mrs. Wayne seemed a bit scared, “How?”
“When I need you two to speak, you two shall expose everything Clara told you to do in front of everyone,” Linford narrowed his eyes.
He meant to destroy Clara this time.
“No problem!” Mrs. Wayne answered instantly.
Mr. Wayne looked at his wife as if she was crazy. Why did she agree to Linford’s bargain so fast? Did she forget that Clara still had the White House supporting her?
Mrs. Wayne turned to Mr. Wayne, “She admitted that she used Zoe. It was her who made our Zoe go to jail! Are you really not going to do anything to avenge our daughter? That snake ruined Zoe’s life!”
“Why? You don’t want to do that, Mr. Wayne?” Drew cut in, “You didn’t get the land through legal ways. If you insisted on keeping the land and building the strip mall, you would break the law. Linford purchased the land to help you. Why are you still so loyal to Clara and the White House? Are you enjoying the ways they tortured you?”
Mr. Wayne went pale. Drew was absolutely right. Indeed, Zoe was Clara’s best friend, but Clara still sent her to jail without any hesitation.
They also wouldn’t end up well if they insisted on sucking up on Clara and Mrs. White.
Helping Linford seemed to be a better option. At least Linford had shown his sincerity by getting rid of that piece of land for them.
Mr. Wayne realized sadly that what his father told him before he passed away was absolutely right.
The Wayne House was not qualified to be among the big houses anymore. They were too weak to compete with big houses to accumulate more influence and power in this city.
****
When Drew and Linford went in their car, Drew couldn’t help but say, “I don’t think Pop will just sit back and watch when you try to drag Clara down. I mean, it concerns the reputation of the White and Palton. I don’t think you can get what you want that easily.”
Linford closed his eyes to take a short rest, “The old man’s birthday will be in days. It’s the greatest opportunity. I’ve talked to Pop about this. Clara Palton is doomed.”
“No way!” Drew seemed surprised, “How did you even persuade Pop not to interfere?”
Linford said coldly, “You don’t need to worry about that.”
Drew shook his head, “Darwin is your Dad. Are you sure you want to do this at his birthday party?”
“I’m trying to save him,” Linford didn’t sound like he was guilty because he knew what he was doing was good for Darwin eventually. If that thing got exposed, Darwin’s career would be ruined for sure.
Drew blew a breath out of his cheeks. To be honest, he had never seen Linford being friendly to his Dad even once.
****
August 16 was Darwin’s birthday. Darwin decided to hold a party, but he didn’t want to make it too showy. So he only invited a couple of leaders of big houses and his friends to come over.
Cristelle and Linford brought Candace to his house early in the morning. Candace was wearing a red dress in her little wheelchair, “Ha-Happy Birthday.”
Saying the two words in front of everyone took a lot of courage from the girl. Cristelle was so proud. Candace pulled at her Mom’s sleeve, and Cristelle took out the gift the girl had prepared for her grandpa immediately.
“Candace made this for you,” Cristelle gave the gift to Darwin.
Darwin really didn’t want to see Cristelle’s face, but receiving a gift from his granddaughter still made him so happy.
Darwin unwrapped the ribboned box and saw a pink castle made of puzzle pieces. There were two red paper ducks in the box as well. An exquisite card was tucked to the side, writing “Happy Birthday, Grandpa”.
Candace wrote the card herself. She had been practicing calligraphy.
Darwin’s heart melted. He couldn’t stop smiling from ear to ear.
Darwin held Candace in his arms and gave her a big kiss, “Does your leg still hurt, sweetie?”
Candace nodded. It still hurts sometimes.
Darwin clenched his teeth. One day, he would find out which motherfucker did this to his sweet granddaughter, and he would break his neck.
Tanya was stunned as she noticed that Candace suddenly started to talk. Clara was glaring at Cristelle secretly. Her eyes filled with venom.
Every time Linford got close to Cristelle, her heart was broken into pieces.
The party was held in Darwin’s house, while the family dinner would be held in Franco’s place. Linford usually wouldn’t go to the family dinner afterward. Darwin thus didn’t even bother to ask if he would come now.
Tanya and Clara also knew the beef between the father and the son. They thus didn’t say anything.
“Would you come with Candace and Cristelle tonight for dinner at my house, Linford?” Pop suddenly asked.
Linford nodded, “Of course.”
What did that mean? Darwin’s eyes lit up. Tanya laughed, “The family dinner is the most important. I’m glad you and your family are coming. It’s a pity that Cody and Enzo aren’t returning yet. Or it would be even happier.”
Darwin didn’t want to see Cristelle, but since Candace was gonna come, he thus decided to keep his resentment to himself.
Clara shot Cristelle a vicious look. The jealousy in her eyes was gonna spill out.
Pop asked out of politeness. He didn’t expect Linford to join as his grandson didn’t want to have dinner with his father.
The boy must have decided to come for a reason. Pop shot Linford a warning look.
This is your father’s birthday! You’d better not ruin it with whatever you plan to do!
Linford only pretended he didn’t notice his grandpa’s warning.