The old master had an ugly expression on his face. Even though his grandson had always been an overbearing character, he had never cared about his love life or even his marriage. Otherwise, he would never have agreed to be engaged to Third Young Miss Garcia. Why would he care at that moment?
“Do you know that you would be my successor for Williams Corporation?” he asked in a firm voice.
“This is merely your opinion.” Michael was rebellious that day.
He was an overbearing person, indeed. However, unless it were absolutely necessary, he would not show his domineering side in front of the old master. Family meant a lot to him. It was not the same to be at home as compared to the outside world.
“You really cared for that girl?” The old master’s eyes settled on him.
Anger would not solve the problem. No one could see through their own rage.
“I just don’t like being led by other people.”
“Michael, you should know that an explanation meant that you are masking your guilt.”
The old master slammed the cup down, stood up, and glared at Michael.
“I would never allow my grandson to be dominated by a woman. Just so we’re clear. I might not be able to do anything to you, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t act against the person beside you.”
Michael’s fingers tightened around his cup.
Just as the old master was leaving, Michael announced in a chilly tone, “If you dare to touch my woman, I will destroy your Williams Corporation!”
“Michael!”
The old master almost got a heart attack when he heard Michael’s provocative words.
He saw red and replied, “You are a child of our Mu family!”
Michael did not bother to reply to him as he had no intention to withdraw his words.
“You are crazy over a woman!”
The old master pointed at Michael with shaky fingers.
“If you go on like this, that woman would surely destroy you one day. Even if I don’t do anything to her, many people would when they discovered your weakness.”
Michael’s face was expressionless. He stared blankly at the old master. He finally realized that his grandfather had gotten old; he almost fell onto the ground after he got into a verbal fight with Michael. He had to lean on the back of the sofa to support himself. When he looked at Michael again, he had both anger and disappointment in his eyes. It took him a few moments to calm down. A hint of pain gleamed in his eyes when he looked at his most cherished grandson.
After a while, he said with a hoarse voice, “Have you forgotten how your grandmother died?”
Michael’s fingertips shook. A chill immediately swept through his heart! If Old Master Williams was not so heartless, then, the only person who could have touched his heart was his grandmother. Not the old madam, but his original wife, Michael’s biological grandmother. Michael had been too young to remember what his grandmother had looked like. However, he would never forget how she died. No one in the Williams family could ever forget that.
When one was deeply in love, it would eventually become a burden. When someone, especially an enemy, grabbed hold onto one’s weakness, it could be used against oneself. His grandmother had fallen into the hands of the old master’s enemies. The old master almost lost his own life when he tried to save her. His grandmother had decided to end her life so that she would not implicate the old master. The old master had seen her kill herself with his own eyes. She would rather die than burden her beloved man to save her. From then onward, Old Master Williams buried his heart. The Williams Corporation grew rapidly under his management. He had crushed all of his enemies, but it was impossible to bring back the love of his life.
Old Madam Williams was injured when she tried to save the old master, so he felt indebted to her. He married her and treated her very well as a responsible husband. However, even the old madam knew that he was good to her because he felt responsible for her, and not because of love.
“Your love for a woman is not necessarily a gift to her. On the contrary, it might bring her disaster!”
The old man adjusted his breath and calmed down.
Michael had looked like him in his younger years. He stared at his grandson as he said, “The Williams family needs a suitable Young Madam. You can decide what you want to do about that.
“However, I shall remind you that she might live a longer life if you don’t care for her.”
Then the old master left, and Michael was left alone in the hall. Levi stood guard outside the hall. He knew that the eldest young master was in a bad mood, so he dared not go in. The eldest young master stood by the sofa in the hall, but he did not take a seat. He looked like he was deep in thoughts. It was such a disturbing atmosphere. After a few moments, Michael went back upstairs.
…
When Elena came out of the shower, there was another person in the room. She was not surprised as she was used to it already. However, she did not expect him to appear so soon. She thought that he would spend more time with Ava in her room. After all, she was the Williams family’s benefactor.
“Shouldn’t you give me an explanation?”
Michael sat in a chair, and his voice was colder than usual.
“Do you want me to explain why I don’t care about Ava, or why I was with Henry?”
Elena took a dry towel and wiped the water droplets off her head as she walked toward the desk with her back to him.
“I’ve never cared about Ava. There is nothing to explain there. I have never disguised my hatred toward her.”
It was a known fact. Ava had the cheek to pretend to be close to her and acted like they were beloved sisters. Elena could not be bothered about that.
“As for why Henry and I were together, it was work-related. I don’t want to explain.”
“Don’t want to explain?” Since when had she become so fearless?
“Eldest Young Master Williams, don’t you also have a lot of things that you don’t want to explain to me?”
Elena looked at him. She was neither pretentious nor arrogant. He found himself unable to be angry at her. In fact, he did not want to be mad at her that night, though he was in a terrible mood.
He stood up abruptly. Elena felt a sense of insecurity and retreated immediately. It was an instinctive reaction. Michael took in all of her expressions and reactions, and his mood lifted a little. It was a weird feeling that he could not explain in words. The girl’s response had been quite funny.
“Am I that terrible?”
Elena wondered if she had made a mistake. Was that a crack of a smile on Michael’s face? How could Eldest Young Master Williams smile under such a moody atmosphere? Besides, she had not said anything that would make him laugh, had she?
“Come here.” Michael sat back down in the chair and looked at her. He looked tired.
Elena felt that she should not have gone to him, but her legs seemed to have a mind of their own. In a blink of an eye, she was already in front of Michael. Before she could escape, Michael reached out and hugged her in a tight embrace.
“Eldest Young Master Williams…”
“I am tired.”
The man’s deep and hoarse voice was inexplicably sexy and alluring. Her heart pounded crazily. Her hand fell onto his shoulders. She wanted to push him away, but because of what he said, she changed her mind and hugged his head instead.
“Rest if you’re tired.”