Eric had another bout with Donovan, but neither Pierce nor Ruth could watch. Donovan wouldn't allow it.-Half an hour later, Eric left King City.Pierce couldn't contain his curiosity. "Master, who won between you and Eric?"Donovan beamed. "The young are truly remarkable!"Ruth interjected with exasperation, "Grand Master, just tell us who won! Master and I are dying to know."From Donovan's admiring words, it was clear that Eric was exceptionally strong. But since it was a sparring match, there must have been a winner and a loser."He won, by half a move!" Donovan sighed. "Just that half move… I couldn't counter it. Even more astonishing is his age—if I’m not mistaken, he should only be 33. In Naturia's hundred-year history, no one at his age has achieved such prowess in martial arts."He said gravely, "Pierce, Eric is an extraordinary talent. You must hold onto him, but also beware—if he ever decides to do something harmful, not even you or I can stop him!"Fortunately, he
Robert came to Eric's office for coffee, mainly because this month’s salary was still nowhere in sight. Donald had diverted all the money, so where would the funds come from?Eric smiled. "I've already informed the bank. The day after tomorrow, everyone will receive their salaries."Robert was grateful and wrote another promissory note for Eric. This small amount of money meant nothing to Eric.Not long after Robert left, Sylvia arrived.She sat on Eric's lap and sighed, "My mother keeps urging us to have a son. Why isn’t there any sign of a baby yet?"Now, she wanted a second child.The Innova Group’s plans were almost complete, so it was time to consider these matters. Having both a son and a daughter was the mark of a true winner.She also wanted a son.Didn’t Eric want one too?He hugged Sylvia. "Take it slow. We’re not that old, and we can’t force these things."Sylvia nodded repeatedly—she just wanted to talk to Eric about it.With someone at home to help with Yvette,
Through Lora's introduction, Eric and Sylvia learned that the foreign man's name was Jason Bing, who had settled in the country for many years.Jason couldn't help but steal several glances at Sylvia. There was no way around it—Sylvia was a stunning woman, captivating in any setting.Over the past few years, she had become even more charming, her beauty and figure exceptional. Her fair skin had a rosy tint, making her even more enticing.Even in Sylvia's presence, someone as elegant and bookish as Lora paled in comparison.Eric was delighted! It didn’t matter to him whether Jason was a foreigner or not. As long as he was male, that was good enough. In fact, Eric wouldn’t even mind if he was a woman. He even wondered if Ruth might announce she had a boyfriend too.Seeing the joy in Eric's eyes, Lora felt a bit downhearted. Was she really that unlikable to Eric?During their conversation, Jason asked Eric and Sylvia what they did for a living.Eric didn't hide anything. "I am the
"Marrying a foreigner? Won't that just create more conflicts?"My daughter isn't well-educated, hasn't traveled abroad, or seen the world. How much does she really understand about foreign countries?"At best, she might have seen things online, but is that real? Does she know what foreigners think of us? What their beliefs are?"She knows nothing!"Eric coughed at this point, thinking, 'Professor, your daughter is already here, and you still dare to say such things?'Ignoring Eric’s cough, Tobias continued. "I heard you have a daughter too. Will you let her marry a foreigner when she grows up?"Before Eric could reply, Sylvia smiled. "Of course not! If they moved abroad, we’d be so far away. How would we know if she’s being treated well? It's too far to visit. It’s definitely out of the question!"She was quite certain about it."With so many outstanding people here to choose from, why look abroad?"Given Eric's position, Yvette certainly couldn't have a foreign boyfriend.Sy
When Eric and Sylvia left, Lora had not returned yet. The couple decided not to wait and headed out.Once they got into the car, Sylvia chuckled. "It’s really hard for a woman to take control of her destiny. She finally finds a boyfriend, and her family won’t allow it."She was well aware that Lora’s situation was likely doomed, with the odds heavily stacked against her.The kind of upbringing Lora had received meant she was destined to obey Tobias. Perhaps she might act out for a while, but she would eventually fall back in line.Eric nodded repeatedly. "Why did she have to choose a foreigner? Her father knows the history and understands our current situation. Letting his daughter marry a foreigner is out of the question. It’s practically killing him."He felt a twinge of regret. If Lora came back to seek his help, it would be another mess. It was very troublesome.But things didn’t turn out as Eric had imagined. To him, the nature or identity of Lora’s boyfriend didn’t matt
Feelings should be mutual. If Lora wasn't willing, then what was there to discuss? Jason certainly couldn't force anything, could he?Max held onto Eric's arm. "Uncle Eric, didn't Ms. Kensington say you were her best friend? Maybe you should pick me up tomorrow. If that big-nosed foreigner bothers Ms. Kensington again, you can help him out."Eric, feeling cornered, reluctantly nodded. "Alright! I'll pick you up tomorrow."-By the following afternoon, Eric had nearly forgotten about it. By the time he arrived at the school, most of the students had already left. Seeing Eric agree last night, Elly had not come to pick up Max today, confident that her brother was usually reliable. Who would have guessed he almost forgot?Luckily, it didn't cause any issues.When Eric reached the school gate, Max was hiding behind Lora, while Jason stood there, looking extremely upset. Seeing Eric, Max quickly grabbed Lora's hand, "Ms. Kensington, my uncle's here!"Lora, visibly relieved, hur
Jason's teeth were knocked out.Eric was not one to back down easily. With Jason repeatedly provoking him, Eric had no intention of tolerating it.Would he step back and let it go? That was nonsense—backing down would only embolden the other party to push further.Jason was stunned by the slap, his mouth bleeding. He was unable to believe that Eric would slap him in such a public setting.Lora, watching from a distance, was also startled. In her impression, Eric was not someone prone to such impulsive actions.What had driven him to slap Jason? She worried that Eric might get into trouble because of this.Eric, however, was unfazed. He cast a glance at Jason and said, "Let me tell you again: your breakup has nothing to do with me. If you harass me again or dare to lay a hand on me, I won’t be so polite next time!"Jason glared at Eric and fled. He knew he was no match for Eric. As an old saying went, "A wise man doesn’t fight when the odds are against him."As Jason left, Lor
Lena approached and sat beside him. "What's the matter? Any problems?"Tobias nodded repeatedly. "I must admit, this student is the most outstanding and accomplished I've ever mentored!"He wasn’t measuring by money alone. One's achievements could indeed be evaluated through financial success, but that’s far from the only standard. Success in life, in a career, or even as a capable mother or father—all of these counted as achievements. The criteria differ. Some may find success in their careers, yet fail as parents, which, in that aspect, made them unsuccessful. Tobias’ standard was professional achievement, excelling in a particular field or industry.Undoubtedly, in this regard, Eric was exceptionally successful. He had broken the monopoly of the three major international companies, allowing the country to have its own products, free from the stranglehold of these giants. This was an immense achievement!Tobias continued. "But Eric is already married, and his wife is the Inno