Sylvester's smile lacked warmth as he spoke. "She is Seraphine from the Montgomery family in King City."Dickson and the others nodded, unfazed by this revelation as the Montgomery family in King City wasn't familiar to them.Dickson couldn't help but think that Seraphine was aiming high by associating with them, given the affluence of the Williams family in Salt City.Turning to the younger members, Dickson gestured for them to sit. He then directed his attention to Seraphine, asking, "Ms. Montgomery, what does your family do in King City?"Sylvester furrowed his brow, wondering if Dickson was probing into Seraphine's background. Before he could voice his thoughts, Seraphine smiled and replied, "To be honest, my parents run a small business. In the past two years, we suffered significant losses due to the poor economic environment and are on the verge of bankruptcy!"Initially, Sylvester and the others were puzzled, but they soon grasped that Seraphine was playfully teasing Dic
When the sky darkened, the official commencement of the Williams family meeting unfolded. Presiding over the gathering was Shay Williams, the Falcon branch's esteemed leader.Traditionally, the family leader must command respect and prestige, and their words should carry conviction among the members.Godrick, alongside Shay and the revered elders, took his place at the table.Henry, Brook, Sylvester, Connor, and even Eric and Sylvia, with their names prominently displayed, occupied notable positions.Despite Eric not being a direct descendant, his high standing within the family was evident. Considering Henry's significant contributions to the renovation of the ancestral estate, there were no objections to the seating arrangements.During the meeting, Shay delved into the history of the Williams family. Despite residing in Falcon City for generations, the family had not held a leading position, much to Shay's disappointment. He expressed his fervent desire to unite the entire fami
Shay smiled at Sylvester and said, "Sylvester, everyone knows you're the CEO of Williams Corp. Provide us with an asset inventory later, and we can discuss how to incorporate it into the Williams family's conglomerate, okay?"Responding to this tricky situation required careful consideration.After a moment of thought, Sylvester replied, "Over the years, my father, sister, and I have taken on the role of CEO at Williams Corp. It's important to note that Williams Corp. isn't owned by any individual. Even in Salt City, we have shareholders. I'm afraid this matter isn't within the purview of any one of us to decide."To integrate into the Williams family's conglomerate, Williams Corp. would need to convene a meeting among the shareholders, navigate the local authorities in Salt City, and go through various procedures. It's quite complicated."Sylvester adeptly avoided explicitly refusing to join the Williams family's conglomerate, showcasing his shrewdness.Henry silently nodded, ack
The rest of the Williams family fell into silence as the news of the Innova Group not going public sank in. Responding became challenging due to the absence of such demands. Even if there were, why would it be the Falcon branch's responsibility to address them?Sylvester's words regarding Williams Corp. effectively shut down any ongoing discussions. The process's intricate procedures and time-consuming nature rendered the Falcon branch's plan impractical, as they couldn't afford the wait.The Falcon branch urgently desired control over Williams Corp., yet they faced an uphill battle.Sylvia, alongside Sylvester, also obstructed their path."The Innova Group has a relatively simple structure, but you might not know that, aside from the founders, three major investors stand behind it. Consider them as shareholders of the Innova Group: us, the Sonnex family in Salt City, and the Montgomery family in King City."Any significant changes require their consent. This is no less troublesom
Early the next day, the commemorative service commenced, and it exuded grandeur.The positioning of the group at the forefront seemed deliberate, likely to emphasize the significance of Henry's family. Godrick received the same level of attention as several elderly men from the Falcon branch, including their leader.Around noon, the group gathered at the canteen for lunch.While Sylvia enjoyed her meal, Shay and several elderly men approached. Even the young members, led by Dickson, joined them, creating a suffocating atmosphere around Henry and the others.Shay said with a friendly smile, "Godrick, Henry, we haven't finished discussing yesterday's matter. We understand your difficulties and are willing to wait. Once you complete all the necessary procedures, let the two major companies merge into the Williams family, and let our family flourish!"He raised his glass with these words, but the sentiment did not align with the reality.Sylvester knocked on the table and asserted, "
The assets of the Falcon branch amounted to only around 1 billion dollars. Nevertheless, they harbored ambitions to merge two major companies, each with assets and values totaling several billion dollars. Such aspirations were undeniably fantastical.Sylvester had been clear-cut in his stance, which deeply offended the Falcon branch. They labeled him a family traitor, expressing the desire to expel him from the family. However, Sylvester had a strategy to handle the situation.Deliberately and gradually, he reached into his bag, retrieving a document that he then placed in front of the Williams. "Examine it and determine if our surname is truly Williams."The item in question was an identity card."If this fails to substantiate our identity, would you care to peruse our family's property deed? I happen to have it with me."Shay and the others' expressions darkened, and Seraphine couldn't help stifling a laugh.Evidently, this was the only effective way to deal with such individua
Shay addressed them in the same demanding tone.Seraphine grew impatient and retorted, "Sir, both Williams Corp. and the Innova Group have no intention of joining the so-called family conglomerate. Why can't you understand?"Seraphine's statement carried weight, and Henry and the others refrained from speaking out. Having Seraphine speak out for them was preferable. The remark resembled poking a hornet's nest, and all the Williams stared at her.Dickson sneered. "Seraphine, who gave you the right to speak here? Don't forget, you haven't even married into the Williams yet."In response, Sylvester frowned and rebuked, "Dickson, mind your choice of words!"Seraphine felt comforted when Sylvester stepped up for her. Despite his cold exterior, she knew Sylvester was genuinely kind.Dickson chuckled and added, "Do I have a problem with my choice of words? She wants to marry you because she's after your money!"Sylvester and the others remained silent. It seemed Dickson believed in wha
Eric nodded and said honestly, "Yes, I did."However, Dickson and the others didn't believe him.Dickson sneered. "You're a terrible liar, do you realize that? Although I've never been a soldier, I know soldiers can't just come and go as they please."Besides, you're still managing the Innova Group, yet you claim to have participated in the training in Salt City? Who would believe that? You should've crafted a better lie!"Eric simply shrugged.Observing Eric's nonchalant attitude, Dickson persisted, "Since you claim to have participated in the training, then you should know the names of the remaining 46 people, right? Chris, what's the name of the guy who participated in the training in your region? Let's hear it. Eric must know him!"Chris also harbored skepticism about Eric's claim. After all, only the elite among elites could qualify for such training, and he barely met the qualifications."He's called Ron Powett," Chris said.Dickson chuckled. "Eric, since you claim to hav