Chapter 153: Not an Option
No matter how much Mr. Hector tried, his attempts to influence Caesar were futile. He had no real sway over Caesar, who disregarded the opinions of the rest of the Meyer family. Caesar could be with whomever he chose; it was his right.
"She's just a silly girl. I'm really not mad," Mario said to Caesar. "If I, a grown man, start getting jealous over some girl, I might as well give up on life."
"I still want you to get jealous," Caesar replied, "no matter who it is—man or woman."
Fabien and Wen Meiyun sat resting, surrounded by familiar faces. News had spread that their son, Henry, was Alfred, the CEO of Moses Group. Everyone congratulated them, praising their parenting.
Fabien maintained a composed exterior, but inwardly, he was increasingly uneasy. This "accomplished son" hadn't contacted them for days. Every call was answered by his assistant, speaking in an unintelligible language, clearly deflecting them. Henry was holding a grudge.
"That brat still won't come home," Fabien complained to a friend. "I told him the Chinese market is too saturated for Moses Group to thrive—it's not worth it, but he won't listen."
"Exactly," the friend agreed, nodding toward Caesar. "Even Typhoon Corp came back. If Moses Group tries, what space is left for anyone else?"
"Exactly. These kids grow up and stop listening. I don't know what else to do."
Wen Meiyun, however, looked delighted. Everyone lauded her for raising a capable son, mentioning her granddaughter and complete family. She could finally enjoy retirement.
Fabien now essentially ran Harrison Group. Wen Meiyun had gradually stepped back over the years, though she retained a few shares. Henry was her son, and sending him abroad for a political marriage had pained her. But she hadn't had a choice; it was for the Harrison family.
After the Hudd family's bankruptcy, Henry divorced and returned home, but Fabien refused to let him bring his daughter back. He insisted Henry strike out on his own.
After years of marriage, Wen Meiyun understood Fabien's motives. He intended to use this opportunity to draw closer to Quinn Group. When Henry was with Wendy, they had leveraged Quinn Group to secure numerous deals.
No one dared retaliate against their actions due to Quinn Group's backing; they simply swallowed their frustrations.
Fabien had called Henry's daughter a burden, complaining that Henry should have left her with Hu Qian, the last remaining Hudd family member, so he could start over with Wendy without delay. Henry's stubbornness had infuriated him.
No one anticipated Henry's hidden identity.
The banquet began, and Caesar stepped onto the podium.
"Typhoon Corp's return to China, and my resumption of my parents' legacy, is all thanks to my friends—and to my partner." Caesar's eyes remained fixed on Mario, making no attempt to conceal his feelings.
"From this day forward, Typhoon Corp will be managed by me and the person I love. Today's event is for Typhoon Corp, and I want to make something very clear." His tone hardened.
"My relationship is stable. And I will only ever be with him. Stop sending people my way—man or woman. This isn't a secret, and I've never been ashamed of it. If you can't accept that and still want to play games, then Typhoon Corp will treat you as enemies."
Qwain's face paled. She knew this was directed at her and Mr. Hector. Was Caesar truly this committed to Mario? She had been willing to accept Mr. Hector's unreasonable demands. If marrying Caesar meant overlooking his relationship with Mario, she could do it. Was that not enough?
She looked down, her expression dimming. She'd forgotten—Caesar had always been like this. She remembered their childhood games. Wendy once wanted the tallest flower from a trellis. They were all too short to reach it, but Caesar climbed alone, precariously balancing to get it for her—and fell, sustaining scars from the fall.
Everyone assumed Caesar liked Wendy. Why else would he have gone to such lengths? But in the end... it was over.
Qwain turned to leave, but Mr. Hector stopped her at the restroom door.