Book 2 : She Becomes Glamorous After the Engagement

Chapter 39

Chapter 723: The Shocking Turn of Events

Herman, who didn’t know that he had already hit Justin’s sore spot, was still talking about how powerful Philip was.

As he spoke, Iris gradually lowered her head.

She knew that she had destroyed the family’s peace and tranquility.

Just as she was suffering through her psychological ordeal, and while Herman stood on the moral high ground and criticized her.

Justin suddenly said, “So, that’s why you were willing to give your wife to someone else? And even cooperate with him to act as if your son had been kidnapped?”

His simple few words made all the sounds in the room cease abruptly!

Iris’ head also whipped up and she looked at them in disbelief.

Herman’s mouth was still open. He was staring at him in shock because he had been exposed, and it seemed like he’d never expected Justin to say such a thing.

Iris went from being confused to being shocked. Her brows slowly drew together and she looked at Herman in disbelief. She swallowed and asked, “Justin, what do you mean?”

Herman immediately shouted, “Justin, don’t you dare make false accusations!”

Justin lowered his eyes. “I didn’t want to thoroughly embarrass you, but since you insist on getting into the line of fire, then let’s just speak frankly here!”

He looked at Herman and said, “When Philip Coleman visited the house as a guest and talked about his ex-girlfriend, you already knew that the ex-girlfriend he was talking about was Mom, right?”

Herman didn’t admit it, but he suddenly didn’t dare to look at Iris. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Justin sneered, “In the following few years, the Hun'ts showed faint signs of being suppressed. During those few years, the Smith's also gradually gained the upper hand, and it looked like they would soon surpass us and become the number one family in New York, didn’t it?”

Herman immediately said, “That’s because Ian Smith is very impressive, whereas I don’t have any talent for business!”

“Is that so?”

Justin cast his eyes down. “The Hunt's do not have the custom of only letting the eldest son or people from the direct lineage inherit the title of the head of the family. Although you were a bit of a jerk back then, Grandpa had chosen you. He must have a reason for doing so, right? Uncle Raymond, as well as my other uncles, were eyeing your position, yet they couldn’t take it from you. Why was that? Is it also because you don’t have any talent for business?”

Herman choked.

Justin continued to speak with a contemptuous smile on his face. “Outsiders all say that the elderly Mr. Smith had placed all his energy and focus into the company during those few times because of the heartbreak he’d suffered, but he had been in a total daze at that time, so how could he possibly have had such great ambitions?”

Feeling that there was nothing to live for anymore, Ian had sought death at one point. He hadn’t even cared about his family property anymore and had given everything to his nephew.

In fact, one could even say that before Nora’s return, he hadn’t even considered adopting Joel as his son. Instead, he was just giving it away.

Even if Ian had turned his sorrow into motivation after Yvette’s departure, it was still impossible for him to really want to expand and develop the Smith Corporation. He would only casually work for the Smith Corporation out of sheer boredom.

But even when Ian was in a bad state of mind, the Hunt's had gone from bad to worse. In addition, during that time, his grandfather had still been around and had been the person in charge of the Hunt's. Herman hadn’t taken over the family yet!

Herman was not at all as incompetent as what outsiders made him out to be. Otherwise, how would it have been possible for him to take Lauren with him to another country, start from zero, and achieve what he had currently accomplished in just twenty years?

That’s right, Herman and Lauren already had a successful business abroad. The fact that Lauren had immediately organized such a large orchid exhibition when she’d only just returned to the country was enough proof of their current economic strength. Moreover, there was something that Justin had actually been unable to figure out all these years.

Even if Herman had done something wrong and cheated on his wife, would anyone really be like the old Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, and drive their son out of the house but keep their grandson?

All of these were choices that the Hunt's had been forced to make back then!

When the elderly Mr. Hunt and Herman felt like they had come to their wits’ end regarding the company, they immediately understood what had happened. Thus, Herman had promptly and decisively cheated on Iris, in order to make her give up hope on

him.

They’d originally thought that Philip would let them off once they sacrificed Iris, but they were wrong.

At that time, the only thing Iris had cared about was her son. When she went traveling, she’d actually run into Philip. However, she had no plans to rekindle her relationship with him.

This caused Philip to become even crueler, and he found someone to kidnap Justin!

One could say that the Hunt's had abstained from taking action at that time, despite their ability to do so. The Hunt's were so powerful in New York, how would they possibly be unable to find the child when he was first discovered missing?

It wasn’t that they couldn’t find him; rather, they hadn’t searched for him at all!

By the time Iris returned and found that he was been abducted, too much time had already passed. By then, even if she sought help from the Smith's, the kidnappers would have already fled New York. Even the Smith's wouldn’t be able to do anything about it!

Therefore, the Hunt's had forced Iris to approach Philip.

They wanted to use Iris as a sacrificial offering.

Unfortunately, Iris still didn’t have any thoughts of reconciling with Philip. Instead, she reached a different agreement with him, which was to watch her son grow up in the Hunt's without interfering with his life.

After the old Mr. Hunt heard about this, he realized and understood that since Philip loved Iris so deeply, he would never hurt her. Additionally, if he wanted Iris to protect the Hunt's, then it would only be possible if Justin stayed in the family.

Thus, Mr. Hunt had pretended to drive away Herman, and also declared that he would take it that he never had a son like him. His purpose in driving him away was so that Herman could go overseas, start a new business, and open up a new world for the Hunt's.

This was so that the Hunt's could avoid a crushing defeat should something ever go wrong with Philip and he targets the Hunt's in the future!

Herman might look like he had left the family without taking a cent, but when he went abroad back then, his father most certainly would have secretly given him a sum of money as start-up capital.

All of their schemes were closely linked with one another. The elderly Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, who seemingly had a deep sense of love and righteousness, were just doing all that for the sake of the Hunt's.

Justin had only slowly pieced everything together after Iris told him the truth.

This was also the reason why he hadn’t immediately sought revenge on Lauren for kidnapping him-because she wasn’t the one who had instigated the kidnapping at all.

It was Philip!

Justin’s words, like a sharp knife, cut open the Hunts’ veil of pretense, exposing all of their ugly and nasty true colors.

Iris was shocked and astounded. She felt like the worldview she’d held all these years had come crashing down all around her. She thought that she had caused the Hun'ts huge trouble, but little did she think that the Hunt's had been using her all this time?

Herman refused to admit it. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand at all, you…”

“You don’t understand? Is that so? In that case, shall I lay out all the evidence one by one?”

Justin’s voice was low and deep, but there was a mocking smile on the corners of his lips.

Herman narrowed his eyes.

After some time, he finally dropped his pretenses. He calmly said, “Since you’ve already figured out everything, then take your mother with you and leave the Hunt's at once

because, I, the real head of the Hunt's, am back.”

Justin stared at him.

Herman lowered his head and looked at the family members who had hurried over after hearing about his return and the argument. He straightened his back. On his visage that was three parts similar to Justin’s, his eyes were dark and deep.

He calmly said, “My father left all the shares in the family to me back then.”

After saying this, he immediately took out a will.

Upon seeing the share transfer agreement, everyone was shocked.

When the elderly Mr. Hunt passed away, in his final words, he had only left instructions saying that Justin was to take charge of the company. Therefore, Justin had naturally inherited his shares.

With the will, though, Justin would be kicked out of the picture.

Everyone in the family fell silent. They all stared at the will and then at each other, all of them at a loss for words.

Roger said, “Uncle Herman, if a will exists, then Grandpa’s shares should indeed be given to you. In that case, from today onwards, you will be the head of the Hunt's!”

Some defenders of Justin said, “But is the will really valid? Who can prove it?”

Along with these words, someone supported a shaky Mrs. Hunt as she walked out. She said unhurriedly, “I can prove it.”

Chapter 724: The Hunt's Who Plot Against One Another

Nora was standing upstairs and watching the intense discussion downstairs.

She clearly saw that Justin had trembled lightly when Mrs. Hunt walked out.

Nora sighed silently.

Justin might never have ever thought that his grandmother, who had raised him into an adult, would also be part of the group of people plotting against him.

How sad and lonely must that man surrounded by his so-called family members be right now?

Justin was a man who had always been scheming and inscrutable, so he didn’t say anything

Iris, however, stared at the group of people. The woman, who now knew the truth, was suffering quite the mental breakdown at the moment—not for herself, but for her son!

Her entire body shook with anger, and she rushed up to Herman, stretched out her hand, and slapped him across the cheek.

Smack!

She had put all of her strength into the slap, causing Herman’s head to turn to the side.

Nora saw that Herman could have avoided the slap, but he didn’t. Instead, he chose to take

it.

Iris screamed, “Herman Hunt, you are so despicable! Never mind that you plotted against me, but how can you plot against even your own son?!”

Herman’s head was turned to the side. The handprint on his cheek quickly swelled up visibly, which went to show just how furious Iris was.

He looked at Iris calmly. “Iris, I don’t mind if you blame me for this. It’s all because I am too incapable. Twenty years ago, I didn’t have the ability to keep you by my side; twenty years later, I still don’t have the ability to keep you with me. When we got married, we had clearly vowed that we would never abandon each other for the rest of our lives, but unfortunately, you have offended someone you should not have.”

When Herman said that, there was sorrow in his eyes as he gazed at Iris.

To be honest, hadn’t he also loved Iris when he was young?

In fact, one could even say that he still did.

At that time, he and Ian had both courted Yvette. Later, after Yvette chose Ian, he had also been envious of the beautiful love between the two of them.

Afterward, he had met Iris.

When he saw how gentle Iris had been to the poor lad Philip, his heart had skipped a beat.

Thus, he had gotten the Hunt's to approach the Evanses and propose marriage.

Everyone said that he had married Iris because he could not manage to take Yvette as his wife. The only person in New York who was comparable to Yvette at that time had been Iris.

But nobody knew that he had only courted Yvette back then just to fight with Ian. Towards Iris, however… he had truly fallen in love with her.

He hadn’t expected Iris to agree to the proposal, either.

Before they got married, Iris had told him honestly that their marriage was a political one, that she had no feelings for him.

However, Herman had still insisted on getting married. At that time, he was already in love with her. He’d even vowed that he would treat her well for the rest of his life.

He just never expected Philip the pauper to suddenly transform into the head of one of the mysterious families of the world.

Back then, when the Hunt's were suppressed by him, just how tormented had he been? His father had spent his entire life turning the Hunt's into a big and powerful family, but before the company and family were even handed over to him, he had already implicated them.

Herman had indeed deliberately betrayed Iris, but at that time, he had also suffered great emotional torment.

Iris didn’t understand the complicated look in Herman’s eyes. She merely felt that the man in front of her was simply too shameless!

She stared at him. “If that was the case, then you should have made things clear to me from the start! Even if I have to leave with Justin, I would never drag the Hunt's in this!”

How could Herman possibly bear to let them leave, though?

He clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes. “You want to take Justin away? Justin is my, Herman Hunt’s, son! He is a descendant of the Hunt's! Are you planning to take him with you as you turn to Philip?! I won’t allow it!”

Iris really couldn’t understand him.

He was the one taking full advantage of her and her son, yet he was also the one saying that Justin was his son, so they mustn’t leave.

She felt that Herman must be schizophrenic.

She smiled in resignation and asked, “Herman, what do you mean by that?”

Herman cast his eyes down and sighed. “What I mean by that? Couldn’t you have just behaved yourself, accepted your fate, and stayed in that suburban villa for the rest of your life? This way, I would never have returned to the family, and would never have fought with our son for the position of the head of the family! But look at you… You had already stayed there for the first twenty years, why did you let everything go to waste in the end?!”

Iris stared at him, finally understanding what he meant.

It was because of Herman’s selfish intentions that they hadn’t let her go back then!

Since he had given up Iris, then he totally could have just let go and push her into Philip’s arms. Given Philip’s means, he would have been able to trick Iris into staying with him eventually. But Herman hadn’t! Instead, he had used Justin to keep her captive, preferring to imprison her for twenty years in a suburban villa as though she was a canary in captivity, over giving her true freedom!

She clenched her fists tightly. “Herman, you are such a despicable lowlife!”

Herman lowered his eyes and took a step forward. “I don’t care whether you call me despicable or shameless, but Iris, you and your son only have two choices now.”

Iris stared at him. “Go on.”

Justin also looked at Herman.

Herman sighed and said, “Justin, you are my son, why would I do anything to harm you? If your mother goes to Philip and asks him to stop, then I will take it that this will doesn’t exist. My business overseas is enough for me to support myself.”

Iris took a step back.

Even now, Herman still wanted to sacrifice her.

While she was contemplating in a daze, she heard Justin’s firm and sonorous voice.

“That’s impossible. Tell me the second option.”

“You—!” Herman was practically speechless towards Justin. He pointed at him, his finger in the air for a while.

The elderly Mrs. Hunt took a step forward and held Justin’s arm. “Justin, my good grandson, just agree to it! Iris had already moved to the suburbs when you were five, and she has never taken care of you ever since. Besides, who knows if her heart had already been with Philip long ago? They are each other’s first love, so can’t you just take it that you’re giving your mother your blessings? Once she is gone, the will would be considered non-existent. All these years, it was only under your leadership that the Hunt's could come this far, everyone can see that. If your father ever dares to fight with you for the position of the head of the family after your mother leaves, I will be the first to raise my voice!”

Justin looked at Mrs. Hunt as she spoke.

It was not that she did not love him.

It was just that before loving him, the Hunts’ interests mattered more than anything else!

Justin then looked at Herman.

All these years, he had hardly ever called him, nor had he ever paid any attention to him. He had just been taking advantage of him all along

From beginning to end, Iris had been the only one who did things for his sake.

Justin looked at Herman coldly. “Tell me the second option.”

Seeing him like this, Herman said angrily, “You are really so unrepentant! If you don’t agree to it, then even if it’s for the sake of the Hunt's, I’ll have to come home and inherit the shares that your grandfather has left me! Justin, by then, I won’t be able to guarantee that I’ll be able to protect you and your mother! Also, the consequences of you going head-to-head with Philip will only be you overestimating your abilities.”

However, it was as if Justin hadn’t heard him.

He merely let out a contemptuous scoff.

Herman sighed. “Justin, I did care about you all these years-after all, you are my son. As long as you are willing to take a step back and send your mother to Philip, and if your mother thinks of a way, Philip won’t drive the Hunts into a corner anymore. Don’t worry, Dad definitely won’t fight with you. I haven’t been by your side all these years, sigh!”

There was finally a bit of real emotion in those words of his.

Herman was not a good person, but he was not a total villain who completely disregarded kinship either.

Justin, however, looked at him and said, “I’m glad you weren’t with me when I grew up.”

Herman was taken aback.

Justin said sarcastically, “After all, they all say that like father, like son.If you had been by my side, I might have also become a despicable lowlife scum like you who betrayed women in for survival.”

His sarcasm made Herman’s face flush!

He pointed at Justin angrily. “You!What right do you have to insult me like that?!Justin,since you refuse to listen, then don’t blame your father for fighting with you!You must give me all the assets that your grandfather has left me! You also have to give me the position of the head of the family!”

Herman narrowed his eyes. “You are still too young and headstrong,so you are competitive over everything.In that case, I will take over as head of the family for a few years for you!You can inherit it again after I die! It’s only right for a son to inherit his father’s legacy.Don’t worry,I won’t leave you with nothing.”

As soon as he said that, Justin said coldly, “Oh? I can give you all of Grandpa’s assets, but do you think that you can become the head of the family just because you have those shares?”

Herman was taken aback. “What do you mean?"

Chapter 725: King of the World

Herman held the will in his hand. “This is a will left behind by your grandfather.This will is completely valid since he did not leave any other will when he passed away!Are you still planning to deny it?”

Justin sneered. “Of course I won’t deny it.I’ll give you what you want. Lawrence!”

“Yes.”

Lawrence, who had appeared at the door, walked in with a share transfer agreement in his hand.He handed it to Herman. “Mr.Hunt, this is the share transfer agreement Boss prepared for you.Please sign it.”

This turn of events exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Everyone looked at Justin in confusion.

Lawrence explained, “Since Boss knows that you schemed against him back then,how could he not understand the reason why old sir had not left a will behind here?Boss won’t take a single cent from him. He’ll return it all to you.It can be considered as him repaying the Hunt's for raising him!”

When Herman heard this, he felt a little ashamed.

He stared at Justin and advised again, “Justin, why are you doing this? You’ve worked hard for the Hunt's for so many years.It no longer matters to our family how much money we have.Are you really going to watch the Hunt's walk toward destruction?”

Mrs.Hunt could not bear for Justin to leave.

They did not come to force Justin to leave today.They only had one goal: to get Iris to calm Philip’s anger.

Herman had feelings for Iris.No matter how reluctant he was,he still had to give her up.

Mrs. Hunt said, “Justin!”

Her old eyes were filled with tears.How could she not have feelings for a grandson she had raised with her own hands? Furthermore,no matter how outstanding her son was,her grandson was better!

Justin was more business minded than Herman.

Making him the person in charge was the best thing for the Hunt's.

Roger was shocked. “Justin,have you really thought it through?”

He had fought for the position of power his entire life,and he was going to hand it over just like that?

As the group of people was letting their thoughts run wild,Justin said, “Sign it.”

Herman could only lower his head and open the share transfer document in his hand.However, when he saw the contents, he was instantly stunned. “Justin,what do you mean by this?!”

He slammed the document on the ground. “Are you kidding me?!”

“What’s wrong?”

Mrs. Hunt was dumbfounded.

Herman pointed at the document and said, “The transfer of shares here is only 5%!Father left me 54% back then!”

Only with more than 50% of the shares could one have the right to speak.

Everyone understood this logic.

Therefore,the shares Justin had received from Old Master were 54%.

But now,he was only giving back 5%?

Justin glanced at Lawrence.When he did not speak,Lawrence began to explain endlessly, “Mr. Hunt, listen to me.We have calculated these shares very meticulously.”

Herman stared at him.

Lawrence said, “Boss took over Hunt Corporation ten years ago.Over the years,after the Hunt's went public, they issued a portion of the shares to the public. The shareholders’ shares have been diluted quite a lot.Everyone in the family should know this.”

If the Hunt's wanted to become powerful,they had to issue shares to finance it.Naturally,the shares in the hands of the family members would shrink.

In fact,although they called it issuing shares, and while a portion of the shares had indeed been bought by the stockholders,most of the shares had been bought by Justin himself!

That was why Justin’s shares had not been diluted all these years and had remained at 51%.

Lawrence continued, “The 54% from ten years ago is less than 5% now.Boss thought that since you gave him life,he would give you a little extra.”

Herman: “!!”

Herman was furious. “A hundred million from ten years ago is not the same value as a hundred million today!”

“Okay.”

Lawrence said, “Boss has already exchanged it for your current value and even considered the dollar depreciation. Otherwise,you don’t even have 1% of the shares.”

Herman: “…”

He did not expect this outcome.He looked at Justin and said angrily, “Are you trying to take the Hunt's for yourself?”

Justin said calmly, “I’m just taking back what belongs to me.”

He had led the Hunt's to where they were today.In ten years,the Hunts’ assets had increased by a few hundred times. Although the shares of the family members had shrunk,whose money had not increased by more than a hundred times?

When he,Justin,thought of Herman and Grandpa Hunt’s intentions,he instantly realized something and asked Lawrence to calculate all the money he had earned over the years.

Since he had chosen to make this public today, how could he not be prepared?

He did not care about the Hunts’ money,but…

The company he casually ran could not be taken away just like that.

Herman took a deep breath.

He did not expect Justin to have such meticulous records.He could not find any mistakes in his work.

He had originally thought that Justin was not prepared,but now…

He could only get back five percent of the shares.

However,5% was also a significant share.

Seeing his hesitation, Lawrence said, “Mr. Hunt, are you going to sign this or not?If you don’t sign it, then you’re giving it to my boss.That’s good too. Otherwise,my boss would only have 40% of the shares left.Sigh!”

When Herman heard this, he signed it without hesitation.

After signing it,he looked up again. “Justin,don’t think you’ll win just because of this.You only have 46% of the shares now.You can’t say anything.”

With that, he raised the 5% shares in his hand and said, “As a 5% shareholder of the company,I’ll cooperate with others and request to choose the chairman again.Roger!How many shares do you have?”

When Roger from the side family heard this, he said, “7%.”

“How much is it?I’ll buy it!”

Herman had also earned a lot of money from his overseas businesses over the past few years.He could be said to be wealthy now.He said directly, “Also,for the Hunts’ shares,anyone who wants to sell them at a high price can come and look for me!”

Roger looked at Justin and then at Herman.He immediately chose the team without hesitation. “Herman,what are you saying?Damn, we have 7% of the shares.You don’t have to buy it, either.I’ll give you the right to speak without it!”

Wasn’t it good to watch the father and son fight amongst themselves?

“Okay,let’s go have a chat.Who else has more shares?My old friends from back then should still be in the company.”

Herman and the people from the side family left Justin’s villa.

Mrs. Hunt stood there, her figure trembling.She looked at Justin and shouted, “Justin, I have 10% of the shares.Don’t, don’t blame me… If you make a decision,you can come and look for me! If I give you that 10%, you’ll still be the head of the Hunt's!”

With that,she left.

After everyone left,Nora said goodbye to Justin and prepared to go home to sleep.

After all,she had not rested well for a few days.

As for Justin’s matters, she would talk about them when she woke up.

Iris also went upstairs to accompany the three children.After everyone left,Lawrence came in front of Justin.“Boss, you could have just given him 1% of the shares,why did you give him 5%?Now, you have less than 50%. You don’t have absolute control anymore.”

Justin glanced at him and said calmly, “If we don’t give him some hope, will those demons show their faces?”

Lawrence: “?”

Lawrence coughed.

It turned out that Boss was planning to clean up the Hunt's!

He said, “Then let’s…”

Justin no longer had the lonely feeling of being betrayed.He was like the king of the world again, as if everything was under his control.

He said slowly, “Doesn’t Sean have 4% of the shares?Let him spread the news that he plans to sell them and see how many people are interested in these shares!”

“Yes, sir!”

Sean’s shares were his shares.

Therefore,Justin had always been holding onto 50%!

Lawrence asked, “Then about Philip…”

As soon as he said this, Justin’s phone rang.He opened it and realized that it was Imperial League’s chat page. Someone asked: “Who has shares of the Hunt Corporation?I’m willing to buy them at a high price.”

Justin sneered when he saw this.