Chapter 39
948 Words
"I'm afraid not. Elliott is not someone you can just meet casually. We don't have any resources in the Harrison family. Dad has given the only chance to Sophia. None of my friends have had the chance to meet Colonel Wellington. This won't work." Jagger shook his head and sighed helplessly.
"What? Jagger, you are useless. You are even worse than Jonathan. How could I be so blind? If this doesn't work, what will happen to Chad? Your father only has eyes for that b***h Sophia. Won't Declan kick us out of the Harrison family if your father dies in a few years?" Sally scolded Jagger harshly.
As a henpecked husband, Jagger could only murmur, "I'll think of something."
The next morning, Jonathan told Olivia, "Olivia, I've contacted some of my old friends. We can visit Colonel Elliott to discuss the project today."
"What? Elliott? The colonel who is in charge of the Roberts family's project?" Olivia was astonished. Jonathan had made progress in just one day.
"Yes, get up. I'll take you there." Olivia and Jonathan quickly washed up before heading to the newly established Apex Group, which was formed three days ago to take on the Roberts family's project.
When Jonathan and Olivia arrived, they were greeted by a scene of luxury cars parked in front of the building. Dozens of representatives from various families and companies in Yonderville were there to visit Elliott with gift boxes.
As soon as Olivia stepped out of the car, she was stunned by the sight.
"Jonathan, there are so many people. Can we really do this? They all have gifts, but we came empty-handed," Olivia said nervously, holding onto Jonathan's arm tightly.
"Don't worry. My friend works at the Apex Group. He has arranged everything. You just need to go in," Jonathan reassured her with a smile.
Olivia took a deep breath and nodded firmly, "Okay. I'll do my best for you and Ruby."
At that moment, two luxury cars pulled up, and Sophia and Mark got out. They both carried numerous expensive gifts.
The car behind them had Jagger and his family.
"Look who's here. b***h, you really got some nerve," Sophia sneered upon seeing Olivia and Jonathan.
"Sophia," Olivia muttered and withdrew her hand from Jonathan's arm.
Sophia, with a cold expression, walked over and said, "You're just wasting your time. Leave, and don't embarrass the Harrison family. If you affect my cooperation with the Apex Group, I won't let you get away with it!"
Olivia, clearly unprepared for Sophia's aggression, looked nervously at Jonathan and said, "Jonathan, maybe we should go."
But Jonathan said, "Since we're here, there's no reason to leave. What if the Apex Group chooses you?"
Olivia was taken aback. She hadn't hoped for much. With so many prominent families and companies here, how could she, a powerless woman, be chosen by the Apex Group?
"What?" Sophia scoffed. "Jonathan, are you daydreaming? Why would the Apex Group choose to work with trash like you?"
"Exactly," Mark chimed in and adjusted his gray suit. "You showed up without a decent gift. You can't even get through the door, let alone meet Colonel Wellington."
Noticing that Jonathan and Olivia were empty-handed, Sophia sneered and shook her head disdainfully. To her, Olivia was no threat.
The other representatives laughed, "Isn't that Olivia and Jonathan from the Harrison family? They actually came here!"
"And they are empty-handed. So humiliating!"
"Everyone here brought precious gifts. How do they expect to get anything done without money?"
The incident at Samuel's birthday party had already spread through Yonderville. Many people were amused by Jonathan and Olivia's presence.
Facing the ridicule and strange looks of the crowd, Olivia felt extremely uncomfortable and panicked. She looked at Jonathan with pleading eyes. "I don't want to stay here. Let's go. I'm scared."
Jonathan looked seriously at Olivia and said, "As long as we secure the cooperation with the Apex Group, your grandpa will let you return to the Harrison family. I'm here with you. Trust me. Maybe the Apex Group detests under-the-table gifts and prefers fairness."
Jonathan knew Olivia was kind-hearted and timid. She was like a lamb facing wolves when confronted with such fierce people. He felt the need to boost her confidence.
Hearing Jonathan's words, Mark and Sophia burst into laughter. "How interesting! You can't afford a decent gift, so you say the Apex Group hates receiving gifts! No one in the world dislikes money and precious gifts. Do you plan to change the world's norms and rules?"
Jonathan remained calm. The military had strict discipline and wouldn't accept gifts, but he said nothing more.
Jagger, Sally, and Chad had been standing behind Sophia and Mark.
"Olivia, why did you choose such a piece of trash?" Chad said with a pained expression, pretending to be concerned. "You should have brought a decent gift."
Sally coldly added, "Enough, Chad. Talking to this b***h and this loser makes me sick."
Jagger said nothing but sighed helplessly.
Olivia, with red eyes, tried to explain to Jagger, "Dad, I..."
"Don't say anything. I don't know you," Jagger interrupted coldly, fearing Olivia's pleas might soften him. He walked past her without looking back.
Olivia cried quietly, feeling utterly helpless. Her own father didn't even want to acknowledge her. The pain of being disowned was overwhelming. It was a profound sense of rejection and heartbreak that cut deeper than any other loss.
At that moment, the main entrance of the Apex Group building opened, and a middle-aged man in a black suit and glasses stepped out, followed by four soldiers in military uniforms with rifles.
The sight of those rifles immediately silenced the crowd at the entrance.
- Writer
