Chapter 544 Ryan's Secret
Ryan's heart was pounding like crazy after hearing what Francis said. He had this weird feeling that something bad was about to happen.
But he tried to keep it together and said, "What are you even talking about? If you keep being stubborn, don't blame me for cutting ties and suing you for deforcement!"
Francis shot back, "You're right, we aren't related by blood, so there's nothing to acknowledge."
Ryan was baffled. How did Francis sound like he knew something? No way. Only Dylan and Joseph knew that secret. No one else could possibly know.
Ryan was sure of it because Dylan was a man of his word. He promised Ryan he'd never spill the beans about Francis's real parentage, and he wouldn't. Joseph was Dylan's right-hand man and was in on it, so he had to know the whole story. That secret even got Joseph killed.
In Ryan's mind, Joseph had it coming for a long time. At that last meeting where Francis got accused, if Joseph hadn't blackmailed him with that secret, Ryan wouldn't have backed down.
If Dylan hadn't been alive back then, Ryan wouldn't have waited so long to grab power. Dylan was sharp, no doubt about it. Ryan knew he couldn't outsmart Dylan, so he started slowly worming his way into the Getty Group's power structure after Dylan died. But it took forever because Dylan must've sensed Ryan's ambition and set up roadblocks, keeping him out of the big decisions at Getty Group.
Too bad for Dylan, he didn't see his sudden illness and death coming. His unexpected death left no time for last words, giving Ryan the perfect chance to take control. Ryan became the eldest Getty, and no matter how good Francis was at the company, he had to respect Ryan!
Ryan clawed his way to the top. If it weren't for that pesky Joseph, he would've made it sooner. But Joseph's interference reminded Ryan that he was a threat, so he had to get rid of him for good.
Even though he felt uneasy, Ryan had to push those feelings down and focus. He was sure no one else alive knew about what happened back then.
Ryan pretended to soften up and said, "Since you get it, for old times' sake, even though you treat me like this, I won't be harsh. The Getty Group still welcomes you."
Compared to Francis's coldness, Ryan's fake kindness made him look good. Some shareholders on Ryan's side started stirring things up. "Mr. Ryan Getty is truly a kind person. Even after being treated like this by Mr. Francis Getty, he can still let bygones be bygones. He's a role model for us!"
The crowd clapped in agreement, "Yeah!"
Someone even chimed in, "Mr. Francis Getty, Mr. Ryan Getty raised you for so many years. It's really ungrateful of you to treat him like this. You should apologize!"
Feeling proud, Ryan waved his hands and said, "Everyone, I don't deserve this, really!"
Francis sneered, "You don't deserve it, that's for sure."
Ryan's face darkened, struggling to keep up the act. "You little..." he started, but then thought better of it.
After a few coughs, Ryan changed his tone, "Francis, if you stay stubborn and unrepentant, there's nothing I can do. Since you don't respect me, I can no longer be your father. I hereby declare you have no relationship with the Getty Group. From now on, we go our separate ways. You live your life, and we won't interfere with each other!"
Ryan pretended to be heartbroken, wiping away fake tears. The crowd bought his act, and with his people stirring things up, someone spoke up, "Mr. Francis Getty, this is really too much. How can you treat Mr. Ryan Getty like this? After all, he raised you for so many years. How can you be so heartless?"
"Yeah, this time Mr. Francis Getty is really in the wrong. I used to admire his talent and ability, but now it seems his character and filial piety are lacking!"
"Such a person will have a hard time surviving in the market. No matter how talented, without a conscience, he will only be despised."
The crowd's comments made Ryan feel particularly smug, and he let his guard down.
Ryan smiled and said, "Francis, without our support in the future, you better rely on Audrey. With her, at least you won't worry about food and clothing."
Seeing Francis stay silent, Ryan thought he was stunned by the crowd's words and felt extremely pleased. Turning around, he ordered as the head of the Getty Family, "After today's wedding, you don't need to return to the Getty Mansion. After all, you're not a member anymore. It's not appropriate for you to live there. That place is only for those who are qualified."
Francis sneered, "Indeed, that place is only for those who are qualified. You and Keith are not."
"You!" Ryan was so angry he could only sputter. After a moment, Ryan cursed, "Bastard, how am I not qualified?"
"When you were Ryan Getty, you were indeed qualified. But have you forgotten your former name?" Francis said coldly, "Nolan Musk."
Ryan's face turned to utter shock. How could Francis know that name?
Back then, Dylan took Ryan's advice and, for Francis's mental well-being, made sure Francis believed he was Ryan's biological son. All evidence regarding Francis's true parentage was sealed away.
After Dylan passed away, Ryan personally pried open the safe and destroyed those documents.
Thinking this, Ryan felt a bit calmer. Maybe Francis had just heard some rumors and was trying to mess with him. No way he was falling for Francis's trick!
"Don't think you can slander me!" Ryan put his hands on his hips, trying to look righteous. "Anyone with a brain can see you're just mad and trying to smear me after finding out the truth!"
Francis's lips curled into a cold smile. "Nolan, what am I slandering you about? If you can't remember your identity, let me remind everyone..."
Before he could finish, Ryan was already panicking. "You little punk! I'll beat you to death. How dare you slander me?"
Ryan started fumbling to unbuckle his belt, but the more anxious he got, the harder it was to undo. He then picked up a shoe and threw it!
Unexpectedly, a bodyguard behind Francis kicked it back like a soccer ball. With a dull thud, the shoe hit Ryan in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Instantly, he wailed, "He's gone mad! Quickly, grab him and beat him up!"
Keith saw Ryan fall and hurriedly stepped forward, supporting his arm and back, asking with concern, "Dad, are you alright?"
How could Ryan say he was alright? He had to pretend to be hurt! Ryan groaned, "Oh, my chest hurts so much. I don't know if I've injured any internal organs."
Ryan's cries were pitiful, and Keith cooperated by accusing Francis. "You're really too much. My father raised you for so many years, and you have no conscience, allowing your men to hurt him!"
Francis's thin lips curled up as he retorted, "Isn't this called reaping what he sowed?"
Francis coldly observed the similar features between Ryan and Keith, sneering, "You and Ryan are both thieves. He is the one who truly wronged my grandfather after all these years of nurturing!"
Keith, unwilling to accept this, immediately wanted to jump up and grab Francis by the collar to beat him up. After all, the frail Francis was definitely no match for him.
Ryan, clutching his chest and panting heavily, pulled Keith back to stop him. He alone could play the clown and rogue here. He hoped Keith could maintain his gentle and elegant image.
"You ungrateful person. Now that your grandfather is gone, you think no one can control you." Ryan panted heavily, "Fine. Since that's the case, in front of guests here today, the Getty family has nothing to do with you anymore. You're on your own."
Then, Ryan ordered, "The expenses for this wedding came from the Getty family's account. Since he's being unreasonable, I don't have to maintain his dignity. Throw him out now. He is no longer a part of the family."
Hearing this, Audrey panicked first, her face turning pale, "Ryan, please don't!"
She didn't want to be a laughingstock on her wedding day.
Ryan once again put on a pained expression and said helplessly, "Audrey, it's not that I'm being ruthless. He has hurt me too deeply. Not only does he show no remorse, but he also tries to slander me!"
He patted his chest and incited, "I have conducted myself with integrity all these years. How could he think he can slander me?"
Francis cut off Ryan's impassioned speech, his eyes full of mockery. "Integrity? How dare you even mention that word, Nolan!"
The repeated mention of 'Nolan' finally caught everyone's attention. Why did Francis keep calling Ryan Nolan?
Everyone turned their gaze back to the stage, only to see Francis coldly narrate, "Nolan, you were abandoned on the streets due to illness as a child and were accidentally found by my grandpa. Seeing that you bore some resemblance to my biological father, Hayden, he brought you into the Getty family. Grandpa, feeling pity for your young age, announced to the public that you were his biological son."
He continued, "Later, in your thirteenth year with us, my parents died in a car accident. I had just been born. Seeing Grandpa's pity for me, you volunteered to raise me under your name, claiming it was for my benefit. In reality, you were just looking out for your own interests, wanting to use me to secure your position as the sole heir of the Getty family. I believe your sudden compromise last time was because Joseph told you about this, right?"
After Francis finished speaking, everyone present was shocked. They thought they were just attending a lavish wedding, but it turned out there was such a story behind it. So, Ryan was the adopted child of the Getty family, while Francis was the only true Getty here.
Ryan's body stiffened for a long time until Keith shook him awake. Keith quickly whispered in his ear, "So what if he knows? Without evidence, it’s useless. Who can prove he's the son of the deceased Hayden?"
Keith's words made Ryan snap back to reality. Yes, even if Francis knew this secret, so what? Everyone who could prove it was no longer alive. Moreover, everything related to Dylan in the house had been burned or destroyed. There was nothing left to verify DNA. What was he afraid of?
Calming down, Ryan sneered, "Francis, I didn't expect you to make up such a story just to claim the Getty family's property! You think knowing about Hayden's existence allows you to fabricate such a story? You are the one your grandpa adopted, and you put this story on me. It's utterly pathetic and ridiculous."
The two of them each stuck to their story, leaving the guests confused about whom to believe.
At this moment, a sudden round of applause came from the entrance of the banquet hall. A man in a suit walked from the door towards Ryan, clapping as he went. When Ryan saw the man's face, his eyes widened in disbelief.
The man stopped in front of Ryan and said coldly, "Long time no see."
Ryan's expression changed drastically. He was so shocked he couldn't close his mouth, repeatedly saying, "You, you, you... how are you still alive!"
Ryan couldn't believe it, blinking his eyes over and over. After he confirmed that the man in front of him was alive and real, his face turned increasingly pale.
The gentle man curled his lips into a cold smile and said, "If I weren't alive, how could I hear such a fascinating story? Your storytelling skills have indeed become more extraordinary."
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