Chapter 408 Refusing the Engagement
The matriarch, satisfied with Lawrence, raised her hand first. "I agree with Bob's decision." The various branches below were all watching, not wanting to offend Mars and Bryan, the two major factions. Bryan sneered, "Bob, the Rodriguez family is the number one conglomerate in the country. What does Lawrence have as a basis to take over? Does he have family influence behind him?" "That's right. Plus, Bryan's wife's family is the second-largest family in the country, the Jenkins family. To take over such a conglomerate, one must have strong support," Mars chimed in, seeming to speak fairly. Lawrence lifted his gaze and coldly stated, "Mars just said he would support me wholeheartedly, right? Your most profitable companies should be the first to be handed over to me then." Bob looked at Lawrence. Since his son walked in, this was the first thing he said, jokingly and yet hitting the point. Upon hearing Lawrence's remark, Hellen's expression froze and Mars also turned cold as he responded through gritted teeth, "Sure, but Father, I don't have the final say in the company. Lawrence needs to ask for the opinions of the other CEOs. If they agree, I will fully support." Lawrence remained silent, sharp and discerning. It wasn't hard to see that he was grasping the power of these factions. Bob frowned and didn't express his stance. In that moment, Bryan stood up first and smiled at Bob. "If Lawrence wants to take control, he should find a powerful backer. As Mars said, he is not familiar with the bosses of the company. How can he win them over when he's new here? Isn't that right, Bob? It seems like this decision can't be made today." When he stood up, those below followed suit, understanding the situation. Bob's eyes turned cold as he retorted, "The Rodriguez family is under my authority. I have made the appointment, and Lawrence will become the CEO of the company soon!" "We'll see if he can handle it," Bryan scoffed, glancing meaningfully at Mars before leaving with a smile. The people who were present from the Rodriguez family also left one by one after Bryan. Bob seemed quite tired after the whole intense confrontation. He first escorted the matriarch back to her residence but before that he turned to Lawrence and instructed, "Lawrence, wait for me in the study." As the matriarch passed by Lawrence, she looked at her tall and handsome grandson as she encouraged him, "I see that you are fearless, Lawrence. You are extraordinary. Keep it up!" Finally, Lawrence's lips curved slightly, not appearing as cold anymore. "Grandma, take care," he uttered gently.
Mars looked on coldly at their interaction. After Bob left, Lawrence found a sofa to sit on. Mars sauntered slowly, cigarette between his lips. "Lawrence, regarding your son's kidnapping, there's been a misunderstanding. As Bob clarified, it was my associates from West Iron Group who intervened, not me orchestrating the abduction. Please disregard it. Also, Darcy deliberately seduced me. She said you couldn't satisfy her, and in a moment of confusion, I slept with her, embarrassing you at the wedding. Please overlook that as well." Lawrence flicked off some ash off his cigarette butt and looked up with an icy gaze. "No way. Last time, the pirated chips caused West Iron Group to go bankrupt. If you didn't hesitate to flee back to the empire, why would I?" Mars's hand holding the cigarette tightened, and a fierce, sinister gleam flashed in the corner of his eyes. He smiled and replied through gritted teeth, "Brother, we still have a long way to go. You need to establish yourself in the Rodriguez family." "Just worry about yourself." Lawrence extinguished his cigarette, his tone calm. Mars regarded him as a constant headache and left, returning to Hellen's room. Hellen was reprimanding Amy sharply, expressing her disappointment. "You're already married and a mother. How can you still be so foolish? Mars and I are boosting Lawrence while agitating Bryan's discontent, getting each branch to suppress Lawrence. If I don't do that, your father will be in a difficult situation! And yet, you interrupted our plan so foolishly." "How was I supposed to know that was your plan?" Amy retorted, annoyed.
"All right, Hellen," Mars intervened, pulling Amy away. "Amy was just worried about me!" With a cunning glint in his eyes, he added, "Even if Lawrence comes back, it won't be so easy for him to seize power in the Rodriguez family." Hellen narrowed her eyes and responded, "Bob values this illegitimate child. However, your faction within the group is not something Lawrence can easily break apart overnight. And there's Bryan and the other branches, all with some influence. It will be difficult for Lawrence to secure that seat, unless he suddenly gains strong support." "Don't worry, Hellen. As long as I'm in the group, the Rodriguez family will provide the best cooperation to the Peterson family," Mars said, expressing his loyalty. Hellen gazed deeply into Mars's features, as if she saw someone else. Her gaze softened. "Mars, the Rodriguez family is yours." Mars took a deep drag of his cigarette, his expression turning cold. - In the study. Bob sat down in front of Lawrence and cleared his throat. "As you can see, the Rodriguez family is the top family in the country, but internally it's not as smooth as it appears. Since your grandfather's passing, I have been in power, but over the past dozen years, there has been division and hidden dangers. Son, I brought you back to eradicate and suppress. It's something I can't do, but you can! "But now, if you want to make a breakthrough into the group, I have fewer shares in my hand, only 30%. If you can marry the daughter of the Blanchet family, Mr. Blanchet Sr. has 5% shares of the Rodriguez family, then you will be unstoppable. My health is deteriorating, and before any unexpected changes occur, I must ensure that you firmly hold this position... Mars and Bryan's group, have you taken a good look at them?" Lawrence nodded, half-closing his eyes casually, and refused, "I won't marry anyone, it's not necessary. If you believe in me, I will settle the Rodriguez family matters for you within a month. If you don't trust me, I'll leave now." For Lawrence, he still valued marriage and had someone he wanted to marry, but that woman refused to remarry him. His eyes were filled with coldness. Moreover, he was not a free man now, having sold himself for two years. "Lawrence, the Rodriguez family is not as simple as you think," Bob persuaded again. "You urgently need a strong alliance. I have already talked to Mr. Blanchet Sr. and you should meet their young lady." Lawrence stood up and buttoned his suit jacket, his expression showing indifference. "I came back to inherit the Rodriguez family because of my mother's wish. I don't care about the group, but I can help you manage it well. However, on personal matters, don't expect me to comply with your demands. Just provide me with the Blanchet family's contact information, and I'll handle the rejection myself. That's all. I have other obligations to attend to today, so I'll take my leave. I'll assume my position at the Rodriguez family group tomorrow." "Hellen has arranged a villa for you. As the heir of the Rodriguez family, it's better for you to live there from now on," Bob said, feeling helpless, and immediately stood up to ask again, "I heard that your mother is recovering from her injuries. How is she doing?" Lawrence paused, his expression turning cold. "She... will be fine." As Lawrence departed from the Rodriguez family estate, he made his way along Camellia Mount, intent on finding Jeremy. The mountain sprawled with expansive, winding roads, and it wasn't until the middle of the ascent that other family mansions began to dot the landscape. Lawrence glanced casually and saw the word "Blanchet." It seemed that the marriage alliance that Bob mentioned was with the Blanchet family. He didn't pay much attention to it and quickly withdrew his gaze. "Lawrence, that is the Blanchet family's mansion," the driver remarked, noting his gaze and offering the introduction with astute attention to his expressions. Lawrence glanced at the location Jeremy had given him. Inside the Blanchet Mansion— On the second floor near the window, Ishara pulled back the curtains slightly and watched as the discreet red-flagged car, symbolizing the power of the Rodriguez family, drove by. In her hand, the girl held a phone with the news page displaying Lawrence's return to Trento City, causing a stir in the Trento City business and debutante circles. With his return, Lawrence's prestigious identity overwhelmed her heart. It was natural to be infatuated with such a handsome and powerful man. Soon, he would be hers. Ishara smirked; her doe-like eyes sparkling as she sent him a text message. Claire approached, softly knocking on the door, her brows furrowed. "Miss, I have some bad news..."
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