Chapter 334 A Twist of Fate
Shirley's expression froze. Her mood suddenly plummeted.
"Dad, I understand your concerns, but maybe it's not as bad as you think. If Mike wants to establish his career here on the Upper West Side, he must be serious about it."
"Since you worried about losing the family business, I think you don't need to be so concerned."
"After I marry Mike, we'll buy a house in the Upper West Side too!"
Kenneth let out a cold laugh.
"Buy a house? When? Who's going to buy it? With Mike's salary, even if he saves every penny for twenty years, he still won't be able to afford a house in the Upper West Side!"
Shirley bit her lip.After a long pause, she said, "I understand. I'll think about it carefully."
The night deepened.
The streets were sparsely populated.
Shirley wandered aimlessly, her spirits low.
A sudden screech of brakes sounded.
Shirley snapped back to reality and hurriedly bowed to the owner of the luxurious car.
"Sorry! I caused you trouble!"
The car had swerved sharply to avoid her, crashing its front into a tree, leaving a large dent.
A head poked out of the lowered window. The handsome man spoke nonchalantly, "Causing trouble is minor. If something had really happened, the world would have lost a beautiful young lady."Shirley's face flushed.
"What's your phone number? I'll pay for the damages."
"No need." The man stepped out of the car, his tall figure dressed sharply in a suit. "I was planning to get a new car anyway."
"Besides, this car was expensed for Ms. Wright. I should be happy about it."
Shirley was stunned, "You know me?"
"The most beautiful socialite in the Upper West Side, Shirley, who doesn't know that name?"
Shirley was about to speak when the man's phone rang.
He answered.On the other end was a barrage of angry words.
"Charles, have you forgotten your duty? Myron has been waiting at the kindergarten for three hours! Are you just going to leave him there?"
Charles smacked his forehead and said, "Oh, Watson, my bad. I got caught up! Don't worry, I'll go pick up Myron right away!"
With that, he waved at Shirley and said,"See you around!"
Shirley made up her mind to have a serious talk with Mike.Because she truly wanted to be with Mike.
On the day Mike finally agreed to meet Shirley, she made sure to wear her best makeup.
However, the moment she saw him, he asked, "Did your dad decide not to let me join your family business?"Shirley was taken aback, then smiled brightly."Mike, I think you might have misunderstood."
"What did I misunderstand?" Mike's tone was somewhat aggressive, "Shirley, I do like you, but I can't abandon my roots and join your family!"
"The contradiction between us is not related to quit in our relationship. "
Mike angrily retorted, "Am I not clear enough? I'm an only child, I can't..."
Shirley interrupted him, "You're an only child, but so am I."
"You always talk about yourself. Have you ever considered things from my perspective?"
"The Wright family business is so vast, how could it be abandoned just like that! It's the legacy of generations of the Wright family!"
Mike scoffed, his voice laced with self-mockery. "Then why are you telling me all this? You might as well find a wealthy family in the Upper West Side, like the Curtis family or the North family. Don't they meet your dad's standards?"
Shirley looked at him in disbelief.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"If I really wanted to be with them, would I need to go through all this trouble? Would I need to come here and say all this to you?"
"Mike, if you really want to marry me, we need to sit down and talk things through! Don't just throw me aside to solve everything on my own when something goes wrong!"
Mike said decisively, "Then I don't think there's anything more to say. If even you can't convince your dad, how could I possibly..."
"How do you know it's impossible if you haven't tried?" Shirley interrupted him.
Mike took a deep breath and looked at her seriously, saying,"Then tell me, what do you want me to do?"
"It's not about what I want you to do, but you need to have a clear goal," Shirley said.
"As long as my dad approves of you, all problems will be solved."
"How can I get his approval? I'm just a poor guy, I..." Mike paused, losing some of his courage.
"You're doing well in your current position at the company. Please complete the tasks my dad assigns you!" Shirley held his hand, her gaze firm."Trust me, we'll walk this path together!"
Mike looked at her, his eyes complicated.
He knew all too well that with his current background, becoming a part of the Wright family as their son-in-law was nearly impossible.
That night, Mike went to a bar to drink.
He rarely came to such high-end places, even though Shirley had arranged a decent job for him, he didn't dare to spend money recklessly.
As the night wore on, Mike drank heavily, drowning his sorrows. Normally, he could handle a dozen beers, but tonight even a small glass of liquor left him slumped over the table.
Around him, unfamiliar voices gossiped,"Did you hear? The most famous socialite in the Upper West Side, Shirley, has taken a liking to a poor guy! It's hilarious!"
"Maybe she was tricked by sweet talk. After all, Shirley is still young."
"Tricked? She's the daughter of the Wright family, coming from a wealthy background. How many of them have straightforward intentions? Who knows what she's planning!"
"Exactly. Shirley surely knows what she's doing. She's a woman, no matter who she marries, the Wright family fortune will end up in the husband's hands."
"She might as well find someone to join their family and have a son with her surname. In twenty years, the Wright family will still be in her control."
"Since you mention it, that does seem likely!"
"Of course! Shirley has been exposed to all sorts of people since she was young. I heard Mr. Tan recently selected fifty to sixty portraits of eligible bachelors from prominent families for her. How could she be interested in a man of limited means? She must have an ulterior motive!"
"Speaking of which, the Wright family business is really vast."
"Yes, it's flourishing. At this rate, they might soon rival the Curtis family, the top family!"
Everyone glanced to the side.They saw a drunken man smashing a bottle on the ground, staggering out.
In a secluded alley, a man's painful growl echoed.
Mike punched the wall repeatedly, his knuckles already bleeding.
He roared, "Shirley, how dare you play me?"
