Chapter 110 David Valdemar is Returning Back
After the screeching brakes, there was a moment of silence on the phone. James and his son Albert were locked in a standoff that felt like forever.
Albert's presence was intense, every breath defiant.
Finally, after who knows how long, James calmed down enough to speak, his voice still stiff.
"David's coming back. When he does, you should come too. We can have a family dinner."
Albert, having clashed with James for years, knew from his tone that he'd won this round.
He restarted the car, hit the gas, and took a deep breath. A sneer curled his lips as he replied, dripping with sarcasm.
"You can have your family dinner. What’s that got to do with me?"
"Albert, we've always treated you as family. It's you who doesn't want to see us as family!"
"Since you know that, why are you still looking for me?" Albert's voice was cold.
"Even if you're not as good as David, you're still our family."
Albert let out a cold laugh, ignoring the comment. He stared straight ahead, driving steadily, while James's voice echoed in the car.
"You rebelled against the family's plans and insisted on becoming a pilot. Now that you are one, we don't force you to take over the company. I just hope you can come back and see us, so we can all get along as a family, but you still refuse. Albert, what is it that you really want?"
Albert stayed silent.
"You have dreams, and so does David. He's been responsible, working overseas for the family company for years."
Albert remained silent.
"He's very busy abroad, but he still manages to come back a few times a year. What about you? We're in the same city, and you haven't visited me once in all these years! Albert, you never show me any respect as your father!"
James's voice grew angrier, and Albert could even hear him pounding his chest a few times.
"It doesn't matter if I respect you or not. Isn't it enough that your precious David respects you?"
"You two are brothers. Can't you learn from him?"
"We may be brothers, but we don't share the same traits. He takes after you." Albert's eyes flashed with disdain. "Grandpa's health is failing, and David has been currying favor with him in the company, getting a lot of things for you, hasn't he? You two really are a perfect father and son."
"You can't talk about your father and brother like that. When will you understand the meaning of 'family'?"
Albert pressed his lips together, a fleeting image of a once-happy family of four crossing his mind, his gaze turning cold and sharp.
"Either way, I'm not part of this family."
"If you're not part of the family, then why do you use our connections?"
In the end, he could only use this to squash him.
"Those are my mom's friends."
"They're still family connections!"
Albert couldn't be bothered to argue any further and hung up the phone with a cold face. He could almost picture James's furious expression on the other end.
Thinking the matter was over and he could have some peace, Albert was surprised when another call came in from an unknown number shortly after James's call ended.
Not many people knew Albert's private number, so to avoid missing an important call, he answered despite his irritation.
Lisa Moore's gentle voice came through. "Albert, it's Aunt Moore. Is this a good time?"
Lisa, James's current wife.
"I know you don't want to see me, so tell James to stop calling."
"Your father called because he misses you, Albert. Don't make him angry," Lisa sighed, her voice dripping with fake gentleness. "His health isn't good now. Even if you don't want to go along with him, don't upset him on purpose."
"His health isn't good?" Albert raised an eyebrow, laughing mockingly. "Aren't you still trying to have a baby through IVF? His health should be fine; he won't die just yet."
"Albert, don't say that."
Lisa's voice instantly became weak and pitiful, making Albert feel disgusted.
"Don't call my name. Lisa, you'd better tell him to stop calling me, or he'll be dead from anger before you get pregnant, and all your efforts to marry into a wealthy family will be in vain."
"I'm not trying to compete for the family inheritance. Your father just thinks it's a pity I don't have my own child, and he loves me enough to want me to have one."
"Really?" Albert's lips tightened. "You also said you weren't trying to compete with my mom for her husband. So how did you end up as Mrs. Valdemar?"
"Your mother's situation has nothing to do with me."
Albert didn't want to hear anything about his mom from Lisa. "This is the last time I'm warning you. Tell James to stop contacting me, or there will be consequences."
Albert parked the car by the roadside, got out, and leaned against the car door, lighting a cigarette with a frown.
Through the swirling smoke, Albert squinted, recalling the year after the car accident.
His grandparents had come to Luken to take care of him and David. Although the living conditions weren't as good as when they were with their parents, they managed to live a peaceful life despite the sadness.
Until one day, Albert came home from school to find James and Lisa in the living room, dressed in expensive clothes.
They sat side by side, exuding arrogance, as if they were there to bestow charity.
David sat on a chair opposite them, his head down, not saying a word. His grandparents even poured two glasses of water and handed them over.
Without a word, Albert took the two glasses of warm water.
James immediately smiled. "It seems Albert still misses his dad and..."
Before James could finish, Albert threw the two glasses of water in his and Lisa’s faces with great force.
Lisa screamed, pretending to shield James, which moved him, and he stood up to slap Albert.
If it weren't for David and his grandparents stopping him, that slap would have landed heavily on Albert's face.
"Albert, do you know what you're doing?!"
"Of course." Young Albert's face was still innocent, but his eyes were full of hatred for James and Lisa. "I just wish the water had been boiling instead of warm."
James's anger intensified. "I'm here to take you and David home. Your grandpa has built up our family business, and I'm here to bring you back to a wealthy life, and you throw water at me?"
"If you come again, I promise the next time it'll be boiling water."
James stormed off. "You're ungrateful!!"
The smoke blurred Albert's vision.
David is coming back?
But what does that have to do with him?
After their grandparents passed away, the moment David chose to side with James, they were no longer brothers.
In his eyes, David was a traitor.
A traitor who betrayed him and his mom, just as despicable as James.
