Chapter 522
"Guess who I encountered at the bar yesterday," Richard announced as he and Liam made their abrupt entrance. His words hung in the air, a tantalizing mystery, until his gaze fell upon Cassie and Joseph. His throat tightened, words suddenly elusive. Hadn't Joseph been absent from the mansion of late?
Liam, ever the picture of calm, merely cast a glance in Joseph's direction before taking a seat beside Walter.
"Who was it?" Grandma inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Richard drew a deep breath, his earlier enthusiasm replaced by a sudden hunger. "Actually... never mind. Rosalind, would you be so kind as to prepare my meal?"
Walter shot him a disapproving glare. "You spend too much time at the bar. Have you not noticed the subsidiary's declining performance? Why can't you take a leaf out of Joseph's book? Look at how well he's managing the Hernandez company."
Liam's countenance darkened, his teeth grinding in silent frustration. No matter his efforts, Grandpa seemed blind to his merits.
Richard, however, remained unfazed. "If everyone were as exceptional as Joseph, Madison would be teeming with billionaires," he retorted.
"That's true," Grandma conceded with a sigh, her gaze drifting to Cassie's belly. A smile bloomed on her face. "But Cassie's baby will undoubtedly inherit its father's superior genes."
Joseph tenderly stroked Cassie's hair, his voice soft. "The child's inheritance is of little consequence, as long as the baby is safe."
"That's true," Grandma agreed.
Liam stole a glance at Cassie, his thoughts a fleeting shadow.
"Speaking of children, Liam," Grandma began, deftly steering the conversation towards her other grandson. "Now that Joseph is expecting a child, when do you plan on finding a girlfriend and settling down? I've been considering the Lewis family's daughter..."
"Grandma, please, no more matchmaking," Liam protested, his hands covering his ears. "I've already endured several blind dates with the Chamberlain family's daughters. I'm going crazy."
Walter's brows furrowed. "Who did the Chamberlain family introduce you to?"
"Various shareholders' daughters from our company, as well as daughters of the Chamberlain family's shareholders."
"And what are your thoughts?" Walter's voice took on a chilling edge.
Liam felt a sinking sensation in his chest. "I have no plans to marry at the moment."
"Remember, you are a Hernandez," Walter reminded him coldly. "The Hernandez family is nurturing you, not grooming you to be a pawn for the Chamberlain family's alliances. The Chamberlain family won't allow outsiders to infiltrate the core of their company."
Liam shivered, his gaze dropping to his plate.
In truth, Liam had been wavering. He felt undervalued in the Hernandez family. Perhaps he could find a place in the Chamberlain family, but they already had Felix, a complex character. Even if he did switch sides, he would likely be relegated to a lower status. He felt like a man without a home.
Following dinner, Walter rose from his seat. "Joseph, join me in the study."
Joseph frowned, turning to Cassie. "You go ahead. I'll join you later."
"No need," Cassie responded, her voice indifferent as she walked away.
In the study, Walter sighed. "The Chamberlain family isn't even bothering to hide their ambitions anymore. They're attempting to forge a marriage alliance with Liam. What's your take on this?"
"As long as the Hernandez family doesn't hinder me, I don't care," Joseph replied.
Walter fell silent. Perhaps it had been a mistake to invite Joseph to the study. The man had a knack for driving others to the brink of insanity.
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