Chapter 114 A Slap in the Face

Henry, however, showed magnanimity and gestured dismissively, "Let it go, let it go. Today is a day of celebration. There's no need for conflict."

"What a pair of losers, both he and his wife," Christine sneered with contempt, "One's a troublemaker and the other's nothing but a loss-maker!"

Ethan replied coolly, "Christine, when it comes to making a bad deal, I doubt anyone could outdo you, right?"

Christine frowned and challenged, "What do you mean by that? Show me the evidence!"

"The Cam Mount property, you sold it all in one go. Do you realize how much loss that caused? At least two billion!" Ethan said.

Christine burst into laughter upon hearing this, "Loss?"

"Ridiculous! That Cam Mount property is a godforsaken land, yet you're telling me I lost two billion by selling it? You truly have the nerve to say that."

Ethan responded calmly, "The Cam Mount land has been designated for future development. By selling now, you've overlooked a tremendous opportunity for the Smith Group to have a phoenix-like resurgence."

"What? Are you serious? Cam Mount is part of future development plans?" Their relatives joined in the laughter.

"Ethan's lost his mind, saying such things just to defend Bernice! Last time, he certainly paid over eight million dollars to buy out my contract. What a fool!" A woman explained to the other relatives, her face full of mockery and disdain.

Henry couldn't help but join in, "Are you joking?"

"The Bush family has a significant influence in Boston, even in Massachusetts!"

"How come I've never heard such news?"

"You, a mere prison guard, how could you have such information? What are you, some illegitimate son of a national leader? Hahaha—"

Bernice tugged Ethan harshly, furrowing her brows, "Enough! I know you're saying this to help me out, but don't get caught up in your lies!"

"Let's end it here, and don't mention 'land' to me again." With that said, Bernice turned and walked into the house.

The others jeered before following her inside.

Henry whispered sneeringly into Ethan's ear, "Listen here, you little runt, our issue isn't settled! If you're smart, get on your knees now, call me 'Daddy', and swear off Barbara. Then maybe I'll let this slide. Otherwise, don't blame me if you're humiliated later on."

Ethan, facing Henry, asked bluntly, "Are you an idiot?"

Ethan's words caught Henry off guard, and just as he was about to flare up with anger, Ethan had already turned and entered the mansion.

"Forget about that loser, Henry. He's just a freeloader. Without the Smith family to support him, he'd be begging on the streets!" Christine said with contempt.

Henry chuckled coldly. "Soon, I'll make that guy embarrass himself so badly, he won't ever dare to put on airs in front of me again."

At this, Christine's face lit up with joy. She had already taken an intense dislike to Ethan, especially after having humiliatingly lost a bet to him and being forced to kneel and call him "Dad."

The prospect of Henry, such a powerful figure, putting Ethan in his place was almost enough to make her cheer aloud!

Today, Grandpa Smith was dressed in a festive suit, greeting all the guests warmly and thanking them for their attendance.

"Why are you here? Have you already sorted out the matter that you were supposed to take care of?" Grandpa Smith asked with a stern face upon seeing Bernice and Ethan.

"Grandfather, it's all been taken care of." Bernice forced a smile and nodded, "Mario has been fired by Miss Anderson, and we secured a project as well..."

Christine walked up at this point and sneered, "A project? You didn't just pick some trivial few hundred-thousand-dollar deals to pass off as an achievement, did you?

"Yeah, with your mediocre skills and your good-for-nothing husband, what kind of substantial contract could you possibly secure for the Smith Group?

"Grandfather, this is Mr. Henry Bush, a renowned figure from Massachusetts and an heir to the Bush Boxing legacy. He's here to celebrate your birthday."

Upon hearing this, Grandpa Smith's face lit up. The Bush family was not a name to scoff at, especially Henry's pharmaceutical company, it was valued in the billions!

Bernice had been ready to explain the details of the two projects they had secured, but Grandpa Smith was eager to greet Henry, had dismissed her and moved on.

Ethan shook his head silently. It was only due to Robert's substantial influence within the family that prevented Bernice from being ousted from the Smith Group.

Quietly, Bernice set down her carefully selected birthday gift and stepped aside.

Ethan hoped for a touch of empathy from Bernice. Even if she didn't believe in him, he wished she could refrain from giving him those icy glares.

'It doesn't matter, I'll wait for the right time to part ways,' Ethan mused calmly to himself.

At the party, everyone gathered to celebrate Grandpa Smith's birthday, offering their congratulations.

Henry laughed, "Grandpa Smith, I've got a special gift for you!"

"Oh? You're too generous, Henry..." Grandpa Smith said, rubbing his hands together with a smile.

"Our Pharmaceuticals has a ten-million-dollar deal that we'd like to offer to Smith Enterprises as my way of congratulating you," Henry announced.

Grandpa Smith was elated, "Well, that..."

"But I have one condition," Henry interjected.

"Speak your mind, Henry," Grandpa Smith prompted.

Henry glanced at Bernice and then at Ethan, smiling knowingly, "I've long admired Miss Bernice, CEO of Smith Enterprises. However, I hear that she is currently promised to another man, and I must admit I am a bit disappointed...

"So, I wish to give a kiss on Miss Bernice's cheek, to settle my inner regret. After this kiss, I will gladly hand over the ten-million-dollar deal!"

Henry's gaze landed on Ethan as he spoke, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

Back on the cruise, he had warned Ethan, but Ethan went ahead and called over Barbara, which seriously offended Henry.

Henry was not someone who could be easily brushed aside. If he suffered an insult, he intended to get even—and with interest.

That was why he was here today at Grandpa Smith's grand 80th birthday celebration.

The crowd was shocked, exchanging bewildered glances.

Relatives of the Smith family took pleasure in Ethan's potential embarrassment. They looked at him, thinking that he was about to lose face completely, and maybe, just maybe, he'd soon find himself in an awkward situation...

As a mere corrections officer, how could he compete with the scion of the wealthy Bush family?

Bernice, upon hearing Henry's proposal, was visibly stunned but then it suddenly made sense. She was just being used by Henry as a pawn to get back at Ethan! Irritation flared within her. Why did Ethan have to provoke Henry in the first place...

He had been warned yesterday to not stir up trouble!

Robert's expression darkened at the thought. If word got out, it wouldn't just be Bernice's reputation that would be tarnished; Ethan would also lose face.

Jane, on the other hand, was pleasantly surprised. "What? I had no idea that Henry genuinely had feelings for Bernice!"

"If only he had confessed earlier, then Ethan wouldn't even be here…"