Chapter 116 Fake

Grandpa Smith was taken aback to see Ethan withdrawing a contract, ready to tear it to pieces.

"The Aim Group project?" he echoed.

"What? Did Bernice Smith really land a deal from the Aim Group on that New Age Mansion lot?"

"That's a flagship project of the Aim Group! They're pretty much the leaders of the pack here in Boston!"

The crowd was visibly stunned by Ethan's announcement.

Ethan spoke calmly, "So you prefer Henry's ten-million-dollar deal to the Aim Group's project, worth a whopping one hundred and twenty million? Some high principles!"

"It's useless to me anyway. Once this is shredded, I'll be out of your hair."

With a determined grip, Ethan positioned his hands to rip the contract apart.

"Wait... How much? One hundred and twenty million?" Grandpa Smith exclaimed in urgency.

Henry was equally shocked, finding it unbelievable. 'How can Ethan possibly have secured a one hundred and twenty million dollar deal from the Aim Group to offer to the Smith family?'

"You're saying one hundred and twenty million just like that? Stop bluffing!" he scoffed.

"He fabricates stories about living in Sky Heaven, so claiming he's got a project from the Aim Group isn't beyond him."

"Grandpa, this guy's a con artist, get him out of here and have Bernice go have a drink with Mr. Henry," Christine said, her arms crossed as she coldly stared at Ethan like he was nothing but a poor excuse for a clown.

Bernice interjected, "Grandpa, it really is an Aim Group project. If you don't believe me, take a look..."

Grandpa Smith coughed awkwardly and reached out to Ethan with a strained smile, "Let me see that, I guess I got a little carried away earlier."

Ethan handed over the contract, and as Grandpa Smith inspected it, his mustache quivered uncontrollably.

Family members crowded around, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

Henry scoffed, "It's fake!"

"How can you tell?" Grandpa Smith inquired with a puzzled look.

"Look right here," Henry pointed at the signature line, "the project manager's signature is missing. What kind of contract is this?"

Sure enough, everyone saw the missing signature.

"Just as I thought, this guy is just posing, bringing a fake contract to fool everyone!"

"Damn it, this loser doesn't have real skills, but when it comes to deceit, he's full of tricks!"

"Tell me, how could Bernice have possibly secured a project from the Aim Group after crossing paths with Mario?"

"They think Ethan is the Aim Group's golden boy? As if Miss Anderson would trust him with a project worth $120 million. What a joke!"

Realizing they had been duped, the relatives erupted in anger, condemning the deception.

Grandpa Smith's face darkened, and he hurled the contract at Ethan, fuming, "You scoundrel, how dare you fabricate such nonsense!"

Bernice stood frozen, a revelation hitting her. Was it possible she had been fooled by Ethan too?

"No signature? Well, why don't we just add it?" Ethan nonchalantly grabbed a pen and signed his name on the document.

The whole spectacle left onlookers speechless.

"Is this guy an idiot? Faking a contract in front of all of us?"

"He even signs his own name. Does he think he owns the Aim Group?"

"What a hopeless case. I can't believe Bernice married a guy like this!"

Even Robert was at a loss for words, unable to fathom why Ethan was so intent on showboating. In the end, it seemed he was just setting himself up for humiliation.

After Ethan finished writing, he asked, "So, do you still want this contract, old man?"

Grandpa Smith said angrily. "Who do you think you are? Mario? Do you even have the authority to sign this?"

"Mario got fired by Ella. I'm now in charge of the project team," Ethan replied calmly. "So, yes, my signature is legally binding."

Grandpa Smith's anger turned into a bitter laugh. "You think you're so clever? Just snagged a two billion dollar mansion, then skimmed off 120 million from the Aim Group, and now you're parading as the project head? Do you take us all for three-year-olds that are easy to fool?"

Henry shook his head and added, "Grandpa Smith, your son-in-law here clearly doesn't see you as an authority. Maybe it's best to show him the door sooner rather than suffer further embarrassment."

"You're absolutely right, Henry!" Grandpa Smith spoke through clenched teeth.

Bernice couldn't help but feel frustrated and questioned, "Ethan, what exactly is going on?!"

She was aware that Ethan held the position of Deputy Head of Security at the Aim Group, but when had he become the project leader?

"What's going on? Haven't I made myself clear already? I don't want to explain it a second time." Ethan rolled up the contract impatiently and slapped it against his hand, showing blatant frustration.

"You don't want to explain again? I don't even want to see you a second time. Get out! Leave immediately!" Grandpa Smith snatched the contract from Ethan's hands and tore it to pieces in a fit of rage.

He scattered the shreds of paper into the air where they fluttered down like snow.

Ethan could have easily avoided the confrontation but allowed Grandpa Smith to tear up the contract without resistance.

Henry savored the moment, feeling vindicated. Ethan had undermined him on the cruise, but now, in front of the entire Smith family, Ethan was the one who had been utterly humiliated.

'How can Ethan show his face in the Smith family after this? How can he face Bernice?

Bernice will be filing for divorce right after turning her back.' Henry thought.

"Robert, take a look at your son-in-law, he's really ruffled the old man's feathers! He's dragged our family name through the mud!"

"I was dead against bringing him into this family from the get-go, but you wouldn't listen to me! Happy now?"

"If you're still Bernice's father, you'll have her divorce him tomorrow and say goodbye once and for all!"

Jane was beside herself with fury, loudly berating Robert.

Robert's face was a picture of embarrassment. He looked absolutely mortified, and it'd be a lie to say he wasn't bothered by it all.

"No way! If I had known my words would provoke such a mess, I would never have spoken up..."

"Looks like I'm the real villain here!"

"So ashamed, utterly ashamed!"

At this moment, Henry Teal was putting on quite the show, clutching his wrist and shaking his head with a deep sigh.

"Mr. Henry, there's no need to waste pity on that scoundrel. Divorcing him is actually a stroke of good fortune for Bernice!"

"Exactly, even if our Smith women were left on the shelf, we should never settle for marrying such a loser."

"Mr. Henry, you're too kind, even worrying about a loser like him."

Just then, someone came in with an announcement.

"Grandpa Smith, representatives from the Aim Group have arrived to celebrate your birthday!" the person said as he entered.

"What? People from the Aim Group are here?" Grandpa Smith exclaimed in surprise.

Christine cried out, "They must be here to hold someone accountable. Ethan, that idiot, faked a contract from the Aim Group, and he's going to pay for it. He's bringing disaster upon our entire Smith family!"

Everyone couldn't help but glare at Ethan with united anger. That idiot was really about to bring down the whole Smith family!