"Furthermore, if the company is handed over to and becos mine, only then will I think about how to develop it and make it stronger. If it’s not mine, then what does it matter if I destroy it? After all, if I can’t have it, then destroying it is my usual way of doing things. Don’t you know this by now? This is just the beginning. You should think carefully; if you disagree with my earlier suggestion, I have no idea what will happen next." Claude shrugged and said.
"Are you threatening ?" Bart looked at Claude in disbelief and said.
"You can understand it that way, but I’d rather you see it as a collaboration between us. Among all your children, is there anyone more suited to this position than ? There isn’t. So why can’t you be honest with yourself? Admit that you’re old, admit that your children can’t compare to , and admit that I’m your best choice. Wouldn’t that be better?" Claude said, looking at Bart with an incomprehensible expression.
"I’m much older than you; I’ve seen all sorts of storms and waves. Do you really think your little tricks can affect ? You’re too naive! Not to ntion, I still have the ability to cultivate an heir. Even if I am old, based on your actions today, I won’t hand the company over to you." Bart said angrily.
"If that’s what you insist on doing, then I have nothing to say. I just wanted to resolve our issues in a relatively peaceful way. If peace isn’t an option, I’m not opposed to more forceful thods." In contrast to Bart’s agitation, Claude appeared much calr, with only a faint smile in his eyes as he looked at Bart, making Bart feel like he was a re clown.
"Get out; you’re not welco here." Bart said viciously.
"Mm-hmm, fine." Even at this point, Claude’s face showed no trace of negative emotion; in fact, he exuded a palpable air of joy. Such a deanor from Claude was unsettling. Bart would have preferred for Claude to stand and argue with him rather than see him smiling, which was frightening and unsettling.
Sure enough, as Claude reached the door, he stopped, turned around and said with a smile, "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, I’ve taken care of those disappointing children you left outside. If you want to train soone now, it’s only those living with you in the manor. You won’t be able to train anyone else."
After saying this, Claude paused for a few seconds, enjoying Bart’s ugly expression, and then left with a smiling face.
Bart, still standing in the room, looked as if he’d been struck by lightning, completely losing control over his facial expressions. His wrinkled face appeared grim and terrifying. "Claude! Claude, how dare you do this? How dare you! I won’t let you get away with this." Bart looked at the open door and spoke with a tone as if he wished to grind his teeth to dust, speaking with great force.
"Are you just leaving like this? Aren’t you afraid that your old man might ruin the company and leave you with nothing, making all your efforts in vain?" Xu Ke followed behind Claude, speaking quietly in Claude’s ear as others looked on with curiosity.
"Hahaha, do you think he’s like you? He doesn’t have the guts to destroy the Calvin Family. He only talks tough; at most, he’ll struggle a bit unwillingly. We just need to strike hard next ti, and once we nail a wedge into him, he’ll start behaving." Claude said with a slight smile and a note of certainty in his voice.
"Rest assured, I won’t ss this up." Claude gave Xu Ke a slightly teasing smile.
This move by Claude was nothing if not ruthless, and Bart fell ill.
Even though he couldn’t quite rember how many children he actually had or feel deeply for them, it didn’t an he could accept the fact that all his children outside the manor had disappeared without a trace.
The company Bart managed fell into chaos for a while, and Claude had no father-son feelings to speak of; his actions were a classic case of kicking a man while he’s down. Initially planning to toy with Bart slowly, he had instead administered a heavy dose of relentless pressure, leaving Bart unable to find peace even during his recovery.
He genuinely placed his hopes on the children residing within the manor, but to Claude, they were still too immature. Moreover, Claude had no intention of giving them space or ti to grow. If Bart didn’t make a decision soon, the company would face its greatest crisis since inception.
Bart felt like he was standing at the edge of a cliff, with his son, Claude, wielding a weapon opposite him. If he dared to take one step forward, it would spell his doom, yet staying still seed likely to result in a push over the edge.
Bart sat in the study, eyes closed for a long while before letting out a deep sigh, "Call Claude and tell him I need to speak with him; have him co over." Bart instructed.
"Yes, sir." The old butler nodded and left, casting a glance at Bart’s much thinner face and pallor, with deep concern in his eyes.
This ti Claude’s arrival was in stark contrast to the last. Previously, he showed up uninvited, but now he was fashionably late. Bart’s patience had waned as he waited in the study, even as the hot water in his teacup turned cold before Claude finally arrived.
"Sorry, but those two cannot enter; the master wants to see you alone." The butler’s body blocked Claude, speaking respectfully.
"They’re with . Wherever I go, they go. If you don’t let them in, then I won’t go in either." Claude nonchalantly replied, playing with the lighter in his hand.
The delicate little lighter danced through his fingers, the fiercely burning fla brushing against his skin, seemingly capable of burning him each ti, yet each ti it dared not inflict any harm, adhering instead to the precise path he dictated.
Claude’s voice wasn’t low, and the study door wasn’t tightly shut, allowing Bart inside to easily hear Claude’s voice. Realizing his dear son was once again trying to establish dominance, Bart could only bitterly swallow this indignity, pretending nothing had happened.
"Let them in," Bart said, rubbing his slightly aching forehead.
The old butler obeyed, stepping aside, and with a click, Claude put away the lighter, glancing at the old butler with a faint smile before entering.
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