There’s wine and cigars. Benjamin, sell them to the kiosks outside our area tomorrow. Let’s see how much we can get for them.

Benjamin, who had been silent, agreed.

“Mom, is this necessary? We’re family. Why make things so awkward?” Thea asked softly.

“What do you know?” Gladys shouted.

“I’ve had enough! This is excellent! Now, I don’t have to play by their rules anymore. And David, you’d better buck up. Forget about your job at Eternality and get a new one. We’ll be fine without the Callahans.”

“Okay,” David replied quietly, hanging his head.

James yawned. He hadn’t slept a wink after last night’s excitement.

“Thea, I’m going to take a nap in our room.”

Thea waved her hand.

“Go on.”

She then took out her phone and watched the live stream of the Blithe King’s succession ceremony.

James entered Thea’s room. He had been staying there for a while, sleeping on the floor. Instinctively, he reached for the mat in the wardrobe, but since Thea was out, he fell onto the bed.

At the Callahans’ villa, the family returned, looking pitiful.

Lex began smoking. The other family members looked furious. They blamed Benjamin, insulted Gladys, and made disparaging remarks about the family.

“Enough!” Lex roared.

Silence fell immediately.

Lex took a drag from his pipe. “Transfer twenty percent of the shares to Benjamin and his family. Wait until they’ve cooled down to send the contract. Howard, deliver it by hand. You have to earn the entire family’s forgiveness.”

The Callahans panicked.

“Dad, are you insane? Twenty percent! How could we give it to them like that?”

“Exactly, Grandfather! On what grounds? The entire family is useless. We built this business from the ground up. Why should we give it to them?”

“What? Are you disobeying me?” Lex roared.

“I’m not dead yet! As the head of the family, I decide who gets the shares. And get Thea. Howard, make her executive chairman again. You’ll assist her. Ensure you maintain a healthy relationship with Celestial. As long as we’re on good terms with Celestial, our business will only improve.”

“Yes, Dad,” Howard replied, looking down. He was unwilling, but knew his father’s word was law.

Lex continued, “My eightieth birthday is in a few days. I want the banquet at the Cansington Hotel. Reserve an entire floor. Make it as grand as possible and invite all the VIPs we know.”

“Dad, how much are we planning to spend?” Howard asked.

Lex considered it. “Thirty million. Howard, you’re in charge. I want it to be lavish. Cansington should know we’re not second-rate, but a true upper-class family. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Dad. I’ll do as you say.” Howard nodded, secretly pleased. With thirty million available for the banquet, he could easily embezzle a few million. No one would be the wiser.

“Alright, that’s all,” Lex said, rising and heading upstairs.

After he left, the remaining Callahans conferred.

John said quietly, “Bro, with Dad giving Benjamin twenty percent and making Thea executive chairman, I think he’s grooming her to be his heir.”

Howard glanced at him.

“What are you saying, John?”

“I’m worried for you, bro. As the eldest son, you should be the heir. At Dad’s age, he hasn’t got much time left. If he dies, won’t all our assets go to Thea?”

Howard waved his hand. “John, this is Dad’s decision. We should support him. As for the heir, Dad has the final say, got it?”

“Got it. I might have overreacted.”

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