Bring Your A Game, Mr

"Good job, Bubba!" After taking the flash drive from him, Elise gave Irvin a big sloppy kiss on the cheek.

"Next time, I'm going to charge you for battling on your behalf, Mommy," said the boy as he wiped the saliva away with contempt.

Since knowing the homework was Elise's duel, Irvin had been nagging non-stop about being tricked.

"Aw, come on, Boo Bear, must we do this? Am I not your mother?" Elise had no intention of paying the little man.

"Use Daddy's money then." Irvin was stretching his hands toward Alexander in the first place.

He made a face in a grievance. "My experiments use up a ton of money. Besides, Mr. Jamie's still in Caverdon, isn't he? Who's to say my medicine can't excite his nerves and wake him up?! If I really achieve success, we don't have to worry about losing a partner like BJ Biotech. If anything, I have this family's best interest at heart." Irvin had used every trick in his book to fish as much money as possible.

Meanwhile, Elise nodded barely noticeably. Trevor had been in a coma for seven years. Though his organs could return to top shape, they could no longer withstand further torment, and the poor man would be as good as dead if he didn't wake up soon.

"Alright then, your daddy's allowance for the next half of the year is all yours," Elise announced generously, leading the boy's eyes to glow.

"How much are we talking about?"

"About a little over ten million," Elise stated, causing Irvin to click his tongue in disdain.

"That's it?! Daddy's really broke."

"Excuse you!" Alexander couldn't help wanting to make his presence known.

"Make your own money if you think that's not enough." Elise could save all the trouble.

"No! I'll take it!" Irvin took the win at once. "Ten million is better than nothing. I'm happy with that."

Elise smiled plainly and tapped his tiny nose. "You, you're turning into a little money grubber!"

"Hehe, everybody's got to have a little hobby, don't they?"

The little boy wasn't wrong. Life would be more meaningful with a hobby someone could strive for their whole life. That said, any hobby would require money, and the more skillful a hobby was, the more money was required. And Irvin was the type that liked a challenge, so it was within reason that he would spend more.

However, most of it came from his earnings. Elise had never really splurged on the kids in this aspect, which meant that the ten million wasn't for nothing. It was considered payment for taking down KO.

"Wouldn't I have to live a frugal life if you give him all the money?!" Alexander whined.

"That's perfect, isn't it?!" Elise feigned heartlessness.

Could anyone blame her?

Her beloved had been making courtship displays one time too many lately, and she was getting overwhelmed. The man was already thirty, yet he was even more vigorous than when he was younger. Elise had to plead and beg for a long time before he would finally stop.

"Are you sure you'll be sated like that?" Alexander quirked a brow, hitting on his wife in broad daylight.

"Sacré Dieu!" Irvin buried his face in his hands.

"Your child is still here, Mr. and Mrs. Griffith!"

"Hahaha!"

***

Gale was asked to see Napoleon in the study first thing in the morning.

Gale stood in the center of the room with his head slightly lowered, behaving absolutely humbly while Napoleon arranged his collection on the shelves behind the table before finally picking an antique vase, fiddling with it while drawling, "I hear you call the shots now in the Heidelberg Family."

Unsure of where Napoleon was going with it, Gale answered vaguely, "I'm forever in debt to the Heidelbergs. I can't turn my back on them when they're met with such a sudden misfortune since I can help, can I?"

Napoleon, on the other hand, placed the vase back and turned around with his hands behind his back as he gazed at the young man sharply.

"Sounds like my intel is wrong. What I have heard is that the entire BJ Biotech now only listens to you and none of the Heidelbergs. Is that correct, Mr. Myres?"

Among the family of three, the elder was in a coma, and so was one of the two young ones. The other hid in the shadows. Everyone knew BJ Biotech would belong to a Myres soon enough, and if the employees wanted to keep theirjob, they would naturally obey Gale. Seizing the Heidelbergs' assets was no righteous behavior, so Gale lowered his head further, unsure if Napoleon was criticizing him or just questioning.

Dead silence filled the space as the tension suffocated, and Gale dared not even make a sound.

Finally, after a long while, Napoleon spoke up again. "Sure, you were a little ruthless with your approach, but you did it briskly, and no one caught you. I have to say that I'm impressed."

No accusation meant acknowledging his way of doing things!

Gale's tension finally eased as he heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you for understanding, Father."

"Since you were a child, and you're the most outstanding of all the kids. The Heidelbergs' issue made me realize your ability. Good for you, you dare to act big and defy the world. You'll go far." Napoleon's support was becoming evident, and Gale finally raised his head and accepted the glory that was his.

"I'm glad you don't blame me for seizing the Heidelbergs' assets."

"You worry too much. Why would I blame you?" Napoleon looked at the young man with an insincere smile. "It has always been easy to make money but difficult to keep them. It's the Heidelbergs' fault for not being able to keep their wealth. What does it have to do with you? You're the only future son-in-law I acknowledge. How can I not be happy that you can climb to this position at such a young age?!" "So, you're saying..." Gale sensed there was more to Napoleon's words.

"You're an ambitious one. Just do whatever you want; you have the Cuber Family's support. No one will dare touch the future son-in-law of the Cuber Family as long as I live. You get what I mean?" Napoleon gazed profoundly at the young man, who became elated. "I do, Father."

Initially, he was worried that going overboard with what he did to the Heidelbergs would upset Napoleon, but looking at how things were now, he had made the right call. That sly old fox was also eager for a chance to swallow up the Heidelbergs. Now, with Napoleon's support, he became even more powerful, and he wouldn't have to be apprehensive about future plans anymore.

"Alright, you're in the middle of a crucial time. I'll let you get back to your work now." The smile on Napoleon's face gradually faded after he turned his back to Gale.

"I'll be off then." Gale left apprehensively.

After the sound of footsteps faded away, Napoleon looked over his shoulder with malice, and ill-conceived despise beneath his eyes.

Clap, clap...

Narissa entered the study with applause before giving her father a thumbs-up. "I have to hand it to you, Da. The Oscars owe you the best actor award."

Yes, that was nothing more than a showjust now.

It was all in Elise's plan to make Gale even more outrageous. That way, they would have a firmer grip on his leverage. "Yeah, right?" Napoleon wasn't having any of it. Instead, he sighed with pity. "So much potential, all ruined by corruption." "Everyone has to pay for their actions," Narissa commented, reminding her father not to go soft on the young man.