SWNOVELS Chapter 428
Thinking about his once closest friend, he felt that old wound in his heart flare up again. Both had been betrayed by their organization, hunted down together. But Shadow, to save him, had used himself as bait.
Before knocking him out and putting him on the ship, Shadow had held him tightly. "Wolf, survive. Live like a real human being. Make something of yourself. Rise above, amass wealth and happiness, and fill your home with children and grandchildren." It was surprising to hear such words from someone usually so stoic.
That had been their last chess game. No winner had been decided.
A tear traced down Jeffery's cheek.
Seeing him like this, Chloe felt a mix of fear and unease. She quickly stood up, moved beside Connor, and hid behind him, tugging at his sleeve.
Why did he start crying? Chloe regretted drawing attention to herself.
Connor had never seen Jeffery shed a tear in his life. He had always been reserved and serious. Except for Marian, where his gaze turned gentle, he was strict with his children and the younger generations. High and mighty, he carried the demeanor of a leader. The younger family members were all intimidated by him. And though he had distributed most of his shares to the next generation, he still maintained absolute authority within the company as a figurehead. He had not stepped down.
His life had been incredibly busy, rarely meddling in his children's affairs. Naturally, this laid the groundwork for rivalry and discord among the Sartori family's children, as they had never experienced much fatherly care. What they sought was his approval and attention.
It started with fighting for a sliver of parental love, eventually escalating to a battle over the family's business, power, and shares. Now, the roles of the siblings had been firmly established.
Claire, the eldest, the sharpest in
business, held twenty percent of the
company's shares. Connor had fifteen percent. Valeria and Madison both held five percent each. Jeffery still retained ten percent of the shares, with everyone eyeing them
eagerly.
At this moment, the butler made his fourth appearance, "Sir, dinner is ready, and everyone is present. The lady has asked me to call you to dine."
Jeffery snapped back to reality.
Wiping away his tears, he stood up and looked at Chloe behind Connor, his voice softening, "Chloe, you must be hungry too. Let's go to the dining room for dinner."
Connor watched, stiffened, as Jeffery even cracked a smile, a kindness he had never seen before. Not just Connor, but the entire family had never seen this side of Jeffery.
Upon reaching the dining room, Jeffery took his place at the head of the table. Then he said, "Chloe, sit next to me."
Everyone at the table was shocked.
The spot Jeffery offered to Chloe was Claire's. In the Sartori family, seating arrangements were always clear-cut. For years, the seats beside Jeffery were reserved for Marian and Claire. Even if they were absent, no one dared to take their spots.
Today, nearly all members of the Sartori family were present. The four branches gathered, filling the large table. Valeria spoke with a smile, "Everyone's here, but why haven't we seen Claire?" Madison answered, "You forgot, Claire is still kneeling in her room."
Valeria said, "Dad, it's a rare occasion for a family reunion. Let Claire join us for dinner."
Jeffery remained silent. Valeria gave the butler a look, who went out.
Seeing Chloe still standing, Jeffery spoke again, "Chloe, please, take a seat here."