Chapter 196: The True Master of the Norman Family Enterprise

Mr. Robertson didn’t respond immediately. He just listened quietly, his grip on his cane tightening with every word. Gray, unaware that his father was already furious, continued, "Dad, Mom and I have discussed it. It’s not appropriate for Alice to stay in our house like this. The Raphael family isn’t without people to take care of her. Mom thinks we should have a family meeting soon, bring in all the uncles, and officially adopt Alice." Mr. Robertson replied, "So, you’ve found me a new daughter." Gray laughed, "Dad, it’s not like that. It’s just that having her stay here without any formal arrangement is making us look bad." Halfway through his explanation, Gray suddenly realized that his father’s words were laced with sarcasm. It had been a long time since Gray had lived with his parents. After getting married, he moved out of the main house and built a villa just outside his parents’ estate. His wife, Mary, doted on him, and her sister Alice admired him. Coupled with his success at work, he’d become a bit arrogant. It took him a moment to catch on to the meaning behind his father’s words. Mr. Robertson, seeing that his son had finally caught on, sneered, "It seems you’ve forgotten you have a real sister." Gray paused at the mention of his biological sister. To him, his sister was a faint memory, a figure from a time long past. When she disappeared, he was already seventeen, busy with school, and he hadn’t really had the chance to bond with her. On the other hand, he’d watched Alice grow up since she was thirteen or fourteen. Comparatively, Alice felt more like his real sister. But he knew better than to voice these thoughts. After all, he had six other brothers, most of whom had fond memories of their sister. Not to mention, their father had never given up hope of finding her. Gray cleared his throat, his voice hoarse, "Father, it’s been so many years. Can we even find her?" Mr. Robertson trembled with rage, "Shut up! How could I have raised such a son? You fool!" He handed the phone to the secretary, signaling him to hang up. The look on his face suggested that even hanging up on Gray felt beneath him. Even after the call ended, Mr. Robertson continued to breathe heavily, struggling to contain his anger. On the other end, Gray was struck by sudden regret. Although he had little emotional connection to his sister, she was still family. His father was right—no one could simply replace her. But so many years had passed. Shouldn’t they let go and move on? He thought back to the years when his mother had nearly cried herself blind, driven to the brink of madness by grief. If it hadn’t been for Alice’s presence, who knows what state his mother would be in now? Gray understood his father’s persistence and was moved by it. He, too, hoped his sister could be found. But he also wanted to remind his father to cherish those who were with him now. His sister hadn’t been found yet, and Alice was so filial and intelligent—why couldn’t they treat her well? Mr. Robertson, still fuming, had completely forgotten to mention that Irene had already been found. However, judging by the conversation, the secretary thought it was just as well. "Few people know about the young lady not being in the capital before. Once we bring her back, it’ll be clear who the real heiress of the family is." Mr. Robertson knew the secretary was referring to the issue of a mole within the company. Gray was still young. While the seasoned businessmen were polite to him out of respect for Mr. Robertson, who knew what they truly thought? Gray was too green to handle those old foxes. As for his other sons, the second one was capable but uninterested in the family business, having started his own successful venture abroad. The third, fourth, and fifth sons had their minds elsewhere, while the sixth and seventh were still in school. Even if they joined the company now, they’d only be doing menial tasks. Word was that Irene, despite her young age, had already made several successful investments in stocks. Based on publicly available information, the secretary had discovered that Irene had invested in numerous ventures over the past two years, with a success rate of about 90%. This led Mr. Robertson to wonder if his youngest daughter had inherited the family’s business acumen. With this in mind, Mr. Robertson instructed the secretary, "Prepare the documents and go through the proper legal channels. Make sure there are no loopholes. I want to transfer 90% of my shares to Irene." The secretary was stunned. Even if Mr. Robertson adored Irene, was it wise to hand over the majority of his shares so soon after finding her? It was almost unimaginable. Mr. Robertson held 70% of the company’s shares. If Irene received 90% of those, she would have significant influence over the company’s decisions. Wasn’t this a bit too hasty? Sensing the secretary’s concerns, Mr. Robertson explained, "None of my other children have a knack for business, and they all have their own careers. As for my eldest, well, his abilities are only fit for a product department manager." Mr. Robertson sighed. If that weren’t the case, he would have long since handed over the company to his children and gone off to enjoy his retirement. Mr. Robertson was thinking far ahead. "Irene is my only daughter and the youngest. She’s just returned home and doesn’t have the connections the others do." "I’m still around now, but what happens after I’m gone? Who will protect her?" He sighed again. "She didn’t grow up with her brothers. Only the third son is sentimental about the past; the others, well, they’re indifferent." "You know how it is—this circle runs on connections. If her brothers won’t support her, she’ll need to stand on her own. Making her the company president will ensure she won’t be bullied!" Mr. Robertson concluded with a firm statement, "Hmph, if Gray wants to find another sister, let him! Our Irene will do just fine without him!" Irene, standing upstairs, heard his words. Her gaze fell on Mr. Robertson’s back. Though he still tried to stand tall, she could see the slight stoop in his posture. Despite his well-maintained appearance, with few wrinkles on his face, most of his hair had turned white. Irene knew that such a disparity between facial appearance and hair color usually signaled someone who had endured a lifetime of stress and hardship.