Chapter 197: The Conflict Between Stefan and Robertson

Seeing how much her father had done for her, Irene couldn’t help but feel the warmth of his love deep in her heart. Watching Robertson's graying hair, her heart ached. She descended the stairs and approached Mr. Robertson, smiling. "Father, you're so biased towards me. What if I run the company into the ground? What will happen to my brothers then?" Mr. Robertson's face lit up as soon as he saw Irene. "Come, sit down. Look at all the delicious food I’ve prepared for you!" he said, laughing, his eyes glistening with tears. This was the first time Irene had called him “Father.” Though it was the formal “Father” instead of the more affectionate “Dad,” it was enough to move Robertson to tears. Mr. Robertson discreetly held back his tears and chuckled, "Don’t worry, child. Your brothers are men. A man shouldn’t rely on his family’s wealth but should build his own empire. Besides, how could they have the nerve to compete with their little sister?" "If they did, even I’d look down on them!" The secretary chimed in, "That’s true. None of the young masters are interested in taking over the family business. By the way, the third young master woke up earlier. He insisted on seeing the young lady and even pulled out his IV. Fortunately, the nurse was there to put it back." Mr. Robertson nodded with a smile. "Yes, your third brother would be over the moon if I gave the company to you. When he was young, he loved to carry you around, showing you off to his friends, bragging about how cute his little sister was." He continued, "And your sixth brother, who’s now acting in the entertainment industry, has even quit university. Oh, what a disappointment. But, he did say that once we found you, he’d give you half of his earnings as your dowry." Irene couldn’t help but smile. The words were simple, yet they carried so much warmth. She could easily imagine what her sixth brother was like. As Mr. Robertson spoke, he watched Irene closely. Seeing her smile as she listened to him talk about the family, his gaze softened. Feeling her face flush, Irene quickly turned to pour a glass of water, avoiding her father's gaze. "Father, have some water. I’m getting thirsty just listening to you talk." Blushing slightly, she handed him the glass. Mr. Robertson took it with a smile. He’d always had a quirk—he didn’t like drinking plain water. If he had to drink something, it had to have some flavor, whether salty or sweet. Even though the family doctor had long advised him to drink more plain water, he found it hard to follow that advice. But now, he drank the water happily—it was from his daughter, after all! Later, at lunchtime, Irene personally cooked a meal for everyone, taking care to prepare dishes that suited Robertson’s taste. She even made special meals for the third young master and Stefan. For the first time, Mr. Robertson felt the complex emotions of having a daughter. He was both touched by her presence and annoyed by her boyfriend. Stefan, whom Robertson had once praised to everyone he met, was now a source of irritation. Mr. Robertson had once liked Stefan so much that he couldn’t stop talking about him. Before long, everyone in the capital knew how much Mr. Robertson admired this young man. But now, just looking at Stefan made Robertson feel irritable. Everything about him was an eyesore. After lunch, Mr. Robertson, who had been holding back, finally sipped his water and slowly began to hint, "So, how’s business at your company lately?" Stefan knew exactly what Mr. Robertson was implying, but he pretended not to understand, responding with a gentle smile, "Business is as usual, everything is running smoothly." Mr. Robertson carefully placed his cup down, the porcelain making a crisp sound on the table. The secretary glanced over, noticing that Mr. Robertson’s face had darkened. The secretary couldn’t help but smile. These two were playing a game of mutual irritation. Mr. Robertson then said, "If you’re spending all your time here, what’s happening to your company?" This time, the message couldn’t be clearer—he was being asked to leave. But Stefan merely chuckled, "Don’t worry, Mr. Robertson. I’ve got a team of professional managers running the company. They’re not just sitting around doing nothing. I trust their abilities, and even when I’m not there, the company runs smoothly. So, please, rest assured." Mr. Robertson glared at Stefan. This brat was too smooth! He’d gone from calling him “Uncle Robertson” to “Mr. Robertson,” now almost addressing him as "father." Hmph! Mr. Robertson secretly resolved that he wouldn’t let Stefan call him “Father” for at least five years. But the next moment, Mr. Robertson heard Stefan say, "You don’t need to worry, Dad." Mr. Robertson’s expression darkened, and he slammed his cup down. "Didn’t you say you weren’t fit for marriage? Didn’t you say you didn’t know how to find happiness in a relationship?" Stefan smiled softly, his expression sincere. "Over the time Irene and I have been together, I’ve learned a lot from her. She’s given me confidence for the future, and I believe that together, we can make it through anything." Mr. Robertson was stunned. How could this be? He must have misjudged this kid! Stefan was clearly manipulating him, flaunting his relationship with Irene, making it clear that their bond was strong, no matter what Mr. Robertson thought. When Irene walked in, she saw this exact scene. She remembered how harmonious the two had seemed when she first saw them talking at the Mosin-Nagant estate. What had changed? Irene smiled slyly at Stefan, the meaning clear: Did you upset my father? Stefan looked back at her innocently, his deep blue eyes reflecting her image. He truly looked like a "blue-eyed devil." Mr. Robertson watched this, shaking his head. Look at his naive daughter, practically mesmerized by this man. How could he ever be at ease? Men, once they know you’re infatuated with their looks, they get arrogant, thinking you can’t live without them! Oh well. Mr. Robertson sighed. Despite his growing annoyance with Stefan, he had to admit that one thing about the young man reassured him: Stefan had high standards. Ordinary people didn’t even register in his eyes. Over the years, Mr. Robertson had tried many times to set him up, but Stefan had never shown any interest.