novelbin Chapter 1212: A Wolf in the Fold
Chapter 1212: A Wolf in the Fold
In Brocade City, the major families banded together, planning to crush Griffith Squire, the outsider, while putting pressure on the Coldwell Family. Griffith Squire sat idly at the Coldwell mansion, waiting for them to arrive.
The first to arrive was the Coldwell Family Head, Ian Coldwell. Perhaps because the weather was warming up, Ian Coldwell was in good health, and he came to the Coldwell mansion with Zoe Kingston to sponge off a meal.
Since they hadn’t announced their visit beforehand, upon arrival they awkwardly realized there was no meal prepared.
At the Coldwell mansion, there were only two cleaning servants. Ever since Aurora Coldwell started cooking, the cook had been dismissed. In case of need, there was the old housekeeper, who was an expert in Chinese cuisine. Back in Florence, it was almost always the housekeeper who cooked for Aurora Coldwell. As for the other positions of drivers and bodyguards, they were all outsourced to Griffith Squire’s people.
Seeing this, Ian Coldwell was somewhat displeased. Besides the eldest daughter and the housekeeper, the Coldwell mansion was full of Griffith Squire’s people, it might as well change its surname to Squire.
"Aurora, why are there so few people in the house? You mustn’t lack cooks, drivers, and bodyguards. Otherwise, people will laugh. This money can’t be saved at all. Do you have the assets your mother left you? Tomorrow I’ll find you some reliable people," Ian Coldwell said as soon as he arrived, with a hint of interference.
Aurora Coldwell was eating, and upon hearing this, she was about to stand up, but Griffith Squire held her delicate shoulders down.
The man narrowed his peach blossom eyes, smiling faintly as he said, "Mr. Coldwell looks in good spirits, is your health much better?"
Ian Coldwell was infuriated by his tone. This guy had stirred Brocade City into chaos, and the families who used to be on good terms with the Coldwell Family now wanted to turn against him. Ian Coldwell had just recovered a bit and hurried to see what was going on.
"Barely managed to crawl up," Ian Coldwell said with a grim expression, sitting on the sofa, while Zoe Kingston quickly placed a cushion behind his back for comfort.
Griffith Squire had seen Ian Coldwell’s medical records. Even if the cancer was well-controlled, at his age, his body just couldn’t keep up. He was already one foot in the grave, yet he couldn’t let go of the pursuit of power and wealth.
Griffith Squire grinned mischievously and said, "It’s good that Mr. Coldwell came. Aurora and I plan to get married soon. I wonder what the local customs are here in Brocade City?"
Griffith Squire winked at Aurora Coldwell with his peach blossom eyes, his smile alluringly seductive.
Aurora Coldwell was taken aback, caught off guard by the mention of marriage. She became instantly nervous, her face suddenly heating up.
In fact, her stepmother and sister hadn’t bothered her for a long time. She had intended to propose to Griffith Squire that they should just annul the previous agreement.
"Married?" Ian Coldwell’s face darkened a bit. If Aurora Coldwell married Griffith Squire, wouldn’t thirty percent of Coldwell Clan’s shares fall into Griffith Squire’s pocket? The Coldwell Clan was originally a family business. Ian Coldwell himself only owned thirty-five percent of the shares. If Griffith Squire acquired a bit more, the Coldwell Clan would directly change hands.
No, absolutely not.
Zoe Kingston involuntarily raised her voice, speaking sharply, "You two are getting married?"
"Griffith, there’s something your uncle never told you, because you weren’t at the point of discussing marriage before. When Aurora’s mother passed away, she left a will that Aurora would have a husband’s family chosen for her. I only have two daughters. Brooke is to be married off, while Aurora is certainly going to inherit my assets, so the eldest daughter won’t marry but will have a husband chosen." Ian Coldwell put down the ultimatum, observing Griffith Squire’s reaction.
Any man with some family background wouldn’t endure the disgrace of having a husband’s family chosen for them.
Griffith Squire narrowed his peach blossom eyes and showed a hint of a smile on his handsome, mischievous face, lazily replying, "Alright, since it’s about choosing a husband’s family, there’s no need for a dowry. I’ll bring my own, and I’ll show the list of my dowry to Aurora later."
Ian Coldwell: "?!"
"I’ve already picked a date, June 6th, which is suitable for marriage. Two months is enough time to prepare for the wedding," Griffith Squire said with a smile.
Ian Coldwell and Zoe Kingston exchanged glances. Finally, Ian Coldwell sighed, pretending to have back pain, then called for a doctor and a driver, fleeing in defeat, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, leaving it hanging.
"Miss Coldwell, did Mr. Coldwell agree or not?" The old housekeeper had been watching for a while but hadn’t figured it out. When it came to Griffith Squire marrying the eldest daughter, he was completely at ease.
Aurora Coldwell lightly furrowed her brows, shook her head, and gestured, "He didn’t agree. He probably fears Griffith Squire, afraid of inviting a wolf into the home."
After all, Griffith Squire hadn’t been in Brocade City long, but he made the city’s residents feel anxious, even causing losses to the Seymour Family. Ian Coldwell, who was initially easily swayed, would definitely fear Griffith Squire seizing the opportunity to assimilate the Coldwell Family.
Aurora Coldwell could guess some of her father’s thoughts. But having known Griffith Squire for so long, even without asking about his background, she understood he probably looked down upon the Coldwell Clan.
Griffith Squire sneered lightly and said slowly, "Speaking as if my marriage needs his consent. Come, let’s eat—the dishes are getting cold."
The man said this as he picked up a large piece of beef for Aurora Coldwell.
The old housekeeper smiled awkwardly on one side, seeming to agree. Over the years, Mr. Coldwell hadn’t supervised Miss Aurora, and he couldn’t supervise Griffith Squire. Mr. Coldwell’s agreement or disagreement really didn’t affect anything.
As soon as Ian Coldwell left the Coldwell mansion, his back suddenly didn’t hurt, his anger dissipated, and with a grim face he got into the car, feeling at a loss. Today’s visit was meant to probe Griffith Squire, but Griffith even agreed to the idea of a husband’s family being chosen, clearly aiming for Coldwell Clan’s assets. Truly blind and inviting a wolf into his home.
These days, Ian Coldwell had been brainwashed daily, even suspecting that the ten billion Griffith Squire had brought and the cooperation with the Coldwell Clan was the first step in swallowing the Coldwell Clan whole. Aurora’s thirty percent share in Coldwell Clan was still the equity he didn’t want to fund and offset with shares during the investment. Back then, he thought it was a good idea—no money was paid and it was still his daughter’s shares, seemingly picking a bargain. Now it seemed he was the one taken advantage of.
"How do you plan to marry Aurora to Griffith Squire? This kid is from unknown origins. Although he’s said to be the adopted son of the Elvis Family, reportedly no one knows his true identity," Zoe Kingston said urgently on the side, "Marrying Aurora to him is essentially handing the Coldwell Clan over."
"Don’t shout, can’t you see I’m trying to think of a solution?" Ian Coldwell impatiently shouted, angrily ordering the car to go back to the Squire Family. This time, he didn’t even get a meal and was terribly upset.
Zoe Kingston coldly laughed at this, thinking he’s been lying down trying to come up with a solution for over half a year and hasn’t succeeded yet, even giving the shares to Aurora. Counting on him is worse than counting on oneself.
Zoe Kingston’s eyes gleamed with a hint of ruthlessness. It seemed that Aurora, that girl, wouldn’t be kept. Otherwise, after she married Griffith Squire, the next step would be to get rid of her and her daughter.