Josephine had no clue about the storm brewing in Callie's heart. She and Nicole got back, took a shower, changed clothes, and headed out for some grub. After lunch and a quick nap, they still had time to check out more hot spring pools.
But these weren't just any pools—they were custom-made and totally private. Gerald had everything set up, so they could go whenever they wanted without any interruptions.
Soaking in a hot spring together is one of the best ways to bond. Sure, it's not like you're baring your soul, but the minimal clothing definitely brings people closer.
Anyway, after Nicole and Josephine soaked in the hot spring, their relationship got a lot better.
Nicole wanted Josephine to feel relaxed and at ease. She didn't want family status to make Josephine feel distant.
No matter what kind of family the Clarence Family was, rich or poor, Nicole was always going to be Josephine's mom. That was never going to change.
Kids love playing in the water. It was rare to see Jeffery act like a kid, and Ulysses was just a big kid himself. Gerald always joked he was like a five-year-old. The two of them had a blast.
Even though Gerald could take a break, he had too much on his plate and was always on the phone. Eventually, Ulysses got fed up and sent him back to the villa to work.
Gerald didn't have much choice. At his level, there were too many things to handle. Some decisions couldn't be made by his subordinates, so even on weekends, they had to report up to him.
The four of them went back to the villa, and Gerald was in the living room with his laptop on the table.
When Josephine and Nicole walked in, he was just taking off his glasses and rubbing his temples.
Nicole said, "You're supposed to be out here having fun, and you're still working."
Gerald smiled and said, "You guys just enjoy yourselves. Josephine, how do you like it here?"
"It's pretty nice." Josephine walked over. "Gerald, are you tired? Is something wrong?"
"Just work stuff." Gerald closed the laptop. "It's like this every day."
Nicole said, "Your job isn't some secret agency. If Josephine asks, just tell her."
Josephine laughed, "Mom, Gerald's work is his business. I can help with other things, but work, not so much."
"Talking about it can at least relieve some stress. We can offer emotional support, which is sometimes better than solving the problem," Nicole said. "If it's confidential, we won't listen even if you tell us."
Gerald got up and poured a cup of coffee for Nicole and a glass of juice for Josephine. "Alright, there's nothing I can't share."
The three of them sat on the sofa, and Gerald started, "Josephine probably doesn't know, but I manage the economy. A factory had an incident and applied for bankruptcy. There was a conflict between the workers and the management."
The situation wasn't actually that complicated. A worker got too emotional, had a stroke, and didn't make it.
Since the factory went bankrupt, the worker's family demanded compensation. But with the factory bankrupt, where would the money come from?
So the issue stayed unresolved, and the deceased worker's family got more and more upset, eventually causing a scene at the city government.
Nicole said, "Even if the factory went bankrupt, the management should still have some assets, right? The worker died; they should compensate.""That's true," Gerald said. "But technically, the management isn't at fault. They covered all the worker's expenses, but the family got greedy and wanted more. Originally, the management wasn't in the wrong, but now that someone died, it looks like they are."
Josephine chimed in, "To be fair, a stroke can be triggered by emotional stress. If there was a physical altercation leading to accidental death, it would be easier to explain. But getting sick like that, the management is just unlucky."
Gerald nodded. "Exactly. Now neither side is backing down. We're really troubled, and we have an investment promotion event coming up. We're worried this will affect it."
"Investment promotion? There shouldn't be a problem, right? You're worried about that?" Josephine asked.
Gerald said, "I'm not worried, but the government cares about its image. If someone makes a scene, it won't look good."
Nicole asked, "How much is the family asking for?"
"Two million dollars."
"That's not a small amount," Nicole said. "After all, you can't bring the dead back to life."
Gerald said, "The key issue is that the management is seriously ill. The factory went bankrupt because they were scammed. They're already in a bad situation."
Josephine and Nicole exchanged a glance.
Nicole said, "Is it that bad? Is there no way to resolve this?"
"That's why I'm so troubled."
Nicole opened her mouth to say something, but Gerald said, "Mom, this won't be the first or the last time something like this happens. I can't use my own money to solve it every time."
"Can I donate?" Nicole asked.
Josephine laughed, "Mom, I believe Gerald will find a solution. Let's not interfere."
Gerald also said, "Yes, you have to trust my ability."
"Then stop looking so worried. We're out here to have fun, and we don't want to see you like this."
Gerald laughed, "Alright, I won't let this affect our mood. What do you want for dinner? We can go to the farm to pick some produce in the afternoon."
As the three were chatting, Ulysses and Jeffery came running in, chasing each other.
Ulysses was shouting, "Stop! Hold on!"
Jeffery, being smaller and more agile, dodged many obstacles and then hid behind the sofa.
Nicole said, "What's going on? As the older cousin, you should be letting Jeffery win."
She reached out and pulled Jeffery into her arms. "Look, Jeffery is all sweaty."
"That's from the hot spring!" Ulysses said. "Jeffery deserves a beating! He was teasing me just now!"
Nicole asked, "What did he tease you about? Are you bullying him?"
"I didn't!" Ulysses glanced at Jeffery. "Forget it, I won't hold it against him."
Gerald said, "How old are you now? You're about to apply for university, and you're not as sensible as four-year-old Jeffery."
Ulysses was furious. "You only know how to lecture me. When I do well, you don't praise me. When I make a mistake, you just scold me!"
Josephine quickly said, "Gerald, say less."
She turned to Jeffery, "Jeffery, what did you say to Ulysses? Were you being naughty? Apologize to him!"
Seeing Josephine getting serious, Ulysses quickly waved his hand. "Josephine, it's fine, it's fine. Jeffery and I were just playing around! We were just messing around, why are you taking it seriously?"
But no matter what he said, Jeffery had already stood up from Nicole's arms and obediently apologized, "Ulysses, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have teased you just now."
Josephine couldn't help but be curious, "What did you tease Ulysses about?"
Ulysses quickly covered Jeffery's mouth. "Nothing, nothing. We're going upstairs!"