Chapter 166 Are You Going to Talk About Something Inappropriate for Children?
"Boss, Dr. King sent word that Hayden's having a final rally before the end. He's not going to make it."
William had just come out of the bar when Finn rushed up with his phone: "Mrs. Brown has already gone back. The Smith Villa is in total chaos right now. Someone must have tipped off Chase - he's gone over there with his lawyer. Mrs. Brown just called asking you to get there quickly."
Finn tried to put Thalia's words more tactfully.
After all, her shouting on the phone just now did sound a bit like a fishwife cursing in the street.
"Hangover pills."
Finn opened the front compartment of the passenger seat to get him the medicine.
"Who else besides Chase?"
"Chase knows he has no advantage competing with Mrs. Brown. Word is he's already gathered several of Hayden's illegitimate children to go together."
Strength in numbers.
William sat in the back seat and lit a cigarette. He wasn't a good guy - when it came to these situations, he was best at playing it by ear. If Chase had the ability to rally Hayden's illegitimate kids to make trouble, it would definitely give Thalia a headache.
Rather than confront him head-on, better to set a fire in his backyard and burn it clean.
"Let's go take care of something," William tapped the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray.
He casually stubbed out the cigarette and lowered the car window. A blast of cold air rushed in, clearing his head considerably.
When the car smoothly pulled up to the entrance of the Smith Villa, Finn was shocked. He thought to himself - Chase really is a piece of work.
They say you shouldn't air your dirty laundry in public, but not only did he show up, he brought a whole bunch of media with him. Knowing full well that Thalia was a public figure, he still pulled this stunt - wasn't this obviously meant to make things difficult for her?
When William saw the media, his expression grew even colder: "Call the police."
Less than twenty minutes later, Ethan showed up in uniform with the police. Passing by William's car, he even gave him the middle finger. It was their family business again - use people when you need them, forget them when you don't.
As Ethan dispersed the media, he inevitably clashed with Chase. Chase hooked his arm around his neck, smiling as he said: "Ethan, family matters should be settled within the family. Why do this? Why waste public resources?"
"I pay so much in taxes every year. If I don't waste these public resources a bit, I feel unbalanced." Ethan reached up to brush off his hand.
Ethan smiled dismissively: "Better not! Do too many bad things and it'll come back to bite you."
"What do you mean by that?" Chase's face darkened. What he hated most were the people around William, like this Ethan right in front of him - no family background, no status or connections, but just because he had a decent relationship with William, he didn't take these major taxpayers of Emerald City seriously.
"What could I mean? Even if I meant something, I wouldn't dare!" Ethan spread his hands.
Then he glanced at the group of helpers behind Chase and, using his police authority, shouted: "Just so everyone knows - gathering to cause trouble is illegal."
"Let's go," Chase's anger hadn't even been vented yet when Ethan waved his hand and left with his men.
"Boss, we're just leaving like this?" The officer Ethan had his arm around muttered in confusion.
"What else? Stay and become cannon fodder for capitalists fighting each other?"
William just wanted him to chase away the media, nothing else. He wasn't about to stick his nose where it didn't belong.
He didn't have the ability to handle that much anyway.
Once the media left, Chase's confidence deflated a bit. Looking at the tightly closed gates of the Smith Villa, he got even angrier.
He stood in the courtyard and shouted: "Thalia, you know this is illegal, right? The Smith family doesn't belong to just you, and it won't belong to just you. Even illegitimate children have inheritance rights."
As soon as Chase finished shouting, Thalia's mocking tone came through the intercom: "I've got enough money to get rid of a few dogs, but you don't need to bring these dogs to disgust me. I suggest you leave quickly."
"Ms. Smith sure talks tough, doesn't she? If we're dogs, what does that make you? We all came from the same father."
Hearing the voices outside, Thalia laughed: "Go ask your own mothers!"
"Aren't you afraid that if Hayden can't see these people before he dies, he won't rest in peace?" Chase asked.
"If someone has to die with unfinished business, it'll have to be someone else, not me."
Chase was about to say something more when the driver he'd brought came running over with his phone: "Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith says the dock has been raided. She wants you to come back right away."
"Why would it be raided?"
"Someone used our dock to transport contraband. Now they want to do a thorough investigation. Mrs. Smith says you need to get back there quickly."
"That's impossible," Chase muttered.
"Is someone setting us up?" His first thought was Thalia.
But thinking about it, although Thalia had done well in the entertainment industry these years, she didn't have that kind of power.
"Let's go." Seeing him not moving, his assistant anxiously called out.
"Let's go."
Can't pick up sesame seeds and lose the watermelon. The dock was his business. Whatever inheritance from Hayden was his, he couldn't escape it.
The people Chase had brought were confused seeing him leave.
Chase just left like that?
Without their leader, the group couldn't stay either. Not knowing what the situation was inside the house, everyone left awkwardly.
......
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
Separated by a door, William's deep voice rang out. Thalia opened the door a crack and saw William standing in the moonlight, his figure tall and straight, impeccably dressed.
"Better to come at the right time than early - you only show up after everyone's been dealt with?"
Thalia poked her head out from inside, looking at William, blinking like a cat meeting a stranger - soft and adorable, making one want to ruffle her.
William raised his hand to pat her head, but seeing Grace coming in from the backyard, his palm landed on the doorframe instead: "Then guess who dealt with them?"
Thalia pursed her lips: "Coming in?"
Thalia released the doorknob and stepped back, letting William in.
"Mr. Brown is here?"
"Mrs. Smith."
"How is Mr. Smith?"
Grace sighed: "He'll die as soon as we remove the tubes."
"Since things have come to this, Mrs. Smith should prepare early."
"What does Mr. Brown suggest?"
William was about to say something when he noticed Thalia was there. He glanced back at her, and Grace, sensing William's look, sent Thalia away: "Go make Mr. Brown a cup of coffee."
"What big secret is it? I can't hear it?"
"I've done good deeds all my life - is there really something I can't hear?"
William must be doing this on purpose...
Thalia walked to the kitchen doorway, then somewhat reluctantly came back: "You're not going to discuss something inappropriate for children, are you?"
William's hand, which had been about to tap his cigarette ash, froze in mid-air.