Chapter 89: Decision
Wesley didn't say anything, just turned his gaze to Evan. "Evan, send someone to find out who we're dealing with and whether there's any room for negotiation."
"Yes."
After Wesley spoke, he turned and headed upstairs. Before leaving, he said to me, "Atlas, come up."
"Yes."
I followed unhurriedly behind Wesley.
I knew why he was calling me—nothing more than trying to get information about Zane out of me.
Too bad. I snorted coldly. Wesley was probably going to be disappointed this time.
In the study, after Wesley sat down, he glanced at me and sighed. "Atlas, it's been half a year since I last saw you, hasn't it?"
I sat down across from him, picked up the pot and poured two cups of water, then gently pushed one in front of him.
"It's my fault for not coming back to see you sooner, Grandfather."
Hearing my words, Wesley sighed. "I'm old. You'll inherit the Lancaster family eventually, Atlas. You're doing great with work, but we're still family, aren't we?"
Wesley's cloudy eyes held a sharp glint, as if he was weighing my worth.
I suddenly thought of Ximena. When she was struggling on her sickbed, had Wesley weighed her worth in the same way?
And what was the result of that weighing? At this thought, I smiled bitterly. Naturally, Ximena, gravely ill and near death, had no value.
The final result was simply that the scales in Wesley's heart tipped toward Yvonne, a younger woman who could bear more heirs for the Lancaster family. That's why Ximena died later.
Thinking of this, I clenched my fists under the table while maintaining a calm expression as I met Wesley's gaze.
Wesley was very cunning. He was clearly testing me with these words.
I could have played along with him, but there was no need for that now.
Over these years, after joining the company, I appeared to be a frivolous playboy, but what no one knew was that I'd secretly put in considerable effort. All the company's core technology was now in my hands.
I was no longer that child who could only cry watching his sick mother.
I'd grown up, while Wesley and Evan had grown old.
Seeing that I hadn't spoken for a long time, Wesley finally grew impatient.
"Atlas, people need to look forward. Your mother's death was so many years ago—are you really going to keep holding onto it?"
I said nothing. The room fell terribly silent, with only the misty vapor from the humidifier on the desk creating ethereal shadows.
I picked up the pot and slowly poured Wesley another cup of water, then said slowly, "If I forgot about certain things, I'd be letting my dead mother down."
"You!"
Hearing this, his deep eyes filled with fury.
Meeting his cold, stern gaze, I calmly picked up my teacup and took a sip.
After setting down the cup, I said coldly, "Grandfather, you should think about who would be more suitable to hand the Lancaster family over to."
"Perhaps some people are born to be discarded—keeping them around only does harm and no good!"
Hearing my words, Wesley fell into deep thought. I didn't interrupt. After a long while, he said with a dejected expression, "I'm old. I'm confident leaving the company in your hands."
Then he looked up, his gaze much softer this time. "You're not young anymore. If you like a girl, bring her home. Don't worry—as long as you get married, I'll hand over all the Lancaster family assets to you."
Hearing this, my expression shifted slightly. Had he finally come around?
All these years, we'd fought tooth and nail—wasn't that exactly what he wanted to see?
Now that Zane had proven useless, was he finally ready to give up on him?
But I didn't believe his words. Still, he was old after all. Even a fierce tiger's claws soften in old age.
Thinking this, I nodded slightly. "Thank you, Grandfather."
"Alright, go down and keep your father company. And about Zane's situation, help your father out. You wouldn't want to watch the Lancaster family fall apart, would you?"
I sneered inwardly, lightly adjusting my cufflinks, my eyes cold.
Wouldn't falling apart be even better? Ever since Ximena's death, I'd had the idea of dragging the Lancaster family into the abyss.
Unfortunately, that thought came a few years too late.
But it was fine. This time, the retribution that belonged to Evan and Yvonne had landed squarely on their heads.
Two hundred million dollars. I wanted to see how Evan and Yvonne would choose without the Lancaster family backing them up.
"Yes, I will."
When I came down from the study upstairs, only Evan remained in the first-floor living room. Yvonne was nowhere to be seen.
Seeing me come down, Evan raised his hand and tapped the table, indicating I should sit down.
Seeing me obediently sit across from him, Evan looked satisfied.
His hypocritical face was full of smiles. "Atlas, can you handle things at work?"
I nodded. "It's manageable."
He sighed. "I don't know what your grandfather's thinking. If I could join the company to help you out, you'd definitely have it easier."
"Grandfather was right not to let you into the company. Otherwise, I'd have to clean up your messes from behind."
I said unhurriedly, "Father, have you already forgotten the huge trouble you caused two years ago? One billion dollars in losses—it took me two years to deal with that mess."
"You!"
Evan's face darkened. He said angrily, "That was just a mistake. When did it become your place as a son to lecture me?"
"Don't think that just because you've been running the company for a few days, you're the head of the family. Let me tell you, as long as I'm alive, I still call the shots in the Lancaster family."
Watching his angry expression, for some reason, I just wanted to laugh.
Did he still think I was that child he could manipulate at will?
He was nothing but all bark and no bite, while I had truly become the strong one.
Over these years, I'd been relentlessly suppressing Evan, slowly kicking out his people from the company.
His influence had been almost completely eliminated by me. For him to try to assert his authority in front of me now—it was too late!
Thinking this, I sneered. "Fine. If that's the case, you can try saying it and see who really calls the shots in the Lancaster family!"
Perhaps never having seen me so assertive before, Evan was momentarily stunned.
He removed his gold-rimmed glasses and carefully wiped them. "Atlas, we're still father and son. How could there be deep hatred between father and son?"
I sneered. For his attitude to change so quickly, he must have thought of Zane.
Sure enough, he spoke. "Zane is your only brother. Even for the sake of family ties, you can't just ignore certain things."
I nodded slightly. "Father's right. I've always treated him as my brother."
"I've been able to grow so quickly largely thanks to his supervision from the sidelines."
This was actually true. Without Zane, that dangerous figure constantly eyeing my interests, I couldn't have gained control of the entire group so quickly.
"Atlas, I know you have grievances, but Zane has never done anything to hurt you, has he?"
Evan frowned slightly and sighed. "Atlas, please help him out. He's been in poor health since childhood. That's exactly why I've been lenient with him. If you can save him, I'll definitely keep him in check and won't let him cause you any more trouble."
I sneered. "Father, are you begging me?"