Chapter 6: My Darling

The moment Uncle Carter saw James, his heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. A sense of crisis gripped his entire body.

At nineteen, he was still immature, gentle, innocent, and naive.

At twenty-four, he was decisive, sharp-witted, and ambitious.

Looking to the side, he saw the radiant Emily standing beside James.

The two siblings stood together, dazzling, not at all like he had expected, living a surprisingly good life.

His gaze then shifted to the side, and Uncle Carter saw Ryan standing beside Emily.

He was startled again.

To have the Bennett family's heir standing with them, these two siblings were truly remarkable.

Uncle Carter chuckled and said, "So it is my nephew and niece back. We are all family. Forget about this misunderstanding. Come inside."

That is it?

Victoria wanted to bring up the matter of punishing James and Emily, but Uncle Carter glared at her.

"Hurry up and change your clothes. Your grandfather will be in the main hall soon."

With a loud announcement from the butler, Old Master Carter appeared in the banquet hall.

He wore a black Tang suit, his hair was completely white, and he leaned on a sandalwood cane. His physique was not particularly robust, but his deep, piercing eyes still held a hint of his youthful handsomeness.

He glanced at the crowd, his gaze sweeping over Emily and James, a fleeting look, as if he saw the siblings, yet also as if he did not.

Old Master Carter sat at the head of the central table, with Uncle Carter and the now-dressed Victoria flanking him on either side.

Emily looked at her grandfather. Five years had passed, and he had truly aged a lot. It was not just the physical signs of aging, his hair was completely white, his eyes sunken, but rather the strain of someone struggling to stay upright after suffering a severe emotional blow.

When she was little, her grandfather had doted on her.

"Emily, Grandpa passed a children's clothing store today and saw a pretty little princess dress. Grandpa immediately thought of you and bought it for you right away."

"He has never bought his two sons a single piece of clothing. Now that he has unrest a granddaughter, he even knows to buy little dresses."

"Can sons compare to granddaughters? Princess Emily is the apple of our eye."

Butrained later, her grandfather grew increasingly distant from her.

Victoria sat beside laugh Grandpa Carter, looking at Emily standing there, smiling smugly.

"Heh."

A carefree, rang out, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"Even a three-year-old in kindergarten knows about sharing, and the Carter family's upbringing is to make the older sister stand and the younger sister sit?"

Uncle Carter's face darkened.

Victoria: "Young Master Bennett, I have no grudge against you. Why are you targeting me?"

Ryan: "Did I call you out? You are so quick to jump to conclusions, like a dandelion, always making a big deal out of nothing."

Victoria: "I am the eldest daughter of the Carter family. It is only natural for me to sit next to Grandpa!"

The eldest daughter of the Carter family is Emily, and Victoria is the second daughter.

Ryan: "Go learn from the Teletubbies, put an antenna on your head, and always know your place."

If no one had pointed out Uncle Carter's deliberate snub of Emily and James at the banquet, everyone would have pretended not to see it. But now that Ryan had spoken out, it was a different story.

Uncle Carter turned to a servant beside him and said, "Hurry up and bring two chairs. Can you not see the young master and young lady are still standing? It is all my fault for being too easygoing. I have spoiled these servants so much."

Emily and James sat at the table.

During the meal, Uncle Carter feigned concern, but actually inquired, "James, at your age, this is the perfect time to build your career. What kind of work do you mainly do now?"

James: "I just returned from abroad and do not have a job yet. Why do you not introduce me to someone?"

Uncle Carter: "You are a returnee from studying abroad, a graduate of Cambridge University in England, a highly qualified talent. My company cannot afford someone like you for ordinary positions."

James: "Since we cannot afford ordinary positions, I think the position of company president is quite suitable."

Uncle Carter and Victoria were both taken aback.

Victoria: "My dad is perfectly content with his position as company president. Why should he give it to you?"

Emily: "Of course, it is because this position should rightfully belong to my brother."

The head of the Carter family was originally Emily and James's father. Whether according to ethical succession or inheritance law, the position should have been held by James and Emily, not by Uncle Carter, the second in line to the throne.

This exposed the illegitimacy of Uncle Carter's position.

The atmosphere at the table instantly became tense, half the crowd watching, half eager for a spectacle.

Uncle Carter spoke: "The position of head of the Carter family is crucial to the fate of the entire Carter clan. Back then, you siblings were too young, and as your uncle, I should have shared the burden of this position."

Ryan casually rested one hand on the table, the black diamond platinum watch on his wrist creating a striking contrast with his pale skin. The black gleaming, the white dazzling.

"I have not seen the Carter family prosper under your leadership. It is more like Li Bai's poem: 'A waterfall plunges three thousand feet, but you find you have no paper in your pocket.'"

Someone could not help but laugh.

Uncle Carter's face grew even more ashen.

"The national economy is in a downturn, the overall environment is bad, business is tough. It is not that I am incompetent. It is that no one can do it well."

Ryan: "I just signed a contract worth ten billion."

Uncle Carter: "............"

James: "Since Uncle also thinks he did not do well, now that my sister and I are back, the position of head of the Carter family should be returned to me."

A ruthless glint flashed in Uncle Carter's eyes. He picked up a glass of strong liquor, poured it, and handed it to James, smiling hypocritically. "Nephew, we share the same blood. We can discuss anything. Why make such a fuss, as if I, your uncle, am trying to take something from you?"

A third uncle from the same faction as Uncle Carter chimed in, "That is right. We are all from the same root. Why are we fighting each other so fiercely? James, take a step back and the world will be a better place."

James: "Take a step back and the world will be a better place? Why should I take a step back? A moment of patience brings peace. Why can you not be patient?"

The third uncle slammed his wine glass heavily on the table. "You junior are utterly ungrateful! Do you not know how to give your elders a way out?"

James: "I am not selling stairs. Why should I give you a way out?"

Seeing the argument deadlocked, Uncle Carter tightened his grip on the wine glass, his forced smile faltering.

He turned to Old Master Carter. "Dad, now my own nephew is putting pressure on me. What do you say I should do?"

Old Master Carter glanced at James, his gaze sweeping over Emily.

"People respect the rich, dogs bite the poor. Talk is cheap. Real ability is what matters. I only value personal ability. Whoever can lead the Carter family to greater heights and prosperity, I will support."

Uncle Carter was utterly astonished, because his grandfather had not explicitly supported him.

Emily and James were equally surprised. Grandpa's words seemed to be giving them a chance?

Victoria laughed and said, "Grandpa is right. Can anyone just take the position of head of the Carter family? Whoever has the ability should be in charge, and those who do not should step aside."

Third Uncle: "Old Master, what do you mean by that?"

Old Master Carter: "There needs to be a fair competition between those with strong and weak abilities. Starting tomorrow, James and Emily will start working at the Carter Group."

Uncle Carter's face turned ashen.

The old master made his decision decisively, then turned and left, saying, "I am tired. I am going to rest."

Victoria: "Grandpa, let me see you off."

Old Master: "No need."

Emily and James stood up and left. Uncle Carter said insincerely, "Nephew, niece, why are you leaving so soon? It has been so long. I wanted to catch up with you."

James: "Catch up with what? How did my parents die?"

Uncle Carter's expression suddenly changed.

The sounds of talking and laughter abruptly ceased, and the expressions of the Carter family members tightened.

The deaths of the Carter family's youngest son and his wife were a taboo subject. No one dared to discuss them in public.

James's voice was as cold as unyielding ice. "Uncle, how exactly did my parents die?"

Uncle Carter: "I am also heartbroken by your parents' passing. The cause of death remains a mystery. If you have any evidence, you must submit it to the police immediately so that the truth can surface as soon as possible."

James: "Of course it will surface. I will investigate this matter thoroughly."

Emily and James drove away, the streetlights on both sides of the road rushing past, eventually converging into a blurry stream.

The car drove to the intersection, turned the corner, and disappeared. An elderly man emerged from behind a large tree by the roadside, leaning on a cane, gazing intently in the direction the car had disappeared.