Chapter 3

Gina turned to Dad. "What do you think, Mr. Townsend?"

Dad gave me a good long look. I saw a mix of exhaustion, helplessness, and defeated acceptance in his eyes.

When I was eight, Evelyn turned down a million-dollar paycheck so she could stay home and teach me how to read. She spent an entire year on that, holding up flashcards and reading the words to me over and over again.

I'd simply stared blankly at her the whole time.

In the end, she threw the cards into the trash, her eyes red as she stroked my head. She told me that it didn't matter. The Townsends could afford to take care of someone who needed to rely on others for the rest of his life.

When I was ten, Julian brought in the top neurologist from abroad to check on me. All kinds of cold instruments were attached to my head. The results showed that I had an abnormally active cerebral cortex, but for some reason, I couldn't develop normal speech and logical processing.

Julian had clutched the report and stood outside my door, crying the entire night.

After that, no one tried to work on me anymore. I didn't have to think, speak, or take responsibility for anything.

That had been the life I'd wanted most.

But right now, someone was trying to destroy the peaceful cage I'd built up for myself.

"Take him outside," Dad finally said, his throat dry and his voice rough. "Without my permission, no one is allowed to bring him back inside."

Carl tightened his grip on my arm and tried to pull me toward the door, but I didn't move. My feet seemed rooted to the carpet.

He froze for a moment before giving me a hard tug. "Stop acting up, Mr. Townsend. Come with me now."

Still, I didn't budge. I simply stared quietly at the contract on the table.

Gina frowned. Maintaining her gentle facade, she approached me and said in a lowered voice, "Don't piss off your father, Logan. Now's not the time for one of your hissy fits. Behave yourself, and I'll buy you some candy later."

A hissy fit, huh?

She pretended to be all respectful toward me in the presence of my family, but when she knew that only I could hear her, she had no qualms about describing my response as a hissy fit.

I raised my head and stared into her eyes. It made her uneasy, and she instinctively stepped backward. She couldn't believe she felt a sense of intimidation from a dimwit like me.

Surely it had to be an illusion. That couldn't be real.

"Why are you still here!" Dad abruptly slammed his hand against the table. Water splashed from the glass and spilled across the wooden table. "Do I have to drag you out myself?"

Sighing, Evelyn came over to lead me out. "Come, Logan. I'll take you outside."

Just as her hand was about to touch my shoulder, Lucille glanced at her watch.

"You have five minutes left, Mr. Townsend. My patience is limited. If you think refusing to sign the contract is somehow a sign of resilience on your end, I won't force you. I'll just see you in court."

She rose to her feet and leisurely buttoned her suit jacket.

"However, when that happens, it won't be a peaceful acquisition. The Townsend family's assets will be forcibly liquidated. Your wife and this youngest son who can't even speak will probably end up on the streets."

Her words had pushed the right buttons, hitting Dad where it hurt the most. His shoulders slumped. It looked like he'd aged ten years in the blink of an eye.

"I'll sign the contract," he said, the words heavy.

Gina immediately pushed the agreement toward him before uncapping a fountain pen and respectfully holding it out to him.

"You've made a wise choice, Mr. Townsend."

The black Montblanc fountain pen gleamed coldly under the lights. Dad's hand remained suspended in midair for a long time as he hesitated to take it.

Julian bit his lower lip, his eyes misting over.

"Is there really no other way, Gina?" he asked, looking at her as if she were our family's final lifeline.

A barely perceptible flash of pity appeared in Gina's eyes, but it was quickly concealed beneath her usual gentle expression.

"Julian, if there were even the slightest chance of saving the company, I would never let Mr. Townsend sign this contract."