Chapter 621 He’s My Son?
- Ronald Frost was a sharp man. Why did Zara Frost land the hosting rights to the business forum? It wasn’t because of anyone else. It had to be because of Marcus Crawley. Marcus’s identity and standing were unfathomable. Marcus saw Ronald’s warm welcome and didn’t stand on ceremony. He smiled and said, “I’ll make time for it.” Ronald laughed out loud. From the first time he met Marcus, he’d taken a liking to this kid. And the more he saw him, the more he liked him. He didn’t linger where the younger crowd gathered. Smiling, he said, “Alright then, I won’t get in the way. Zara, take good care of Marcus Crawley.” Zara looked confused and shot back, “Daddy, what’s with ‘take care’? Hey, what’s with that look?” Ronald just smiled without answering and strolled off, humming to himself. He couldn’t wait to tell Selene Thorne all about today. He wanted her to see that his taste in people was way sharper than hers back then. On Selene’s end, she clearly didn’t buy it after hearing Ronald’s words. “Do you take me for a fool? He’s really that capable?” … Riverton, Forest Park. The business forum kicked off, and for all the big and small businesses across Riverton, it was a reason to celebrate. But for the Gus, it was a lightning strike straight to the skull—a total disaster. The moment Gu Yunlong got back to Riverton, he headed straight to the Gus’ meeting hall. A few elders sat there, eyes blazing, their faces hard, with a cold edge that screamed violence. “Gu Yunlong, you dare show your face?” “You started all of this!” “I warned you twenty years ago—don’t touch what isn’t yours. That woman carries doom in her eyes. She’ll ruin the Gus.” Gu Yunlong let out a quiet sigh and dropped to his knees. “This began because of me. I’ll fix it.” “Fix it? How?” “I’ll figure it out,” he said, head still bowed. The Gus’ patriarch slammed his palm on the table and roared, “It’s your mess—piled sky high! First it was Sadie Sugarman’s mother, that shameless witch. Now it’s Tang Yun. Do you even realize what you’ve done?” “You’re dragging the whole Gus clan into the mud!” Gu Yunlong swallowed his temper and took the hits. One after another, the Gus barked orders and put on airs. Finally, Gu Yunlong snapped. He lifted his head and glared at the elders up front, voice cold and sharp. “Have you all forgotten? How did the Gus get Forest Park in the first place? Or do you not remember how the Golden Fire Cavalry came to be?” “Yes, I messed up big back then.” “But if I hadn’t brought that woman’s child back to the Gus, would the Gus be what it is today? If she hadn’t left behind the key to Forest Park, would you be living here? If she hadn’t fronted the cash, would you have formed the Golden Fire Cavalry and earned your standing in Riverton?” “Sadie Sugarman is under my protection. Anyone tries to touch her, they’ll answer to me.” The room fell silent in an instant. The newer, lower ranks didn’t know. But up top? No one was ignorant. Back then, the Gus were nobodies. Their rise was all thanks to that woman. On a stormy night, she came clutching a child and begged the Gus for help. If they were willing to swap one child for another, to raise her baby in the Gus’ name, then in return, the Gus would get the key to Forest Park… and wealth fit to rival a nation. That fortune was the bedrock of the Gus as they stood today. Right then, Sadie was outside the door, listening. She’d been thrilled to hear Gu Yunlong was back. She’d wanted to run in and see her “real father” first thing—but what she’d just heard didn’t match the picture in her head at all. Gu Yunlong wasn’t her biological father? Then what was she to the Gus? Gu Yunlong was about to leave. Sadie scrambled to hide, but he moved fast. He reached the door and ran straight into her. “Sadie, why are you here?” he asked quickly. Sadie’s face chilled. “Oh. I… I heard you were back and came to check on you.” Gu Yunlong didn’t flinch at the thought that she might’ve heard everything. He only said to her, “I’ll explain some things later. Even the Gus, Gu Jianchen, and Tang Yun don’t know the whole story. There’s a huge misunderstanding. But until I clear it up, don’t leave the Gus.” “Hear me—staying with the Gus is the safest option.” He looked grim, even a bit rattled. He knew he had to move. Fast. Every minute late, things would spin out of control. He rushed to the prison and, burning favors, found where Tang Yun was being held. He didn’t know Tang Yun had already hooked up with Tang Sandao. He was furious and barked, “Tang Yun, do you even know what you’ve done?” Tang Yun wasn’t ashamed at all. She bit out, “Gu Yunlong, you know to come back now? Ha! You cheated and dragged a daughter into this mess. You make me regret being good to you for a lifetime!” Gu Yunlong didn’t waste words. His hand shot up. Tang Yun squeezed her eyes shut and yelled, “Go on! Hit me! I dare you!” Rage flashed hot through Gu Yunlong. If not for Sadie’s identity—a secret he couldn’t spill—he’d have slapped Tang Yun right then and there to teach her a lesson. Seeing he hadn’t struck, Tang Yun sneered, “You’ve got a temper now? Where was that temper when your son was in trouble? Oh, right—your boy is half-dead, and you still don’t care. You don’t care? Fine. The Gus don’t care? Fine. As long as you don’t make a move, the Tangs will.” Turns out, Tang Yun had arranged all of this. She never expected Gu Yunlong to step in. But the moment he didn’t, the Tangs in Centrium Vale would go find that master. Once that master came down the mountain… maybe not rivers of corpses, but Marcus Crawley would be a dead man walking. That master was Gu Jianchen’s only teacher—the one gift Tang Yun had given her son. “Try laying a finger on Sadie and see what happens. Anyone around her—friends, a blade of grass, a single twig—don’t touch it.” “I’m here to warn you.” “Next time, it won’t be this gentle. Hmph. Sit tight in prison. Behave, and when I’ve wrapped things up, maybe I’ll find a way to get you out.” With that, Gu Yunlong spun on his heel and left. Tang Yun hadn’t spoken yet, but Tang Sandao beside her couldn’t hold back anymore. He gritted out, “Yun, he treated you like that?” Tang Yun had had enough of this hell over the years. She clenched her teeth and whispered, “Cousin, it’s fine. He showed up. He refuses to save me, so the Tangs will act.” “Also… ha.” “He probably doesn’t know. Gu Jianchen isn’t his son.” Tang Sandao went rigid, eyes wide. He stammered, “What… what did you say? Gu Jianchen isn’t Gu Yunlong’s son. Then… don’t tell me… don’t tell me he’s mine—”