chapter26

chapter26

Leo and Emma didn't have to wait long before Rebecca's grandfather, Arthur, returned to the grand hall. His demeanor was warm and welcoming as ever, but his sharp eyes carried a weight of seriousness as he motioned for them to join him at the grand dining table.

Rebecca trailed behind, her earlier embarrassment gone but her curiosity piqued. Samuel, ever the observer, leaned casually against the wall, watching the scene unfold.

Arthur gestured for them to sit. "Now that I've had some time to catch up with my grandchildren, it's time we talk about Ethan—and how you all play a part in this." His voice carried the tone of a man accustomed to giving orders, even in the kindest of ways.

Leo straightened up, feeling the weight of the conversation shift.

Arthur turned to Emma first. "You've been a steadfast companion to Ethan, haven't you?" he asked with a kind smile.

Emma nodded. "Yes, sir. Ethan's been like family to us, and we'll do whatever it takes to support him."

Arthur's gaze softened before he turned to Leo, his expression becoming shrewd. "And you, Leo. Rebecca's told me quite a bit about you."

Leo tilted his head, puzzled. "Oh?"

Arthur chuckled. "She told me about your legendary crypto investing. How you make money seem like it grows on trees."

Leo shot Rebecca a look, but she only shrugged with an innocent smile. Arthur leaned forward, his interest evident. "So, young man, could you share a few tips? I wouldn't mind turning my retirement fund into a fortune."

Leo blinked, caught off guard. But years of crafting nonsense and bluffing his way through explanations with Ethan kicked in. "Well, you see," Leo began, weaving together half-truths, buzzwords, and outright gibberish. "It's all about leveraging decentralized platforms to diversify your portfolio while maintaining liquidity. You combine that with trend analysis, algorithmic trading bots, and strategic token swapping."

He gestured wildly, adding nonsensical phrases like "blockchain resonance" and "quantum risk mitigation" for extra flair. When he finished, he sat back confidently, as though he had just delivered a masterclass.

There was a long pause.

Arthur blinked. "What?"

Emma stifled a laugh, Rebecca covered her face with her hand, and Samuel outright chuckled.

"That," Samuel said, "made absolutely no sense."

Arthur leaned back, his lips curling into a grin. "You've got the gift of gab, young man. I admire that. Though I think I'll keep my money in safer places for now."

Leo grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

Arthur's demeanor shifted again as he folded his hands on the table. "Now, I need to inform you all of something important." His tone grew serious, commanding everyone's attention.

"You're all going to have personal security assigned to you. Two guards each. Ethan has already been assigned his pair."

"What?" Rebecca exclaimed, sitting upright. "You're giving us bodyguards now?"

Arthur nodded. "Yes. I'm not taking any chances, especially with the situation regarding Ethan's father. These are not ordinary guards—they're elite. You'll find they're unobtrusive but highly capable."

Rebecca slumped back in her seat. "I was expecting an annoying mini-army, but this... Grandpa, you're too overly conscious sometimes."

Arthur smiled warmly at her. "Perhaps, but I've lived long enough to know that being overly cautious is better than being regretful."

He then gestured to Leo. "Your guards are already waiting for you outside. Two highly skilled individuals, discreet but formidable. Emma and Rebecca, you'll each have two guards as well—both women, for your comfort. Ethan's guards have already joined him."

Leo leaned back, processing the information. "So... we're basically going to have secret agents following us around now?"

Arthur chuckled. "Think of them as guardians, not babysitters. They're there to ensure you can focus on helping Ethan without worrying about unexpected dangers."

Rebecca sighed, muttering, "This is going to be a headache."

Samuel smirked. "At least you're not dealing with a full army, sis. Count your blessings."

Arthur stood, signaling the end of the conversation. "Now, let's not dwell on it too much. They're here to help, not hinder. For now, make yourselves comfortable. Tomorrow, we'll discuss the next steps regarding Ethan's situation."

The morning sun poured into the grand dining room, where everyone gathered for breakfast. Rebecca's grandfather, Arthur, sat at the head of the table, his commanding presence setting the tone for the day. Leo, Emma, Rebecca, and Samuel took their seats, their moods ranging from eager to cautious.

After the meal, the conversation quickly shifted to business matters concerning Ethan. Arthur led the discussion with a firm yet thoughtful tone, detailing the challenges Ethan's fledgling ventures faced and the potential solutions.

Leo tried his best to follow, but the specifics of contracts, logistics, and profit margins sounded like a foreign language. He nodded strategically, occasionally humming in agreement to maintain the illusion of understanding.

Emma, noticing his struggle, leaned over and whispered, "Just keep that straight face, Leo. You're doing great."

Leo gave a slight smirk and whispered back, "That's the plan."

Rebecca watched with mild amusement but soon straightened up as a new figure entered the room.

"Ah, here comes the disappointment," Arthur announced without even looking up.

Rebecca's father stepped into the room, his confident stride faltering under his father's sharp words. Dressed in a tailored suit, he exuded the aura of wealth, but his expression revealed a mix of frustration and resignation.

"Good morning, Father," Rebecca's father greeted, his tone forced.

Arthur barely acknowledged him before addressing the group. "This is Rebecca's father. A billionaire, yes, but..." He turned to his son with a disappointed shake of his head. "Tell me, did you spend even a single day in the military?"

Rebecca's father's jaw tightened. "No, Father, I didn't."

Arthur slammed his cane against the floor with mock severity. "Disappointment!"

Rebecca's father sighed, muttering, "Here we go again."

Attempting to defend himself, he said, "My brother didn't serve in the military either, and you don't call him a disappointment."

Arthur's mustache twitched with disdain. "Your brother runs the underground. He may not have served, but at least he has the guts you lack. Look at Samuel!"

Rebecca's father gestured toward Samuel, frustrated. "He crashed a military plane doing some stupid 'cool trick.'"

Arthur's face broke into a proud grin. "Exactly! Even when Samuel messes up, he does it with flair. My friends haven't stopped calling me about that incident."

Samuel smirked, leaning back in his chair. "To be fair, it was a very cool trick."

Rebecca's father pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're encouraging recklessness."

Before the argument could escalate further, Samuel, sensing an opportunity, interjected. "Speaking of your friends, Grandpa, you might find this interesting. One of them has a grandson—my best friend. We both got banned from flying together after that little incident."

Arthur turned to Samuel, his curiosity piqued. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"

Samuel shrugged. "You were busy lecturing me about my 'reckless behavior.'"

Arthur's eyes narrowed, then his expression brightened. "What's this friend's name?"

Samuel told him, and Arthur's grin grew wider. "Oh, it's revenge time."

He pulled out his phone, dialing a number with an almost mischievous glee.

"Ah, Charles! How are you, old friend?" Arthur greeted cheerfully, his tone dripping with the promise of trouble. "I just heard about your grandson's flying ban... Yes, yes, Samuel told me everything. Oh, you didn't know? Well, let me fill you in—"

As Arthur relayed the story with theatrical enthusiasm, Rebecca buried her face in her hands. "I can't believe this is my family."

Leo leaned over to Emma, whispering, "This is like watching a mafia movie with a comedy twist."

Emma nodded, trying to suppress her laughter. "At least it's entertaining."

Rebecca's father, meanwhile, muttered under his breath, "I'm never going to hear the end of this."

Arthur ended the call with a triumphant chuckle, his spirits lifted. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes. Let's focus on the important matters—protecting Ethan and ensuring my granddaughter doesn't inherit her father's disappointing habits."

Rebecca groaned. "Grandpa, please."