Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Quentin Blackwood pulled out a few tissues and handed them over.

He remembered when he’d found Mandy Halloway in the basement. She was perfectly fine, without a single scratch on her.

Lydia Wynn really hadn’t hurt her; she had only locked her up.

People are competitive by nature.

’If Alaric Blackwood learns that his position as executive CEO has been taken by Lydia Wynn,’ he couldn’t help but wonder, ’will the imbalance throw him off enough to make him come back and admit his mistakes?’

Alaric Blackwood had been raised as the heir since he was a child. Could he accept his status as heir being usurped by an illegitimate daughter?

Obviously not.

His pride would never allow someone to take what was rightfully his!

Quentin Blackwood’s gaze darkened. Watching Lydia Wynn wipe her tears with a tissue, he made a bold decision.

...

「The next morning.」

Alaric Blackwood was having breakfast with Sophie Shaw when his phone rang.

It was a call from Preston Chase.

"Mr. Blackwood, a new executive CEO has been parachuted into the company."

Alaric Blackwood put down his chopsticks and simply said, "Oh." His calm response left Preston Chase at a loss. "Mr. Blackwood, you’re not coming back to the company?"

"I’m not."

Preston Chase felt a headache coming on. "If you’re not coming back, what am I supposed to do?"

"You can either stay there and work for the new CEO, or you can resign and join me in starting a new business. The choice is yours."

Preston Chase was torn.

The safe choice was obviously to stay at the Blackwood Group. But the new CEO was Lydia Wynn, who couldn’t stand the sight of him. He figured that "safety" wouldn’t last long. Within a month, Lydia would find some excuse to make him scram.

He was about to be unemployed.

He hadn’t been with Alaric Blackwood for long, but for some reason, their work rhythms were perfectly in sync.

At work, they were both the type to get things done without any fuss.

"Let me guess. The new CEO who was parachuted in is Lydia Wynn?"

Alaric Blackwood’s tone was so calm it surprised Preston Chase.

"That’s right. It’s her."

"So, what’s your choice?"

"Just don’t cut my salary. I have a girlfriend to support." This was Preston Chase’s only condition.

He wasn’t afraid of the hardships of starting a business with Alaric Blackwood; he was only afraid of a pay cut.

Alaric Blackwood let out a low chuckle. "No pay cut."

"OK! I’ll get started on my resignation letter!"

"How long will the resignation process take?"

"About a month."

"Contact me after you’ve left."

"Alright, Mr. Blackwood."

As soon as Alaric Blackwood ended the call and put down his phone, Sophie Shaw gave him a big hug.

She didn’t say a word, but her action was a great comfort to him.

He gently patted her back. "Go on, finish your food."

"Mr. Blackwood, you’re not going to end up a poor man, are you?"

Alaric Blackwood raised an eyebrow, teasing her. "Something like that. Are you starting to look down on me, dear?"

"You can come work with me at Heart of the Ocean."

"So you’re not planning to abandon this poor man? When you first married me, wasn’t it because you wanted to use my influence?"

"I did not."

Sophie Shaw lied through her teeth.

"Now I’m no longer the young master of the Blackwood Family, no longer the CEO of the Blackwood Group, and no longer the heir. Even so, you still want to be with me?"

"I do!"

Sophie Shaw’s eyes were firm, her tone resolute.

"If worse comes to worst, I’ll support you!"

Alaric Blackwood couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He ruffled Sophie Shaw’s hair. "No need. Your husband can afford to support you."

Not to mention the considerable value of the real estate and luxury cars under his name, he had started investing in various fields since his teens. Even without the Blackwood Group, his net worth was still immeasurably high.

"My wife is so beautiful today."

More beautiful than ever.

He pulled Sophie Shaw into his arms and lightly kissed her forehead. "Don’t you worry about a thing, dear. Just focus on getting better first."

Sophie Shaw looked up at him. "Do we still have money for my treatment?"

Alaric Blackwood laughed again. "Of course! How could we not?"

"But weren’t you kicked out of the Blackwood Group?"

"I have shares, and I have savings. Don’t be afraid, dear. We have money for your treatment, don’t worry."

"Then that card you gave me, can I still use it?"

"You can. It’s my personal supplementary card."

Sophie Shaw let out a long sigh of relief. "As long as I can use it."

"You little money-grubber."

Sophie Shaw giggled sheepishly.

He pinched her cheek, sat back down in his chair, picked up his chopsticks, and placed a piece of pork rib in her bowl.

Sophie Shaw ate with relish. After a good night’s sleep, she was in good spirits today, and her appetite was better than yesterday’s.

After the meal, she pestered Alaric Blackwood, asking about his plans for starting a new business.

Alaric Blackwood listed his investment projects for her. He had deep investments in over a dozen companies, which left her completely stunned.

She discovered that Alaric Blackwood was a hidden tycoon. The returns on his personal investments were already enough to keep him comfortable for several lifetimes.

’What a powerful man!’

’He’s so forward-thinking. His earliest investment was actually made when he was fifteen, in the fields of new energy and artificial intelligence. Back then, most people weren’t optimistic about those new domestic projects, but he invested anyway.’

’Fifteen years old! What kind of business acumen is that!’

Her gaze toward Alaric Blackwood gradually shifted from surprise to admiration.

"Is my wife starting to admire me?"

She bit her lip. "A little."

"Just a little?"

"I’m afraid you’ll get arrogant."

Alaric Blackwood chuckled, amused. "So, who do you admire more? Me, or Yuri?"

Hearing Yuri’s name, Sophie Shaw shook her head frantically. "I don’t admire him."

Yuri was, at best, an idol from her school days. After meeting him a few times, she had decisively knocked the man off the lofty pedestal she’d put him on.

"I heard he was your idol."

"He was. Not anymore."

"Really?"

"What do you think?"

Alaric Blackwood was in a great mood. "Since my wife admires me so much, I must make an investment in Heart of the Ocean to reward her."

Sophie Shaw’s eyes instantly lit up. "How much will you invest?"

"I’m going to become Heart of the Ocean’s largest shareholder."

"Then I..."

"The management rights will still be yours. I won’t interfere with Heart of the Ocean’s operations or major decisions. But, my dear wife, don’t lose my money! It’ll hurt."

"I won’t, I promise I won’t."

"If you do lose money, it will be the only failed case in my investment career to date."

...

Alaric Blackwood’s tone was so serious, even carrying a hint of a threat, that Sophie Shaw felt a mountain of pressure.

"I’m just teasing you."

The man picked up a piece of meat and fed it to her. "Don’t feel pressured. With your husband here, you have nothing to fear."

"What if I do lose money?"

"Then you lose money. Your husband will cover for you."

"Then your new business..."

"What new business? Why would I really start from scratch?" Alaric Blackwood took a tissue and wiped the corner of Sophie Shaw’s mouth. "I’ll just parachute into the Blackwood Group’s rival company and give them a little surprise. Starting a business from the ground up is too much trouble."

Taking over the massive Blackwood Group in three years was a bit of a boast; there wasn’t quite enough time. But acquiring their rival company would put the greatest pressure on the Blackwood Group. He might not even need three years to have the company in his pocket.

Quentin Blackwood had played a ruthless move by putting Lydia Wynn in the executive CEO’s seat. It was tantamount to a provocation against what Alaric had said yesterday. If he didn’t take down the Blackwood Group, it would seem like he wasn’t showing his old man enough respect.

"Okay!"

Sophie Shaw pressed her lips together, the corners of her mouth twitching as she tried not to smile. She was thoroughly impressed by Alaric Blackwood’s ’money power’ and business acumen.

"Think your husband’s handsome, don’t you?"

"Want to give me a kiss?"

"A kiss from my wife is my reward and my motivation."