Manny said, “Pops, we suspect Laurence is the boy, but we haven’t seen him in person or dug into his past to make the identification.“We need to see him ourselves and confirm who he is to be sure. If we jump into this hastily, we risk making an enemy for the Longbottoms.”Tony fell silent for a bit before uttering, “We have been running this turf for a century. Yet, we can’t uncover who he is. It looks like he’s a big deal.” “By right, even with the Johnsons and the Yorks working together, they can’t scrub someone’s history clean.” “Maybe Laurence isn’t the guy.” Tony hoped Laurence was not the boy back then. Otherwise, everything his family had built in the last century would simply pave the way for someone else’s success. Though the Longbottoms had spent the last three decades establishing their own business, they clung to Longbottom Corporation to stay afloat. They could not just hollow out the assets of Longbottom Corporation due to the presence of core loyalists in th

Callia said, “Great-Nana will be happy with my decision. She’d be proud of me for becoming sensible and planning ahead in my adult years.“I’ve visited Great-Nana’s grave before getting here. I had a long talk with her.”Callia and Grandma May had a deep connection. She spent every day of her life with Grandma May till she started preschool. She was the apple of Grandma May’s eye, and Grandma May waited forever for Callia to join the family. Out of all the great-grandchildren, Callia was Grandma May’s favorite. She was thirteen, just starting middle school, when Grandma May left this world. It was a cold Saturday in November nine years ago, and Callia had not forgotten the bitter chill. Grandma May was ecstatic when Callia came back from school. Back then, Grandma May was doing fine, with a great appetite and good sleep. That night, Callia insisted on sharing a bed with Grandma May. Lying in bed, Callia talked with Grandma May for hours, sharing funny stories from school. She

“I should visit Nana’s grave when I’m back in Wiltspoon next. I’m not back often, so she must be upset with me.” Callia said, “No, Great-Nana will never be mad at any of us. She loves us all so much.” Grandma May was the best great-nana Callia could ever ask for. Why could God not let her live for another decade or two? Callia knew that she was asking for too much. Grandma May lived to an age many could only dream of. Isabella said with a smile, “That’s true. Nana loves us the most. Lil’ Pie, didn’t Koben beg to come along?” She changed the subject. Grandma May had been gone for nine years, but the mention of her would still blanket a somber mood over the room. It was not every day that Callia came to visit. Isabella did not want a cloud hanging over them, so she talked about Rowan’s second child. He made Grandma May’s nineteenth great-grandchild. Koben was only five. Being the youngest, the family showered him with love. Yet, he had been obsessed with his only girl

Chase mumbled under his breath, “I’ve been training since the age of four. With more than a decade of experience, I’m still not quite there yet for you.“You’re playing favorites. All you see is Callie. I basically stop existing to you.” Austin glared at Chase and replied, “You’re going to the office after lunch. I only gave you the morning off for the airport pick-up.” “Dad, since I already got the morning off, you might as well give me the whole day. I haven’t caught up with Callie in forever. Besides, I’m at the bottom of the food chain at work. Nobody will notice even if I’m gone for a day.” Chase was only eighteen months older than Callia. Callia was twenty-two while Chase was waiting for his twenty-fourth birthday. He was the fifth-oldest among his cousins and brother, trailing behind Heath by three years. He was still studying, juggling work as well. Austin said that the York children could only make appearances in the business world after the age of twenty. When Gran

Isabella said with a smile, “It’s a good thing the girls don’t mind you gifting the same thing.” The Johnsons welcomed two girls in this generation. Remy and Elisa’s second child was Risa Johnson, a combination of her parents’ names. Laurence’s gifts to his favorite girls were always identical. He was never one to change his routine, much like how Duncan used to give Sonny a windmill every single day. Feeling a little embarrassed, Laurence must admit that he had no idea what else to buy. The way he saw it, girls were either into jewelry or skincare. Since he knew nothing about skincare products, jewelry was his safe bet. Chloe, Risa, and Callia always get the same style of jewelry to keep things simple. Laurence only got the high-end stuff, so even if the girls never put them on, the jewelry pieces held their value as collectibles. “Is Sonny not here?” Callia asked. “Sonny just took the flight back to Wiltspoon before you got here. He’s working as the VP in Longtail and