Chapter 13 Minnie Is Collecting Bottles

“What is it?” Dax glanced at Aaron and asked. “Dad, I discovered the reason why the Infernal Group awarded the project to Freya is solely due to Lucian’s influence. Despite his retirement from the military after seven years of service, we mustn’t overlook the fact that he is also a disowned member of the Gray family. Plus, his father held a significant position in the past,” Aaron explained with a serious expression. Upon this revelation, Dax’s realization dawned, and he turned to Aaron, asking, “Are you suggesting that Lucian leveraged his ties to the Gray Group to secure this project for Freya?” “That’s right!” Aaron nodded solemnly, continuing, “The news of Gray Group’s upcoming listing on the stock market has already spread throughout Sioux. Once they succeed, they will rank among the three great families in the entire city. With the influence and resources of the Gray Group, obtaining the project from the Infernal Group is a minor feat.” “Oh, I see. So that’s why.” Dax nodded slightly with murderous intent in his eyes and said, “Aaron, what do you suggest we do next?” “Contact the Gray Group and urge them to question Lucian and issue an official statement denying any connection to him. Once accomplished, do you think the Infernal Group will still entrust Lucian with such a crucial project?” “Once the Gray family distances themselves from Lucian, Skyline Realty will be left scrambling to replace investors. If they can’t gather the necessary funds for the project, they’ll have no choice but to come back to us, and the project will naturally fall into our hands.” After hearing Aaron’s words, Dax’s excitement surged, and he enthusiastically slammed his hand on the table, exclaiming, “Excellent! This is a brilliant idea!” “No matter what, our family must secure this project, so we cannot allow Freya to proceed smoothly. She will undoubtedly come crawling back to us if she encounters obstacles, begging for help. Hahaha!” Dax’s face lit up with joy as he tossed his head back, bursting into laughter. After a moment, he declared, “I trust you to handle this task. Get in touch with the Gray Group.” “Okay!” Aaron acknowledged with a slight nod, then turned on his heels and left. … In the meantime, they trudged back to Monsalt City Village, their efforts to secure investors throughout the day proving fruitless. The lack of success weighed heavily on Freya’s heart, filling it with a profound sense of disappointment. Overwhelmed by despair, she grappled with the grim reality that there remained less than a week to replace potential investors. The project’s very existence hung in the balance, teetering on the precipice of failure. Should no investors be found, it would mark the untimely demise of their ambitious undertaking. Upon learning of the situation, Annie and Frank, too, were struck with a profound sense of disheartenment, engulfed by feelings of inadequacy. The fact that their daughter was facing challenges in her work weighed heavily on their minds, and they grappled with the helplessness of being unable to offer assistance. “Uncle Frank and Aunt Annie, there’s no need for you to worry about this anymore. I will replace an investor,” Lucian spoke up, unable to bear the weight of their distress any longer. Annie’s brows furrowed as she cast a skeptical glance at Lucian. Her tone carried a hint of displeasure as she questioned, “Are you sure you can replace an investor?” While Lucian had made some minor contributions to the project, it could not overshadow the pain he had inflicted on them over the years, particularly in Freya’s case. The fact that she found herself in this situation was a consequence of her love for Lucian. Frank’s voice carried a soft tone as he chimed in, “Let him give it a try. After all, Lucian is still a member of the Gray family. Perhaps some investors will be willing to invest, honoring the Gray family’s legacy, as long as it’s enough to get the project off the ground. We can always seek additional investors down the line. As Annie listened, a sudden realization dawned upon her. It became apparent that Lucian had utilized the reputation of his family name to secure the current project. It occurred to her that if he were to repeat this maneuver, he could potentially secure investors for Skyline Realty. Yes, I think we should let Lucian try it. He might surprise us after all. Freya’s doubt was palpable as she voiced her concerns. “Lucian, perhaps it’s best to let go of this idea. Considering you’ve been expelled from the Gray family, if they were to discover that you’ve been leveraging their name and reputation to attract investors and secure the project, they would undoubtedly pursue consequences. Coincidentally, there is an investor meeting scheduled for tomorrow. Maybe we could both attend it tomorrow. Who knows, maybe we’ll get something out of it.” “Fay, are you worried about me?” Lucian’s face registered a hint of surprise as he posed the question. It was evident that Freya harbored fear that the Gray family would retaliate against Lucian, leading her to strongly discourage the idea of leveraging the Gray family’s influence. “I’m simply concerned that the repercussions may ultimately fall on me. Besides, I want to secure an investment based on my own capabilities,” Freya stated, casting a cold glance toward Lucian. Upon hearing her words, Lucian felt a tinge of embarrassment, instinctively rubbing his nose in response. His gaze swept the surroundings, and he noticed that Minnie was still not home, causing a growing sense of concern to well up within him. Swiftly changing the subject, he diverted their attention by inquiring, “School should have ended by now. Why hasn’t Minnie returned yet?” Lucian’s remark jolted them all back to reality. The intensity of their project discussion had consumed their attention to the point where they had forgotten entirely about Minnie. “Yeah, she should have been back a long time ago.” Annie’s countenance took on an anxious appearance. After a brief pause, Frank broke the silence, his voice carrying a tone of reassurance. “I believe she’ll be alright. That kid is incredibly independent. She often sets up her stall by herself. She never needed anyone to keep an eye on her.” “I’ll go replace her,” Lucian declared, his worry refusing to subside. Determined to locate Minnie, he ventured out alone in search of her. While Minnie may have possessed unique qualities that set her apart from other children, to Lucian, she was his most cherished treasure in the world. He couldn’t bear the thought of any harm befalling her. After scouring the area for over ten minutes, Lucian’s eyes fell upon Minnie. She was busy gathering bottles, her small figure hunched over along the roadside, holding a plastic bag. “Minnie, it’s already so late. Why aren’t you home?” Lucian rushed to Minnie’s side and asked. Minnie’s gaze met Lucian’s, but her expression remained stoic as she diligently carried on with her task of gathering bottles. Ignoring his presence, she continued her silence, treating him as if he were invisible, a mere part of the background. Helplessly, Lucian trailed behind Minnie and pleaded, “Minnie, what can I do to earn your forgiveness? And why are you collecting so many bottles?” At just a little over four feet tall, Minnie carried a bag brimming with plastic bottles, a sight that seemed both amusing and heartrending to Lucian. Seeing her like this, it struck him with a profound sadness. Compared to other children, Minnie had endured far more hardships and struggles. “Mommy needs money to run her business, but our family has none. So, I’m collecting bottles and selling them so that Mommy will have money for her business,” Minnie explained. As she spoke, she dropped a soda can into the bag. What Minnie said left Lucian in shock. He hadn’t anticipated her level of maturity at such a young age. She took to the streets after school to scour for bottles to support her mother’s business. It was a testament to the depth of her love for her mother. At times, parents would toil tirelessly to earn money, driven by their love for their children. But in Minnie’s case, she went beyond expectations. She scoured the streets, collecting bottles to help her mother establish a business. Her sense of responsibility and maturity were beyond her years. Lucian couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by just how grown-up Minnie had become. It brought a tingling sensation to his nose, and he was on the verge of tears. “I don’t think you’ve eaten anything, do you? Daddy treats you to KFC, okay?” Lucian said, pointing to a nearby KFC. Upon hearing Lucian’s offer, Minnie turned her head toward the KFC, a trace of longing in her eyes. She had heard her classmates at school rave about the delicious chicken drumsticks and refreshing Coke from KFC, but she had never tried them herself. “Tsk. I don’t want to eat that. It’s food for little kids. Plus, it’s expensive and doesn’t taste good,” Minnie replied with a snort. But you’re also a little kid… Minnie no longer considered herself as a child. The tasks of operating a stall or scavenging for bottles to earn money were well beyond the scope of what one would expect from a child as young as seven. As Lucian’s nose prickled and a solitary tear escaped from the corner of his eye, he felt a deep pang of guilt. He realized that he owed Minnie an immeasurable debt. With a heavy heart, he spoke, “Minnie, you really want to help Mommy start her business? If I can help Mommy secure the funds she needs for her business, can you promise me one thing?”