Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 176 - 174: The Forrester Family’s Grandson (5 Updates)
The Forrester family’s old mansion is located near Serene Lake in the West District of Brimfield, a traditional courtyard house that appears understated but is incredibly valuable.
The courtyard along the street covers over 3,000 square meters, featuring gray walls and green tiles, with doors and windows made from expensive golden-threaded nanmu wood. The main gate within the three doors is over two meters wide, originally with a threshold, but later converted to a threshold-less gate to allow car access. Beside the main gate are two smaller threshold gates that fit one person, with antique beast-shaped door knockers on the panels.
In the old buildings of Brimfield, the door is a topic that can be discussed separately. The design of the doors essentially reflects the status and prestige of one’s family lineage, showing that several generations of the Forrester family were highly reputable merchants in the city.
It was early October, the autumn chill enveloped Brimfield, with golden leaves falling on the ground. At the Forrester family’s entrance, two ginkgo trees had half their leaves fallen, while the other half remained on the dry gray branches.
A black S90 turned from the main road, stopped at the courtyard gate, and honked the horn. Shortly after, the old butler Uncle Zeke jogged out to open the gate.
Simon Forrester pressed the accelerator, and the car slowly drove into the courtyard.
Four parking spaces were specially planned beside the main gate, one for Old Master Forrester, and one each for the Forrester parents and Simon Forrester.
Therefore, Bianca Fordham, Old Master Forrester’s eldest daughter who had married off, and Thomas Reed’s mother, had quite a problem with having to park her car outside every time she returned to her parental home.
Old Master Forrester showed considerable favoritism towards males, and after his only daughter got married, he never allowed her to stay overnight or even for a short stay at her parental home, believing that a married daughter staying overnight would take away the wealth and glory belonging to her family’s descendants.
Matriarch Forrester pained for her daughter, and shortly after Bianca Fordham gave birth to Thomas Reed, she moved to her daughter’s house under the pretext of helping take care of her grandson, staying there for thirty years, occasionally returning to stay for a week each month.
What Old Master Forrester envied most in his lifetime was his neighbor, Old Master Grant, who had four grandsons and one granddaughter, each more outstanding than the other. Despite the youngest grandson Gage Grant and granddaughter Ronan Grant being somewhat unruly, they could still carry on the family line, a point that inspired considerable envy.
Old Master Forrester’s greatest sense of achievement in his life was naturally his only grandson, Simon Forrester, handsome and exuding a charm reminiscent of his youthful self, not only a PhD in Architecture from Cambridge, but also a young and internationally renowned architectural designer.
Therefore, knowing that his beloved grandson planned to accompany him to watch the military parade, Old Master Forrester rose before dawn, stretching his neck and waiting expectantly in the main house for three to four hours.
"Master Simon, you finally arrived! Old Master has been waiting for you since six in the morning!" Uncle Zeke dutifully followed behind Simon Forrester, "He might be a bit annoyed from waiting too long, so please soothe him a bit when you go in."
Simon Forrester handed Uncle Zeke a bag of gifts, smiling, "Uncle Zeke, I brought this ginseng back from The Northeast for you to make soup."
Uncle Zeke, honored and surprised, hurriedly accepted the bag, bowing gratefully, "Oh, Master Simon, you are too kind! I’m old and brittle, why drink these? I’ll have the kitchen make some for Old Master later."
Simon Forrester handed another bag over, "Grandpa has his own share. If you bring out yours, he’ll surely complain!"
Uncle Zeke responded affirmatively, carrying the gift bags as they went inside together.
They passed through the inner courtyard to the main room in the north wing, where a white-haired old man sat in the hall watching the beginning of the military parade.
Simon Forrester knocked on the door before entering.
The old man turned his head, his face full of joy, yet feigned anger: "What time is it now? If you’re this late in business dealings, see who will ask you to design their houses in the future!"
Simon Forrester playfully bowed and said, "If no one wants me to design houses, I’ll come back to inherit the Forrester Group then!"
Saying this, the old man’s mock anger vanished, replaced with a broad smile as he stood up, pulling his beloved grandson over to sit together.
His eyes focused on the TV, but his hand kept touching his grandson’s hand, asking, "Recently, your aunt has been in your grandmother’s ear, saying Vantage’s business isn’t going well and wants to merge the group’s legal matters into Vantage."
Simon Forrester had intended to discuss this issue, but the old man mentioned it first.
He slightly raised an eyebrow, smiling, "Speaking of three-legged structures, when one leg collapses, the situation changes significantly. Grandpa, which three legs do you consider?"
The old man fell silent, his slightly cloudy but still sharp eyes fixed on the TV. After a moment, he spoke deeply, "I won’t let your aunt mess around!"
Simon Forrester tossed a luscious, juicy cherry from the platter into his mouth, chewed it a few times, spat out the seed, and put away his playful face, suddenly becoming serious.
"The Forrester Group’s legal department is responsible for contract reviewing and participating in business negotiations. Anything related to money will naturally involve contracts and negotiations. In the group’s operations, the legal department plays a relatively comprehensive supervisory role. Since your aunt already manages the finances, the legal matters should not be handed over to her. I intended to mention this to you today."
Upon hearing his grandson’s willingness to involve himself in the group matters, the old man became intrigued, his eyes smiling into slits as he kept patting Simon Forrester’s hand, asking, "What good ideas do you have?"
"After the holiday, I plan to restructure the group’s legal department. All the spies and loafers need to be cleared out. I’ve been in contact with a lawyer specializing in international law and economic law, and if all goes well, this person can join us after the holiday."
The old man’s eyes sharply scrutinized him, asking, "Male or female? What’s their background? Reliable?"
Simon Forrester kept his gaze on the orderly military parade on TV, unfazed, "Female PhD from Harvard Law School, reliable. I want to cultivate her as one of our own."
Upon hearing she’s female, the old man furrowed his brows, clicked his tongue, and thoughtfully remarked, "It’s not that I underestimate female professionals! Mainly, female professionals can easily be influenced by emotions, disrupting matters at work or in academics."
Simon Forrester laughed gently, resting his hand on the chair, dismissively saying, "Grandpa, facing someone like Aunt Bianca, do you think it’s better to have a man?"
The old man remained silent, furrowing his brows, unsure what he was pondering.
Simon Forrester continued, "Besides, could someone influenced by emotions get into Harvard Law School? That’s a hellish selection process, and such a person isn’t ordinary anymore."
Saying this, he suddenly recalled Sienna Thornton’s pitiful crying beneath him that morning, clearing his throat, slightly turning his body, his lips curving with a smile.
He never thought he would choose a female prodigy, and this particular scholar, without her resume, genuinely didn’t look like a PhD.
Who said female PhDs are dull and uninteresting?
They were deceiving others, evidently. His family’s Dr. Sugar was clearly soft and sweet all over.
As Simon Forrester mused about Sienna Thornton, the old man dropped his opposition, tacitly agreeing to his proposal.
Closer to noon, Thomas Reed’s family arrived.
As soon as Bianca Fordham entered the room and saw Simon Forrester, she immediately rushed to Old Master Forrester’s side, whispering, "Dad, I have something to discuss with you."
Old Man Forrester glanced at his grandson beside him, waving his hand, "If it’s about merging the group’s legal affairs into Vantage, no need to say more. I just discussed with Simon and plan to restructure the legal department after the holiday!"
Bianca Fordham’s face turned pale, while Thomas Reed behind her glared angrily at Simon Forrester.
Simon Forrester sprawled on the sofa, chewing a large cherry, suddenly saying, "Grandpa, these cherries are great! Give me a few pounds to take when I leave later."
His girl loves cherries.
