LORD CHESTER COMES BACK

While engaged in a game of chess with Rod Smith, Jun Chester queried Peter Alston, who was nearby, “Peter, didn’t you have something important to discuss with me? What is it?”

Peter replied respectfully, “Here’s the situation, Mr. Chester. The construction project for Lordran National College is going up for tender. Dirtmouth has three companies that meet the qualifications for this project. One of them is Cobb Real Estate from South Lordran. Based on my research, the current president of the group is Anne Cobb, a cousin of your wife’s. What do you think…”

Jun Chester responded indifferently, “Follow the rules, you don’t need to ask me about matters involving nepotism.”

Peter Alston paused, giving a bitter smile, “Understood, Mr. Chester.”

As he spoke, Peter Alston refilled Jun Chester’s tea, then poured tea for Rod Smith, feeling a bit surprised.

He had met Rod Smith, the old man, before. Years ago, Peter Alston had gone to Mycintia for a rest due to overwork. During a mountain hike, he’d coincidentally met Rod Smith. With some guidance from Rod Smith, Peter received some legacy knowledge. Now, Peter Alston’s good health could be attributed to the kindness Rod showed him back then.

After many years, Rod Smith had forgotten about Peter Alston, but Peter remembered him clearly. He was surprised to see someone as distinguished as Rod Smith serving as a gatekeeper for Jun Chester.

As Peter Alston pondered this, Anne Cobb arrived by car. She soon stopped in front of the mountain-top villa.

Noticing Peter Alston there, Anne Cobb was taken aback and then exclaimed, “Mr. Alston, what brings you to Hill Grandsilk?”

The secretary in front was also surprised, “Wow, is that really Mr. Alston?”

Anne Cobb looked at the interior of the mountain-top villa, which clearly showed signs of occupancy. A skinny man was practicing boxing not far from the gate, and the woman accompanying him was Stacey, wife of Riordan Wells.

Taking in the scene, Anne felt frustrated. She concluded that Peter Alston must have already bought the mountain-top villa, and he was close with the Wells family…

She was a step too late.

She had planned to buy the villa at Hill Grandsilk and present it to Peter Alston, but now it turned out that the villa was already bought, which explained why the security at Hill Grandsilk had told her that it was a private residence.

Anne Cobb felt disappointed. But on second thought, since she was here and had the chance to meet a business luminary like Peter Alston, she should seize the opportunity.

Considering the competitive capabilities of Cobb Real Estate, which were no lesser than the Wells family, Anne couldn’t believe that Peter Alston would simply overlook her company.

With these thoughts, Anne Cobb immediately tidied herself up, got out of the car, and walked towards Peter Alston with a smile, “Mr. Alston, how refined of you to be playing chess here.”

Peter Alston turned his head and saw Anne Cobb. He gave a slight start and thought to himself, ‘Speak of the devil and he shall appear. This is going to be difficult to handle today.’

On one hand, there was Anne Cobb, who was related to Jun Chester, and on the other hand, there were two other companies that also qualified. He was in a real dilemma!

While thinking, Peter Alston stood up, smiled at Anne Cobb, and said, “We were just talking about you, and here you are.”

Anne Cobb, surprised, asked, “You were talking about me? What were you saying, Mr. Alston?”

Just as Peter Alston was about to respond, Rod Smith, who was playing chess with Jun Chester, scratched his forehead and said to Peter Alston, “Peter, do you have a cigarette? Give me one. Damn, I’m going to lose again. This game is killing me.”

Peter Alston hurriedly gave Rod Smith a cigarette.

Seeing this, Anne Cobb was secretly shocked. ‘Who is this old man?’ she wondered. ‘He even gets Peter Alston to light his cigarette. He must be… a senior member of Peter Alston’s family.’

Anne Cobb, being a shrewd woman, quickly took a lighter out of her bag and offered it to Rod Smith, smiling sweetly, “Sir, let me light it for you.”

Rod Smith glanced at Anne Cobb and smiled, “You are quite considerate, young lady.”

Anne Cobb’s smile deepened, “It’s just respect for the elders.”

Just as she finished her sentence, an annoyed voice came from the front gate, “Respect for elders, my foot! Anne Cobb, right? Why did you ignore your cousin when she spoke to you? You even threw her ID on the ground. You better explainyourself today, or I won’t let you through my door!”

Anne Cobb froze on the spot.

Turning her head, she saw Don had arrived in his Cullinan and had already gotten out of the car, looking furious.

Anne Cobb was very angry.

A butcher, married to a nouveau riche woman, moved into House Grandsilk, and now he was confronting her.

But due to Peter Alston’s presence, Anne Cobb didn’t want to lose her temper. She took a deep breath to suppress her anger, and said to Don, “Uncle, you go home first. I’ll come over and explain about the cousin matter later. This is Mr. Alston’s residence, and you shouldn’t be causing a scene here!”

Don was irritated, “I know who Peter Alston is. What do you mean, his residence? This is my home! I wouldn’t care about arguing with you if it weren’t for the disrespect you showed your cousin earlier. That’s unacceptable!”

Anne Cobb’s face turned sour.

Who is Peter Alston?

He’s the boss of Skyhowl!

Right.

It’s quite normal for a butcher like you to have never heard of him.

And what?

You think this mountain-top villa is your home?ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

What a joke!

It’s unclear which obscure corner of House Grandsilk you live in. Just because you’ve moved into House Grandsilk, do you think you’ve become a noble?

But because Peter Alston was present, Anne Cobb held back her anger, ignored Don, turned to Peter Alston, and said awkwardly, “I’m sorry, Mr. Alston, for the family drama. I won’t bother you now, I’ll come to visit some other time…”

Just then, Jun Chester, who had been sitting quietly playing chess, suddenly placed a chess piece on the board and said to Rod Smith across from him, “Checkmate. You lost!”

Then he stood up, looked at the furious Don and the red-faced Anne Cobb, and asked with a furrowed brow, “What’s going on?”

Only then did Anne Cobb notice Jun Chester.

She hadn’t paid attention to him before and had assumed he was a security guard for Peter Alston.

But what happened next almost made Anne Cobb wish she could crawl into a hole.

Don, fuming, came over and explained everything to Jun Chester. After hearing the story, Jun Chester quickly understood and then looked sternly at Peter Alston, saying, “This is your visitor, handle it. I’ve never heard of having any relative named Anne Cobb!”

Peter Alston responded with a pained expression, “Yes, yes, please don’t be angry. Every family has its own difficulties.”