“Actually…”
Ding, ding, ding!
Just when I was about to resolve the conflict between them, the emcee, who was standing on the podium, tapped a spoon against his glass in front of the microphone. Hence, I could only swallow back the words at the tip of my tongue.
“Today is Mr. William Queen’s seventieth birthday. May the coming years bring even more happiness and good health to him. Now, let’s invite his son, Mr. Bryson to come up and say a few words!”
With that, Bryson went up on stage as the guests applauded.
“Thank you to all my friends for coming to celebrate my father’s birthday today. There’s nothing really great about me, but one thing about me that hasn’t disappointed my family is my ability to make money. Despite that, my father still worries about me, so I wish him a long life full of happiness and good health!”
“What a filial son!”
The emcee expertly hyped up the atmosphere and the hall immediately erupted with thunderous applause.
Right then, a figure flashed below the stage and walked directly to the emcee. After whispering a few words, he passed a square wooden box to the emcee and swiftly stepped off the stage.
The podium was quite far from my position, so I couldn’t see the person clearly, but he looked vaguely familiar to me. I just couldn’t put a finger on where I had seen him before.
Soon, the emcee spoke into the microphone again. “Ladies and gentlemen, it seems like you’re all very lucky today. Ms. Thora Ziegler knew that Mr. Queen Sr. likes antiques, so she specially searched for a very precious item to present as a birthday gift to him. The gift is currently in my hands. Everyone, please take a look!”
The emcee held the box with both hands and opened it in front of the guests. Following that, the cameraman in charge of recording the event aimed the lens at the box. In the next second, the antique inside the box was displayed on the large screen behind the podium. It was a Turlen bead.
The emcee gazed at the item in his hand and didn’t forget to explain excitedly, “If I’m not mistaken, this is the earliest bead found in ancient Turlen and it’s worth more than two hundred and fifty million! Last year, after the auction in M Country, a private buyer kept it as a collection and it hasn’t emerged since then. What a surprise to know that it was, in fact, Ms. Ziegler who bought it! This is truly remarkable!”
This emcee was considered rather knowledgeable. To me, it was merely a bead the size of a finger. I never expected it to be of such great value.
Most importantly, the bead’s price provided some food for thought. Two hundred and fifty million seemed to have a strong interrelation with the lawsuit.
The guests present had seen their fair share of the world started discussing among themselves in hushed whispers.
“Isn’t it obvious from the price that the Zieglers are settling things peacefully with Bryson? Perhaps this gift can resolve the conflict between both families.”
“This was completely out of my expectations. Here we were, waiting to see that woman make a fool out of herself, but it looks like she came prepared.”
“True. If she didn’t, the company she established on her own would be crushed. Since she publicly presented the bead as a birthday gift, there’s no way Bryson can reject it. It seems like he won’t be able to get his revenge anymore.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Thora Ziegler is really something. After swindling him out of two hundred million, she’s compensating him with a measly amount of fifty million. Remind me not to get on her bad side…”
Most of the discussions were about the same, with many of the guests aiming hostile and mocking remarks at her, but at the end of the day, they were just envious of how well she played her cards and wished they could master the ability of defeating someone without lifting a finger as well.
Amid the animated discussions, the strain in Bryson’s smile as he stood on stage was evident, but like everyone expected, a son would never make a scene at his own father’s birthday banquet. Very soon, he regained his composure. Gracefully accepting the bead from the emcee, he studied it casually before nodding, making sure to plaster a satisfied look on his face.
Just when everyone thought that Bryson was going to begrudgingly accept Thora’s indirect apology, he closed the wooden box, took the microphone and walked off the stage. Stopping at the nearest table, he picked up a bottle of whiskey and poured three glasses full before facing the crowd with a broad smile.
“Ms. Ziegler.” Bryson easily found Thora among the crowd. Subsequently, the spotlight fell on her and the people around her. “I really don’t know how to thank you for such an extravagant gift. Why don’t I offer you three toasts as an expression of my gratitude? I wonder if you’ll accept, Ms. Ziegler?”
