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Chapter_84
Zachary, Nellie, and Rebecca turned their gazes toward the roadside, where a vintage car had pulled up. Standing beside it was an elderly man, leaning on a cane. He was dressed in a dark suit with intricate embroidery, and his gemstone thumb ring gleamed under the sunlight. His thin, wrinkled face and nearly white hair made him look ancient, but his gray-white eyebrows and sharp eyes radiated authority. His presence was commanding, so much so that no one dared to meet his gaze.
Zachary, Nellie, and Rebecca all felt their hearts skip a beat at the same time. The thought that flashed through their minds was unspoken but mutual: Why is the old man here?
The person standing there was none other than Jaiden Lewis, the head of the four major families—a figure of immense power and influence.
A young reporter standing nearby tried to take photos, completely oblivious to the significance of the moment. A senior reporter quickly snapped at him, telling him to be quiet. The younger reporter, though aggrieved, didn’t dare protest.
Zachary, the first to step forward, extended his hand to Jaiden with a practiced smile. “Mr. Lewis, what brings you here today? This Art Festival is truly honored by your presence!”
Nellie followed him with a slight bow. “Hello, Mr. Lewis.”
Rebecca, realizing she was a step behind, rushed forward with a wide smile. “Mr. Jaiden Lewis, I’ve wanted to visit you for a long time. Mr. Lionel Lewis mentioned you were resting at the old manor, and I didn’t want to disturb you. I never expected to see you here today. How is your health?”
Zachary couldn’t help but scoff inwardly at Rebecca’s eagerness. She’s too young and impatient. Everyone knows Jaiden’s health has been failing for years—he’s been in and out of the hospital countless times. What’s she trying to get at with that question? Zachary had overestimated Rebecca, it seemed.
Jaiden, with his cane in hand, fiddled with the gemstone ring on his thumb, his eyes glinting with depth. He glanced at Rebecca before replying, “This body of mine won’t have many years left. I thought I’d make the most of my good days by spending time with my unruly grandson.” Jaiden coughed several times as he spoke, and someone quickly handed him a handkerchief.
Zachary, always the one to keep things in check, said with concern, “Mr. Lewis, it’s quite windy outside. Let’s go inside.” Jaiden’s eyes gleamed with approval at this suggestion.
Rebecca, feeling frustrated, thought, Zachary got ahead of me again. But what she didn’t realize was that it wasn’t about getting ahead—it was about knowing what to say and when to say it. Rebecca’s repeated missteps only seemed to make Jaiden disapprove of her more, while Zachary remained in his good graces.
As they moved inside, a young reporter, Mason, stood off to the side, still puzzled. “Why didn’t you let me take more pictures?” he asked George, the senior reporter. Mason had assumed Jaiden was just another old man and didn’t understand the gravity of his presence.
George pulled him aside, lit a cigarette, and sighed. “Are you out of your mind? Do you know who that is? That’s Jaiden Lewis, the former head of the Lewis family in Seacrity. He was a big deal long before you were born.”
Mason, still feeling cocky after covering some hot news, muttered, “So what? I’m just taking pictures. What’s he going to do about it?”
George exhaled a cloud of smoke and looked at Mason with a knowing expression. “You don’t understand. Jaiden wasn’t someone you could just mess with. Back in the day, he had a reputation that could make or break a person. If this had happened in the past, you would’ve been dumped in the sea, fed to the fish,” he said, shaking his head.
George’s thoughts drifted back to his own early days as a reporter. Back then, he had been just like Mason—eager to make a name for himself by chasing explosive stories. He recalled a time when an informant tipped him off about something big involving Jaiden. He’d followed the lead, eager for the scoop, even knowing the risks.
He’d uncovered a story about a rival company linked to Jaiden, claiming the company was responsible for severe pollution. George had worked hard to bring the issue to light, only to discover later that it had all been a trap orchestrated by Jaiden. When George was about to publish his findings, he received a package—a package containing photos of his wife and son, $330,000 in cash, and a “thank you” note signed by Jaiden himself. George had been caught in a web of manipulation, forced to suppress the truth in exchange for his family’s safety.
That incident had haunted him ever since. Jaiden had used him like a pawn. When George looked at Mason, he saw the same blind ambition he had once had—and it filled him with a mixture of pity and dread.
Back at the Art Festival, the auditorium was filling up, though the VIP seats at the front remained empty. Students of Argrol University knew those seats were reserved for important guests.
After the opening ceremony performance, the piano competition kicked off immediately. Argrol University valued efficiency, so there was no unnecessary downtime between events. Each competition had its own set of main judges, who were all highly respected in their fields.
The list of judges had just been posted outside the auditorium: Zion Holmes, a young and talented pianist, was judging the piano competition; Alexander Reed, the Vice President of the Seacrity Chess Association, was judging the chess competition; Simon Sunderland, President of Argrol University, was overseeing the calligraphy competition; and Vincent Marsh, Vice President of the Seacrity Painting Association, was in charge of the oil painting competition. The lineup of judges added an air of prestige to the festival, making this year’s event one of the most respected in recent memory.
Meanwhile, Ruby stood at the entrance of the auditorium, wearing a white dress and exuding confidence. She wasn’t there to greet the students but rather the important figures like Jaiden Lewis, Simon Sunderland, and Zion Holmes.
Jaiden’s group arrived, with Zachary, Nellie, and Rebecca among the first to enter. The Smith family hadn’t sent anyone, so Nellie represented them.
Ruby composed herself and stepped forward with a gracious smile. “Hello, I’m Ruby Scott, the organizer of this Art Festival and the student council president from the finance department. Please follow me,” she said, guiding the way.
The group nodded politely in response, with Jaiden leading the way. As Ruby walked with them, she couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased by the compliments they offered her. She thought they were praising her excellent planning. Little did she know, their politeness was merely a formality. The elaborate hall and stage design—things Ruby thought were impressive—didn’t even catch their attention. They had seen it all before, and their minds were occupied with matters far beyond the surface.
