Chapter - 5948

Trevor noticed that Tawanna was clearly a bit upset, and for a moment, he felt uncertain about how to respond.

He considered whether he should say something to placate her and ease the tension between them.

Yet, for some reason, Charlie's recent remarks kept echoing in his mind, reminding him of his own childhood and teenage years.

He recalled how, during those formative years, American society was rife with all sorts of dangerous temptations. Tattoos and smoking were merely the tip of the iceberg. Many of his peers fell into gang life at an early age, chasing trends and trying to appear cool. Some fell victim to substance abuse, while others engaged in theft and violence with street gangs before they even reached adulthood, often ending up imprisoned or losing their lives on the streets.

Trevor attributed his success in baseball—earning a full scholarship to a prestigious university and eventually joining a professional league—to the unwavering guidance of his parents during his adolescence. Whenever he veered off track, his parents were always there to redirect him at those pivotal moments.

Reflecting on this and observing the support his girlfriend provided, he had a nagging feeling that something was amiss.

At the very least, parents should not lose guardianship of their minor children due to their own misunderstandings, nor should they make reckless decisions for them.

Furthermore, the relentless promotion of certain behaviors could easily lead impressionable minors to perceive them as trendy or cool, ultimately clouding their judgment.

With this realization, Trevor found himself unable to support Tawanna’s perspective.

So, he said to her with patience, "Baby, let’s approach this issue calmly. What Mr. Wade mentioned has merit. During my middle school years, many classmates began using marijuana. The reason was that the social climate at that time gave the impression that smoking marijuana was incredibly fashionable—much more so than owning a pickup truck. If a boy smoked it, he seemed to attract the admiration of girls. When a boy had that smell about him, girls looked up to him. Why? Because the prevailing environment influenced everyone. They often mistook bad habits for virtues, thinking that the more vices they had, the more they were esteemed by their peers."

"If my mother hadn’t stepped in, I might not be here as your boyfriend today. I could have ended up dead or in Ohio State Prison. Thus, we shouldn’t excessively endorse certain behaviors, or we could face unforeseen negative outcomes."

Tawanna responded coolly, "Trevor! What I want is for you to be a loyal supporter, not someone who challenges me and tells me how to behave! I don't want to discuss this anymore. You should edit the video as I requested without delay. If you can't manage that, maybe we need to rethink our relationship!"

Seeing her stubbornness, Trevor felt caught in a bind.

Tawanna's anger had created a tense atmosphere between them.

Meanwhile, Michaela's motorcade had just pulled into the Tokyo Dome.

As the vehicle approached a stop, she spotted Charlie and Claire standing by the entrance, and a warm feeling washed over her; she hadn’t expected to see Charlie waiting for her.

Once the car halted, she opened the door herself and stepped out without waiting for her assistant.

Mitsui Yoshitaka noticed her immediately and quickly took his wife and daughter over to welcome her, but Michaela ignored him entirely, striding straight to Charlie, speaking respectfully and a bit bashfully: "Mr. Wade, I have come to see you. I must take responsibility for not welcoming you personally..."

Her words left everyone around them in shock.

Michaela was not merely a member of the Joules family; she was its head!

Furthermore, she held unparalleled authority over the family.

Why would she show such deference to an unfamiliar young man?

Her grandfather fully supported her, and her uncles and cousins obeyed her commands. She had no enemies within the Joules family; everyone, regardless of their stature, was loyal to her!

This aspect distinguished Michaela from other wealthy heirs. Even Howard from the Rothschild family wielded significantly less control over his kin than Michaela did.

In the public eye, when shocking scandals involving Patrick from the Joules family surfaced—engaging in unsavory behavior with a group of playboys on a private island—the family’s reputation plummeted, making them targets of public disdain.

However, Michaela rose to the occasion, refusing to deflect blame. Instead, she offered substantial compensation, issued a public apology, and accepted full responsibility—a rare demonstration of integrity. The public regarded her as the savior of the Joules family, leading them to wholeheartedly follow her leadership.

Yet, only the Joules family truly understood the reason behind Michaela’s firm grasp on power.

Without Charlie’s covert support, the Joules family would have continued to pursue Michaela and her grandfather, even amidst scandal.

Were it not for Charlie’s backing, Michaela’s efforts to salvage the family’s reputation would have led to her banishment from power.

The mere fact that the Joules family dared not challenge Michaela post-crisis spoke volumes about Charlie’s influence.

As long as Charlie remained in the picture and their relationship endured, he would be Michaela’s solid foundation, ensuring obedience from everyone in the Joules family.

Even Roger Joules, the top heir of the Joules family, and his powerful son Patrick Joules were cowed by Charlie. When Charlie had pressed a gun to Patrick’s head and demanded if they accepted his fate, both father and son submitted completely.

From the moment Charlie had pulled the trigger, he became a haunting presence in the lives of Roger Joules and Patrick Joules that they could never shake off.

For Ferdie Joules, he willingly relinquished all control of the Joules family, content to be a long-lived figurehead. He held no grievances toward Michaela; rather, he saw her as a great savior.

Ultimately, it was Charlie’s strength, sternness, and support that guaranteed Michaela’s firm hold within the Joules family and prevented any disloyalty toward her.

Therefore, Michaela’s profound admiration for Charlie was matched by her willingness to remain grateful to him for life.

This respect also explained why Michaela felt compelled to honor Charlie first, even in the presence of the head of the Mitsui family.

Claire, too, felt somewhat bewildered. While she recognized Michaela’s respect for her husband, she hadn’t anticipated it would manifest to such a degree.

Charlie appeared unfazed, seemingly accepting Michaela’s respect as something due to him. He addressed her with a smile, saying calmly, "It’s alright. It’s a bit smoky inside, so it’s good to step outside for some fresh air."

Michaela was perceptive; upon hearing this, she inferred that something had upset Charlie. Without hesitation, she said, "Since Mr. Wade feels it’s smoky inside, I will accompany Mr. Wade and his wife outside for a bit."

Claire was taken aback and quickly replied, "Michaela, why are you being so formal…"

Michaela turned to her, smiling as she leaned in to whisper, "In formal settings, we must give face to Master Wade to show respect!"

Claire whispered back, "Michaela, we’re all friends; why are you being so formal with Charlie…"

Michaela replied softly, "Claire, despite our friendship, I owe my position as head of the Joules family to Master Wade’s assistance in breaking the Feng Shui situation. Without him, I might still be in exile. Therefore, I must show deference to Master Wade in front of others."

Mitsui Yoshitaka stood in astonishment. Eager to greet Michaela, he hadn’t anticipated that she would prefer to remain outside, disregarding his earlier announcement of her arrival. If Michaela genuinely chose to stand at the door, he would have felt humiliated.

Despite the chill in the air, he found himself sweating from anxiety.

After a brief hesitation, he stepped forward attentively and suggested, "Miss Joules, Mr. Wade, it’s quite cold outside; let’s not linger here. Let’s head inside to chat. If Mr. Wade doesn’t wish to engage with Ms. Sweet, he’s under no obligation to greet her."

"Sweet?" Michaela inquired, intrigued. "Is that Tawanna Sweet? Does Mr. Wade have an issue with her?"

"No," Charlie replied with a slight smile, "I watched a game yesterday where a grown man insisted on participating in a women’s fight, and when he faced challenges, he tried to turn the tide by groping her. I found it quite distasteful. Today, I keep hearing that female singer promoting such things, and I personally disagree with it. So, I exchanged a few words with her, but it wasn’t a conflict."

As he spoke, he added, "Mr. Mitsui is hosting us, so we shouldn’t remain outside. Let’s go in together."

Upon hearing this, Mitsui Yoshitaka sighed in relief, feeling a wave of gratitude toward Charlie. If Michaela truly refused to enter, he would have faced an impossible situation—one that Charlie had effortlessly alleviated.

Michaela brightened at Charlie's words and enthusiastically said, "Since Mr. Wade has suggested it, let’s go in together."