Chapter 6052

"Charlie, you are the head of the Wade family, and the family follows your lead." Lord Wade naturally obeyed Charlie's directives. Since he had relinquished his position as head of the family, there was, of course, no dissent. Furthermore, he was acutely aware that the Wade family depended on Charlie and his influence. Particularly considering that if Charlie were to offer a rejuvenation pill, the profits from its sale could very well surpass the total value of the family’s assets. At that moment, after Cynthia Wade finished her makeup and composed herself, she hurriedly left the room. As soon as she sat down, she quietly began to brew tea for everyone. Lord Wade addressed her, "Cynthia, Charlie intends to honor our ancestors at Wade Mountain during the Spring Festival, and afterward, he will take action against the members of the Wade family." Cynthia was taken aback. While ancestor worship was customary, why did Charlie feel the need to use it as a pretext for confrontation? However, she didn’t dare to question him; instead, she responded with sincerity: "It makes sense for Charlie to take a stand against the Wade family. After all, these individuals have behaved excessively in recent years, showing no concern for the unity of our family." Charlie replied matter-of-factly, "This time, I'm implementing clear rewards and consequences; it's a blend of kindness and authority. If I can place the overall interests of the Wade family above personal interests, I will not only provide more resources and benefits but also ensure care in other aspects. Conversely, if anyone dares to prioritize personal interests above those of the family, I will expel them from the Wade family." Lord Wade nodded in agreement. "Absolutely! I have been too lenient with them in the past. I always thought that since the overall direction of the Wade family was positive, it was better not to make things difficult for anyone. But after realizing the threat presented by a strong enemy, I’ve understood that the more gracious I am to my own people, the more they may perceive me as weak. Sometimes, those closest to you will treat you as if you are just a pushover, leading to increased discontent." Cynthia suddenly felt a spark of recognition and admitted, "Dad, you’re right. Even I have to admit I prioritize my own interests. When my second brother tangled with the Rothschild family, my eldest brother secretly allied with us, planning against him to force him out of the family. At that time, he argued that only by eliminating my second brother could we mitigate the risks of retaliation from the Rothschild family. If a full-scale conflict occurred between them and the Wade family, we’d all face tremendous losses." "I was only thinking about myself. Despite being a daughter, I believed I had a stake in the family's assets. If those assets diminished, my own worth would be severely impacted..." "Later, when Wesley Drake suggested attacking Wade Mountain, my brother and I both argued for surrender. We thought that even if we had to relinquish half of our holdings, at least we could safeguard the remaining half. In truth, we were motivated by self-interest, not wanting to end up with nothing in the future or suffer losses..." At this point, Cynthia lost her composure and began to cry again, choked with emotion as she said, "What I regret most now is that I didn't stand by my second brother from the beginning, and now he is gone. I want to apologize to him, but I no longer have that opportunity..." Cynthia's emotions were spiraling out of control, reflecting on the past and her current distress, leaving her feeling regretful and ashamed, alongside profound sadness.

As her feelings overwhelmed her, she couldn't help but cry. Charlie could see that this was a genuine display of emotion. He understood that his aunt was truly reflecting on her past mistakes. Recognizing one’s wrongs is significant progress. Charlie sighed softly and noticed a piece of Pu'er tea cake next to Cynthia’s tea tray, then asked, "Aunt, where is the Pu'er tea knife?" "The tea knife?" Cynthia was momentarily flustered, then quickly replied, "Charlie, if you want to drink Pu'er, I'll prepare a new pot for you." "That's not necessary." Charlie shook his head calmly. "I just need the tea knife." Cynthia found a silver tea knife beneath the tea table. It resembled an arrow from an ancient bow, primarily used to break apart the hard Pu'er tea cake. Charlie took the tea knife and pulled out a rejuvenation pill from his pocket. The moment the rejuvenation pill appeared, Lord Wade was left speechless. Cynthia, however, remained oblivious. She had neither tasted the rejuvenation pill nor seen it before and thus did not react as sharply. Lord Wade felt his heart racing unbearably, his pulse quickening. Under the gaze of everyone, Charlie used the tea knife to slice the rejuvenation pill in half. The fresh scent of the medicine filled the air as Charlie offered one half to Nathaniel Wade, saying, "Grandpa, I’m grateful that you’ve handed over the head of the family position to me. I may not have the chance to spend as much time with you in the future, but please rest assured that regardless of past conflicts, as long as you support me now and moving forward, I will ensure you receive the respect and care you deserve." Lord Wade trembled with excitement. He had not expected to receive a rejuvenation pill again, even if it was only half. It surpassed his wildest expectations! He couldn't contain his joy, extending his trembling hands to grasp the half of the rejuvenation pill offered by Charlie, eager to affirm, “Charlie, rest assured, I won’t repeat past mistakes. I will undoubtedly stand by your side, without hesitation, now and in the future." Charlie nodded reassuringly. At this moment, he and his grandfather shared a bond that transcended mere familial ties, evolving into one of mutual governance. Although he was Charlie's grandfather, within the context of the Wade family, he was also the head, making it essential for them to stand united. The Wade family was diverse, with a mix of both good and bad. Since his father's passing, there had been a lack of unity, thus establishing a strong and positive image was crucial to show others the benefits of aligning with him. He then looked at the remaining half of the rejuvenation pill and glanced at Cynthia Wade beside him. Cynthia, still teary-eyed, noticed Charlie's gaze upon her, and her heart raced with anxiety. She was uncertain about what Charlie intended to do with the remaining half of the rejuvenation pill. Should she keep it or was it meant for her? Though she understood the likelihood of Charlie giving her the rejuvenation pill was slim, considering she had been opposed to him earlier and had not had a chance to express her sincerity, would he offer her a portion out of pity? At that moment, Charlie looked at her and stated calmly, "Aunt, I am keeping this half of the rejuvenation pill for the Wade family. Whoever can truly prioritize the interests of the Wade family above their own will receive this half."