Chapter 415: Chapter 412: Lard has Blinded the Heart
 

Daniel Thompson’s face turned ugly as he choked on his words.

“The company, I…”

He had secretly transferred one of his branch companies under his name to Gillian Thompson. It hadn’t been announced yet. How did Amanda know about it so quickly?

“You’re so good to Gillian Thompson. It’s fortunate that we have someone who loves Ivy. The Thompson family name doesn’t have much advantage. It’s better to have the last name Walker, especially with a large fortune waiting for her.”

Daniel opened his mouth, but couldn’t say a word to refute her.

Although the Thompsons were the richest family in Sunnydale, he had several children, and even their shares couldn’t compare to Stephen Crane’s wealth.

In this regard, the surname Thompson was indeed inferior to Walker.

Daniel’s breath hitched, and his heart ached terribly.

Amanda’s words trampled mercilessly on his pride.

Molly Walker glanced at Daniel, then said to Stephen Crane, “I won’t change my last name.”

“My grandmother gave me this last name, and she has raised me for so many years. Changing it would be a betrayal of her. I appreciate your kindness, but I cannot accept this large inheritance.”

This inheritance was for her grandmother, and she hadn’t yet had a chance to repay her kindness. How could she take the old man’s things with a clear conscience?

Stephen Crane seemed to have anticipated her refusal. He motioned for Alyssa Evans to come forward and said solemnly to Molly, “Actually, my request for you to inherit my wealth is not without conditions. My assistant here is an orphan and has been with me for many years. I’m getting old, and I don’t know when I might pass away. I hope that when that time comes, you can provide her with a place to stay.”

“Over the years, I’ve offended many people, and many are waiting for me to die so they can have their share. I expect my assistant’s life wouldn’t be easy once I’m gone. After I’m gone, I just hope you can protect her, and I believe that she will be able to protect you as well.”

“Mr. Crane…” Tears welled up in Alyssa’s eyes.

Ever since Mr. Crane took her in from the orphanage and adopted her, she had respected him as a father. After so many years with him, their relationship had transcended that of an employer and employee.

Stephen Crane looked at Alyssa and sighed softly.

Deep down in his heart, he had another thought: if that person didn’t have any descendants, he would leave his assets to Alyssa. But since there were descendants, he could only ask Alyssa to follow them.

Fortunately, after his upbringing, Alyssa had developed a strong character, and he was confident that Molly, who was no mediocre woman, would take good care of her.

Molly looked at Alyssa, wanting to refuse, but saw Mr. Crane wave his hand, his face weary. “I’ve lived my whole life feeling guilty and regretful towards your grandmother, and I don’t want to die with this regret. I know that with your design skills, you won’t lack money. But you’re like her in that you despise money. So please, for this old man’s sake, accept this fortune. Otherwise, I truly won’t be able to rest in peace.”

“In that case, Ivy, just accept it,” Amanda said, seeing the situation and feeling a bit sorry.

Mr. Crane had reached the age of eighty with no heirs to inherit his immense wealth. He probably couldn’t sleep well at night.

Resolving this would fulfill the old man’s desire.

Molly furrowed her brow, and looking at the dejected expression of Mr. Crane, she swallowed her refusal.

If she didn’t accept, it would be another blow to him.

She decided to temporarily accept it, and make arrangements later.

“Then…I will accept it for now.”

Amanda was delighted, hugging Molly and walking over to Stephen Crane. She vowed solemnly, “Mr. Crane, please rest assured that with me here, nobody can force my daughter to change her last name.”

“Amanda!” Daniel’s face went pale. “She must change her surname to be recognized as your daughter. Are you saying you don’t want her back?”

“Who says that if she doesn’t change her last name, she’s not my daughter? Ivy said she would always see me as her mother and even provide for me in my old age. Besides, blood relations make her my daughter, no matter what her surname is. And it doesn’t matter what her name is since she won’t have my last name.”

Amanda thought it through. She had already given the Thompson family three grandsons, fulfilling her duty to their lineage. There was no need to force her most beloved daughter to become part of the Thompson family either.

Why refuse Stephen Crane’s money? Wasn’t it foolish?

Seeing Daniel’s furious face, Amanda thought her husband must have been blinded by his age, unable to see through the situation.

She simply turned her face away, deciding to keep him out of sight and out of mind.

Daniel wanted to say more but was met with a fierce glare from James Leaford.

The warning was clear. If he dared to speak another word, James would teach him a lesson with his fists, as he had last time.

Daniel inhaled deeply, clenching his fists as he stood aside.

Seeing Molly finally relent, Stephen Crane felt as if a long-held wish had been fulfilled.

He knew it was unreasonable to do so, but if he didn’t, the money would be confiscated or be divided up by people he didn’t know.

Only in this way could he alleviate the guilt in his heart.

After leaving the Leaford family home, Stephen Crane got into his car, and his warm face suddenly became cold.

“Isabelle Richardson is in prison now, but the trial won’t start until after the Lantern Festival.” Alyssa Evans took out her tablet and relayed the information she had found.

Stephen Crane’s eyes darkened: “What’s the probability of her getting the death penalty?”

“It’s hard to say. The number of people sentenced to death in Orientopia has significantly decreased this year. Most of them have had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. Isabelle Richardson, not sure who she got the idea from, claimed that Miss Walker was suffering from unbearable pain and asked for help to ease her suffering. Isabelle took pity on her and impulsively assisted her in ‘euthanasia’.”

Alyssa Evans was also surprised by the information she had found.

There are loopholes in the law, and it’s not uncommon for someone like Isabelle Richardson to persistently look for ways to survive by exploiting these loopholes.

“Her father is Samuel Richardson and he has some influence in Sunnydale. It’s normal for him to spend some money to hire someone to guide her.” Alyssa Evans could only think of this explanation.

“Isabelle Richardson must die.” Stephen Crane’s gloomy eyes were filled with ruthlessness.

Having lived abroad for many years, he had seen life come and go, as fleeting as a flash. But in his home country, they were very strict about it.

However, Isabelle Richardson had caused that person’s death.

Thinking of his beloved whose life had been cut short, Stephen Crane clutched his chest, feeling both uncomfortable and sad.

Originally, he could have seen her.

He also had the chance to clear up misunderstandings and accompany her during her final days.

But all of this had been ruined by Isabelle Richardson.

Her survival depended on whether he allowed it.

Hearing Stephen Crane say that Isabelle Richardson must die, Alyssa Evans’s eyes flashed, and she whispered, “Master, don’t worry, I’ll hire the best lawyer…”

“That’s too long…” Stephen Crane waved his hand, “If she dies only next year she’s getting off easy.”

“If she caused someone else’s life to end prematurely, then her own life isn’t worth keeping either.”

Alyssa Evans was slightly stunned and slowly nodded, “I will handle this.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a cell phone rang in the car.

Stephen Crane picked up his phone and saw the incoming call, feeling his eyebrows relax a bit.

“Mr. Crane, it’s been a while since you’ve come to Capital City. Why don’t you come over and chat and have some tea with me?”

On the phone, Mr. Jenkins sounded teasing.

He hadn’t properly thanked Stephen Crane for helping him bring down Molly Walker.

Just now, he had heard that Stephen Crane had gone to the Leaford family, and he immediately became alert.

Ever since Stephen Crane had arrived in Capital City, there had been paparazzi following him. Just now, a reporter had posted a message on a public platform saying that Stephen Crane had gone to James Leaford’s villa.

Stephen Crane didn’t know the Leafords, so why would he visit them?

If he knew, Mr. Jenkins wasn’t easy to get along with, and his old age made him unwilling to go out. He had been turned down several times by Mr. Crane, but now Mr. Crane had actively gone to the Leaford’s place. What had happened in the meantime?

He was both curious and apprehensive.

How would he get along with Mr. Crane if they became close to the Leaford family?

He hoped that the reporter’s information was false this time.

“I don’t have time.” Stephen Crane’s tone was indifferent.

If it weren’t for Mr. Jenkins, he wouldn’t have thought to bring down Molly Walker.

It was this scheme that had almost cost him his relationship with Molly Walker. Thinking of this, Stephen Crane’s feelings toward his friend grew colder.

“Really don’t have time?” Although this was the fourth time Stephen Crane had refused him, Mr. Jenkins was not angry. “You don’t have time to meet me, but you do have time to go to the Leaford’s place. Mr. Crane, are you having a problem with me?”