?Chapter 113:


    Ran upied an unremarkable position among the Hudson family’s younger generation. Lenard had selected him as heir primarily to atone for the tragedy that befell Ran’s father, Orion Hudson.


    During Orion’s childhood, Lenard’s carelessness had triggered an ident that condemned him to a wheelchair for the remainder of his days.


    The weight of that guilt had shadowed Lenard throughout his life,pelling him tovish attention on Orion and bestow the heir position upon Ran as a form of karmic restitution.


    Yet, Ran had consistently faltered, never measuring up to the lofty standards Lenard had envisioned.


    Now, Ran’s fixation on marrying Paige and diving into the realm of reality television with her had ignited a wildfire of gossip, further infuriating Lenard.


    “You’ve dragged the Hudson name through the gutter, you imbecile!” Lenard’s voice thundered across the room, berating Ran before the entire assembled family.


    Ran stood motionless, eyes fixed on the floor.


    Due to Orion’s circumstances, Ran had received an abundance of affection during his formative yearspared to his cousins, which had cultivated a sense of entitlement. Therefore, even when Lenard explicitly forbade his rtionship with Paige, Ran had defiantly gotten engaged to her anyway.


    Yet, with the scandal surrounding Paige exploding into public view and the Hudson family caught in its fallout, Ran found himself too mortified to offer any defense.


    “I’ve warned you countless times! Hudson men avoid troublemakers, steer clear of the entertainment industry, and absolutely refuse to associate with dubious characters. Yet, you persistently ignore me! Are you trying to piss me off?” Lenard’s words hung heavy with disappointment as he castigated Ran. Ran maintained his silence, still as a statue.


    Lenard’s fist crashed against the table, sending a jolt through everyone present.


    Finally raising his gaze, Ran murmured weakly, “Grandpa…”


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    “You will terminate your engagement with Paige immediately!” Lenardmanded. “She’s all facade, no substance. A marriage to her will devastate everything we’ve built!”


    Though Ran listened with apparent submission, internal resistance simmered beneath hispliance. Paige had been his childhood infatuation, viewed through the distorted lens of youthful adoration. Plus, she had always portrayed herself as virtuous in his presence, so despite her scandals, she remained blind to her true nature.


    Ran spoke up. “Grandpa, Paige is a sweet girl. There must be some confusion. I’ll investigate the matter, vindicate her reputation, and shield the Hudson family from further tabloid spection.”


    “Fool!” Lenard erupted. “She’s got you wrapped around her finger! Kiara was nothing but a fortune hunter in her day, ingratiating herself with a wealthy old man while carrying on affairs with Merritt. Do you truly believe someone of her character could raise a paragon of virtue?”


    “Grandpa, that’s ancient history! Mrs. Jones shouldn’t be judged by her past indiscretions. She’s established herself legitimately as thedy of the Jones family. And Paige? She shines as Ublento’s premier socialite!”


    Ran couldn’t suppress his defense of them.


    Lenard fixed Ran with a prating stare, his fury rendering him momentarily speechless, his icy re pinning Ran for what seemed an eternity.


    The tension in the room crystallized into something almost tangible. Not a soul dared disturb the silence.


    Kristen Hudson, Ran’s mother, eventually ventured to break the suffocating quiet,ing to her son’s defense. “Lenard, show some leniency. Ran is still finding his way. It’s perfectly natural to develop feelings for someone as captivating and aplished as Paige. She possesses more redeeming qualities than you acknowledge. Certainly, she surpasses Elliana in every respect.”


    With this remark, Kristen took aim at Lenard’s previous insistence that Ran marry Elliana, whom they all regarded as an unattractive nobody.


    Lenard directed a cial look at Kristen, his words dripping with contempt. “Ran holds the position of my favored grandson. I’ve bestowed everything upon him, yet he remains a thankless ignoramus. And you? Your blindness knows no bounds!”


    Kristen was irritated by his verbal assault but remained silent.


    Lenard exhaled deeply, his spirit evidently burdened. He had concluded that neither Kristen nor Ran possessed the acumen to uphold the Hudson legacy.


    His painstaking efforts to cultivate Ran as his sessor now seemed utterly wasted.


    “Ran, you’ve proven incapable of managing the legacy I intended to pass on to you,” Lenard remarked, exhaustion permeating his voice. “Very well, I’ll cease my attempts to guide you.”


    After a pause, Lenard continued, “Live your frivolous existence as a rich guy. Wed whomever you desire and dabble in entertainment if that appeals to you. But the position of heir? Consider it forfeit.”


    Ran’s head jerked upward. “Grandpa…”


    Kristen’s expression transformed into one of shock. “What?”


    Since childhood, Ran had been groomed as the designated heir, always assuming the Hudson empire would inevitably be his domain. The prospect of losing it now seemed inconceivable. Kristen had married Orion, banking on Lenard’s partiality toward Ran. If that advantage dissolved, what purpose remained in tethering herself to a wheelchair-bound husband?


    Lenard, exasperated by Ran and Kristen’s protestations, dismissed them. He turned his attention to his youngest son, Quentin Hudson. “Quentin, should I prepare you to assume the mantle of the Hudson heir, would you rise to the challenge?”


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