Hearing this, Elder Shaw couldn''t help butugh out loud.


    "Listen to this. Your precious son thinks greeting and respecting his elders is a ''boring ritual.'' I wonder, is he this arrogant with his clients? Or is it just us old fossils who aren''t worthy of a simple hello?"


    After Lionel''s statement, Elder Finch''s expression darkenedpletely.


    He took a deep breath and spoke in a grave tone, "Lionel, if that''s truly how you feel, then by all means, leave the Rosenberg family. Strike out on your own. Then you won''t have to bother greeting us old fossils."


    "You won''t have to worry about what we think. Go build your own empire. And as I said before, from that moment on, you will have no connection to the Rosenbergs. You won''t have to report anything to us."


    "You could evene up and punch us in the street for all we care. It''s your choice. In fact, there was no need to call this meeting at all. I should have just unterally kicked you out. You''re so arrogant. I''d love to see how long thatsts once you''re cut off from the Rosenberg family."


    He had thought that forcing Lionel to leave and re-enter would knock some of the arrogance out of him, make him morepliant.


    But he''d been wrong. Lionel seemed to think that one forced greeting absolved him of any further need for respect.


    A disrespectful and conceited person like him was a serious liability to the Rosenberg family.


    If he ever gained control of the family''s power, he would likely cast them all out or strip them of their authority.


    The Rosenberg family had functioned perfectly well before he arrived; his presence was merely a bonus, which was why they had often turned a blind eye to his behavior.


    But their leniency had allowed his arrogance to grow unchecked, making him believe the family. couldn''t survive without him it was better to get rid of someone som conceited sooner rather thanter.


    "I''m not disrespecting the elders, that wasn''t my intention. I simply feel that our time is precious, and since it''s gettingte, we could. address the main issue first. After all, this is just a private meeting for now."


    Mr. Michael Rosenberg didn''t say another word. With a dark expression, he turned


    and walked out, unwilling to waste another breath on such a person.


    Talking to him was infuriating. He was like a mindless brute, incapable of listening to reason. There was no point; he was trapped in his own world.


    "Mr. Michael Rosenberg! It''s just that he''s been under a lot of stresstely because of the whole ordeal with Hannah. He just wants to resolve this matter quickly be didn''t mean any disrespect to the elders!"


    Mrs. Mary Rosenberg stood up anxiously, trying to stop Mr. Michael Rosenberg from leaving.


    "Lionel, what are you waiting for? Apologize to the elders! Do you really want to be thrown out before you realize you need to show some respect?"


    With those words, Mrs. Mary Rosenberg strode over to Lionel, raised her hand, and pped him hard across the face.


    Lionel never expected his mother to do such a thing and had no time to react. The pnded squarely on his cheek.


    The sharp crack echoed through the living room. Even Mr. Michael Rosenberg, who was already several feet out the door, flinched at the sound and turned to look.