Yvonne helped Mr. James Sr. to a nearby seat.


    Teresa and Bet followed behind them.


    "The Scotts are an academic family, always putting on airs of being above it all, but that couple is as snobbish as theye, always looking down on people. If I hadn''t been here to back you up today, they would have walked all over you. I guess that makes me a pretty good grandfather, huh?"


    Mr. James Sr. said to Yvonne as they walked.


    "It''s a good day if I don''t bully someone else; who could possibly bully me?" Yvonne scoffed. "Don''t try to pull one over on me, Grandpa. Having you, the head of the James family, as my grandfather certainly gives me some clout. But having me, the new Mrs. Thompson, as your granddaughter also brings you a great deal of prestige. With all these guests here today, everyone now knows the James and Thompson families are connected by marriage. That''s bound to bring you some advantages in the business world. This is mutually beneficial, so don''t expect any extra gratitude from me."


    After hearing this, Mr. James Sr. nced sideways at Yvonne. The girl was only in her early twenties, her face still holding a hint of youthfulness, but she was sharp as a tack. She really wasn''t easy to fool.


    "Your mother was never the sharpest tool in the shed, so I never expected her to have a daughter as clever as you."


    Teresa really wasn''t very bright. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have been so easily manipted by her stepmother, losing the excellent match her own mother had arranged for her, only to marry a social climber like George.


    Back then, Mr. James Sr. had warned Teresa and waspletely against her marriage to George. But Teresa was dead set on marrying him, and Mr. James Sr. realized his daughter was a lost cause, so he stopped trying to interfere.


    "You''ve been sharp and formidable your whole life, yet your two sons are one disappointment after another. And neither of your daughters is particrly bright. It must be some kind of gic anomaly."


    Yvonne shot back directly.


    Hearing this, Mr. James Sr. was taken aback for a moment, but instead of getting angry, he chuckled.


    "That sharp wit of yours, that refusal to be taken advantage of you get that from me. It must have skipped a generation."


    "What good does inheriting that from you do for me? Are you going to let me inherit thepany?" Yvonne retorted casually.


    "If you''re willing toe back to the James family, I could give you 10%... no, 15%


    of thepany shares. What do you say?" Mr. James Sr. started bargaining with her again.


    "You''re trying to pull another fast


    one on me, aren''t you?" Yvonne


    raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "If I


    take


    our shares have to


    with your whole dysfunctional


    family. Do you take me for an idiot?"


    Yvonne and Bet followed Mr. James Sr. and the others to the table reserved for the James family.


    Today, Mr. James Sr. had only brought Teresa and Jeffrey; Mrs. James Sr. and the others hadn''te.


    Seated at the same table, besides the James family, were members of the Taylor family.


    Currently, of Istra''s four great


    families, only the James and Taylor


    families remarried besides the


    Thompsons. Since the two were


    coborating, it made sense for


    them to be seated together.


    The Taylor family''s patriarch did not attend. Instead, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, Thomas''s


    parents, were present, apanied by some of the younger generation.


    "Aunt, Uncle," Bet said, pulling Yvonne to a seat beside Mr. James Sr. and greeting the Taylors across the table.


    "Aunt, Uncle," Yvonne echoed. Now that she and Bet were legally married, she had to adopt the new titles as well.


    "Bet and his wife make such a


    perfect couple. Mr. James Sr., you''re truly blessed to have such an outstanding granddaughter" Mr. Taylor said with a smile offering a well-practicedpliment