The resounding words coming out of his father's mouth made Alex blink his eyes in doubt, then he spoke. "Inherit the family business? What do you mean, father?" 

It had never crossed Alex's mind that he would be the owner of a company, and that opportunity was being offered right now by his father for him to manage a company! He wondered if it was a small company—not that he would mind.

"My son, you can choose any of these companies to manage." Charles Crown spoke with a hint of excitement in his voice. He finally has someone to pass on his inheritance rather than have it deteriorate in someone else's hands.

Immediately, Butler Alfred passed the tablet toward Alex, who looked somewhat confused. He neither nodded nor accepted the tablet, but started browsing through it.

At that moment...

"Huh?" Alex paused as he saw the first company on the list.

He couldn't help but tremble as he saw the documents. Celestial Trading Commerce, has a daily revenue of 1 to 100 million US dollars? Alex was dumbfounded, but he continued to browse the lists on the tablet screen.

EMP Capital Corporation—isn't that the company that had recently emerged, or was it said that the owner was a very ruthless individual who, after being insulted by the previous CEO, in her anger bought the company's stock and took control of the business, and fired the CEO? Indeed, that was quite something. That company is worth several billion dollars!

Alex, keep reading information only to find out some of the companies were world-leading corporations, recognized globally!

The more he browsed through the list of corporations, the more numb he became; he didn't realize that he was having perspiration on his forehead.

But then, Alex's hands froze as he read the last of the list while he knitted his brows together.

International Safety Agency? Alex was taken aback. Isn't that a private army that's still active worldwide, particularly in South Africa, where the most notorious warlords are? And to boot, those warlords were constantly at each other's throats? 

How did his father get involved in such a line of work? There was also a possibility that his father had merely invested in that old agency to have some stacks, nothing more...

Nevertheless, Alex couldn't help but ask in his heart about how powerful the Crown family was.

He had numerous things he wanted to ask his father, but it wasn't appropriate for him to ask at the time. He shook his head.

The more Alex's speculation about the Crown family increased, the more mysterious it appeared, as though thick clouds were surrounding it!

And on top of that, this company was scattered around the globe! If it weren't for the fact that the documents were approved and legal, Alex couldn't believe that his father was planning to pass them to him. 

"How is it, son? Do you accept my offer?" Charles spoke while waiting for his son's response.

Alex took a deep breath as he spoke in a firm manner.

"I refuse; I have to go back to work."

Despite knowing full well that it wouldn't end well after offending Bruce, who was the son of the CEO! Regardless, he still had a glimmer of hope that perhaps Bruce's father, as the reputable company's CEO, wouldn't hold a grudge against him.

Hearing Alex's response made Charles frown a bit; for him to not accept his offer, his son sure had a nerve of steel. Then he asked for a reason. 

"I know my capacity, Father, and for the time being, I'll refuse the offer," Alex spoke from his heart.

Just now, Alex understood the gravity of the situation by putting his name down as the owner of a powerful company. As wouldn't everyone start targeting his neck? It wasn't because he was scared; rather, he didn't want his peaceful life disturbed unless it was necessary.

"How much is that company paying you, my son?" Charles said it with a serious countenance.

Alex hesitated before uttering. "3 grand per month..."

"I see..." Charles didn't want to push his son for a clear answer. Truthfully, if his son wanted, he could pay him ten times the paycheck his company was paying him. No, even if his son wanted him to multiply the money a thousand times, he wouldn't frown!

Alex was silent; actually, he was waiting for his father Charles to berate his decision, but that didn't seem to be the case. Just then, he felt tired; his eyelids were quite heavy.

'Now that I think about it, with all that happened, I need a proper sleep....' Alex thought to himself, and that's when he noticed Alfred taking a step forward.

"Young master Alex, I'll take you to your room..." Alfred offered his service, but he was cut short as Alex waved his hands.

"Don't worry, I just ask the maids where to sleep," Alex said after some consideration, but before leaving, he bid his father farewell for the night.

"My son, please enjoy your stay here," Charles said this with a smile on his somewhat wrinkled face.

Alex nodded calmly and left the lavish room.

At this point, only Charles and Alfred were left in the foyer, while Charles kept tapping his finger on the polished armchair and Alfred stood straight while letting out a sigh as he took a peek at Charles.

"Alfred, can you believe it?"

Alfred stroked his beard with a thoughtful expression while he spoke. "You mean the young master's salary?"

"$3000?.... They're paying my dear son with that measly amount of money?" Charles Crown almost blurted it out in anger. Even a janitor at his company would have a higher salary than that!

He was a respected elder in the business world who had his own business empire with unmeasurable wealth, yet his beloved son was underpaid?

No father wouldn't be enraged when their son's dreams were being paid for with a paycheck!

"Alfred, hire a No.1 private investigator in the city to sniff around this company; I want to know every detail!" Charles solemnly said that a flash of ruthlessness appeared in his cold gaze.

Suddenly, he coughed violently, and butler Alfred's expression changed as he hastily helped Charles. 

"Patriarch, don't push yourself!" Alfred said worriedly.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, I just need to rest..." Charles said while waving his hands as though he didn't need any help.

Charles took a deep breath as he gazed outside the window as the curtain of darkness blanked the skies while the star shone. Finally, he spoke.

"Tell me, Alfred, am I being cruel by passing this responsibility to my son?" Charles uttered his words with a hint of melancholy.

Alfred was silent for a second before responding with convection.

"No, it's the right choice, and don't worry too much master Crown; I'll swear upon my name to train the young master, a worthy heir of the Crown household!"