The Ryu Dynasty Returns

Chapter 5:

Heavy silence followed after Old Lady Chen’s words. Odessa remained standing stiffly at the center, her eyes darting around too hurt to speak.

She had studied day and night just to make the family proud of her. Graduated with honors, she worked at the family’s company as the receptionist.

Endured all the insults and humiliation coupled with Elias and his father stealing her ideas and claiming it as theirs and now that she was finally going to get what she deserved. It was gone before she could even blink.

“What do we do about this now, mother?” Aurelius asked, breaking the silence. “The position of the manager is still vacant. I would suggest that my son, Elias take over the role of the manager after all, he has all the right qualities to lead the company.”

His eyes swept over the other members of the family, looking for anyone who would challenge his son but none could speak and he smiled victoriously.

Old Lady Chen leaned forward, coughing slightly, her gaze turning towards Elias, who straightened up.

“Yes. Elias will fit the role,” she responded softly. Her tone was different from the one she had used on Odessa earlier. “From now henceforth, Elias is now the managing director of Chen’s Group.”

The Chen family members immediately began to congratulate Elias. Odessa fought the tears that were threatening to fall.

“Cousin, won’t you also congratulate me?” Elias said to Odessa, his smirk deepening.

Odessa raised her jaw confidently, not letting her body betray her. “Congratulations Elias. I do hope you have the capability to lead the company forward.”

Elias scoffed. “Of course. I’m not the one married to a disgrace.”

“Speaking of which, is the young man mute?” Aurelius asked with a mocking grin.

Riven seemed rather occupied with staring at the designs on the hall than listening to the conversations around him.

His eyes narrowed on a particular craving on the wall closest to where Old Lady Chen sat.

Hidden within the center of the craving was a dragon’s eye.

So small that normal eyesight wouldn’t be able to spot it.

An uncomfortable sensation spread through his chest as he inhaled sharply.

Odessa nudged him on the arm, diverting his attention. Her face was filled with a faint look of rage.

“What—”

Before she could complete her statement, a servant ran into the hall. Old Lady Chen narrowed her eyes on the servant who flinched under her gaze.

“Why did you barge in like that?!”

“I’m sorry Lady Chen,” the servant apologizing, bowing his head repeatedly. “But there’s a man outside with lots of gifts, they seem very expensive and he came with a bounty of luxurious cars.”

At the word ‘expensive’ Old Lady Chen’s eyes lighten up.

“Where is he?” She asked, trying to regain her composure.

“Outside.”

Old Lady Chen exchanged glances with the others, she tried her best not to seem interested. “Well, in that case, let’s go out and see what all the ruckus is all about.”

The Chen family immediately walked outside alongside Odessa and Riven.

The sight before them was jaw dropping. Several luxury cars lined up in front of the residence. Well dressed attendants stood in a line carrying different gifts.

On seeing them, they began placing the gifts carefully in front of them.

Rare antiques, expensive jade ornaments that shone under the sunlight, diamond necklaces, investment documents and priceless artwork quickly piled up in the courtyard.

The older generation of the Chen family stared at the gifts, their composure cracking to reveal greed. Even Old Lady Chen was stunned to her bones!

Just the sight of them was to tell them how authentic they were, they didn’t need an appraiser for this.

Judging by the looks of it, all these could amount to over $3 million dollars!

Alyssa ran out of the crowd and crouched down in front of the gifts. Her hands fondling over each one.

“Grandma, this must be from the admirer I told you about!” She chimed happily.

“Alyssa!” Aurelius’ stern voice made Alyssa retract but her smile remained unfazed.

Old Lady Chen immediately regained her domineering composure and stared at the attendants.

“Who sent you here?” She asked, her voice echoing in the courtyard.

An equally well dressed man stepped forward holding up a seal as he walked towards her. She squinted her eyes as well as the others and soon they froze.

That was the seal of—

“I was sent by the Zhao family, Ms. Chen,” he said, earning small gasps from the crowd.

“The Zhao family?” Old Lady Chen repeated with surprise.

Riven’s expression remained unchanged.

So they had arrived.

He hadn’t expected the Zhao family to move this quickly.

However, all eyes went towards Alyssa. She had publicly proclaimed that these gifts were from her admirer.

How had she been able to get hold of the Zhao’s heir?

Everyone here knew that the Zhao family loathed public appearance and had even kept their dealings away from other families, isolating themselves.

No one from the Chen family had approached them before and neither had the Zhao’s.

“Oh my precious daughter!” Aurelius' voice rang out with delight. “You managed to get the attention of the Zhao’s heir? How wonderful!”

Alyssa could only smile. Even though she couldn’t believe that she had captured the Zhao's heir attention.

She had never even seen him before!

She had merely thought these gifts would be sent by her boyfriend but it was too late to take back her words especially now that Old Lady Chen was staring at her with an unusual smile.

“I knew you wouldn’t bring disgrace to this family unlike others,” Old Lady Chen said with a small approving smile.

The lead attendant frowned. His master had never spoken about sending gifts to someone he admired in the Chen family.

“I’m afraid you all are mistaken,” he said, drawing attention back to him.

“What do you mean?” Aurelius asked with a raised brow.

“These gifts,” he gestured at the boxes. “Are for Ms. Odessa Chen.”

Every member of the Chen family froze.