Chapter 55 Threatening

"You should know what you have done!"

"I have explained to you that I had nothing to do with her death. I don't mind explaining this again. I will not admit to something that I have not done."

"You didn't?" Kate asked.

"We have been living together two years, but I guess you don't know me at all," Joseph mumbled under his breathe.

How ridiculous! I had tried my best to get to know you before, but have you ever noticed? Have you ever tried to know more about me? Kate thought to herself.

"You are my enemy, so why do I need to know you?" Kate snapped, they were a couple but were also enemies in each other's eyes.

"Then I will tell you for the last time. I did not kill your grandma, she was not killed. It was natural causes!" Joseph emphasized because he did not want Kate to blame him.

"Do you think you can convince me just by saying so? Impossible! I will find evidence and if you did do it, I won't let you get away with it," Kate stated, then grabbed her pillow and went to go sleep in another room.

When Joseph was the only one left standing in the spacious room, he felt helpless and desperate.

**

The next morning, Kate got ready for work but did not have breakfast because she wanted to avoid Joseph. Joseph also skipped breakfast, Amy called him on his way out the door that she made him a sandwich, but he did not take it. She felt disappointed and unappreciated.

As soon as both Kate and Joseph left for work, Amy called Anna to let her know they were acting cold toward each other. Anna was ecstatic, she hung and called Samuel immediately to tell him about it.

"You've done a great job. Their relationship is getting worse so I will have a chance to pursue Joseph again."

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch! It is just the beginning. We still have a long way to go before we break them up," Samuel reminded her.

"Don't worry. I'm good at telling stories. You just need to gain Kate's trust and get close to her. I will have enough evidence that you are having an affair with her. Then when Joseph finds out, he will divorce her."

"You are right! The Smith family cares about its reputation most. No matter how Cassie defends Kate, others will not agree."

"Yes. We can finally succeed with our joint efforts," Anna said excitedly because she saw hope.

Samuel was worried Anna would mess it up, so he commented, "Don't spill the beans just because of excitement. We still need to be careful, or we will be doomed!"

"Don't worry. This is our secret!"

I am good at keeping secrets. No one saw through the car accident. This will be the same. Anna thought to herself.

"Yes, it is!"

**

At Joseph's office, John reported, "Lord Joseph, the Chairman is here and he is waiting in the meeting room."

When he stepped into the meeting room, he found Samuel there as well.

"Hey, Joseph!" Samuel stood up to greet him.

Joseph did not reply, he just sat down in front of Vincent and asked in a low voice, "What are you doing here?"

"I heard that you have given a lot of resources to the White's Group regardless of our own company's profits. You are so generous!" Vincent said in a weird tone.

Joseph did not answer.

"How can you do that? You took advantage of our strength to help develop another company! Who told you to do this?" Vincent yelled at him angrily trembling.

Samuel just looked at them, listening to their conversation and smiling inside.

Though Vincent was angry, Joseph was still very calm. He answered him, "It will not affect the development and growth of Smith Group."

"Okay, it may not affect it, but if you help White Group grow, they will be a threat for us in the future!" Vincent was worried that Leo would become stronger than him.

Samuel thought it was an appropriate time to stir up more trouble, "Grandpa, Joseph is Leo's son-in-law. It is reasonable for him to help the White Group. Don't…"

"It is because of this that Leo has become more and more greedy. In the last few years, the White Group has made a lot of profit with the help of our company. I just act as if I don't know but it should be clear that we cannot help him all of the time. He should not be so greedy," Vincent interrupted Samuel.

"I understand what you are saying, but I will decide on my own whether or not to help White Group. It is not of your business and it will not affect you or the Smith Group's profits," Joseph stated.

"You dare to oppose me?" Vincent began to cough.

Samuel patted his back and said, "Don't be angry, Grandpa. The doctor said you can not get irritated."

"You both are my grandsons, but why are you so different?" Vincent thought highly of Joseph because he had an outstanding capability and could lead the Smith Group to a bright future. However, he was stubborn and did not listen to other's advice, which really annoyed Vincent. Samuel on the other hand was obedient but not as highly skilled at Joseph. Vincent called him home just to make sure that Joseph knew others could replace him as heir to Smith Group.

Vincent wanted to force Joseph to obey him by using Samuel, but Joseph still insisted on not listening to others. He could not restrain his anger any longer, "If you still insist, I will consider changing the successor of Smith Group."

Most people would be upset if they were threatened with being removed as the successor of a business, but Joseph wasn't. He smiled, "You only brought Samuel back to threaten me, correct?"

"Since you know that, why are you still opposing me?"

In fact, Vincent did not actually plan to replace Joseph with Samuel. Even since Joseph had taken over the management, the overall power of the company reached its highest level. It not only increased Smith's reputation in the business field, but the company itself grew very quickly. Vincent was sure it would only become better and better under Joseph's management. If Samuel was to take over, everything would be different and it was not something Vincent even wanted to think about.

The conversation between Joseph and Vincent was making Samuel uncomfortable. Although he knew that Vincent was only using him, he was still hurt that he would admit to it in front of him. However, he could not say or do anything, even his father could not voice his opinion. Thinking of his father's low status, Samuel's anger toward Joseph increase. He stared at Joseph wide eyed.

"I'm a grandson of the Smith family, not your puppet. I have my own thoughts and ideas. If you wanted a puppet to be the successor, then you better remove me as soon as possible so that you cannot be irritated by me," Joseph didn't want to be threatened, so he stated exactly what he thought.