Chapter 190 Back to Smith Group

Joseph laughed when he heard Kate trying to sound tough, but he knew she couldn’t say anything mean. He smiled, “I am kidding! Besides, even if I told my mother, she wouldn’t help me, you are the one she likes!”

"That is right!" Kate smirked triumphantly, "Get up, wash your hands, and go eat!"

"Okay, thank you, dear."

It was the first time Joseph said dear when he spoke to her. After she hung up, she held on to the phone for a moment, her face was hot, and she was thrilled. Other people used the term before, but it didn't make her feel like that; it had to be because it came out of Joseph's mouth.

“Kate, future wife, dear…” Kate sighed to herself. She repeated the intimate comment over and over out loud and smiled.

**

As soon as Joseph finished the soup that Kate had made, Ricky came over and reported, "Lord Joseph, Mr. Smith is waiting for you in the living room."

Joseph frowned, got up without saying a word to Ricky, and stormed toward the living room.

Mr. Smith was sitting on the sofa, his crutches leaning next to him. He wasn't happy by the serious expression on Joseph's face; he coldly snapped, "You have done very well after leaving Smith Group."

Joseph hated the sarcasm but calmly replied, "I have grown up being on my own!"

His grandson’s words shocked him, “Are you really going to continue to be angry with me?”

"Angry?" Joseph asked, "Do you think it's just as simple as angry?"

"I know I'm too strict with many things, but it was for your own good after all. If you had different opinions, you could bring them to me…”

Calming raising his hand to stop his grandfather from saying more, Joseph replied, "Grandpa, we have been at this point before, so you do not need to bring it up again. Now that Samuel has taken over Smith Group, you can mold him. He is more obedient than I am. He will save you a lot of worries, and as for me, I am enjoying every moment."

Joseph was aware that after his grandfather calmed down, he would ask for him to go back. However, when he left Smith Group, he had no plans ever to go back. He did not want to be controlled nor be caught in his family's drama. Even if there were no pressure on Samuel, he would always consider Joseph an enemy.

No matter what Samuel did, he would not satisfy the family; it was better for Joseph to be away from the situation.

Mr. Smith burst into anger at Joseph’s outright refusal to return. He snarled, “As a member of the Smith family, you can stand on your own. But you are working against us, taking advantage of your name. We are losing because of you! How can you be so cruel? Don’t you feel sorry for your dead father?”

"Shut up!" Mr. Smith shouted. He had never had anyone stand up to him, and he knew deep down that he was too harsh on Erick.

Joseph was accustomed to his grandfather interrupting when someone said something he didn’t want to hear. He just shook his head and commented, “Since you won’t let me speak, we have nothing more to talk about. Please leave!”

"How dare you?" Mr. Smith was so angry that he was trembling with anger. He yelled, “Your mother didn’t raise you very well, and now you are as defiant as she is. Since you are both so determined to cut ties with the Smith family, then I will make sure that from now on, neither of you is to step foot in my house!”

"What do you mean? My mother lives there?” Joseph questioned.

"What do I mean?" Mr. Smith was fuming, his words were harsh and to the point, "Your mother disobeyed me, just like you have. She thinks she is such a strong woman, but she must be feeling very depressed."

"What?" Joseph's expression changed suddenly. If the person in front of him weren't an old man, he would have hit him. He needed to control his temper.

Mr. Smith knew that Joseph would be angry, so he hummed, "If you don't want your mother to work for the rest of her life and end up with nothing, then you must respect me. Go back to Smith Group as president, otherwise…”

"Otherwise, what?" Joseph thought his grandfather was acting like a senile old man, "You really think that my mother and I are unable to survive without the Smith family? You are absolutely crazy!"

Mr. Smith knew what the outcome would be for Smith Group without Joseph, so he pleaded with Joseph to work with his family again, “Regardless of the condition of Smith Group, you should consider this for me, as my grandson. After all, I am too old now and do not have the energy to manage the company. Samuel was just eager to get the position, but he is not qualified. I am not sure if I can leave Smith Group to him.”

Knowing that Joseph might be persuaded by reason but would not be forced, so instead of being harsh, his attitude and tone changed. He hoped that he would persuade Joseph with gentle words.

However, Mr. Smith was naïve to Joseph's persistent personality. Both of them were stubborn and did not want to give in to the other.

Although Joseph did not have a close relationship with Samuel, he wanted to stick up for him. He was obedient to their grandfather; Joseph smirked, "You know there are many reasons never to hire someone that you don't trust."

“Of course, I know that! But I can now see that Samuel is incapable. Ever since he took over as president, he has caused many problems and not any triumphs. He is lucky that I haven't fired him," Mr. Smith moaned.

Joseph did not want to hear his complaints. He only said, “You appointed him as president, so you have to accept your decision, whether it is good or bad. You cannot get rid of him because of a small loss. After all, he's your grandson."