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Chapter 468 The Last Option
After wrapping up his call, Christopher found himself approached by a man who wasted no time in questioning. “Was it truly Fanny?” At first glance, the man appeared unassuming yet emanated an aura of roughness that distinguished him. In the past, Christopher would have steered clear of associating with someone of his sort.
Once, the Sanders Family held a much stronger footing, but circumstances had shifted, leaving Christopher wary of further tarnishing his reputation amid the Martinez Family’s troubles. Returning to Riverdon and reintegrating into his former social circle proved to be a challenge. Christopher found himself reluctantly accepting invitations from individuals he once considered beneath him.
While he had long placed blame on the Martinez Family for his misfortunes, recent events had him reevaluating Fanny’s role in his downfall. Lost in contemplation, Christopher remained unresponsive to the man’s inquiry. Sensing his distraction, the man pressed once more, “Mr. Sanders, was it Fanny?” Christopher snapped out of his reverie, responding disdainfully, “Yes.”
Noting Christopher’s displeasure, the man wisely opted not to delve further into the matter. Despite extending an invitation to witness his demise, he understood the importance of maintaining a cordial relationship with the Sanders Family, even amidst their decline.
Seeking to maintain a favorable rapport, he shifted gears. “Mr. Sanders, I heard your father sent you to the company for training. Is there anything I can assist with?”
Christopher eyed him warily, sensing a potential ploy to exploit the Sanders Group. Despite his suspicions, he held his tongue. In a town where few were willing to engage with him, even a nouveau riche from modest beginnings held some appeal over the average family,
“I’ll reach out if I need anything,” Christopher replied curtly as he rose from his seat. “I must take my leave. There are matters I must attend to.”
As Christopher headed for the exit, the man rose to bid him farewell, but Christopher halted him with a gesture. It was only upon leaving the private room that Christopher felt a semblance of relief.
Socializing was not his forte, but his father insisted on his involvement in Riverdon’s social circles. Yet, his circle had shrunk drastically. Former friends distanced themselves, leaving him with few companions. Reluctant to stoop to their level, Christopher found himself mingling with individuals of lesser status, a concession he made begrudgingly.
Deep in thought, Christopher continued down the corridor. However, as he rounded a corner, a group of intoxicated individuals approached, their conversation turning to him. Quietly, Christopher retrieved his phone, feigning disinterest as he listened in.
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Chapter 468
Like father, like son! Christopher can’t compare to his mother’s side of the family.”
You mean Christopher Sanders? What if he hears us? He’s been back in Riverdon for days now. He might have contacts among us.”
Why should we care? Does he deserve our respect?”
“I heard that upon his return, he may have realized that academia wasn’t his forte, so he abandoned his studies. Now, he is assisting at their family’s struggling company.”
“The Sanders Group is indeed in dire straits.”
“The Martinez Family is ruthless. They’re willing to harm themselves just to thwart the Sanders Family.”
“The Martinez Family is acting out of spite towards Christopher for their daughter.”
“With the Martinez Family behaving this way, no one dares to deal with Christopher anymore.”
Christopher stood in the corridor, gripping his phone tightly, his expression dark. Previously, he had found it perplexing that despite his absence from Riverdon, upon his return, the unresolved issues with the Martinez Family still lingered.
Some individuals who previously had a close relationship with him appeared to be deliberately avoiding him. Initially, he dismissed it as his imagination, but upon hearing remarks from those few individuals, he realized that the Martinez Family was behind it all.
Not only were they targeting him, but they were also seizing the opportunity to undermine his family’s company. Despite accompanying Michael to the company in recent days, he was not fully engaged in the company’s affairs. Since Michael had not brought up anything, he had yet to notice these developments.
Christopher’s anger reached a boiling point, causing him to halt in his tracks while walking abruptly. He feared being discovered, but the few individuals seemed too preoccupied to notice his unease.
As the group of people passed by, engrossed in discussing him, none of them acknowledged his presence. This left Christopher feeling a mix of anger, defeat, and, oddly, relief.
Christopher suspected that if this group caught wind of their gossip, the embarrassment would fall on him, not them. From their disdainful tone, he could sense the Sanders Family was in dire straits.
Although he had occasionally assisted Michael at the company, he had never taken charge of the Sanders Group. Unaware of its operations, he simply followed Michael’s directives to pass the time.
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Before departing Riverdon, Teresa and Michael had warned him about the company’s precarious situation and the need for his assistance to stabilize it. However, his mishandling of the marriage situation had attracted the Martinez Family’s attention, resulting in widespread knowledge of the past scandal in Riverdon.
Now, it appeared that half of Riverdon’s businessmen were eagerly anticipating the Sanders Group’s downfall to mock them.
The younger generation that had just passed by seemed eager for Christopher’s downfall, their whispers lingering in his mind long after they dispersed. Reflecting on the wisdom of avoiding confrontation with them, engaging would only invite ridicule.
Frustrated and angered, Christopher returned home to find Michael waiting for him. “Dad, I don’t have to marry Fanny. I can marry someone else,” he declared abruptly. Michael’s sigh spoke volumes. “Christopher, the Martinez Family incident has caused quite a stir. No one else is willing to associate with us.”
Christopher grasped the unspoken implications. Stunned, he realized Fanny might be his only option now.
Seeing his bewilderment, Michael suppressed his own frustration and inquired, “Is there an issue between you and Fanny? Why the sudden change of heart about marrying her?” After all, Christopher had nearly estranged himself from his family in pursuit of marrying Fanny before his trip to Northland.
How could a single journey to Northland prompt such a drastic shift in Christopher’s feelings towards Fanny? Michael was perplexed.
