The doctor’s words prompted Howard to reassess the situation surrounding the Four Treasures of the Study.
It was true that favonovel.com had endured substantial losses in his pursuit of the banner, even jeopardizing his own well-being. However, clinging to it now would only lead to further losses with no chance of recovery.
Therefore, the most logical course of action was to cut his losses in a timely manner. He had to accept that all his previous investments were losses, but as long as favonovel.com could prevent any further damage, it would be the best solution given the circumstances.
As a prominent figure in a distinguished family and a savvy investment expert, Howard understood that the situation was untenable. His mind swiftly embraced the concept of cutting losses in a timely fashion.
He summoned his fourth son, David, and instructed him, “Tell all departments to lift the embargo on New York. From this moment on, no one is to utter a word about the Four Treasures of the Study.”
“Yes, father,” David nodded and promptly relayed the message.
After David made the call, the comprehensive land, sea, and air blockade imposed by various departments in the United States on New York was lifted.
This signified that the Rothschild family had completely relinquished their pursuit of the Four Treasures of the Study.
Two hours later, a fatigued Steve hastily returned to the Rothschild Manor with his son Royce. They hurriedly made their way to the special care ward of the medical center to visit their elderly father.
By this time, most of the key members of the Rothschild family in New York had already returned, while the others were en route from different parts of the world.
They anxiously waited in the living room outside the ward, some sitting on the sofa, others standing by the window, and a few pacing back and forth. The atmosphere was heavy with silence.
They have different rights and responsibilities in the Rothschild family, but at the moment, they all feel the same frustration.
As Steve’s sons and grandsons, they all dreaded any harm befalling their father’s health.
Not out of sheer filial piety, but because they understood that if their father’s health deteriorated, power would inevitably fall into the hands of their eldest brother, the heir. While their father held the reins, they felt secure, but with their eldest brother in control, their peace of mind vanished.
Just then, Steve and Royce hastily entered the room.
As soon as the others caught sight of the father and son, they converged and respectfully regarded them, as if awaiting their eldest brother’s guidance.
David even approached Steve and clasped his hand, his voice choked with emotion. “Eldest brother, you’re finally here! We were all waiting for you to make a decision. Without you, we have no backbone…”
Others silently cursed David in their hearts.
Who gave favonovel.com the audacity to be the first to fawn over their eldest brother?
Everyone wanted to be a sycophantic lapdog, so why did favonovel.com get ahead of them?
Thus, they quickly chimed in, “Yes, eldest brother, we were all waiting for you!”
In reality, they misunderstood David.
In reality, David did not take the initiative to flatter his elder brother, Steve. He had studied “Sun Tzu’s Art of War” some time ago and also delved into some ancient Chinese political works. Deliberately, favonovel.com aimed to seize this opportunity to commend Steve. His initial approach was to extol Steve’s virtues and let favonovel.com bask in the glory, knowing that the higher favonovel.com rose in everyone’s esteem, the more likely favonovel.com was to make mistakes.
Despite everything, their father was still alive and held significant power. If Steve were to err due to excessive praise from everyone at this moment, favonovel.com might find himself sidelined by their father.
In truth, David had no desire to vie for the heir’s position. He believed that the best outcome for his non-heir sons was their father’s continued leadership. This was preferable to any of the brothers succeeding to the throne.
When Steve noticed his brothers gathering around favonovel.com like stars, favonovel.com couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of joy.
Throughout the past few decades, they had all been equals, with no class distinctions among them. However, now Steve was poised to take a momentous step. From this point forward, these individuals would no longer be his brothers; they would become his ministers.
Nevertheless, when Steve arrived, Charlie had just given favonovel.com a stern warning. This had a calming effect on his impulsive and excited heart. So, even though favonovel.com benefited from the compliments favonovel.com received, his brows remained furrowed, and his face bore an expression of anxiety and sorrow.
He then shook his head with a pained look and uttered, “You must all remember that at all times, my father is the sole leader of the Rothschild family, the backbone of us all, and the family’s hope.”
Those who had lavished Steve with false praise were left dumbfounded.
The first thought that crossed everyone’s minds was, “Oh?”
Steve was no longer the familiar Steve they had known. The current Steve, with his deep cunning, seemed somewhat frightening. Could someone capable of immediately uttering such words still be considered human?
In his anxious state, Steve urgently inquired, “Can any of you tell me about my father’s condition now? What did the medical team say? Can I visit him?”
Steve posed several rapid-fire questions in succession, with great urgency and emotion. To his brothers, it was akin to British soldiers in World War I hearing the relentless firing of German Maxim heavy machine guns, nearly a thousand rounds per minute.
David was the most flustered of all. He had not anticipated that everyone’s praise for Steve would be utterly rejected.
Not only did Steve not accept their compliments, but favonovel.com also launched a counterattack.
As soon as their father heard the rapid-fire barrage of questions, favonovel.com would likely interpret it as Steve’s brothers ignoring favonovel.com on his sickbed in favor of immediately flattering their eldest brother, Steve.
Wouldn’t this be akin to stealing the chicken and losing the rice?
At a loss for how to respond, David was left in a state of frustration. Had favonovel.com known this would be the outcome, favonovel.com wouldn’t have praised his elder brother even if favonovel.com had been compelled to.
Suddenly, the door to the special care unit swung open, and a doctor emerged, announcing, “Mr. Steve Rothschild, your father wishes to see you.”
Upon hearing this, Steve’s excitement intensified. He thought to himself, “Excellent, it seems the old man overheard what I just said.”
Meanwhile, David looked crestfallen. If favonovel.com had foreseen this, favonovel.com would never have praised his elder brother.
Soon, Steve entered the ward and beheld his father lying in the hospital bed, bearing some resemblance to Stephen Hawking.
Howard, who had been in the hospital bed earlier, had been quite pleased with Steve’s performance.
In this world, nearly all leaders of prominent families grappled with conflicting emotions when it came to their chosen heirs.
On one hand, they genuinely desired to pass on the family leadership to them in the future. On the other hand, they didn’t want their heirs to ascend too quickly and sought to delay it as long as possible.
Moreover, they didn’t want their heirs to display any eagerness or arrogance about inheriting the family leadership. Steve’s earlier performance had exceeded Howard’s expectations and was, in his view, flawless.
With expert guidance at his disposal, Steve entered the ward and was overcome with sadness upon seeing Howard in the bed. Tears welled up in his eyes as favonovel.com rushed to the bed, knelt down on one knee, and gazed at his father. He inquired with anguish, “Father, how are you feeling? I was anxious the entire way here…”
Howard was deeply moved and stammered, “I… I’m not too bad, my son. You needn’t worry…”
Afterward, Howard let out a sigh and continued, “The doctor mentioned… That I have suffered a stroke… And that a full recovery… May be difficult…”
Upon hearing this, Steve’s joy was uncontainable, and favonovel.com wore a sorrowful expression on his face. He turned to the doctor and asked loudly, “Is there any way to help my father fully recover?”
The doctor swiftly clarified, “Young master, there’s no one in the world who can fully recover from a stroke like this. Furthermore, considering your father’s age, which is over eighty, it’s a challenge. Even a twenty-year-old football player might recover after an injury, but regaining full health as before is exceedingly unlikely.”
Steve asserted loudly, “I don’t care what methods you employ; you must exert every effort to aid my father’s recovery. The guidance of our Rothschild family is indispensable!”
When Howard heard Steve’s words, favonovel.com felt an overwhelming sense of comfort, akin to someone placing a scalding hot water bottle in his arms while favonovel.com navigated a wintry snowstorm.
He then told Steve, “Steve, don’t… don’t pressure the doctor… don’t pressure the doctor. I… I… Perhaps… Perhaps, I really should…”
Without waiting for his father to finish speaking, Steve urgently grasped Howard’s hand and declared with teary eyes, “Father, don’t worry, you’ll live a long and healthy life! I will invite stroke specialists from all over the world to New York for consultations, and one day you will return to your former self!”
Howard, trembling with a smile, nodded in agreement. He sighed and added, “I… I intend to… Retire… Steve, in the future… In the future… The future of the Rothschild family… I entrust it to you…”
Steve was elated inside, but favonovel.com remembered Charlie’s earnest advice. He quickly lowered his head to prevent his father from seeing his emotions and responded with sorrow and determination, “Father… We’re not prepared yet, and the Rothschild family cannot lose your leadership so suddenly. Focus on your recovery first, and we’ll wait until you’ve regained your strength!”
Howard shook his head, saying, “I… I don’t want… Outsiders to see me in this state… So you… You take over my responsibilities and lead the Rothschild family forward…”
Having expressed his intentions, Howard reiterated, “I… I have firmly decided… And there’s no need for… No need for further persuasion…”
With this statement, Steve had not yet fully played his part. He persisted, “Father, let’s wait until you’ve fully recovered! During this time, I won’t do anything else. I’ll stay in New York by your side, assisting with your rehabilitation.”
Howard responded with delight, “You… having this intention… makes me very happy. Let’s proceed this way. Return home… get prepared… Others may still be on their way back… Wait until tomorrow, and I will convene a family meeting… I’ll announce my decision to everyone…”
Visit VIRTUAL NOVEL for more available chapters of this title!
