The Secretly Rich Man

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 191

Gerald looked up. “What’s up?”

“We’ve got a gathering between old friends tonight. It happens every couple of months. I’ve never mentioned it before—but since we’ve bumped into each other, this is me letting you know!

“Also, Sharon will be there.” Lilian stifled a little laugh. “Come to think of it: Back in high school, you’d come first place in grades, and she’d come second. The two of you were close—in fact, you were after her, weren’t you?”

Gerald didn’t reply.

Sharon Leslie, an old friend from high school. It was true that they got along well back then.

It was also true that Gerald had harbored feelings for her, but that had been before… all of this.

Had he pursued her? He hadn’t dared.

Early on, during their first year of high school, they’d chat together often. Later, even on those few occasions when he’d tried to strike up a conversation, she hadn’t replied. And so, they’d drifted apart.

Three years had passed in a flash.

“Tee-hee! Come on… you know, last month, Sharon’s boyfriend was treating us to some eats, and then the topic of you came up! Sharon wanted to know what Gerald was up to—no one could answer her at the time, but now… you free tonight?”

As she spoke, Lilian stole a peek at Gerald, searching for a hint of despair.

But no such expression was to be found in his features.

“Tonight? Yeah, I can make it!”

“Great, great. You have to come, then—let everyone have a look at you!” Surreptitiously, Lilian snuck out her handphone and stole a snapshot of Gerald, which she sent to the chat group for the gathering:

“Guess who this bozo is?”

“Who? Looks familiar… I’ve definitely seen him somewhere before!”

“Same here, but… he just doesn’t look like anyone worth remembering! Ring a bell with any of you?”

Sharon Leslie: “Is that Gerald?”

“Oh, yeah!” Lilian gushed. “You two were buddies back in high school, huh? Only took you one look—it’s Gerald!”

It’s exciting to be the one who brings up something that gets everyone excited. That was the main reason why Lilian had suddenly decided to invite Gerald to the gathering.

They had a lot of former schoolmates in Mayberry—there was a handful in her class alone. Perhaps they wouldn’t recognize Gerald, but they were guaranteed to have heard his name before.

If he showed up at the gathering, she was certain he’d be the hot topic of the night.

Just look at the uproar in the chat group right now…

Sharon Leslie: “Were we buddies in high school? I don’t recall anything like that! Hehehe…”

Lilian’s fingers flew over the keypad. “Alas! Found yourself a hunk in Sunnydale now, so your ex doesn’t matter anymore?”

Sharon Leslie: “Get out of here! What do you mean ‘ex’… How about you ask him along to our gathering? We should catch up—we’re all old friends, after all!”

“Alright!”

Lilian turned to Gerald. “Everyone’s eager to see you again—especially Sharon. She even said it herself. Since you’ve got time tonight, just come for the gathering! If you’re worried about whether you can afford it, I’ll cover you for the time being!”

Gerald had just been about to turn her down. Truth be told, he hadn’t made a lot of friends back during those years. He’d have nothing to talk about with everyone there.

But now that Lilian had said all that, he couldn’t very well say no anymore.

“Alright, tonight then!” Gerald nodded his agreement.

Lilian gave him the venue, then went on her way.

Gerald shook his head in exasperation. “Lilian’s teaching at my new school. It’s a small world after all!”

He’d been planning to take a stroll through town, but talking to Lilian had ruined his mood for that.

Well, it was noon, and he was hungry, so Gerald headed out anyway.

At the school gates, there were three children in tattered clothes, perhaps four or five-year-olds. They were peering inside.

“Is this a school, brother? It doesn’t look like what Ms. Queta was talking about…”

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 192

Her face smeared with dirt, the little girl was talking to the boy beside her.

“Maybe they haven’t started classes yet—that’s what’s missing!” The boy wiped away some snot. “I wanna go too!”

Another somewhat chubby boy piped up, “You need money to go to school. We don’t have any money. Ms. Queta is already working several jobs to feed us. We can’t ask her for any more!”

“I’m hungry!” the little girl whined.

“I’ll find you some bread in a bit!”

“Why are you urchins crowding the gates? Get lost!” A security guard came out, hollering in fury.

The three children leaped up in fright.

The guard was in his fifties, the sort you might find at a construction site.

The children were visibly terrified by him, and on the verge of fleeing—but they kept on gazing at the school, just a little longer…

Gerald spoke up: “They’re only looking. That’s fine, isn’t it? It’s not like you paid for this school.”

“Kid, I didn’t say anything about you going inside earlier, but don’t be putting on any airs with me! You don’t own this school any more than I do… now, get lost!”

The man was red and blustering. He had clearly had a few pints to go with his lunch—his breath reeked of alcohol.

“Here, buy yourself a real drink.” With a little smile, Gerald reached into his wallet and tossed him a hundred bucks.

This money obviously wasn’t being offered as a compliment. Gerald made a note to recommend the man to be fired later. A lousy old drunkard in charge of security, probably hustled in by a friend in the company.

“Yo! Alright, alright! Thanks a lot, man!” Then the guard left.

Gerald knelt down and smiled at the children. “You kids wanna go to school, too?”

The girl in the middle nodded vigorously. “I do!”

The other two were more cautious and watched him wordlessly.

Truth be told, seeing these three young children, yearning to go to school like this… it tore at his heart.

No one understood that feeling better than him.

That was why he couldn’t resist the urge to do something for them.

“Anyone hungry? How about I take you guys out for lunch?”

“Ms. Queta says we shouldn’t talk to strangers—and we absolutely mustn’t follow them anywhere!” The two boys stepped out in front of the girl.

Gerald laughed and nodded. “Alright… then I’ll buy some stuff and bring it to you here!”

With that, he ran off to the KFC opposite and procured a pile of burgers, fried chicken, and drinks.

“You don’t have to follow me anywhere. Just take it and eat it. Besides, I’ll help you go to school, too!” Gerald patted the girl on the head and handed the food to them.

“Thank you!” The children’s eyes came alight.

The moment they received the food, they began gobbling it down.

“Why are you just eating something that he gave you?”

It was the dulcet sound of a woman’s voice—pleasant, yet anxious.

“I can’t apologize enough, sir. How much was all that food? I’ll pay for it!” the woman babbled nervously.

However, when Gerald saw who she was, his eyes shone.

“It’s you!”

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 193

Gerald recognized her straight away.

He had met her in Homeland Kitchen just a few days ago. Jane had been scolding her—back when she still worked for them.

She’d left an impression on him. Even just seeing her from the side, he had known that she was an extraordinary beauty. Seeing her again now, she’d immediately seemed familiar to him, and then he’d placed her.

“You know me?” she whispered, gathering up the three children protectively.

She was evidently frightened of him. What if he was involved in human trafficking?

“Yes, we bumped into each other in Homeland Kitchen. Have you forgotten me?” Gerald smiled at her.

The woman spent a moment in recollection, then brightened up. “Oh, it’s you, sir! Thank you for helping me out, that time!”

That time, she was being scolded so hard she didn’t dare look up from the floor. It was only when she was leaving that she had stolen a brief glance at Gerald.

Meeting him again now, what she recognized was his voice.

He had saved her that time.

Also, he was rich!

“Don’t mention it. At least you won’t have to keep your guard up around me. Have you been looking after these three children?” Gerald inquired curiously.

“Yup, yup!” Queta Smith nodded, bringing over the three kids.

As they walked along together, she told him the story: It turned out that these three children had been wandering urchins who had managed to escape after being kidnapped by slavers.

With such muddled circumstances, no orphanage had been willing to take them in, and so they’d been wandering the city on their own, begging for scraps… until Queta found them, and took them all under her care.

She mainly worked as a kindergarten teacher and also did some other work on the side, thereby earning enough to keep them all fed. She had even been saving up money to send them to school.

Good thing Queta often worked with kids. She’d taught these three well.

What a mess. And the three children were all siblings.

His heart wrenching terribly, Gerald asked, “What about your family?”

“I don’t have one—I grew up in an orphanage.” As she told him this, Queta hung her head and picked at her clothes.

she was, though her radiance was being obscured by

being very reserved in Gerald’s presence. He knew

know that Gerald used to be the sort of person who never felt he was good

life, but Queta here had it so much

did you come across a woman

deeply moved with

do you stay?” he

pointed towards an ordinary residential area,

swing by for a bit?” he

moment’s consternation,

whole area was basically a collection of old squatter

away to go get a

is Gerald Crawford. Shall we

taken aback. Queta knew that Gerald was a powerful man since he had

Novel

powerful man be interested

wouldn’t just come out and say why, either. Today was just a

a soft-hearted man and held

place to stay in, put all the

of control. Some subtle

understand this

laid eyes on her… Just one look from the side and her face

girl he’d met purely by chance. How could he be feeling

was that, from the moment he met her, he’d felt like he’d

to talk, warming towards each other with

an entire afternoon had gone

in a few days!” Gerald waved

spending the day with them, his heart felt light, his soul at peace for the first

his phone rang.

ways, Gerald had asked to

gathering, and you’re going to be late for your first time?”

something came up, so I was held back. On my way now, maybe

Without another word, she’d hung up

Gerald smiled wryly.

just stayed out of this ‘old schoolmates’ trouble. What a

it now. He returned to the car park, started up his car, and made for the hotel where

parked the car, and

enough, Gerald! You’ve really kept everyone waiting for you, you know?” Lilian’s face contorted hideously at

patches on

Oh, Gerald, I hear you’re in Mayberry University? That’s a swanky place! How have you been doing lately? The internship is coming up soon—found yourself a spot

us all about

two dozen. That was the number of ‘old friends’ who were

a girl at the

in class, and his best friend in high school.

of fact, each had been harboring some measure

to get involved with someone from his

involved with someone from her sort of

had been too great a fault in their

so, they’d never been much more

well?” Gerald smiled at her. Sharon had changed tremendously. She’d learned how to use make-up, and her appeal

beauty without

replied with

without contact, anything they

just strangers,

spotted an empty seat, and he moved to

you could sit there?” Before he could actually do so, however, another girl—another ex-classmate—snapped harshly at him, giving him a

Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter

boyfriend! Goodness gracious… it’s one thing to have been a loser back then, but after three years of university, you still haven’t improved one

remember her name anymore, and he couldn’t be bothered to pick a fight with her at

door, where all the food would be brought

been everyone’s intention all along, Gerald simply resigned

on there, indicating that she was saving the

Gerald, then turned and asked,

Every time, he’ll say he’s almost there—but you’re still gonna have to

she sounded upset, in truth her heart

the Murphy who graduated and immediately became sales manager of an upmarket business along Mayberry Commercial Street? Are the two of you not getting

him everywhere. Now that he’s a Mayberry

he landed that job? Gosh, sales manager at

her boyfriend than the whole table was abuzz about

Sharon laughed. “When

cue, the doors opened, and

greeted the tall, thin man with

was Murphy—Sharon’s

that other girl’s boyfriend, and he casually took the seat that Gerald had almost

Let me

this is that penniless tramp, Gerald? Pleased to meet you!” Wearing a look of awe,

Gerald remained in his seat

that he was really starting

a simple reunion between old friends he hadn’t

odd bit of

arrived that he began to suspect that Lilian might have had other motives behind inviting him here. Gerald had been brought here to be the party clown, the

one here really cared about him, not even Sharon—Gerald didn’t even know who she was

had turned out to be

no interest in this Murphy

Gerald! Sorry, I was only joking around. I heard from Sharon that the two

Murphy was offering to shake hands

apologize to this

Man Novel (Invisible

that! He goes to Mayberry University, you know—after he graduates, he might

to get in

be colleagues! Let’s get along,

He would often have to hear about everyone bringing up

about what she’d seen in a

made things awkward

to him as Gerald, Murphy couldn’t resist having a bit of

this Gerald had no social skills to speak of whatsoever. Once he started

alone, Murphy! For a guy like him to get a job in Mayberry Street, the boss would have to be deaf and

told us how you scored

focus had been returned to

a long story—but I suppose it could be because this is my field of specialty. But my boss thinks I’m still kinda

“Whoa! That’s amazing, man!”

pay was a rare thing. What’s more, he

toward Sharon now. She was her equal in terms of looks—but Lilian was more carefree, while Sharon was

Sharon

sought out Gerald,

followed immediately by horror—imagine if, during those years, she’d succumbed to a moment’s sentimentality and had

got lucky. Lilian, you and the others have done pretty well for yourselves too—I hear you’re an elementary school teacher

Lilian nodded. “Yup, yup!”

now on, we can all continue to grow with the Mayberry family. I’m planning to get my own place in the district in a couple

what are your plans for after you graduate? Gonna apply for a

at this sort of thing, Gerald. As for design, it sounds great on paper, but the reality is a nightmare! It takes a sharp, logical mind… another talent you don’t seem to be blessed with. No, it’s gotta be something less cerebral, a basic desk job where all you need to know is how to work a

all this,

he said in

attitude, again… Can’t handle the

bad enough how hopeless you are, but you won’t even listen to good advice? Alas, your

they went on heckling Gerald in this way, unbeknownst to any of them, trouble was

of youths were having a disagreement with

a big group—it has to be this room!” snapped a crude sort of fellow. “Name your price, d*mn it, and then kick everyone out of

Rich Man Novel (Invisible

way! Their food has

Three minutes, that’s all I’ll give you—and if you can’t get it done for me,

I’ll give it a shot.” The waitress hurried inside and

and the others would have none of

eating already! Now, you come in here and say, what, switch

do you think you

way. Tell them we’re not moving!” Lilian was

that is hollering in there, thinking she’s

private room opened, and the

building up toward a

had nothing to fear from your run-of-the-mill rich brats—especially not now

stood. “My friends, we did reserve this room first. Changing places now is simply not an option—that’s just unreasonable. How about this, next time, I make it my treat? We can have

cool and collected,

They were standing their ground, and he had connections

mother claims to be from Mayberry these days! You think just because I

appeared at the doorway, strolling through with both

was you, sir?” Seeing this man, Murphy’s stern countenance instantly gave way to effusive fawning. Even Sharon had to avert her eyes from the

was a big kahuna attending Sunnydale University and had been painting the town red regularly

also used to be a recurring fixture at cruise parties, where he was said to have made friends

Yancy was not your typical rich

I am?”

on about you!” Murphy was in total doormat mode

see… one of Ken’s boys, huh?” Yancy smirked. “I came here to have dinner… is switching tables for my

already started here, you see… Couldn’t you

you any favors.” Yancy was done

So did everybody else at the

Yancy Ziegler was not someone to be

One word to Aiden and he could kiss his precious job in Mayberry

his cheeks were burning now, there was nothing for it but to grit his teeth and say, “Understood!

there are so many dishes on the table… How shall we do this?” Lilian suddenly

she was still discussing the same matter as before, this time, she had become a

everything over to our new table. Clear the room for Mr. Ziegler!” one of the other

the way we’ll do it, then!” Everyone else

froze in

Gerard?

the young man, sitting with his back toward

be told, when Yancy had first walked in here, he had glanced at that same guy and thought that he looked

had been spoken, Yancy burst into

aloud. It

were here!” Yancy stammered,

henchmen who had also met Gerard before

Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest)

have thought that Mr. Crawford would

Ziegler, you know this hobo, Gerard?” Murphy asked

Yancy Ziegler greeted Gerard Crawford by name, Murphy and many of the other guys present at the scene were overcome with jealousy. How was it that Yancy knew that guy but not

What was this?

the hell is it any of your business whom I happen to know? Get the hell out of my sight!”

blood drained out of