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

knew it was because she was afraid he

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

same age. Gerald used to think he’d gotten the short straw in life, but Queta here had it so much worse: A young woman with no parents, caring

did you come across a woman like this, these

moved with admiration for

do you

children pointed towards an ordinary residential area, not far from the

swing by for a

moment’s consternation,

area was basically a collection

a stool and offered it to him. Then she shooed the three kids away to go get a bath. The children had been trying to do their part, collecting some refuse to sell every day. That was why

my name is Gerald Crawford. Shall we be

taken aback. Queta knew that Gerald was a powerful man since he had been able to order

Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest)

man be interested in

out and say why, either. Today was

was a soft-hearted man and held particular sympathy for people who

place to stay in, put all the kids in school… all it

heart had been racing wildly out of control. Some subtle emotion was compelling him to get closer to

understand

eyes on her… Just one

met purely by chance. How could he

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

them began to talk, warming towards each other with

entire afternoon had gone

a few days!” Gerald waved goodbye

his heart felt light, his soul

his phone rang. It was

asked to exchange numbers with her. Reluctantly, she’d

part of this gathering, and you’re going to be late for your first

so I was held back. On my

word, she’d hung

Gerald smiled wryly.

out of this ‘old

his word, so he had to keep it now. He returned to the car park, started up his car, and made for the

car,

you, you know?” Lilian’s face contorted hideously at the sight of

After all these years! No patches on your clothes… have you started dressing

you’re in Mayberry University? That’s a swanky place! How have you been doing lately? The internship is

tell us all about what you’ve been through,

with a massive table that could easily seat two dozen. That was the number of ‘old friends’ who were in attendance this evening, including a handful of

girl

best friend in high school.

matter of fact, each had been harboring some measure of affection

wanted to get involved with someone from his sort

to get involved with someone from

been too great a

never been much more to

at her. Sharon had changed tremendously. She’d learned how to use make-up, and her appeal was now far beyond

beauty

Sharon replied with a smile and in a tone that was neither malicious nor

without contact, anything they had had between them had

were just strangers,

empty seat, and

said you could sit there?” Before he could actually do so, however,

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

spot is reserved for my boyfriend! Goodness gracious… it’s one thing to have been a

he couldn’t be bothered to pick a fight

by the door, where all

this had been everyone’s intention all along, Gerald

on there, indicating that she was saving the seat for somebody. Certainly, she’d made no move to offer it to

then turned and asked, “Sharon, when’s Murphy gonna get

everything. Every time, he’ll say he’s almost

she sounded upset, in truth her

immediately became sales manager of an upmarket business along Mayberry Commercial Street? Are

he was still a student, Sharon clung to him everywhere. Now that he’s a Mayberry big shot, you’re full of complaints? Actually, you

though, could you tell us how he landed that job? Gosh, sales manager at Mayberry Street… I

than the whole table was abuzz about him. The air was thick with the smell of

about that!” Sharon laughed. “When he

the doors opened, and

the tall, thin man with

was Murphy—Sharon’s

other guy was that other girl’s boyfriend, and he casually took the seat that

today! Let me introduce you… That guy over there? Meet Gerald!” Giggling,

you!” Wearing a look of awe,

Gerald remained in his seat and

he was

to be a simple reunion

odd bit

arrived that he began to suspect that Lilian might have had other motives behind inviting him here. Gerald had been

here really cared about him, not even Sharon—Gerald didn’t even

thing had turned out to

interest in

him. “Ahaha, what a character you are, Gerald! Sorry, I was only joking around. I heard from Sharon that the two of you used to

was offering to shake hands with you, just now! Where are

to apologize to this guy at all! Just ask Sharon—he’s a

Novel (Invisible or Poorest)

say that! He goes to Mayberry University, you know—after he graduates, he might very well find himself a job along Mayberry Commercial

to get in on

we’d basically be colleagues! Let’s get along, Gerald!”

keep this conversation going. He would often have to hear about

she’d seen in

made things

the moment this guy was introduced to him as Gerald, Murphy couldn’t resist having a bit of fun at

of whatsoever. Once

him alone, Murphy! For a guy like him to get a job in

how you scored

been returned to

my boss thinks I’m still kinda green,

“Whoa! That’s amazing, man!”

that level of pay was a rare thing. What’s more, he could still climb further up the coveted Mayberry

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

moment, Sharon was beaming with

sought out Gerald, further down the

horror—imagine if, during those years, she’d succumbed to a moment’s sentimentality and had become an

pretty well for yourselves too—I hear you’re an elementary school teacher now? Is that

Lilian nodded. “Yup, yup!”

can all continue to grow with the Mayberry family. I’m planning

you graduate? Gonna apply for a government position? Have you got a job lined up for yourself? Interested in sales?

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

Murphy said all this, everyone

ate, keeping his own counsel. The only thing he said in reply was, “We’ll see

yo! There’s that attitude, again… Can’t handle

won’t even listen to good advice? Alas, your future

heckling Gerald in this way, unbeknownst to any

youths were having a

a crude sort of fellow. “Name your price, d*mn it, and

Novel (Invisible or

there’s just no way! Their food has already

know who you’re talking to? Three minutes, that’s all I’ll give you—and if you can’t get it done for me, your manager will do it in

a shot.” The waitress hurried inside

the others would have none

eating already! Now,

you think

moving!” Lilian was glaring, her temper

just who that is hollering in there, thinking she’s hot

room opened,

building up toward a

nothing to fear from your run-of-the-mill rich brats—especially not now that he was working for the Mayberry group.

just unreasonable. How about this, next time, I make it my treat? We can have

cool and collected, smiling

payloads: They were standing their ground,

Mayberry these days! You think just because I don’t work there

at the doorway, strolling through with both hands in

gave way to effusive fawning. Even Sharon had to avert her eyes from

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

also used to be a recurring fixture at cruise parties, where he was

not

you know who I am?” Yancy

on about you!” Murphy was in total

smirked. “I came here to have dinner…

offense, I swear, but… Mr. Ziegler, we’ve already started here, you see… Couldn’t you just see this

Yancy was done

So did

Yancy Ziegler was not

to Aiden and he could kiss his

now, there was nothing for it but to grit his teeth and

so many dishes on the table… How shall we do this?” Lilian suddenly chirped sweetly. Just a

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

Clear the room for

That’s the way we’ll do it, then!” Everyone else nodded in

froze in

Gerard?

the young man, sitting with his back toward him, just quietly eating away without another care in the

had first walked in here, he had glanced at that

name had been spoken, Yancy burst into action, hurrying over to

aloud. It

you were here!” Yancy stammered, remembering what Aiden had

who had also met Gerard before were

Rich Man Novel

have thought that Mr. Crawford would be here, hanging

know this hobo, Gerard?” Murphy asked

present at the

What was this?

know? Get the hell out of my sight!” Hearing what

out of