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.

a phenomenally beautiful woman she was, though her radiance was being obscured by

He knew it was because she

that Gerald used to be the sort of person who

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,

come across a woman

moved with

you stay?”

an ordinary residential

for a

a moment’s

whole area was basically a collection of old

get a bath. The

Gerald Crawford. Shall we

powerful man since he had been

Novel (Invisible

a powerful man be

why, either. Today was

held particular sympathy for

could just solve their problems straight away: Find them a nicer place to stay in, put

wildly out of control. Some subtle emotion was compelling him to get closer to her, to get

understand

eyes on her… Just one

How could he be feeling this way

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

two of them began to talk, warming towards each other with

noticing, an entire

visit again in a few days!” Gerald waved goodbye to the girls and

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

rang. It was

parted ways, Gerald had asked to exchange numbers with her. Reluctantly,

you’re going to be late for your first time?” Lilian’s voice was sharp with reprimand.

so I was held

Without another word, she’d hung up on

Gerald smiled wryly.

this ‘old schoolmates’ trouble. What a

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

the car, and

waiting for you,

God, it’s really Gerald! After all these years! No patches on your clothes… have you started dressing like normal

have you been doing lately? The internship is coming up

us all about

‘old friends’ who were in attendance this evening, including a handful of former

everyone, then spotted a girl at

prettiest girl in class, and his best friend in high school. They used to study together

been harboring some measure of affection

to get involved with someone

get involved with someone

great

been much more to each other than

been well?” Gerald smiled at her. Sharon had changed tremendously. She’d learned how to

beauty

you find a place to sit down!” Sharon replied with a smile and in a tone that

years without contact, anything they

were just strangers,

spotted an empty seat, and he moved to

could actually do so, however, another

Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter

for my boyfriend! Goodness gracious… it’s one thing to have been a loser back then,

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

where all the food would be brought

all along, Gerald

her handbag on there, indicating that she was saving the seat for somebody. Certainly, she’d made

and

Every time, he’ll say he’s

sounded upset, in truth her heart sang

Sharon talking about Murphy, as in the Murphy who graduated and immediately became sales manager of an upmarket business along

he’s a Mayberry big

Gosh, sales manager at Mayberry Street… I wouldn’t trade it

table was abuzz about him.

I wouldn’t know about that!” Sharon laughed. “When he

on cue, the doors opened, and two men

you’re here!” Everyone greeted the tall,

was Murphy—Sharon’s current

other girl’s boyfriend, and he casually took

of the devil… Murphy, we were just talking about you! Anyway, check out who’s joining us today! Let me introduce you… That guy over there? Meet Gerald!”

you!” Wearing a look

remained in his seat and

that he was really starting to get annoyed by all

too naïve, expecting this to be a simple reunion between

the odd bit of

have had other motives behind inviting

even Sharon—Gerald

whole thing had turned out

interest in this

the other hand, was beaming at him. “Ahaha, what a character you are, Gerald! Sorry, I was only

Gerald, Murphy was offering to shake hands with you, just

you don’t have to apologize to this

Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or

know—after he graduates, he might very well find himself a

wanted to get in on the

we’d basically be colleagues! Let’s

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

about what she’d seen

it even made things

moment this guy was introduced to him as Gerald, Murphy couldn’t resist having a

it appeared that this Gerald had no social skills to speak of whatsoever. Once he

him alone, Murphy! For a guy like him to get a job in Mayberry Street, the boss

you

focus had been

I’m still kinda green, so my salary’s only 45k per year for

“Whoa! That’s amazing, man!”

commanding that level of pay was a rare thing. What’s

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

the moment, Sharon was beaming

sought out Gerald,

years, she’d succumbed to a moment’s sentimentality and had become an item with that guy… what would her

others have done pretty well for yourselves

Lilian nodded. “Yup, yup!”

grow with the Mayberry family. I’m planning to get my own place

what are your plans for after you graduate? Gonna apply for a government position? Have you got a job lined up for yourself? Interested in sales? Design?

as someone working in sales, honestly, you’d be terrible 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…

all this, everyone watched Gerald

already on the table. Gerald ate, keeping his own counsel. The only thing he said in reply was, “We’ll see how it goes. Whatever

that attitude, again…

won’t even listen to good

to

a disagreement with

a crude sort of fellow. “Name

Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel

there’s just no way! Their

Don’t you 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 your

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

and the others would have

of this? They had gotten here first—they had even begun eating already!

you think you

not moving!”

that is hollering in there, thinking she’s hot

opened, and the

up toward a

their champion on this side. He had nothing to fear from your run-of-the-mill rich brats—especially not now that he was working for the Mayberry group. Everyone looked toward him in

room first. Changing places now is simply not an option—that’s just unreasonable. How about this, next time, I make it my treat?

cool and collected, smiling

multiple payloads: They were

You think just because I don’t work there myself, that

appeared at the doorway, strolling through with both hands in

So it was you, sir?” Seeing this man, Murphy’s stern countenance instantly gave way to effusive fawning.

was a big kahuna attending Sunnydale University and had been painting

cruise parties, where he

not

you know who I am?”

he’s always going on about you!” Murphy was in total doormat

“I came here to have dinner… is switching tables for my sake really too much

already started here, you see… Couldn’t you just see this as

I owe you any favors.” Yancy was done playing nice. “Enough

So did everybody else at the

not someone to be taken

to Aiden and he could kiss

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

table… How shall we do this?” Lilian suddenly chirped sweetly. Just a moment ago,

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

over to our new table. Clear the room for Mr.

way we’ll do it, then!” Everyone else

meanwhile, froze

Gerard?

down at the young man, sitting with his back toward him, just quietly eating

Yancy had first walked in here, he had glanced at

his name had been spoken, Yancy burst into action,

nearly shrieked aloud. It was Gerard

S-s-so you were here!” Yancy stammered, remembering what Aiden

met

Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter

that Mr. Crawford would be here, hanging with this sort

you know this

Crawford by name, Murphy and many of the other guys present

What was this?

the hell out of my sight!” Hearing what Murphy

out of