The Secretly Rich Man

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 281

“Are you the general manager here, Miss Thornton?”

Gerald couldn’t hide his shocked expression as he posed Wynn the question. With just a glance at her demeanor, he felt her overbearing female presence, and never before had he felt an aura as potent as this.

“Why? Do I not seem like one to you?”

Wynn drove along, smirking as she looked at Gerald through the rear-view mirror.

“Oh, by the way, you should stop referring to me as ‘miss.’ It makes me sound old. Since I’m only ten years older than you, just call me by my name!”

Wynn frowned, looking grumpy.

“Alright then, I won’t call you Miss Thornton anymore!” Gerald nodded.

“Pfft!”

Wynn somehow seemed amused by Gerald’s reply, and she let out a hearty laugh.

Gerald initially wanted to have a conversation about Wynn and her family, thanks to a lingering doubt that had been floating at the back of his mind for a while—Minnie’s last name was Thornton.

It made Gerald wonder if Wynn had brought up the child all by herself.

But since a topic as such would be too personal, Gerald abandoned the thought.

Wynn stopped by a supermarket along the way home, and later on emerged with a few big bags of groceries.

It was just as Gerald had guessed—Wynn’s home was clean and tidy. After a simple tour around the house, there were no signs of any men.

That little fact somehow made Gerald feel a bit more comfortable.

Wynn then got to show off her cooking skills to him. In just a couple of minutes, she had whipped up a table of delectable dishes, way better than anything they served at Wayfair Mountain Entertainment.

Anyone who married Wynn in the future would be more than blessed to have a wife as such.

Not to mention how she was really good at conversations too.

After the dishes were served, Gerald felt that Wynn had grown a little warmer, as if the two had known each other for a long time.

Wynn had her eyes fixated on Gerald.

She was even more attracted by Gerald’s down-to-earth personality.

With much in common, their conversation quickly picked up as they naturally opened up.

Wynn stared adoringly at Gerald as she rested her rosy cheeks on her palms.

“Gerald, you must be curious about Minnie’s father, right?”

“Well… not really…” Gerald replied, with slight awkwardness.

Wynn smiled as her gaze pierced into Gerald. “Really? While I was cooking earlier, I noticed you were kind of scanning through my room. Were you looking for something?”

Her deadshot gaze made his heart skip a little.

Wynn wasn’t someone to be messed around with, having observed Gerald’s every single move the moment he stepped into her house.

And every single word she said was exactly what he had in mind.

The situation made Gerald feel like an elementary school student, where all his thoughts were exposed.

“Hmph! Don’t even think about hiding anything from me. The truth is, I had nothing to hide from you anyways. Minnie’s father left us long ago, and it has always been just the two of us. Minnie usually spends her time in kindergarten while I work at my company. I’ll bring her along to work during the weekends. Here’s the problem. Last week, a capital invasion by some wicked bastard forced many of Mayberry’s small and medium establishments out of business. God, I was so stressed out!

“There was this one time, where I was so bogged down about this that I slipped and Minnie accidentally fell into a river! You have no idea how much it scared me, and god knows how much I wished I had a man by my side to help me get things sorted!”

As Wynn downed a few glasses of red wine, her pretty face had started to blush, causing her to look increasingly sultry and charming.

Frankly, Gerald had always been attracted to women who were around his age or younger than himself.

He’d never actually hook up with mature women who were in their thirties.

Especially not with a such beautiful yet temperamental woman like Wynn.

Gerald could not help but stare at the gorgeous sight before him, his heart thumping in his chest like crazy.

Putting that thought aside, Wynn had only invited him over for dinner as a kind gesture, and Gerald felt a little awkward when she brought up the topic of looking for a man. He was unsure if he misunderstood her words.

“Miss Wynn, earlier on you mentioned that some young man invaded the capital of Mayberry. Now, what did you mean by that?”

“Oh, about that. Nah, it’s nothing much, but you must’ve heard of Mayberry’s most wicked man, Gerald Crawford, right? He’s the dude that owns Mayberry Commercial Street!”

Wynn’s tone was filled with anger.

“Hmph?”

Gerald almost died choking on a mouthful of potatoes.

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 282

Since when did he become the most wicked youngster in Mayberry?

“Well…of course I’ve heard of him! But I’ve only heard of the good things!” Gerald’s face flushed beet red in embarrassment.

“What do you mean by good things? Don’t you know how businesses work? Some time ago, Gerald invested a large amount of capital into Mayberry’s major enterprises. It might have seemed like a power move, but many other businesses in the Mayberry community were screwed as well, no thanks to him. The businesses that received a sudden injection of funds underwent some over-rapid development, disrupting the business community’s balance. Of course, it also posed an enormous challenge to second and third-tier enterprises like us! Many people from the business community hate him to the bone!”

Wynn was done talking. Gerald lowered his cutlery and rubbed his nose.

Of course, he knew all about those massive investments Wynn was talking about. He represented his sister while investing in those projects, including the funding of Scothow Elementary School and other similar projects.

Gerald never gave it much thought and simply did everything per what his sister told him to do.

After doing so, however, he did not delve in any deeper.

Unbeknownst to him, the influx of large funds had disrupted the economic balance of Mayberry.

To put it in one way, he was the reason why Wynn was so worried about her investment. It resulted in her neglecting Minnie, where she eventually lost sight of her and let her fall into the water.

Gerald could not help but smile bitterly.

“Hmph, enough talking from me. Right, so Gerald, you’re about to start your internship soon, aren’t you? Any good places in mind?”

It now seemed to be Wynn’s turn to ask the questions.

Gerald was honest and kind, but from the way he dressed and the cell phone he used, Wynn could tell that he came from a poor family.

There was kindness within Wynn’s heart, and she was all but concerned over Gerald’s future.

“I haven’t decided where I’d go yet!” replied Gerald.

“That’s fine. If you don’t have any place to go, you’re welcome to intern at my company. I’ll double your salary, and as long as you follow me, I guarantee you’ll be able to buy your own house in Mayberry within five years!”

Somehow, Wynn was tempted to keep Gerald by her side.

Their conversation was interrupted by Minnie. “Mommy, what do you need Uncle Gerald to buy a house for? Just let him live here with us! Once I grow up, I’ll have my own house, so you can live with Uncle Gerald!”

“Minnie, what are you babbling about! How can mommy live with Uncle Gerald? Only married couples are allowed to live together, do you understand?”

Wynn couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

“Ooh, I understand now!”

Wynn turned her attention to Gerald, only to see him smiling silently.

“You should consider the offer, Gerald. My company may be small, but it has a great future!”

Gerald nodded in reply.

He wondered what she would think of him once she discovered that he was indeed the Gerald who had messed up her company!

From the conversation, though, he knew that he was somewhat responsible for the doldrums that Wynn’s company was facing. Gerald would not just ignore it.

Minnie wiped her mouth with a napkin.

“Mommy, I’m full! Can I get my toys from downstairs? I want Uncle Gerald to come with me!”

“What toys! If you want new toys, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow. That’s when mommy will bring you to the toy store.”

“No, I want Uncle Gerald to go with me!”

At this point, Minnie seemed to have taken a liking toward Gerald.

Her hands gripped Gerald’s arms tightly, refusing to let go.

“It’s okay, I’ll accompany Minnie to the toy store. I’ll keep an eye on her, so don’t worry!”

After that was done, Gerald brought Minnie downstairs with him.

As they were on their way, Minnie glued herself close by Gerald’s side. Although he was delighted, he pitied her a little. There was no doubt that Wynn was a strong woman, but no matter how strong she was supposed to be, she was still a woman, and Minnie, a fatherless child.

“You like being with me a lot, Minnie?” asked Gerald.

“Yes!” Minnie Thornton nodded hard.

“Hmm, why?”

“That’s because you’re a good man, unlike the bad guy who keeps coming to my house. He hits mommy, and sometimes he hits me too!”

“Huh?”

Gerald was startled by the little girl’s words.

Initially, he only wanted to learn more about their family, hoping he could render Minnie and Wynn with more assistance. He definitely did not expect to hear something like that from Minnie.

Those bad guys… did that mean Wynn’s social relations were quite complicated as well? And who in their right mind would beat up a child like Minnie?

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 283

Now, which socially successful woman didn’t have a man behind her back?

After hearing about Wynn’s significant other, Gerald, for no apparent reason, felt a fleeting sense of disappointment.

He wished to help Wynn, not just because she was pretty, but also for her child, Minnie, the little girl he had started to find favor in.

Perhaps it was because he saved Minnie’s life. It gave him a sense of fatherhood, where he automatically felt the sense of paternal affection each time they met.

Things, however, seemed to be more complicated than initially thought.

Wynn probably didn’t require his help at all.

As for his disappointment, it was because Gerald really thought Wynn was that type of woman. Why then would Minnie say that a man had been coming to look for her!

It was someone else’s private life anyway, and it was none of his business.

So after buying Minnie her new toy, Gerald brought her back to the neighborhood.

Without explanation, Minnie abruptly grabbed Gerald’s arm. He did not know what she saw—her happy expression had disappeared, and her face had turned pale.

He saw that her eyes were staring right at a large black Mercedes-Benz parked along the driveway. The car wasn’t there before.

“What’s the matter, Minnie?” Gerald asked in shock.

“Uncle Gerald, the bad guy is here again, and that’s his car! He was the one who hit mommy and me!”

Minnie’s body trembled in fear, and she immediately hid behind Gerald.

“Huh?” Gerald was slightly startled when he saw that the car was empty. It could only mean that the driver must have entered the house.

After dining at someone’s house, there was no way he would just walk away and pretend that nothing happened.

“Come on, Minnie. Let’s get inside!”

Gerald immediately picked Minnie and rushed upstairs.

Upon his arrival, he found that the door was left ajar.

Inside, a big commotion had taken place.

“B*tch, did you bring another man home? Why are there three sets of cutlery on the table?”

and he sounded like a

my family is

funds so you could pull through this difficult time. I did everything for your sake, and in return,

collect the interest today. I’ve been wanting to f*ck you for a long time now, and I can’t hold back

were plates flying off the table and

son

out with every last

Gerald pushed the door open and was welcomed

lunged at the man sitting above Wynn. He was going to bust his bald head

brought

Rye’s

the hell are you?” he cursed loudly, clutching his bleeding head with

“Mommy, are you okay?”

helped Wynn get

had been ripped apart by

a cold and murderous stare, Gerald picked up a stool from

everything that was going on

was because of that investment plan,

when this b*stard, Damien, came into

was his condition, in exchange for the

Man Novel

things that he did without much consideration, which led to a

he also felt some self-loathing inside, and all

How dare you have the balls to hit me! I’m Damien-fcking-Rye! Just wait and see, kid, I’m

cursing at Gerald as blood gushed down

him. He ran up to him,

has suffered all kinds of hardships. He used to be poor and timid, but

escalate, Damien dared not

smacked with a stool as he wailed in pain. In the end, he

Thornton! Are

his stool and approached Wynn

son of a b*tch, he came up

you’d better get out of here now. Damien Rye is a vengeful b*stard, he’s from one of the most powerful families in Mayberry. You’d better leave now before he gets a good

in her

someone mentioned that Damien had a crush on a service girl at the bar. He wanted her to accompany him, but that service girl’s boyfriend also

forward

a result, Damien Rye sent his goons to beat him up, severing

the service girl and let his goons have their

Rye was an

he had the entire

will happen to the both of you if I

was indeed not afraid

the scene like a pussy, he would rather jump off the building! He knew he

and go? I’ll stay, I believe I can

she bit

understood what she truly

you and Minnie can follow me, so both of you don’t have to worry about Damien. I know for a fact that there

was not planning to expose his identity, but he still gave Wynn

was now broken, and he could not contact Zack

he could do first was to hide, and then replace his broken phone. He believed that his plan would not bring

Wynn was still a woman, and she had completely no idea what to do when it came to such situations. Staring

had finished packing their items, the three

got

car suddenly crashed into the streets of Mayberry,

of them looked very

vehicles loomed into the small neighbourhood, blocking all

down from his car. Not knowing

her house, Wynn’s face turned

Gerald were to leave a minute later, he

lot of effort to get to where he was today, and if he was to

Bring us to the slums near the newly-built Scothow Elementary School!” Gerald said

stepped hard on the pedal and they fled the

tension that was going on

the car window, Damien’s eyes caught

his head, as he looked towards

Man Novel (Invisible or

Damien Rye, I guess it won’t end well for that

in shock while he was

Rye and

a little confused. “Who is Damien Rye and where did he come from?

Gerald asked the driver.

like Damien did not follow

Group. Although Mayberry International Inc. is the first, it’s still a foreign company that has been established in Mayberry for just over ten years. On the other hand, Rye Group is different. It has been here for forty years, and the Ryes, a local mafia family, has deep roots

strangers to this land. However, both the Rye Group

who would

the Ryes to him, Gerald started to

a brief encounter with

But when was that?

Mayberry? What made Alice cry so much that she would not dare to come out of her dormitory? In the end, not even her parents could do

while they were dining in Royal Dragon Villa, Henry Rye’s second-generation rich

people

led to the Rye

one who stepped in

let

on keeping an eye out for his own safety and to conceal his identity

largest company in Mayberry, but that did not

was run by her sister, Jessica. They were unaware of Jessica’s

even miss the chance to

and Zack had no choice but to make

knew Henry Rye was up to no

how dangerous the Ryes were in the eyes of Zack

cousin of Henry Rye, which

sat in the car, Gerald could not help but ponder over

family holds to resolve the issue. After all, no matter how powerful the Ryes were, the Crawfords can still easily

can do for now was to get his phone repaired and contact

to where Queta Smith and the others

was extremely

Damien would not be able to track them here for

brother Gerald,

“Hey kids, where’s Yasmin?”

who were doing laundry, immediately rushed to his

making dinner with

Queta and Yasmin came out of the

into the details, he simply explained that Wynn and her daughter were staying for the night. Queta was fine with it, and immediately cleaned up a

told her that Queta

was because she was also a single mother raising a child by herself, Wynn felt an immediate sense of

went to a nearby

would

mobile phone mall was huge, and there were

Novel

The mall was crowded.

not knowing which

needed a

model. It was of extremely good quality with a price tag of 2830

arguably

may I have a closer look on that

politely asked the

searching around for almost half a day. From the way Gerald was dressed, she knew he

he was just

pretending to look around. Then, she expected him to act as if the phone was not what he wanted and he would instead buy some 50-dollar miscellaneous unbranded

seen too many

Gerald walked towards her

he wanted to have a look at

out this phone without buying it!” The

meant was show me the money if you have it, f*ck

look at it first?!” Gerald

wallet on him at the moment, so the only way for him to pay was

our store’s

at the moment? I’ve brought some friends over

“Ahhh, welcome!”

with his bunch

to a new phone? We’ve just

beautiful saleswoman, Margie Steward, gleamed

“Oh? A new model?”

his friends

one of the girls glanced at Gerald,

sh*t! Gerald, what

girl was not just any other stranger, it

to her was Sharon Leslie, who did not change

were all hanging along

he

for that reason, he was about

female classmates from high school. Their friendship was long over, and there was nothing much

not want

simply walked

no matter how he tried

are you still here, are you buying

you’re really here to get a new phone, do you even have the money? Wait, did you have to relocate,

with

looked at Gerald and shook her head

Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or

Hayward, do you

as she smirked

quite well-known amongst the people in

was rumored that there would be a big development in the west side of Yorknorth Mountain. The village where

will be developed into

demolition compensation, Hayward was very active around

here, hence he got more

were just classmates from

Hayward shook his head.

he ignored Gerald and turned

you recommended? Can I have a look, I’m going to buy

referring to were Lilian and

beautiful, and they suit Hayward’s taste. But the thing was that both girls seemed to be interested in him as well,

have

but in turn it boosted Hayward’s ego, which made him feel wanted, as though they could

them were getting new phones, they were first delighted by the news, but then they gave each other

way can either of them get Hayward’s

only envious and jealous of

Try it out and have a look first!” Margie smiled as she handed over the phone which she refused to show Gerald

stood by the side,

the store’s

to lash out

Sharon and Lilian were both standing there. Gerald felt a little embarrassed

and came

just arrived at our stores! It’s an international brand, and it’s priced at 4800 Dollars, but the first 50 customers will be able to get this phone with just 4300 dollars!

a saleswoman who looked roughly around 18

that she was quite

does

price of the phone definitely

at almost 5000

the features and the brand of the phone, he understood why the phone

has it that many politicians and

and the quality was reliable. It can also conceal the user’s privacy

much better than that 2830

model in our store with pro-features. You can have a

thought she had frightened Gerald as

would not be shocked by a phone with a 5000 dollars price tag? Most ordinary people could not afford

a big-branded phone like this, it was pretty normal for them to sell the cheapest phone

phone here. By the way, can I borrow a SIM card pin?” Gerald

handed both the phone and the pin to

patrolling at the entrance. Besides, there was also a special scanner

receiving the requested items, the first thing Gerald did was to insert his SIM

Rich Man Novel (Invisible

Margie? This phone costs 2830

heard coming from the mobile

who were beside him were also a

were definitely shocked by the