The Secretly Rich Man

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 321

Leopold White’s next order from Gerald was to untie the other three girls and bring them along.

They had used his name freely, thinking they could do whatever they pleased without having to face the consequences. Making them anxious was his way of teaching them a lesson. He had never planned to leave the girls stranded there in the first place.

Leopold White—the man with white hair—was an outstanding bodyguard who worked under Michael. To put simply, Leopold’s job was similar to Flynn’s who worked under Zach.

Michael had brought him here from Hong Kong.

“They’ll be arriving soon, Mr. Zeke. It’ll be inconvenient for me to meet them here so I’ll be taking my leave first. Is my ride ready?” asked Gerald to Michael who was sitting beside the driver.

“The ride will be here at any moment now, Mr. Crawford. We’ll depart as soon as it arrives. Leopold can handle the rest. He’ll be safely escorting Miss Milton and the others back to their college.”

As he said that, a limousine stopped beside them. Gerald wiped the sweat off his forehead as he stepped into the limousine. He then left the area together with Michael.

Earlier when they had pinpointed the girls’ location, Gerald had told Zack to keep a close eye on the Rye Group as well as the police. Following that, he and Michael drove immediately to the place.

Gerald breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he confirmed that Naomi was safe.

As the four girls left the unfinished factory, they looked at Naomi. Yvonne, particularly, looked toward her with eyes filled with admiration.

“What was all that? Was it only you that they had initially come for, Naomi? Were you the one who called them over?”

From what they had seen and experienced, it seemed only fair to assume that the rescue team had only arrived to save Naomi.

As they descended the stairs, they were momentarily stunned when they realized how many people were involved in the operation.

In the room downstairs, at least twenty professional-looking bodyguards waited with their hands behind them.

Outside, there were at least six Maybach cars. There was even a high-end SUV.

Though Cassandra was rather powerful, only a few Rolls-Royce had come to pick her up at that moment.

Thinking back, Naomi’s team of bodyguards seemed even more outstanding than the current one, especially the white-haired youth who acted both coldly and cruelly without hesitation.

Both Felicity and Cassandra looked at Naomi curiously.

“Um… I don’t know either. I have no idea who any of these are! I’m as clueless as the rest of you…” said Naomi, looking extremely confused.

“If that’s the case… Who ordered you to save us, mister?” Cassandra couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Leopold however, retained his emotionless facade. He continued leading them without saying a word.

Realizing he wouldn’t answer, Cassandra signaled Naomi to try asking him instead.

“We’d like to thank the person who had told you to save us, mister. Please tell us who it is,” pleaded Naomi.

“I’m afraid I cannot comply, Miss Milton. My superior has specifically told me not to reveal his true identity. Not even to you,” answered Leopold respectfully.

“Actually… Couldn’t it be Gerald?” Yvonne said out loud.

“Gerald?” Both Felicity and Cassandra were stunned. The thought had never crossed their mind.

“Thinking back… We had all tried to call for help earlier but only Naomi was able to get her call across. Didn’t she call Gerald? That would mean that only he would be aware that we were in trouble in the first place!”

Analyzing the situation, Yvonne seemed unwilling to accept her own suggestion.

The same went for Felicity and Cassandra.

“Actually… Assuming it was Gerald who saved us, how would you say he got that many people to come save us? It’s kind of illogical to conclude that he saved us, don’t you think?” said Felicity.

Cassandra looked at Naomi nervously after Felicity had ended her sentence. She then asked, “Naomi, are you really sure that you called Gerald earlier? Maybe you actually called someone else? Are there any other influential and powerful people in your family? Maybe outside connections?”

They took turns looking at each other anxiously.

This was because both Cassandra and Felicity looked down on Gerald the most.

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 322

However, if it was indeed true that Gerald was a powerful and influential man, they would prefer to die rather than accept that fact.

Cassandra recalled the time she had suffered terribly and had a restless night when she found her power bank in Flynn’s car before.

“I was nervous back then and now that I think about it, I’m not too sure if I had called Gerald anymore… However, it is undeniable that the first contact number in my contact list is his. The second is my cousin’s, whom I called just this morning. If we’re talking about connections, it could be her. She works as a vice president for an international trade enterprise so she would definitely know a lot of people,” said Naomi, careful with her words.

“That sounds much more logical. Your finger could have accidentally tapped her number. Following that, your cousin must have arranged for the rescue! Some of the guards here look like they could be SWAT cops while the others look like gangsters!” Cassandra said in a soft voice to them as she analyzed the members of their rescue team.

“Did we guess correctly, mister?” Felicity asked Leopold. They were quite sure that they had made the right conclusion.

However, Leopold’s face didn’t move a muscle. He simply opened the door of the Maybach which was parked in front of the other cars. It was the same car which Gerald and Michael had arrived at the factory with.

“It’s time to return to your college. Get in the car,” said Leopold.

“You’re avoiding our question… That must mean we guessed correctly!” Yvonne said happily.

“Mister, may I borrow your phone? I wish to call my cousin.” Yvonne’s confidence had assured Naomi that it was indeed her cousin who had saved them.

“Very well, Miss Milton,” said Leopold as he handed his phone to Naomi with utmost respect. All of them then entered the car.

“Hello? Cousin, is that you? This is Naomi. Were you the one who had orchestrated the rescue mission?”

“I wouldn’t say orchestrated but yes, I was the one who called the criminal investigation team. Have they already saved you? They work really fast. I’m glad to hear that you’re fine. I had tried to call you back earlier but the line kept going to voicemail. So I called your counselor but that failed too. I began to worry that something bad may have happened so I sent a message to your classmate, Gerald, to look into the situation. He told me that you had been kidnapped!” Naomi’s cousin said nervously.

Wait… How did her cousin know about Gerald? Was it because she had that many connections? Actually, where had Gerald gotten the money to buy that phone and those clothes for Xavia before? Was it even possible to earn that much money through a part-time job alone?

Thinking back, it was Naomi who had asked her cousin to find a place for Gerald, Harper and the others for their part-time jobs.

Sometime then, her cousin had occasionally made Gerald run errands for her. That was probably the reason why she had Gerald’s, Harper’s, and a few of her other friends’ contact numbers in the first place.

“I see… Well don’t worry, we’re fine now. They’re taking us back to the college at the moment.”

“That’s good to hear. Rest well, I’ll meet up with you tomorrow. You’re going for an internship soon so I’ll have to discuss the work details with you anyway.”

“Got it. Make sure you hit the hay soon too!”

Sitting so close to each other, the other girls were able to listen in to the entire conversation.

Putting two and two together, they eventually pieced the puzzle together.

It was indeed Gerald who had notified her about the kidnapping.

“That stupid Gerald! He knew we were being kidnapped but he didn’t do anything about it!”

“If Naomi’s cousin hadn’t called him, who knows what would have happened to us!”

“I’m going to strangle him to death once we return to college!” scowled Cassandra under her breath.

All of a sudden, Felicity yelped in pain. It seemed as though she had hurt herself somehow.

Biting her lower lip in pain, Felicity moved her hand beneath her to find whatever had hurt her butt.

She pulled out a small coat that had a phone inside it.

“I’m terribly sorry mister, I accidentally sat on your clothes!” said Felicity apologetically.

“…Hmm? This coat looks familiar…”

It took her a moment, but when she realized who it belonged to, Felicity was dumbfounded.

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 323

“…Eh? Isn’t this the coat I bought for Gerald?” Felicity asked aloud, a clear confusion in her voice.

There was no doubt about it. It was definitely the coat she had bought for him in the mall that afternoon.

“Are you sure Felicity?” asked Cassandra, stunned at her claim.

She took the coat from her to have a look at it herself, and it was true. It was indeed the exact same coat.

‘How could this be? Why would his coat be in this particular Maybach?’ The girls were all thinking the same thing, their confusion reflected in their eyes as they took turns staring at Leopold who was still driving.

Leopold, for the first time since meeting the girls, began fidgeting slightly.

Mr. Crawford had specifically ordered him to keep his identity a secret.

However, with the progression of the girls’ conversation, things were becoming awkward for him very quickly.

“That’s my coat. I usually just leave it on the passenger’s seat,” lied Leopold.

Felicity and Cassandra looked at each other. They doubted Leopold’s claim because the coat definitely looked like it cost less than a hundred bucks. While Gerald usually wore coats that ranged around three hundred dollars, Leopold was even less likely to be the owner of the coat.

This was because the coat Leopold currently wore probably cost at least five thousand dollars.

‘Oh god, was Gerald in this car before them?’ the girls thought to themselves, shocked.

“It really is mine, no need to speculate. I wear casual clothes too you know!” said Leopold with a slight quiver in his voice. He knew they weren’t buying his story.

A guilty person usually starts talking more. Cassandra knew this as a fact.

Felicity didn’t believe him either. She slid her hand into the coat and took the phone out. It was what had hurt her butt earlier.

“Isn’t… This Gerald’s phone?” she asked, stunned as she observed the familiar phone.

“Let me have a look!” Felicity said aloud, her hands shaking slightly.

Before she could grab it for herself, Yvonne snatched it out of Felicity’s hand. ‘…It’s true!’ Yvonne thought to herself.

‘Mr. Crawford must have forgotten about his coat and phone earlier while he was hurrying back,’ Leopold concluded in his mind.

But Leopold wasn’t one to give in easily to pressure. No matter how much the girls asked after that point, he remained quiet and refused to say anything.

His mission was completed the moment they returned to college. After dropping them off, he drove away immediately.

“So… Counselor, is it really true? Was it really Gerald who saved us? Why else would his coat and phone be in the car! Thinking back, he was the first to learn that we were kidnapped too!” Yvonne cried out, almost in tears.

Her nervousness was warranted as Yvonne had always condemned Gerald. If there were to ever come a day where he grew more powerful than her, she would definitely feel extremely upset.

Felicity’s face went pale as well as she considered the thought. ‘If that were the case, what was Gerald’s true identity? Could he actually be Mr. Crawford? Or even Ordinary Man?’ Felicity thought to herself, slightly shaking.

“That’s enough! Stop playing the guessing game and calm yourselves for a moment. The coat and phone may be similar to Gerald’s, but how certain are we that they’re actually his? Another possibility would be that Gerald could have been in the car for a while after he told the police about us. Since the police needed to keep the informant’s identity a secret, they sent Gerald to a safe place before coming over to save us. Aren’t those explanations logical as well?” Cassandra explained her theories in a quivering, but mature voice.

She had experienced a similar nervousness before. In fact, Cassandra was probably the most nervous among the girls at that moment.

It was because she knew that Gerald had borrowed her power bank before this. It was left behind in a Rolls-Royce. Now both the coat and his phone were left in the Maybach. It was just too much of a behavioral coincidence.

What more, Gerald was the first to suspect that something was wrong in both incidents.

At the moment, Cassandra’s mind actively refused to link the coincidences together.

“That’s enough. How about this? We’ll go to Gerald’s dorm and ask him about it in person. We’re going to ask him what happened today.”

Cassandra said again.

“Alright. If we’ve our phones with us, we could give Gerald a call!” Yvonne reacted soon.

lifted her hands in the air to show her resignation to the idea. “However, we can still take the coat and phone along with us to pass them back to him when we meet him later. Hopefully all our

Gerald shed his clothes off, leaving only a pair of shorts on

dorm’s door was flung open with a

scream followed shortly

he ran off to find something to hide his underwear from plain

Felicity! What on earth are

Secretly Rich Man Novel

his

simply ignored him and

immediately, Gerald!”

he had on at the moment. Once he was in plain view, she yanked

doing?!” Gerald yelped as his hands moved

These women were terrifying.

his things. Not too far away, both Cassandra and Felicity

phone here!” Yvonne shouted as she held the two

stunned. All of them were thinking the same thing. ‘So it wasn’t

they were prisoners who had just

for Cassandra who felt

soon came to the realization that all the men in the dormitory were staring at them in

before clearing her throat. She then asked, “Gerald, after you received a call from Naomi asking for help, where

Before I could, Xyleena sent me a message asking me where Naomi was and I told her what I knew.

head, Counselor. So much for

wear pajamas when

one last time, the women

back for a while to explain

‘Thank god I reacted quickly

truth was that he had been extremely nervous throughout the entire rescue mission. He was sweating profusely so he had to take off his coat in

left the building.

laptop’s monitor. It took him a while, but he eventually realized that his

that his identity would definitely

immediately went off to get a similar phone and jacket. However, he could only hope that the battery in his old phone died quickly so that the phone would turn off on its own. If someone made a call before the phone died,

to have died before they managed

his number at the last minute so that the

little need

for me to expose my identity to

all the danger

few hours later, Saturday morning

morning and Gerald was doing some revision in

Naomi

his number the night before, Gerald had told Zack to help register his number again with his

morning, Gerald had gone to the service hall to retrieve his

yesterday, she’s planning to hold a feast for a table at a restaurant near our college. I’m

pass. Besides, I hardly helped at all,” Gerald said, a bitter smile on his

Gerald. Otherwise, I’ll come to your dorm to invite you over personally! On a

Alright, we’ll

them. It

with Naomi. Gerald was simply reluctant

Rich Man Novel (Invisible

Gerald, Harper, and a few others arrived at the restaurant, Naomi was

was a young man in his

the more outstanding people in society, and she had social

them. This, however, granted them the knowledge that Xyleena was actually a rather arrogant

you,”

Gerald complied.

all of you. This man is Brian Merrall, and he’s been my friend all the way

for saving us!” said Yvonne. After realizing who Brian was, Yvonne

all of you. After catching the suspects yesterday, we were able to uncover an even bigger criminal case that they were involved in. If it wasn’t for you, we may

how well-spoken he is, Naomi! Let’s have

appropriately, Xyleena took it into her own hands to remind her

aside from thanking Brian, I would also like to thank Gerald as well. If it wasn’t for him, we may never have been

all, if he hadn’t told anyone about the call, who knows what would

Naomi? I told you to thank Inspector Merrall, not Gerald,” said Xyleena, slightly

been too stunned to do anything.

shook his

receive our gratitude, it should be Xyleena and Inspector Merrall! I’ll be having tea instead of wine, but allow me to

care about Gerald

all this was happening, Naomi felt that something was

mission the day before. On another note, Leopold was also clearly much stronger than Brian in terms of both

Something was definitely wrong.

that, Naomi felt slightly sick hearing how the rest continued

job with benefits. One that includes endowment insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, work-related injury insurance, and even childbirth insurance!” said Xyleena. She didn’t

a job with all the previous insurances as well as

their employees with housing funds these days. With Gerald, it may be a little difficult to arrange such a company to take

that she was indirectly saying that Gerald was clearly not

company, he’ll most probably only be a hindrance to the other employees!” Yvonne

his character. He really can’t do much else and even the counselor would agree,” said Felicity as she shook her head, a

felt his blood boil as he heard all

happens every time! It’s almost as if they run out of

before this, but that doesn’t mean

I

fumed angrily

moment, his phone

to see who was calling, he saw that it

got up and walked away from them before

Novel (Invisible or Poorest)

“Sister, what’s up?”

subordinates are landing at Mayberry’s airport soon. Could you please find someone to pick them up? I’ve arranged some other tasks for both Zack

Gerald as he nodded

the first time Gerald had been in contact with his family for a long time. He heard his

there the day after tomorrow. We can meet up then, just brother and sister!” Jessica smiled after

had missed

a bit, Gerald

both Zach and Michael were busy, it was best that Gerald didn’t disturb

scratched

a while, he decided to just leave the restaurant since Felicity

pick

re-entered the restaurant and told Naomi that he

quite busy!” said Xyleena

to a meal today and you claim that you’re busy? How dare you!’ thought Xyleena to

be here, being as poor as he is. Speaking of which, Brian. We saw a handsome white-haired guy yesterday. What position does he hold?” asked

You keep talking about a handsome white-haired person in a Maybach, but judging from your description, it’s quite impossible that such a person is from our police team,”

that something was off. The police team certainly did run a

to the point where there were even rumors that superiors

call from Xyleena, claiming that her cousin had been kidnapped along with three other

case which they had been

to worry and said

the time he arrived at the spot with his large team, the criminals had already been caught.

his rank, he was not allowed to look

be sharing that meal since he knew he hadn’t

at the moment, was that there were two groups of

only there in time to

He isn’t from the police team? I suppose so… It does seem quite

who saved us, Inspector Merrall?” asked Cassandra in shock. ‘Why was it so difficult to get

no, we weren’t. By the time we got to the scene, you had already been saved. You girls had

some rough details with them. All they needed to know was that he hadn’t

Who was it exactly that came to our rescue?” All four girls were stunned

moment, Felicity’s

“Yes? Who is this?”

came last night to buy another of the exact same suit. We only had a smaller one in stock, but he insisted on buying it. A few suits his size have arrived today and we were wondering if he would like to exchange the suit he bought last night for this one.

you mean Gerald. He’s not my boyfriend. Why did he even

had heard the conversation as well and

The suit we found in Gerald’s room yesterday wasn’t the one that Felicity had bought for him. He fooled us! But why did he? So… The coat we found in the car last

Cassandra

Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter

Gerald

this event with the previous one concerning the

indeed a strange person. He lived

learn about the incident back when I was first brought into the hotel. Because of

bank in Flynn’s car. The same happened this time. Gerald was the first to realize that misfortune had befallen us, which led to the four of us being

orchestrating all

has a

president of the student union the other day! What happened in the end? Come to think of it, the department director

don’t even know how or when

most importantly… Gerald shares the

indeed Mr. Crawford, everything

face turned pale as her

others were catching

left

is he Ordinary Man too?” Felicity asked in a

weak. “But we shouldn’t be nervous. We can observe Gerald secretly until we’re sure of his identity. We can then decide what to do about it!”

she would end up falling

strange one, with many of

engine of his high-end limousine before driving off to pick his sister’s butler and

over, and that each of them held quite a

never taken a plane before, so he didn’t know

need to hold a sign up

limousine just outside the arrival gate. He

number his

too long after, Gerald began regretting parking

people, especially girls,

group

car, Gerald felt

a group of four walked

to

man with white hair took the lead. Following behind, was a young and lively girl who seemed to

was a pair of twins. Both brothers seemed to be in their thirties and they both wore suits. However, even that did not fully erase the fact that they both of them looked

to act as bodyguards for the grandfather and

Crawford will be sending someone here to pick us up. I’ve just received the car’s license plate number. Drake, Tyson, go check if our ride is

“Right away, Mr. Kendall!”

two guards then

apparently the food here is rather special. Is it alright if I try some for

staying in Mayberry for a while anyway. You can eat whatever you

ended his sentence,

had located the

Gerald was there waiting

to exit the car to introduce

handsome? Miss Crawford is such a

that, Gerald became slightly

Rich Man Novel

Crawford is indeed, extremely handsome. However, you shouldn’t say such nonsense when you meet Mr. Crawford later, Dorothy. Control your rashness as well. Miss Crawford may adore and spoil you, but what if you accidentally anger him? I may not be able to help you

know, I’ve asked around and learned that though Mr. Crawford is a rather reserved person, he’s a wicked man inside! He appears to have several wives!” The girl stuck

slapping you if you say that again! Where did you hear that

gotten several women pregnant here. It’s said that whoever offends him will end up becoming pregnant so I’m quite afraid of him!” said Dorothy as she patted her

that those ignorant kids are indeed done for! How could they spread such baseless rumors about Mr. Crawford? Truly preposterous! Dorothy, Miss Crawford has told me that Mr. Crawford is an extremely kind man. Those kids are just gullible rumor spreaders. Nonsense, all

Crawford is his elder sister. She’ll praise him no matter

Keep your mouth shut!” Mr.