Chapter 1602 Meeting in School


    When Raeleigh got up in the morning, she called Belle and asked about Santiago.


    Belle sighed. "Raeleigh, don''t worry about us here or Santiago. I will take good care of him. You should


    take care of yourself over there.


    "You''re a mom now, after all. Although you and Jerry have divorced, I still see you as one of us."


    "Auntie, I''ll visit you in a few days."


    Raeleigh understood the situation, but she was still worried when she couldn''t see Santiago.


    Since there was no further news after such a long investigation, she might as well visit them and


    consider it a distraction.


    Raeleigh believed there was no way Ste woulde out and harm people at this time.


    Better she did than didn''t.


    "Raeleigh, we''re all fine. You don''t need to visit us; we might go back in a few days."


    Belle nced at her husband sitting on the sofa. All the doctors said that it was impossible for him to


    wake up again, but they couldn''t ept such a reality. Calvin wouldn''t give in to fate and even


    suddenly said they should go back that morning.


    Belle didn''t dare to ask him anything. No one could heal the pain in his heart.


    Calvin sat there motionlessly. His hair had turned much whiter. Belle had trouble sleeping at night, and


    Calvin would spend the nights looking out the window.


    The couple watched over their sleeping son in silence, not eating.


    If Aron hadn''t apanied them, reminding them to eat something every day and giving them


    emotional support, they would have long copsed.


    Raeleigh asked, "Are you reallying back?"


    "Calvin said we should. Nothing beats staying at home; there are a lot of inconveniences


    anyway. Grandma and Grandpa are sick, Santiago too; Calvin and I have too much on our hands."


    Raeleigh asked, "Grandpa is also sick?"


    Belle swallowed. "Yes, he''s sick. He''d get exhausted even only taking a few steps. He''d lie down if he


    could and sit if not; he doesn''t eat much either."


    "He was still fine a few days ago, but he suddenly fell ill."


    "We took him to the doctors, but they said he''s fine. He''s just like that."


    Raeleigh thought, "Come to Waverly Vige then. I can take care of Santiago while you and Uncle


    Calvin can take care of your parents."


    Raeleigh hadn''t expected the turn of events.


    Belle choked, "Raeleigh..."


    The call suddenly dropped. Raeleigh moved the phone away and looked at it, feeling as if her heart


    had been stabbed. It took her a long time toe back to her senses and wipe her tears away before


    calling Belle again.


    But this time, Belle stopped answering her calls.


    Raeleigh gave up after several failed attempts.


    Over the next few days, Raeleigh would call Belle almost every day, only to fail repeatedly. Belle would


    let the phone ring until Raeleigh ended it.


    Raeleigh left Waverly Vige once on the weekend. She went to attend some activities at the


    university; she only left when they called her.


    Jepherson was also present that day.


    Raeleigh sat in an obscure corner. When Jepherson came, everyone gossiped about the Harvey


    family''s scandals.


    Not only was their status in Capital city wavering, but Santiago''s life was hanging in the bnce as


    well. Some even said there was another major scandal the Harvey family was trying their best to hide.


    Raeleigh sat in the crowd and listened to those people gossiping outrageously.


    Jepherson appeared wearing a tailored grey suit. He sat there withposure, a sharp contrast to the


    atmosphere of the room.


    "Mr. Jepherson." Horacio got up from his seat when he saw Jepherson, and Jepherson said calmly,


    "Hello, Mr. Horacio."


    Jepherson still cared about his image on formal asions.


    After greeting Jepherson, Horacio sat back down, and Jepherson followed suit.


    "Next, let''s invite Mr. Harvey to say a few words."


    Someone was emceeing the event.


    There was a microphone in front of Jepherson.


    The room suddenly fell silent. Everyone wanted to know what Jepherson had to say at this time.


    Jepherson shifted the microphone before him and said, "Hello everyone, I''m Jepherson Harvey."


    With that, no one spoke anymore. Raeleigh stared at Jepherson''s chiseled face, slightly lost in thought.


    Their first meeting may not have been wonderful, but it was certainly unforgettable.


    Jepherson smiled and continued, "Elkton University is affiliated to the Harvey Group, and the issues


    that have arisen in thepany have caused the university some trouble and inconvenience."


    "But the Harvey Group will not make any changes because of it. We will continue to contribute to the


    talents of the university and support it fully."


    "Also, we will gradually improve the partnership between two parties."


    Hearing Jepherson''s speech, everyone exchanged nces. They did not understand why he would


    say so at this time. Was it to stop people from leaving?


    Elkton University was a well-established school with a twenty-year history in Capital City.


    It wasn''t wrong for Jepherson to make such a speech to keep talents from leaving.


    After all, the annual wealth that Elkton University had created for the Harvey Group was shocking.


    There was even an article about how Elkton University had ounted for one percent of the annual


    profits of Harvey Group.


    Though it wasn''t shocking within the Harvey Group, that was the past. Things may be different with the


    current state of thepany.


    Jepherson paused for a moment. "I know many of you are wondering if I''m pulling out the sympathy


    card, if I want you to stay here and hold on to a dead tree, waiting for it to bloom."


    The crowd burst into an uproar. Jepherson hesitated for a moment before saying, "This isn''t it but a


    mutually beneficial countermeasure."


    ...


    Raeleigh fixed her eyes on Jepherson, motionless.


    Jepherson continued, "The Harvey Group is indeed involved in some disputes, but if there is no storm


    in a mulNorahtionalpany, there''s no room for development."


    "It''s not to mislead you. If you have what it takes to be here, it means you are the elites of the country."


    "A boat that can''t withstand the wind and waves can''t be called a boat. It might as well sink to the


    bottom of the ocean."


    Jepherson fell silent for a moment before he continued, "From now on, to prevent the elites from


    transferring, as well as to prevent other schools from stealing our students, the top three hundred


    students will receive a schrship. The first ce will receive three million dors, the second to tenth


    ce will receive 2. 8 million dors, and so on, with each tenth position as a divider."


    "You can leave. Elkton University has seven thousand students. When you do, someone will rece


    you."


    "Even if you''re a genius or straight-A student, you will never be allowed to return after you leave. The


    gates of Elkton University will never open for you again.


    "What the Harvey Group wants are talents, but also loyalists."


    Jepherson knocked on the table. "You may be nothing if you stay, but if you''re someone who can


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    abandon even your school, no one will care whether you stay."


    It was quiet below. Jepherson turned his gaze at the person behind him, and they took a stack of


    papers out.


    Jepherson looked over at the printed agreements, then at the crowd. "Don''t be sad if a shooting star


    shes by before you can notice it. With time, you and I will eventually be strangers, but why not


    bet on your future?"


    "Signing it means you agree to stay, but it won''t prove anything even if you don''t."