575: [Bonus chapter] Olivia's greatest fear

[Bonus chapter] Olivia's greatest fear

The day of the Lyon Group anniversary celebration rolled in without a hitch. Everyone was busy doing the final touches as if they hadn't been doing so since the day before. Although many of the employees could have a day's rest since this day was akin to a holiday, many still chose to go to the office and do some work. There were many reasons, but one of them was definitely because of the double pay.  0

Nothing seemed amiss, or perhaps everyone was just too busy to think of other things. For instance, no one thought about Axel not coming home. After all, this wasn't the first time Axel didn't go home. So no one dwelled on it.

KNOCK KNOCK!

A knock from outside the door reached Grandma Zhu's ears. She slowly raised her eyes to the door, sitting still on the armchair she was idling in Dominic's office. When the door opened, a layer of frost instantly coated her eyes. 

Silas.

"Hello, Grandma." Silas closed the door behind him, bowing to pay respect to her. "I heard you've been here, so I thought I should drop by to greet you."

"Hmp!" Grandma Zhu looked away with a huff. A reaction Silas had already grown numb to. 

He maintained his poise, marching to where she was, and took the long couch near the armchair she was sitting on. He looked at Grandma Zhu, only to see her still looking away. Dominic's office was surrounded by glass that offered a great view of the city.

"Grandma, didn't you say you forgave me?" Silas frowned at the obvious cold treatment from his grandmother. "Why are you still ignoring me? Or are you upset that you've been waiting here for an hour now and Dominic still hasn't shown up?"

"Silas." Grandma looked back at him grumpily. "What are you doing here? Everyone is still working and yet, you have the time to idle. Even Dominic is still working when he has an event to host later."

"Grandma, your grandson is very good at his work." Silas playfully remarked. "I've already finished. Don't worry."

"Don't become a burden to your cousin." She huffed once again. "You're now a director of the company. Therefore, you should work hard more than anyone. If the CEO of the company is still working, you shouldn't idle too much. Do it for your self."

"Grandma, are you saying I should die?" He humored. "If I try to keep up with Dominic, then I'd be dead. Even Mr. Zhang nods off at his desk during office hours, you know?"

Grandma Zhu's face turned sour, and she looked at her grandson in dismay. Although she couldn't disagree with him. Dominic's workaholic nature was already concerning. It was already a surprise he cleared up his weekends to be with his family, putting a balance to his work, life, and family.

"Come on, Grandma." Silas smiled. "Don't you really want to spend some time with me? I know I am not as perfect as Dominic and not as cute as Axel, but I'm still your grandson."

"Silas, not because we forgive you for everything you did doesn't mean I'm not watching you." Grandma Zhu narrowed her eyes. "You still need to do more to prove that you've changed."

"Fair enough. Don't worry, Grandma. I don't mind spending the rest of my life proving I've changed." The corner of his lips stretched from ear to ear, nodding reassuringly at her. Meanwhile, Grandma Zhu just stared at him without saying anything. 

After a moment, Silas smacked his lips as he hummed. "It's amazing, isn't it Grandma?" He snapped his eyes at Grandma Zhu and then at the glass where they could see a great view of the city, even from this distance. 

"The Lyon Group has reached this far and this long and its success just continuously grows," he continued in the same languid tone. "I knew Dominic would take the family business to greater heights. I mean, even as a child, he's really smart. Even at a young age, he already knew what he wanted. I remember back then, I really admired him. He's only a few months older than me, but his achievements were far too great."

He looked back at Grandma Zhu and smiled. "What does it feel, Grandma? That Dominic had grown up into such a fine young man you've always expected him to be?"

"I'm proud of him, of course." Grandma Zhu replied without a second hesitation. "He exceeded me and his father, and he had done more to make this family and business great. He deserves all the credit for that."

"Right." Silas let out a short chuckle, rocking his head in understanding. "Of course, he deserved that. I mean, during your time, you already made this company a billion-dollar worth. Even Uncle Lionel couldn't think of how to cross that feat. You made this family a billionaire, but Dominic… he's really great."

Grandma Zhu kept her lips in a tight line, staring at this grandson of hers. "Silas, change while you still can."

"Hmm?" His brows rose at her sudden remarks and change of tone. 

"I've always told you not to look at your cousins and compare yourself to them," she said. "Dominic is winning in his own race. And in that race, you and Axel aren't a part of it. So, you shouldn't look at him in that light. You can aspire to be him if you truly want to, but he is not your competition. You have your own race, Silas."

Deep lines appeared between Silas's brows as he looked at Grandma Zhu strangely. These sentences weren't new to his ears. However, this was the first time Grandma Zhu said more than 'Don't look at your cousins or don't aspire to be Dominic.' 

Before Silas could even process what his grandmother had said, Grandma Zhu's next words took him off guard. 

"Silas," she called, setting her eyes on the glass ever so slowly. "That's Olivia's greatest fear. That you'd become unhappy, trying to conform to the standard Dominic had set. I'm proud of Dominic, but you don't have to do something big for me to be proud of my boys. All I want is for you boys to become good people. Nothing more, nothing less."

Grandma Zhu's eyes softened. "That's Olivia's wish as well."

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