Chapter 183 - 182: Hiring Child Labor

Yvonne Lowell finished up the remaining details on the design sketches, then sat up and stretched. "Don’t you have anything else to do today?"

"Not at the moment, but I have a video conference tonight."

Leo Grant was diligently massaging her shoulders and back, though one had to wonder how much of it was an actual massage.

"Tsk, tsk. A model worker in the industry, as expected. Compared to you, my resentment about being forced to work just vanishes." Yvonne Lowell patted his shoulder like a good buddy.

The corner of Leo Grant’s eye twitched uncontrollably. His tone was full of grievance as he said,

"You think I wanted to? I started working at the company with my dad when I was fourteen. The moment I finished my college entrance exams, I took over the company completely. I was only seventeen then—practically child labor. After my dad dumped the company on me, he took my mom and went to travel the world."

’He was forced to work too, okay!? Besides, he had to go to school and manage The Grants, plus there was The Shadow Pavilion and G Group overseas waiting for him to run. Why wasn’t anyone concerned about *his* grievances!?’

Mr. Grant: Oh? Not my problem. No one cared about my grievances back in the day, either.

Grandpa Grant: So you’re blaming me? But no one cared about my grievances back then, either.

Great-Grandfather Grant: ...Ditto.

"Ahem. Only twenty-six, and you’ve been working for twelve years. You’ve really had it rough." Yvonne Lowell’s tone was strange as she turned her head away, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Leo Grant’s hands stopped moving. He just watched her.

Just like that, he watched her. Quietly. Intently. Without blinking.

He suddenly spoke. "If you want to laugh, go ahead. Don’t hurt yourself holding it in."

"Pfft—hahahahahahahaha..." Yvonne Lowell couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.

Yvonne Lowell, who had only started working at fifteen and had a mere five years of work experience, suddenly felt much better about her own lot in life.

Her shoulders shook with increasing intensity until she was laughing so hard she was swaying, finally collapsing against Leo Grant.

A dangerous male voice sounded by her ear. "Are you done laughing?"

’Heartless woman.’

"Ahem... I’ve had my laugh, I’ve had my laugh."

Yvonne Lowell instantly stifled her laughter and raised a hand to cover her mouth, but the amusement in her eyes gave her away.

A trace of resignation flashed in Leo Grant’s eyes. He lowered his head and nuzzled her forehead. "I must have owed you in my past life. Stop covering your mouth. Be careful or you’ll laugh yourself into a coughing fit."

Yvonne Lowell lowered her hand and coughed lightly. "Actually, your situation isn’t so different from my older brother’s, so don’t feel too bad. If you get fed up with work one day, you can go laugh at him, too."

Caleb Lowell: Thank you. What a wonderful surprise. As expected of my own dear sister.

"Some girlfriend you are, telling me to create more obstacles in my own path to winning you over."

Leo Grant caressed the nape of her neck, then suddenly pulled her toward him and kissed her fiercely.

After a long moment, he pulled back just enough to speak, his lips still brushing against hers.

"Bonnie, let’s have a son in the future. Once he’s old enough, I’ll take him to the company to get him used to the environment. When I’m forty, I’ll retire, and we can travel the world, too."

Future Little Grant: ...So? My life means nothing?

The corner of Yvonne Lowell’s mouth twitched. She reached out and pushed him away.

"President Grant, first, whether we have a boy or a girl isn’t something we can decide; that’s common sense. Second, favoring boys over girls is unacceptable; that’s backward thinking. Third, hiring child labor is illegal; that’s the law."

"Bonnie, first, The Grant Family has had a genetic tendency for only sons for several generations. It’s not a sure thing, but the chances are high. Second, I’m not sexist; it’s just that a daughter would surely look like you, and I wouldn’t have the heart to treat her that way. And lastly, my old man threw me in the deep end, so isn’t it only natural for me to do the same to my son? Besides..."

"Stop. Just stop." Yvonne Lowell interrupted his rambling thoughts and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Not to be that person, but aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself? Have you forgotten you’re still on probation?"

Leo Grant narrowed his eyes. "But you didn’t object when I first mentioned us having a baby, which means you’re willing to marry me! Besides, you’ve already had your way with me. You can’t abandon me now!"

Yvonne Lowell’s face darkened. "When did I ’have my way’ with you? Need I remind you that spreading rumors is against the law?"

"You kissed me, and you touched me! How is that not having your way with me?! Anyway, I’m sticking to you, and I don’t care." Leo Grant argued with the confidence of someone who was completely in the wrong.

"Heh. Three-Year-Old Grant, you’re wasting your talents not being a sophist," Yvonne Lowell said, shooting him a sidelong glance.

Leo Grant lowered his head and kissed her again. "I have no desire to be a sophist, but the Grant family has every desire to be your in-laws."

Yvonne Lowell flexed her fingers. Yep, she could feel her fists clenching.

Taking a deep breath, she kicked him right onto the floor.

Leo Grant was stunned for a moment. "Bonnie?"

Looking at his dazed face, Yvonne Lowell’s mood improved considerably, and she patted his head.

"There now. Let’s not get any cheesier, alright? Your whole persona is collapsing."

With that, she didn’t spare another glance for the dope sitting on the floor and walked straight out of the room.

Leo Grant snapped back to his senses, scrambling to his feet to chase after her. "Bonnie, I’ll put the medical fees for that kick on a tab! You can pay for it with your dowry!"

...

Downstairs, she saw two figures with faces so bruised and swollen they looked like pig heads sprawled on the sofa, and Boss Crawford, who was laughing at them mercilessly.

Yvonne Lowell couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of her mouth. "You two... had a fight and beat each other up?"

Hearing her voice, Ian Lynch and Warren Lynch quickly stood up. "Miss Lowell. Master."

Leo Grant: ’So I’ve been demoted in your hearts?’

"Beat each other up, my ass. They went to crush some noobs but ended up being the noobs who got crushed," Nolan Crawford said, fanning the flames, clearly enjoying the drama.

A hint of disdain flashed in Leo Grant’s eyes. He asked in a low voice, "What happened?"

Ian Lynch stole a glance at Yvonne Lowell and said with some embarrassment, "We went to the fighting ring to spar with the guys from Moonshadow. We were outmatched, so we got beaten up..."

Yvonne Lowell raised an eyebrow. "Who did you fight? Felix and Finn?"

’Felix and Finn are my best fighters. It would be no surprise for these two to lose to them.’

"No, it was Alan Knight... and Colin..." Ian Lynch’s voice trailed off.

They had just learned that Colin was number one on Moonshadow’s combat rankings, but that list didn’t even include Miss Lowell’s four main confidants.

And Alan Knight was the weakest fighter among Miss Lowell’s four confidants.

’The loss wouldn’t have been so humiliating, but they specifically aimed for the face. This time, we were utterly disgraced...’

Yvonne Lowell’s expression was hard to describe. "Ahem. Well, I wish you success in beating them next time."

Ian Lynch and Warren Lynch: ’...If you want to say we’re bad, you don’t have to be so indirect about it. We’re used to it, anyway.’