Chapter 172: Seeing Felix Faulkner

Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Seeing Felix Faulkner

Grandma Faulkner had initially been in a rather foul mood, her face set in a stern expression. However, upon hearing Vivian Lowell’s words, she couldn’t help but shake her head and smile.

"You child, honestly."

Grandma Faulkner took Vivian’s hand with a smile, placed it on the Dragon Head Walking Stick, and gave it a gentle pat. "In the future, I’ll pass this Dragon Head Walking Stick on to you," she said. "If Julian disobeys, you can take out the Dragon Head Walking Stick and scare him!"

"..."

Vivian glanced at Julian Faulkner, blinking as if to consult him on whether bringing the walking stick out would actually work if he misbehaved.

Julian was utterly helpless when it came to Grandma Faulkner. He could only lean in and say, "Grandma, really. Grandpa left this walking stick to you. You should just hold onto it for now."

"Alright, it’s getting late. Shall we head downstairs now?"

Grandma Faulkner nodded, her smile fading as she grew serious once more.

Vance Wyatt had already scouted the route from the top-floor suite down to the first floor. He led Julian, Grandma Faulkner, and Vivian to the entrance of the banquet hall.

At the entrance, several bodyguards were already lined up. It appeared that anyone entering the banquet had to have their invitations checked.

Seeing this, Vivian couldn’t help but frown. Just as she was about to ask Julian what he planned to do, President Ward came storming over, cursing under his breath.

"President Faulkner, I wanted to go in first to check on the situation, but the guys at the door demanded an invitation. They said I couldn’t enter without one. I didn’t waste my breath on them or reveal my identity!"

President Ward glared angrily at the bodyguards and added, "It looks like that Zane fellow and Felix Faulkner came prepared today.

"They must have contacted domestic buyers long ago. They might have even finalized deals with those who previously showed interest. Tonight... I don’t know what their purpose is in putting on such a massive show!"

Julian nodded, glancing at the bodyguards guarding the door without much concern. "Let’s go. We’ll head over," he said to President Ward.

"Okay," President Ward agreed. Walking alongside Julian, the two headed straight for the banquet hall entrance.

Just as they arrived at the door, the bodyguards indeed stopped them, demanding that Julian show his invitation.

Julian didn’t even spare them a glance. Instead, Vance Wyatt adjusted the nameplate on his suit jacket and told them, "This is the CEO of the Faulkner Group.

"Tonight, Mr. Faulkner is selling shares of the Faulkner Group. As the CEO, President Faulkner naturally had to come and take a look. Are you Mr. Faulkner’s men, or President Zane’s?

"President Zane is just a minor shareholder of the Faulkner Group, whereas my President Faulkner is the true person in charge. Does he really need an invitation to come here?"

Vance was not very polite.

After speaking, he took a half-step forward, his entire demeanor exuding a powerful aura.

Vance wasn’t particularly muscular, but having followed Julian for years, he had picked up the imposing presence that Julian usually radiated.

The bodyguards at the door looked at Vance, then at Julian, clearly hesitating. Just as they were deliberating on what to do, two men walked out of the banquet hall.

They were chatting as they walked, looking to be in an excellent mood.

However, when Vivian saw the man on the left, her pupils shrank slightly. He looked about fifty to sixty percent similar to Julian.

She thought, "He must be Felix Faulkner," as she carefully looked him up and down.

Felix Faulkner looked exceedingly refined. Even though he was older, he was impeccably dressed. His skin didn’t look rough in the slightest; he even had the appearance of a forty-something "pretty boy" actor—still remarkably youthful.

She thought, "He’s maintained himself so well. His skin hasn’t sagged at all."

Looking at this version of Felix Faulkner, Vivian understood. No wonder Julian’s mother had fallen for him back then. With just his good looks and a bit of charm, he was definitely attractive enough to draw in plenty of young women.

Compared to Felix Faulkner, Julian wasn’t as gentle. Julian possessed sharp, distinct features that gave off a cold aura when he wasn’t speaking.

This was simply Julian’s nature.

Vivian figured this had to be related to the environment Julian had grown up in.

Julian had always had a difficult life.

The two parties met at the entrance of the banquet hall. Before they even had time to speak, the reporters waiting in the lobby of The Solstice Hotel boiled over with excitement.

Most of them recognized Julian and President Zane from the Faulkner Group. Seeing President Zane appear alongside a middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to Julian, they knew...

This meeting was bound to be the long-awaited "father-son reunion"!

"Oh my god, Felix Faulkner really does look like Julian! How should I put it... Felix Faulkner looks like an ancient scholar, very refined!"

"You’re not wrong. When Felix Faulkner was younger, he was scouted by agents abroad who wanted him to enter the entertainment industry. He only refused because the Faulkner Family was so wealthy!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I didn’t understand before why Felix Faulkner had so many romantic affairs and was tangled up with that Annie, but now I get it!"

"Being so handsome, it’s no wonder women flock to him! Julian definitely inherited his father’s looks—he’s so handsome! I just wonder what will happen between the father and son today?"

"I heard Julian had no idea Felix Faulkner was returning to the country! Why is Felix Faulkner selling the Faulkner Group’s shares? Are the father and son at odds?"

The media whispered and gossiped fervently.

Vivian frowned, glancing at Vance Wyatt. "Once we get inside, contact the hotel staff," she whispered. "As long as they aren’t invited guests tonight, don’t let them wait in the lobby. This is a hotel, a public area with people coming and going every day. Behaving like this disrupts ordinary people’s lives."

Vance Wyatt nodded.

Vivian’s request was perfectly reasonable and well-justified. The media wouldn’t be able to find any fault with it later.

A few seconds later, the father and son’s eyes locked.

In that instant, Vivian could almost feel the scrutiny and provocation in their gazes. Clearly, both were extremely displeased with the other.

This was especially true for Felix Faulkner. His eyes were cold and devoid of emotion, not at all like a man looking at his own biological son.

Of course, Julian was much the same. The tension between the father and son was palpable. Had there been no outsiders present, Vivian almost believed they would have started throwing punches right then and there.