"Jules, I heard Aaron has started working at Sterling Group. When will you be joining him?" Simon asked as he poured wine for everyone. Everyone knew that the young master of the Sterling family - that ugly duckling turned swan - had started working at the group, despite only being a freshman in college.
In contrast, there was absolutely no news about Julian, the true heir of the wealthy family, which made Simon a bit curious.
Did the Sterling family really intend to discard this son?
But if that were the case, why did they push Julian onto Ethan Caldwell?
Many people held negative views regarding commercial marriages, believing that participating in such a union meant turning oneself into a tool for binding families together and losing the freedom to love. Worse yet, one could become a "hostage" in the other family's home.
But in reality, a marriage alliance between two powerful families meant they were betting on a mutually beneficial relationship. A business marriage might lack love, but it was common for both sides to tacitly agree to let the other find lovers. Those with principles would remain faithful, while those feeling constrained might go out for fun; it wasn't a big deal. However, it had to be built on the principles of equality and voluntary agreement. Otherwise, it could easily become a danger later on, a handle for others to grab onto.
Therefore, normally, even in a commercial marriage, major families would choose a child they valued; no one would choose a castoff.
Especially for a capable family like the Caldwells.
Everyone in the circle knew the Caldwell family's principles. And as for what kind of person Ethan Caldwell was, those close to him understood him well enough. If the Sterlings valued Aaron, this marriage arrangement should have been for him. Pushing someone powerless and incapable like Julian to Ethan's side... even if they wanted him to whisper pillow talk, that spring breeze could easily turn into a toxic wind.
"I'm not joining our family company. My brother said that once someone is married off, they have no right to interfere in company affairs," Julian replied to Simon with a smile, not accepting the wine glass from him but switching it for a glass of orange juice. "Besides, Aaron does better than I do. I only know how to play around; I'm not as capable as he is."
"Eh? There's such a thing as not being allowed to manage family affairs after getting married?" Patrick was slightly surprised. It wasn't feudal times anymore; there was no such thing as "a married daughter is like spilled water." But on second thought, he suddenly realized something: Perhaps what the Sterlings were aiming at wasn't the rule about not managing things after marriage, but rather they were targeting Julian specifically.
It made sense. One child they had raised for over a decade, smart and capable. Another brought back halfway through life - so what if they shared the same blood? Looking at it from all angles, he didn't look anything like their family, so it was natural they didn't like him.
Thus, Patrick's gaze towards Julian held a hint of pity.
Julian sensed it but only smiled, obediently hugging his orange juice and leaning against Ethan, smiling sweetly: "Besides, I'm not studying management anyway. Ethan already agreed to let me switch to the Fine Arts department next semester."
"What?" Lucas was the first to react. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, I was afraid you'd be sad." Julian pursed his lips. "Plus, at first, I didn't think I'd be able to switch. Mom and Dad don't like me studying art; they wanted me to study management. But since I won't be managing the company, what's the point of learning that stuff?"
He frowned, looking as if he genuinely didn't understand why he had to learn those miscellaneous things. But everyone here understood clearly that the higher the social status, the greater the desire for self-presentation. Unless Julian could become a nationally influential painter, the Sterlings would never let him take this path, even if it killed them.
They would accept a multi-talented CEO, but they wouldn't harbor a son who only knew how to doodle.
"Are you really letting Jules switch majors?" Simon asked Ethan. After all, family face was very important. By doing so, Ethan was essentially slapping the Sterling family right in the face.
"They said Julian can't manage their family affairs, so what right do they have to manage my family's affairs?"
Hearing Ethan say this, Simon and Patrick were both surprised. Of course, they understood that the Sterling family wouldn't dare to make a scene about this. If the sentence spoken by their eldest son were to leak out, many powerful families with daughters in power would hold a grudge.
But the two of them hadn't expected Ethan to stand up for Julian like that. Hadn't they been officially together for less than a month?