Chapter 817

"Where's Grandpa?" Bennett asked the housekeeper.

"In his study upstairs," the housekeeper replied.

Bennett went upstairs to the study to find his grandfather, only to discover guests inside. Anyone invited into Mr. Thompson Sr.'s study was an influential figure in Istra.

"Mr. Wilbur, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Lee," Bennett greeted each of them politely.

"Just back from the base?" Mr. Thompson Sr. asked, gesturing toward a nearby armchair.

Bennett sat down and nodded. "I took a half-day leave to celebrate with you. I have to head back tonight."

"You're so busy these days, I never see you. Seems this old man has to book an appointment just to get a glimpse of his own grandson," Mr. Thompson Sr. teased.

"This is the time for young men to be busy building their careers. Bennett's only thirty and already a Major General. Everyone in the entire military command knows how capable and promising your grandson is."

Wilbur said with a smile, laying the praise on thick.

Wilbur had once been Mr. Thompson Sr.'s subordinate before leaving the military for a career in politics. Though he now held a high office, he remained deeply respectful of his former commander.

"The Thompson family certainly has a worthy successor. It's truly enviable. Not a single one of my boys is half as impressive," Mr. Lee said, shaking his head with a sigh.

He had plenty of grandsons, but every one of them was content to coast on their family's reputation, interested only in pleasure. A few days of military discipline and they'd be wailing for their mothers, unable to bear the slightest hardship.

The rumor in their circles was that the Lee family was destined for decline once he retired. He was genuinely envious that Mr. Thompson Sr. had a grandson capable of upholding the family name.

"What's there to envy? I'm the one who envies you, getting to dote on your grandchildren and enjoy the comforts of family. This one of

mine, I barely see him more than a few times a year."

Though Mr. Thompson Sr. said this, the pride in his eyes was unmistakable. It was clear how incredibly proud he was of his grandson.

After his eldest grandson Noah's future was destroyed in that car accident, having Bennett to secure the family's legacy felt like a blessing.

Bennett stayed and chatted with his grandfather and the guests over tea for a while.

Though it was casual conversation, the topics invariably circled back to the current political climate.

Over the past few years, Mr.

Thompson Sr. had been gradually entrusting his network of contacts to Bennett, Bennett was not just the head of the Thompson Group was the head of the entire O Thompson family.

As their conversation began to wind down, Bennett's phone vibrated.

He glanced at the caller ID-it was Yvonne. She must have arrived and was likely calling because she couldn't find him.

Bennett excused himself, then stood and stepped out of the study to take the call.

"I was in the study. I'm coming down to find you now," Bennett said into the phone as he descended the grand wooden staircase.

He reached the bottom of the stairs but didn't see Yvonne. Instead, his eyes landed on Eden and Yolanda.

To keep the stress from finishing off Mrs. Thompson Sr., Frank had gone to great lengths to get Eden out on bail.

As the illegitimate son of the family, Eden knew he wasn't welcome, but he never missed a holiday or his grandfather's birthday, likely just to remind everyone he existed terrified of being forgotten.

"Dad," Eden said, guiding Yolanda over to Frank's side.