Irvin continued. "Eric, let's have a meal together this afternoon to express my gratitude. Please don't refuse."Eric thought for a moment and replied, "Alright."Hearing Eric's agreement, Irvin smiled broadly."I'll pick you up at 5:00 p.m. Please ask your wife to join us as well," Irvin said.Eric scratched his head and said, "I'm not sure if she's available. She's been working overtime for the past two days."Knowing that Irvin would persist if he declined, Eric tried to find a solution."That's alright," Irvin said. "If she's available, ask her to join us. If not, I'll find another time to treat her."-Afternoon arrived, and Eric messaged Sylvia to ask if she wanted to join them for dinner. As expected, Sylvia replied that she didn't have the time. Eric wouldn't have asked Sylvia to join if Irvin hadn't mentioned it. He would have simply informed her that he would be eating out.Initially, Eric thought Irvin might have some influence, but he didn't expect him to have such

Irvin chuckled and said, "Then Uncle Eric it is! I treat Eric like a brother, so it'd be inappropriate to change it now."Eric felt a bit awkward and uncomfortable with Irvin's enthusiasm.Soon, the dishes Irvin had ordered were delivered to the table, along with Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Bourbon.Eric's unease grew as he saw the table filled with expensive food and liquor. "Mr. Irvin, this is too extravagant!""Ah, it's nothing." Irvin waved his hand. "Let's eat and chat leisurely. Keith, pour us some liquor."Keith didn't refuse. Irvin had told him about how Eric had saved his grandfather, so he felt it was only right to offer a toast. After a few rounds of bourbon, Eric and Irvin started getting tipsy.Misty couldn't bear the atmosphere and left the restaurant. As she walked out, she spotted Brook leaning against a street lamp, smoking a cigarette."Misty!" Brook was delighted to see her and quickly discarded the cigarette, trotting over."Finished eating?" he asked

"Irvin Sonnex," Eric replied.Sylvia was inwardly shocked by the revelation.It seemed that Brook wasn't mistaken. Eric had indeed had dinner with Irvin Sonnex. How fortunate he was!"Do you have a close relationship with Irvin Sonnex?" Sylvia asked, seeking further clarification.Feeling somewhat constrained, Eric replied, "Big Bro was very enthusiastic and insistent. He wanted us to become sworn brothers, and I couldn't refuse him. So, I'm unsure if we have a good relationship.""Big Bro?" Sylvia was taken aback. "You refer to Irvin Sonnex as Big Bro!?""That's correct!" Eric nodded.Sylvia facepalmed in disbelief. "Oh my goodness!"She had mistakenly assumed that Eric was referring to Keith Sonnex."Are you finished with your questions? Can I go to sleep now?" Eric inquired.Sylvia waved her hand dismissively and said, "Go ahead. Just remember that if you end up vomiting on the bed, you'll have to clean it up yourself!"Eric chuckled and stumbled back to his room.Once E

Upon waking up early in the morning, Eric felt a slight headache but was relieved to find himself in his own room.Sylvia had also gotten out of bed, but there were dark circles beneath her eyes.Seeing Sylvia, Eric felt a bit awkward and asked, "I-I didn't do anything inappropriate last night, did I?"Sylvia pursed her lips and replied, "I don't think you have the guts for that."Eric scratched his head and said, "Well, I'm glad to hear that.""Do you remember why you drank so much last night?" Sylvia inquired.Sylvia was worried that Eric might have forgotten that he had become sworn brothers with Irvin. The fact that Eric had borrowed $15,000 from her indicated that his family background was not great. With Irvin as his support, Eric might be able to achieve great things.Eric smiled and replied, "Of course, I remember. I had dinner with Irvin Sonnex, and we became sworn brothers. Actually, I feel a bit embarrassed about it."Sylvia chuckled lightly. "Don't be embarrassed. I

In the private ward of the Sonnex family.Misty said, "Dad, you need to be more cautious. I think Eric has ulterior motives in approaching you."Irvin chuckled and replied, "Misty, stop calling him Eric. It's Uncle Eric! Why are you thinking such negative thoughts?"Misty pouted. "So you think I'm being petty...""You believe I made a mistake this time and assumed that Eric has hidden intentions. How about we make a bet?" Irvin suggested."Alright! What's the bet and the stakes?" Misty asked eagerly.Irvin smiled and explained, "It's simple. If Eric is really approaching me with intentions, he will show up frequently. But based on my understanding of him, he's unlikely to ask me for any favors. To make it fair, I won't seek him out, either."Let's set a 10-day limit. If he asks me for a favor within that time, I'll consider it a loss. If I lose, you don't have to address him as uncle, and I'll avoid him in the future. However, if I win, you won't interact with Brook Williams any

After having breakfast, Andy showed up at Mr. Johnson's private ward."Eric, I informed my family about our plan last night, and they're willing to support me with $30,000. It should be enough as our startup capital."I've already planned everything. We don't need a large team initially. Just 3-5 employees will suffice. I'll register the company tomorrow and gradually obtain the necessary qualifications."Once we settle on our office location, we'll be ready to go!"Andy was filled with excitement. He already had a few clients lined up, giving them a head start."$30,000…" Eric hesitated. "I might need some time to gather that amount…"Since Andy contributed $30,000, Eric felt it would be inappropriate if he couldn't come up with the same amount.Andy smiled and reassured him, "Don't worry about the money. If it's not enough, we can always apply for a small business loan under the company's name. It's quite convenient. With your skills, I believe we can make it happen!"Eric no

Sylvia was taken aback, finally understanding why Irvin wanted to treat Eric to a meal and become sworn brothers with him. She had some knowledge about the Sonnex family and knew that Josh Sonnex held great importance to them. As long as he was alive, his influence remained significant, and his passing would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the Sonnex family.Whenever the thought of using Eric to get the northern district project done crossed Sylvia's mind, she quickly dismissed it. She didn't want Eric to think she was using him, even though their marriage was solely based on convenience.Despite getting along well for the past few days, Sylvia believed their relationship wasn't that close yet. She was using Eric for her personal goals, offering a generous reward in return."What's wrong?" Eric asked, noticing Sylvia's silence."Nothing. What are your plans now that you've fallen out with David Westman? Why didn't you ask Irvin to arrange a position for you?"Eric raised

Back in the Sonnex family's mansion.Josh Sonnex had already been discharged from the hospital, but he still required specialized care for the lingering issues with his brain.In the luxurious living room, Irvin wore a broad smile."I told you, your Uncle Eric is reliable. Do you believe it now?" he said.Misty pursed her lips.Over the past 10 days, she had been eavesdropping on Eric's phone calls, hoping he would request something from her father. But she was disappointed. Eric only exchanged a few words with Irvin before hanging up."Hmph! Dad, that doesn't count! How can you judge someone's true intentions in just 10 days? It takes at least 10 years!" Misty argued.Irvin chuckled. "Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? A bet is a bet. From now on, you should cut ties with Brook Williams.""Dad!" Misty stomped her feet. "How could you do this to me? The bet doesn't count! Let's make a new bet!"Irvin laughed heartily. "You can't be so fickle-minded. A bet is a bet

"Alright."After responding, Sylvia entered her room.Eric scratched his head, his gaze fixed on the closed door. He sensed that her troubles hadn't been resolved. However, he knew he couldn't do much to help her at his current capabilities. The next day, Innova Tech successfully opened for business.Aside from Andy's few friends, Elly and Craig also attended the grand opening. Irvin briefly appeared, exchanging a few words with Eric before leaving. Sonnex Corp. seemed interested in the products and technology in this field, so they approached Eric. Elly, who was nearby, overheard the conversation between Eric and Irvin.She sighed and said, "I told Craig that if Sonnex Corp. needs technology in this field, they should consider reaching out to your company. But he didn't agree..."It was natural for people to prioritize their family's business, but Craig had no intention of helping Eric, despite being a mid-level manager in Sonnex Corp. with some influence.Eric smiled and sa

David exuded confidence, his company earning tens of millions annually. How could a new startup possibly compete with him? He held significant influence in Salt City's industry, making it easy for him to suppress any competition.He casually lit a cigarette and remarked, "I'm afraid your ex-boyfriend's investment is going down the drain."Jasmine leaned against David and asked, "Babe, why bring this up? When are we getting married and buying a house, babe?""No need to rush," David replied, exhaling smoke.David had become penniless, with only one company remaining under his possession.Jasmine pursed her lips, remaining silent. Eric would comply with all her demands out of fear of losing her due to his financial situation. However, David was different. Not only was he wealthy, but he also didn't spoil Jasmine. She had to make an effort to keep him happy, or else she risked losing her position.Furthermore, Jasmine sensed that David had gradually lost interest in her after his di