A Promising Youth novel Chapter 18

I then realized that next to Director Lau, there were three other police officers standing. Before they moved, Clara ran towards me like crazy, pushed me hard and said.

“You bastard, what are you doing here? Get out of here, run, run!”

“Sis, calm down, trust me! It will be fine, now or in the future!”

A few police officers surrounded me. Clara was pale on face and let go of my arm, because I could not run now.

The two police officers tried to yank my hand, and I shook it off and said.

“What for? Before you arrest me, you should have proof, right?!”

Director Lau gritted his teeth and said in exasperation as he smoothed out his thinning hair.

“What proof do you need? The Stone Family is here. Except for the Stone Family, no one can dye ‘General Grey’! You stole their formula. What do you want to say?”

Turning my head, I saw that next to Director Lau, there was another person sitting next to him. He was at the same age as Clara, dressed in a suit, wearing a green emerald ring on his hand. Under his black rimmed glasses was a pair of lustful eyes that were staring at Clara wistfully.

Glancing at him, I said calmly.

“You can dye that kind of cloth too?”

It was then that he turned his gaze to me in disdain and said,

“What do you mean, “I can dye it too”?

‘General Grey’ was inherited techniques from Stone Family for a hundred years. I'd like to ask you, where did you get our family's formula from?”

“Watch your mouth. Who's the thief? I researched it myself in the university lab. The society is developing, technology is advancing, rockets are in the sky, what's the fuss about a cloth dyeing formula?”

It was obvious that this person knew Clara and had no ill will towards her.

“Do you know how many generations of our Stone Family's ancestors have worked on this formula?”

He stood up. With a sudden smile, he said coldly,

“Have you been in prison?”

My heart ached violently when I heard that!

He continued to sneer as he took a step closer to me and said.

“There's only one reasonable explanation for other people to get this formula, and that's you had been in DG Prison!”

“Stop it, Jim Stone, I forbid you to slander him!”

Suddenly, Clara jerked in front of me.

“I slandered him?

Clara, this formula is only known to my incarcerated uncle besides me and my dad!

You try hard to defend him. You like him?

I warn you, don't be fooled by him. He may be a prisoner!”

Jim gritted his teeth and gave me a meaningful smile.

Clara was so angry that she clutched my hand and said.

“Matteo studied in university. I know his diploma and experience!

He's not a criminal. If you insult him again, I'll sue you for slander!”

Instead, Jim's eyes glared and he said with unbridled indignation.

“Clara! Do I really make you hate me that much? To avoid me, you transferred to study in L County. And now you defend for him. Well, I'll show you what kind of person he is! I'm going to prove to you that you had bad taste about men!”

I shuddered and tried my best to suppress my weakness as I looked up at this so-called “heir” of the Stone Family.

I said, “Enough? You said the formula is yours. Well, let's compare it. If my ingredients, efficiency and process are different as your Stone Family's ‘General Grey’, What will you do?”

He grunted through clenched teeth.

“If it is truth, naturally you win!”

“You just admit defeat?”

I stared at him coldly and said.

“If you lose, from now on, the patent of Stone Family's ‘General Grey’ belongs to me!

If I lose, I'm at your disposal!

Dare you bet?”

Seeing my aggressive stance, Jim instantly was nervous. But when he turned his gaze to Clara, he gritted his teeth again and said.

“Okay, I'll bet with you!”

Next, under the auspices of Director Lau, the deed was quickly drawn up.

In this battle, I must not only maintain my dignity and protect Clara's factory, but also help Corey to take back the ownership of ‘General Grey’!

Jim confidently signed and fingerprinted, looked at me again with unmistakable provocation and said.

“You are screwed. From the past to now, except for our Stone Family's formula, no one can dye ‘General Grey’! Dare you cheat Clara, you will be in prison.”

I didn't pay any attention to him, but I was holding my breath. I had to win even for myself!

At the contract, I quickly signed my name, but as I was about to put my handprint on it, a small fair hand instantly grabbed my arm.

“Don't. Go now and never come back!”

Clara looked at me with tears in her eyes and mixed emotions, then turned to the crowd and said.

“That piece of cloth yesterday wasn't dyed by Matteo. Uncle Lau, it was me who cheated. It was a piece of cloth that my mother treasured in her early years. Matteo... couldn't dye it at all!”

Ooh ......

The office, in an instant, exploded.

Cheating on a project was a big deal. The factory might be closed!

“You bastard girl! Why did you do it for an outsider?!”

Director Lau slammed his fist on the table, got up and shouted angrily at Clara, “You mother put a lot of effort to this factory. Do you know the consequences?”

“I know, but when I was at my most helpless, it was Matteo who stood up for me and helped me. My mother told me I should be thankful.”

Clara said with a pale face, but without backing down.

“Yoo-hoo, this is getting interesting! Good job, Clara, I admire you.”

Carrie smiled broadly. If Clara took the blame, this project, including the Blue Butterfly Textile Factory, would soon fall into her hands. She sure was happy.

I had tears. I knew she was kind, but never expect she would protect me by making herself difficult.

Closing my eyes, I pressed my handprint on the deed!

“Jim Stone, right? The bet is now in effect!”

Gritting my teeth, I looked with immense anger all the people in the office. They forced me and my savior. I was a wimp, but I had to fight!

“Are you crazy? Go now!”

Clara cried at once. She grabbed my clothes hard and kept shaking her head.

“Why get yourself into it? What are you going to change by doing that?!”

“Sis, it will be fine. I'm here to repay your favor.”

Having said that, I took a deep breath and added.

“Let's meet at the dyeing and weaving workshop. Director Lau, and people in charge, please be the judges and give us both a fair verdict.”

Director Lau snorted, “Don't worry, it's absolutely fair and just. I won't condone you just because you're related to Clara!”

“It's for the best!”

With that, I turned around and headed for the workshop.