READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 88: Chapter 89
The Astor Legacy and the Missteps of Wealth
Charlie Lee opened his mouth, hesitating for a moment as if considering a drastic response to the outrageous suggestion of "ligation." However, before he could process the idea further, he saw the sly smile on her face as she said, "Happy April Fool's Day, boss."
"…"
On this cursed April Fool's Day, Charlie Lee felt as though his world had turned upside down.
Back in Zone 22, his mood remained foul. Grumbling, he pulled Hans aside for an impromptu sparring session to blow off some steam. What he really wanted was to face off against Wang Dagou, but since the man was unavailable, Hans—the most formidable instructor on the base—would have to suffice.
Bang, bang, bang!
The blows echoed fiercely across the training ground as Hans showed no mercy, putting his full strength into every punch. Charlie, who had endured countless sessions with Hans, understood one thing very clearly: "If I can last a few hits before Hans really gets serious, then every extra second is a win."
A powerful punch slammed into Charlie's crossed arms, sending him skidding backward. He rubbed his bruised arm and grinned wryly. It stung, but he knew Hans had gone easy on him. If the instructor had hit at full force, Charlie figured he'd be booking a flight to his home country just to visit the orthopedist.
"Where's Jack?" Charlie asked, shaking out his shoulders and throwing a few experimental punches into the air. His blows sliced through the atmosphere, creating sharp whooshing sounds.
Hans, still catching his breath, wiped his face and replied, "The chief drill instructor took him and some others to Mexico. Seems like someone stirred up trouble by digging into Lawrence's woman."
"Woman?" Charlie stopped, tilting his head. "Laura?"
"That's the one," Hans nodded.
"Persistent, aren't they? I thought everyone had given up on tracking her," Charlie said, unwrapping the bandages on his fists.
"…" Hans didn't reply, but internally screamed: Boss, it was you who ordered us to bring her back!
Seeing Charlie beckon Jesse over, Hans made a quick escape. Before leaving, he shot a warning glare at some rookies snickering in the background. "Laugh all you want—if the Devil himself doesn't get to you, I'll make sure you experience the taste of my iron fists!"
"What's the latest?" Charlie asked Jesse, his trusted secretary, who also served as his connection to his think tanks and industries.
"Ah, nothing of note," Jesse replied, blinking innocently.
"…" Charlie felt his patience wearing thin. Spending every day around her felt like it was shaving years off his life.
"What about the think tanks?" he prodded.
Jesse rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small, gem-encrusted notebook that looked more like a treasure chest than a practical tool. "The stock market acquisitions continue as planned. McDonald's franchises are being evaluated, and Ace Energy—"
Charlie's eye twitched as he stared at the emerald embedded in the notebook. Even my pen costs only $7, yet she's walking around with a jewel-encrusted planner.
After listening to Jesse's report, one glaring omission caught his attention: Roosevelt's quiet arrival in Chicago. And Roosevelt hadn't come alone—he'd brought Jonathan Ferdy Astor, a member of the infamous Astor family.
The Astor family was once among the wealthiest and most influential in the United States. Starting with Astor I, who amassed his fortune through fur trading and foreign import-export ventures, the family rose to prominence. By the time Astor II foresaw Manhattan's future as a global metropolis, he liquidated all other businesses and invested entirely in Manhattan real estate.
Astor's gamble paid off spectacularly. His foresight turned the family into real estate royalty, with properties spanning over a thousand shops and apartments in New York. Astor II became known as the "King of New York." At their peak, the Astors held such power that entry into America's elite circles required their blessing.
Unfortunately, the fourth generation, led by Astor IV, marked the beginning of the family's decline. A man of remarkable character, Astor IV's life ended tragically aboard the Titanic. Unlike others, he chose not to demand a seat on a lifeboat after ensuring his pregnant wife's safety, showcasing a rare moral conviction even among the elite. He perished in the shipwreck, leaving behind a fortune and a family in turmoil.
Astor IV's designated heir, Vincent Astor, inherited not only wealth but also the burdens of responsibility. Unfortunately, Vincent's extreme personality—marked by insecurity and impulsiveness—proved ill-suited for preserving the family's legacy.
Vincent, reeling from the loss of his father and grappling with his own inadequacies, made reckless decisions. When familial support waned and his stepmother publicly denounced him as incompetent, Vincent decided to prove his worth by starting a business. However, with limited liquid assets (the bulk of the family's wealth was tied up in a trust), Vincent resorted to selling prime real estate.
Among his sales were:
• A Times Square property for $2.37 million.
• A Park Avenue apartment for $1.88 million.
• A plot of land slated for the Empire State Building for $7.65 million.
Vincent amassed $40 million but squandered it on failed ventures. His inability to succeed compounded his insecurities, leading to a costly divorce that further eroded his wealth.
Meanwhile, the Astor Trust, alarmed by Vincent's recklessness, threw their support behind Jonathan Ferdy Astor—an illegitimate son of Astor IV. Jonathan, unlike his half-brother, proved to be a shrewd businessman, doubling his allocated assets within two years.
The Astor family's ties to the Roosevelt family dated back to Astor IV, who became in-laws with Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. This connection, while once a symbol of their shared elite status, became another point of tension as Vincent's failures tarnished the Astor name.
As Charlie Lee listened to Jesse's account of Jonathan's rise and Roosevelt's involvement, he couldn't help but shake his head.
"Vincent should have been a lesson to all—wealth alone cannot sustain a legacy."
Charlie sighed. The Astor story, while remarkable, was also a cautionary tale of how even the grandest legacies could crumble under mismanagement and poor decisions. As a man responsible for his own empire, Charlie felt the weight of this reminder.
Still, there was one thing he couldn't stop thinking about: Jesse's gem-covered notebook.
"Next time, bring something less gaudy," he muttered under his breath as Jesse, oblivious, continued reading updates from her dazzling planner.