Chapter 900: Recognizing Competence
Everyone in the room was shocked by what Collin suddenly said.
Michael was no exception. He stared blankly at Roman for a while before looking at Collin and saying jokingly, “Hah, Collin, I didn’t expect that you actually prepared for this.”
Collin laughed and said calmly, “Since I was a child, I’ve almost never fought with you for anything, including the position of helmsman. I thought that since you’re more competent than me, I would let you do it.
“But it’s not the same for the next generation! My son Roman is outstanding in all aspects, so he’s definitely qualified to be the next successor of the family!”
Jace sneered sarcastically. “Uncle Collin, you’re really ridiculous. Your son was kicked out of the family a long time ago, and he’s not a Hutton now. How can he be the successor?”
“Hmph, he’s my son, and he carries the blood of the Hutton family. Since I’ve allowed him to return, he’s naturally going to change his last name back to Hutton!” Collin glanced at Jace disdainfully and then said to Roman, “From today onward, you will be called Roman Hutton!”
Roman frowned.
In fact, he wasn’t willing to give up his mother’s last name. But he knew that if he wanted to return to the Huttons and become the successor, he had to change his last name to Hutton.
“Okay.” Roman didn’t dwell on it and simply nodded in agreement.
Collin showed a satisfied look and glanced at the other Huttons in the conference room. “Do you have anything else to say?”
…
Everyone remained silent for a moment.
They slowly started digesting the sudden news.
The only people qualified to compete for the position of the Huttons’ successor were actually the sons of Michael and Collin because they were direct descendants.
Michael actually had two sons. One was Jace, and the other was an illegitimate son who had already been kicked out of the family two decades ago.
It was the same for Collin. He had a legitimate son with his lawful wife and also an illegitimate son.
...
But his legitimate son had already been killed, and the illegitimate son was Roman, who had just appeared.
In other words, there were only two people now qualified to compete for the position of the successor—Jace and Roman. However, Jace’s status as the successor was canceled just now.
But at the end of the day, Roman really did become the most suitable person to be appointed as the successor.
Jace was naturally unwilling to accept this outcome.
“What a joke!” Jace sneered. “He’s just an illegitimate son who got kicked out over two decades ago. Now, even though Uncle Collin has picked him up again, what right does he have to become the successor?
“Does he feel a sense of belonging to the Huttons? Has he made any contributions to the family?
“Hah, the Huttons will never let someone like him take over the family!”
The rest of the Huttons nodded subconsciously.
Indeed, Roman had almost never lived with the Huttons, so none of them knew a thing about his character and abilities. They weren’t willing to have an unfamiliar young man suddenly become the future helmsman!
Roman narrowed his eyes and looked at Jace with a smile. “In that case, according to you, will I be qualified to become the successor if I contribute to the family? At that time, you will have nothing else to say, right?”
Jace said disdainfully, “Oh, do you think it’s that easy to contribute to the family? If it’s just a trivial matter, I won’t acknowledge you!”
Roman raised his eyebrows. “You mean it takes a huge contribution to be qualified for that position? In that case, if I can help the Huttons resolve the current crisis, would it be considered a huge contribution?”
“Hah, you’re really good at bragging! The crisis the Huttons are facing this time is so serious that all of the Huttons’ core members have been called here for a meeting. Do you think you can resolve it alone? You’re really overestimating yourself!” Jace snorted coldly and mocked with contempt.
“What if I really can resolve it?” A peculiar smile appeared in Roman’s eyes, and he seemed not to mind the mockery at all.
Jace suddenly smacked the table. “Hmph! If you can do it, I’ll admit that you’re qualified to be the successor!”
“You’ll admit it?” Roman glanced at him indifferently and said with contempt, “You’re just a piece of garbage, and your acknowledgment means nothing to me!”
“What did you say?” What he said immediately angered Jace, who was already on the verge of losing his temper. He rolled up his sleeves. “d.a.m.n it! Do you want to die, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d? I’ll fulfill your death wis.h.!.+”
“Let’s see what you can do to me, you weakling!” Roman said aggressively without any fear.
Seeing that the two of them were arguing in front of everyone and were about to get into a physical fight, Michael snapped, “All of you, shut up!”
There was a sudden silence in the s.p.a.cious conference room.
Michael glanced at Collin and said unhappily, “Collin, don’t you think your son is too arrogant even though he’s just returned? The Smiths and the Howards are currently joining forces to deal with us. They have caused such a huge impact on our family. Is this something he can resolve alone?
“What nonsense!”
Collin’s face was a little unsightly too.
He also thought that what Roman just said to Jace was indeed a bit ignorant.
Even the Huttons had to gather all the manpower to discuss how to resolve this matter. How could Roman deal with it alone?
If he didn’t do a good job, wouldn’t he be letting Jace and the others have something to use against him?
While Collin was thinking about how to get the Huttons to recognize Roman’s eligibility to become the successor, Roman suddenly asked, “What? Do you all think that I was just bragging and talking big? You think I can’t resolve the crisis just because the Huttons can’t?
“If I can’t resolve the Huttons’ trouble today, I’ll leave the family immediately and never enter DC again!” Roman said with great certainty.
“Shut up, Roman! What are you saying?” Collin immediately bellowed in panic.
At the same time, Michael knocked on the table. “Okay, you said so yourself! If you can’t do what you said today, get lost from DC!”