Lucas naturally wouldn’t agree to such a stupid cooperation request from the Smiths.

He indeed bore a hatred for the Hutton and resented them for their ruthless act of driving him and his mother out of the family back then, which eventually led to his mother’s fatal illness.

But this was a feud between Lucas and the Huttons, and no other forces could interfere.

Moreover, on the first day he returned to Orange County from Calico half a year ago, Chad Kennedy, the Huttons’ butler, had gone to the airport to receive Lucas and even asked him to return to DC to take charge of the Huttons.

If Lucas wanted to become the helmsman of the Huttons, he could do so anytime. There was no need for him to collude with the Smiths.

Therefore, this seemingly reasonable and incredibly tempting offer was extremely idiotic in Lucas’s opinion. He wouldn’t bother with the Smiths at all.

Charlie widened his eyes. It was only after he saw Lucas’s figure disappear into the Stardust Corporation’s building that he was convinced that Lucas really wasn’t attracted by his offer and had turned him down without hesitation!

Lucas Gray is indeed very arrogant! Does he really think that he can deal with the Huttons on his own? Charlie thought indignantly.

After he proposed this plan to Tyson yesterday and received Tyson’s strong support, he had bought a plane ticket and flew to Orange County overnight. The first thing he did after arriving this morning was to come here and wait for Lucas.

He had thought that as long as he made it seem like the Smiths had decided to bury the hatchet and not pursue the matter of Lucas insulting those two successors of the Smiths before offering to cooperate with him against the Huttons and promising to make him the helmsman of the family, Lucas would definitely be overjoyed and agree without hesitation!

Since they would be cooperating, Lucas should pay a certain price too. The Smiths would then effortlessly take over the control of California and Oregon from Lucas.

As for whether or not Lucas would become the head of the Huttons, it would be a matter for the future.

Besides, Lucas was just a pawn they would be using.

Unfortunately, Lucas, the young man whom he couldn’t grasp at all, actually turned him down without the slightest gestation.

This foiled Charlie’s initial plan.

Charlie immediately took out his phone and called Tyson Smith. “Mr. Smith, I’m sorry. The plan failed. That punk Lucas Gray refused!”

Tyson was surprised. “He actually refused to cooperate? Hah, seems like he wants to do this the hard way! Since he doesn’t know any better, we don’t have to be polite to him! Execute Plan B immediately!”

“Yes, Mr. Smith!” Charlie immediately responded loudly.

During their discussion yesterday, they had come up with more than one plan.

If Lucas was ignorant and refused to cooperate, they would execute another plan.

But the second plan was much more complicated than the first one.

…

Lucas was in the general manager’s office of the Stardust Corporation, dealing with official business. With a surge in contracts, even just signing and sealing them was taxing.

The various departments of the Stardust Corporation were already running in full swing, and everyone was as busy as a bee.

Of course, Lucas wouldn’t treat his employees poorly. He had Charlotte inform the staff long ago that everyone’s salary would double for the month. As soon as the news spread, everyone was full of motivation.

When it was almost noon, Lucas’s stack of documents finally became a little shorter.

At this moment, Charlotte knocked on the office door and walked in with a grave expression.

“Is something wrong?” Lucas immediately asked with concern.

“Lucas, I just received news that construction on the plot of land by the Sierra River has begun today! The Smiths have released news that they’re going to turn this plot of land into the largest cemetery in Orange County, and there are owners of units in Haven Manor expressing their repulsion.” Charlotte looked extremely sullen.

Haven Manor was adjacent to the Sierra River, and the idea of living close to a cemetery didn’t sit well with many people. If the Smiths really constructed a cemetery there, the owners of units in Haven Manor would definitely protest, and the land prices there would plummet, resulting in serious consequences.

“Hmph, they sure act fast,” Lucas said coldly as he put down a contract in his hand.

Ever since he rejected Charlie’s cooperation offer this morning, Lucas knew that the Smiths would definitely not give up just like that because their agenda was to take control of California and Oregon.

He wasn’t willing to cooperate with the Smith, which foiled their plans, so they would definitely find other ways to deal with him.

The declaration to build the largest cemetery in Orange County opposite Haven Manor, which Lucas owned, was a threat to Lucas to force him to make compromises with the Smiths.

Unfortunately, the Smiths had miscalculated. Lucas wasn’t the type who would allow himself to be threatened by some little tricks.

“Luas, how should we deal with this?” Cheyenne asked worriedly.

Lucas said calmly, “Leave this matter to me. Don’t worry. The Smiths will definitely change their mind today!”

“Okay, there will definitely be no problem if you’re handling it! But you have to be careful!” Charlotte said with concern.

“Don’t worry.” Lucas smiled.

In the afternoon, Lucas left the Stardust Corporation and drove toward a construction company named Peak Constructions.

Peak Constructions was a construction company recently acquired by the Smiths, and it would be in charge of the upcoming construction of the cemetery on the west bank of the Sierra River.

In fact, the plot of land that Oscar had spent 350 million dollars to purchase at the auction was a massive loss for the Smiths. It was an incredibly high price that was difficult to recoup regardless of whether they built an upscale villa district or a commercial cluster on the land, let alone a cemetery.

Its greatest function was to provoke Lucas and force him to compromise to the Smiths.

After getting out of his car, Lucas headed straight to the office of Peak Constructions.

“Lucas Gray, you’re finally here. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!”

As soon as Lucas entered the meeting hall, someone spoke to him with malice and resentment.

This person was Oscar, the successor chosen by the Smiths.

Furthermore, the meeting hall of Peak Constructions was currently full of people. It was as if they were long prepared and were just waiting for Lucas to show up.