Maddy stood out from the crowd and said to Geoffrey calmly, “Grandpa, I’m not willing to be the head of the family. Please rescind the order.”

“Why?”

Maddy’s decision surprised many people.

Geoffrey looked closely into Maddy’s eyes and asked why with a frown.

“Grandpa, you know that my ambition is to be a doctor and save people. I can’t stay in the family and be the helmsman who constantly makes plans for the family’s benefit. This isn’t the path I want to walk. So, Grandpa, please fulfill my wish,” Maddy said extremely firmly.

She had treated many wounded people on the battlefield of Calico, and later, she went to various places around the world to heal people and save lives. She enjoyed an esteemed reputation internationally.

Thus, staying at home and engaging in scheming and plots to gain profits all day long wasn’t the life Maddy wanted at all.

Geoffrey’s face immediately sank.

He had been the head of the Stones for decades and had always been authoritative. No one dared to question any of his decisions. But now that he was to hand over the position of helmsman to Maddy, she actually refused without hesitation. Regardless of the reason, it was a provocation to his authority as the head of the family.

“Maddy, you should think this through carefully. Many people are eager and desperate to become the head of the family. Are you sure you want to reject me just like that?

“I know you pursued medicine out of interest, so the family didn’t stop you. But you’re not getting any younger, and it’s time that you take up responsibility for the family!

“If you don’t like entertaining, socializing, and engaging in scheming and trickery, you can hand these matters to your father. But you must be the head of the family!”

Geoffrey’s words were a compromise and concession.

It was also on Lucas’s account. Otherwise, in the past, the domineering Geoffrey wouldn’t have given Maddy the right to choose and shirk responsibility.

The meaning of his words was very clear. Maddy could hand over the rights and responsibilities of the family helmsman to others, but she was the only one who could hold the position.

Lucas raised his eyebrows. He knew full well why Geoffrey made this decision.

He didn’t care if Maddy was competent enough to take on the position or not. But as long as Maddy was the head of the Stones, Lucas would look after the Stones for one more day for Maddy’s sake.

But despite Geoffrey’s concessions, Maddy was still unwilling to take over the position of helmsman. “Grandpa, I’m really not suitable to be the head of the family. Please find a more suitable person!”

“Are you still refusing to agree?” There was a cold expression on Geoffrey’s face.

He had already made an unprecedented concession, but Maddy actually still refused to accept the position. He felt that she was pushing her luck.

He was long dissatisfied.

“Maddy, cut it out. Hurry up and thank your grandfather for his appreciation of you and for deciding to hand you the position of helmsman,” Seth hurriedly said from the side.

Incurring Geoffrey’s wrath was what the Stones were the most afraid of.

If Maddy insisted on rejecting Geoffrey, he would definitely be displeased and even lose his temper.

This wasn’t a result that Maddy could withstand!

Although Seth couldn’t understand why his father insisted on handing over the position of helmsman to his daughter, he felt that there was nothing wrong with taking over.

Even though Maddy wasn’t around often and wasn’t too interested in taking over the family either, Geoffrey mentioned that she could let Seth handle the helmsman duties.

This way, Maddy wouldn’t have to do much.

The other family members quickly said, “Yeah, Maddy. Grandpa handing over the position of helmsman to you is his recognition of your abilities. This is an opportunity that others can only dream of. How dare you turn him down?! You’ve really gone overboard!

“In fact, with your qualifications and talents, you shouldn’t be able to become the head of the family at all. But since Grandpa is willing to hand over the position to you, you can’t just reject him, right?”

“Yeah, how dare you talk back to Grandpa? What will happen if you anger him!?”

“Grandpa is willing to hand over the position of helmsman to you because he thinks you’re worthy of it. You should count your blessings that a woman like you can enjoy this honor. How dare you turn Grandpa down repeatedly. You really don’t know any better!”

…

Most of the people who spoke were young people of the same generation as Maddy, and they were all extremely dissatisfied that Maddy suddenly gained the favor of Geoffrey and obtained the position of helmsman.

However, they didn’t dare to tell Geoffrey about their dissatisfaction. So they couldn’t conceal the jealous tone in their voices when speaking to Maddy.

Despite facing all the derision, Maddy didn’t change her intentions at all.

She looked at Geoffrey with determination and said, “Grandpa, please rescind your order!”

Anyone could tell that Maddy wasn’t being pretentious and tactfully turning down the position. She truly didn’t want to be the helmsman.

For a time, the other Stones felt extremely complicated.

Others couldn’t even dream of such a good thing, yet Maddy turned it down just like that.

Geoffrey didn’t say anything and just stared at Maddy for a while.

Maddy also looked at Geoffrey earnestly without avoiding eye contact.

After a while, Geoffrey let out a long sigh and looked away. “Fine. Since you’re determined not to take over, I won’t force you. Just do whatever you want!”

Geoffrey was giving in.

In all the years that he had been the head of the family, it was the first time that he had ever changed his mind for a junior.

At this moment, he seemed to have aged several years.

His children and grandchildren were old enough to have their own ideas. Meanwhile, he was already old.

With this thought in mind, Geoffrey seemed to become a little despondent, and his back seemed to be even more hunched.

Looking at her grandfather, who had always been very domineering, behaving like this because of her rejection, Maddy couldn’t help feeling sad.

Although she really didn’t want to become the helmsman of the Stones and was dissatisfied with her family intervening with her marriage, he was her grandfather who had watched her grow up after all. Seeing how aged he became, she felt terrible.

She quietly looked at Lucas and shot him a pleading gaze.

Maddy was no fool, so she naturally knew why her grandfather had suddenly decided to make her the head of the family.

Since it was for the sake of getting Lucas to protect the Stones, he would only have to say a few words, and Maddy wouldn’t need to become the head of the family.

When Lucas saw the look Maddy shot him, he smiled helplessly.

He looked at Geoffrey’s figure and said, “Mr. Stone, I can guarantee that as long as I’m around, the Stones will be safe and enjoy prosperity!”

The moment he said this, ecstasy emerged in Geoffrey’s eyes.

“Okay! Thank you very much, Mr. Gray!”

It was enough as long as he could get this promise from Lucas!