I’m Someone Else

Chapter 380

Thomas found himself in a dilemma. Establishing a family is no easy task! Leaving aside the fact that I don’t have that much energy, my circumstances don’t allow for it either. I’m an orphan without parents or siblings; the only family I have is my godsister, Chloe. Well, there is also that eccentric old man who raised me. But I’ve returned to Irieson for such a long time and have asked my buddies Sean and William to look for his whereabouts, and yet no trace of him could be found at all, as if he had vanished into thin air. “Quincy, I’ll be honest with you. I don’t want to establish a family, nor do I want to be tied down. That being said, I have to fulfill the one-year agreement with the Flynns. Can you give me some time to think it through? I’ll let you know tomorrow.”

“Alright, Thomas. Just remember that we’re friends. Whatever choice you make, you can tell me whatever you need.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up the phone, Thomas started practicing again. Although there were still no signs of a breakthrough, he believed in the power of perseverance. As long as I work hard and diligently enough, the day will come when I’ll make a breakthrough.

The next morning, he dropped off Olivia at Keyshire Property and returned to the Northpine Villa alone. He needed to think carefully about whether to establish the Clifford Family or not. After pondering for a long time, however, he still couldn’t make up his mind. He took out the jade angel pendant that Zachary had left him back then. “Zach, what do you think I should do? I must take revenge on the Flynns and the Wilkersons.”

Zachary’s kind and sincere expression appeared before his eyes. “Thomas, you should establish your own family, of course!”

Thomas wasn’t surprised by the sight of this. He smiled and lit a cigarette, asking, “Tell me your reasons.”

Zachary said, “You don’t have the energy to take care of your family, but you can let Chloe do it. She doesn’t have much to do at home, does she? This is a good opportunity to train her, and besides, the recent events have proven that it’s indeed difficult to stand alone against those families. It’s time to establish your own forces, and you have the ability to do so.”

Listening to his words, Thomas finally saw the light. He replied with a nod, “You’re right. I’ll go talk to Chloe about this.”

“Alright! Time for me to go, then. Take care of yourself,” said Zachary before his apparition disappeared.

Thomas left the villa and drove to his rented house. Zachary’s words just now enlightened him. His purpose in establishing a family wasn’t to fight against other forces, but to ensure that even after his death, he could still protect those he cared about—Chloe and Olivia, for instance. After all, I have only ten years left to live. I can protect them while I’m alive, but what about ten years later? What if I’m dead? Who is going to protect them then? Who is going to stand up for them if they get bullied? Yes, the Mortons, the Peralta Family, Quincy, and the others are my friends, and they all can take care of Chloe for me. But they’re not my own family, so they can never provide the same sense of security as a family of my own could.

“You’re here, Thomas? Haha! W-What’s going on with your hair?” Chloe was startled to see Thomas’ white hair.

It took Thomas a while to explain and reassure her before she was relieved. He shared his thoughts with her, but of course, he kept the one-year agreement with the Flynns and his impending death in ten years a secret. He was afraid that she might get frightened if he told her about it.

Still, Chloe was taken aback. She was just a girl from an ordinary family, and the concept of a ‘family’ was extremely alien to her. Such titles seem to only belong to ancient times, don’t they?

Thomas seemed to see through her mind. He explained, “Chloe, don’t be surprised about this. Even in Irieson, there are many such families. It’s just that they normally don’t draw a lot of attention.”

Chloe nodded, reluctantly agreeing to it. Needless to say, she would unconditionally support the man’s decision.

Thomas continued, “Chloe, once the Clifford Family is established, there’ll be lots of things to take care of. I don’t have that much time to handle those things, so I can only entrust them to you. I’m sorry to burden you.” He looked at Chloe apologetically. I need to make use of this one year to improve my strength. After all, the Flynns, the Wilkersons, and Crimson Moon will seek revenge against me. Only by strengthening myself could I better protect those around me.

Chloe waved her hand and replied with a smile, “Thomas, I’m always twiddling my thumbs all day at home with nothing much to do, anyway. Now that there’s such an opportunity to help you, I’m happy to oblige, of course. It’s just that I’ve never been involved in things like this, so I wonder if I’m capable enough of this. By the way, I’ll go to your two buddies to learn from them about how to manage a family. Just focus on what you’re doing.”

Thomas nodded heavily. He had made up his mind; either he would stand alone, or he would establish an incredibly powerful family—a family that would continue to protect Chloe and Olivia after his death! “I gotta go,” he said, bidding farewell to Chloe before getting up to leave. Time to return to Keyshire Property. I wonder how Olivia is handling things. Did the business cards I gave her come in handy?

Chloe watched him leave, feeling a sudden twinge in her heart at the sight of his white hair. “Just what on earth is going on with him? Could he have tired himself out? No, this is bad. I have to work hard and share some of his burdens. I mustn’t keep him so tired anymore!” Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

On his way back to Keyshire Property, Thomas called Quincy to inform him of his decision to establish the Clifford Family.

He returned to the office. Before he could even sit down, his phone started ringing incessantly with phone calls from John, Samuel, Sean, William, Raymond, Rochka, and Emily, all of whom congratulated him while promising to offer their assistance whenever needed.

Thomas’ heart warmed. He never thought he would make so many real friends within just several months of returning to the city. Even if he passed away ten years later, he could say with a smile in the netherworld, ‘I, Thomas Clifford, have not regretted my time on earth.’ Those who had called him were all bigwigs from powerful backgrounds. The Clifford Family isn’t even yet formally established, yet it already has so many allies. If others were to learn about this, they’d surely be burning with jealousy.

Meanwhile, at Peralta Residence, Samuel asked his grandson, William, “Will, Thomas is going to establish the Clifford Family. What do you think we should give him as a congratulatory present?”

William pondered for a moment before suggesting, “What about giving him an estate? Since it’s a family, it’d need a proper headquarters.”