The Extraordinary Life of a Certain American Comic...

Chapter 119 President Underwood's Foresight (1/5, please subscribe)

Three years.

"What?"

"To be precise, it's three years."

Locke said this, then raised an eyebrow and looked at old Underwood with a somewhat suspicious expression.

Old Underwood nodded thoughtfully, then looked up at Locke.

"You two broke up three years ago."

Locke's eyes twitched a few times: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Yes.

The girl he dated at Harvard was Stephanie Malik, the eldest daughter of the Malik family.

However, they broke up due to differences in their beliefs, and it has been almost three years since they last met.

Old Underwood sat down again: "Actually, at first, I really hoped you and Stephanie would get together."

Locke glanced at old Underwood.

"Then what."

"I was quite happy when I found out you two were dating."

This is the truth.

During the year Locke and Stephanie were dating, Malik made the largest donation to Old Underwood, instantly becoming Old Underwood's biggest financial backer that year.

This is also easy to understand.

Previously, it was simply about donating money for investment, but that year it was about helping future family members.

As a result, after Locke and Stephanie broke up, Malik's donations returned to their original level.

In a word.

Capital is always very pragmatic.

They are rich, but they are not fools.

Hearing what old Underwood said, Locke pulled up another chair, sat down, and calmly looked at old Underwood: "You should know that the reason I was dating Stephanie back then was because my last name was Underwood."

Again.

He enjoys the benefits that the Underwood name brings, so he won't be ungrateful and only enjoy the rewards without considering the effort he puts in.

The reason Locke had a campus romance with Stephanie back then was partly because he was single in this life and Stephanie was very beautiful, but more so because he could better help old Underwood by dating Stephanie.

After all, back then, old Underwood hadn't yet become the party whip.

Old Underwood frowned. "I've never asked you why you two broke up."

Locke chuckled: "What else could it be? A clash of ideologies, of course."

He wanted to lie down.

Stephanie, on the other hand, was thinking about striving.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad. He would never mind being a stay-at-home dad, since he's not a chauvinist at all.

But Stephanie not only wanted to fight for herself, she also wanted Locke to fight alongside her.

Who could tolerate this?

What's the point of striving? For the Hydra uprising?

Then be buried alive with Hydra?

According to Locke's observations in this life, old Underwood and his mother Claire were unaware of the Malik family's background.

Furthermore, neither Underwood nor his mother Claire were members of Hydra.

Therefore, there was no risk involved in his relationship with Stephanie, or even his eventual marriage to her.

the reason is simple.

Even if the Hydra operation is exposed, with Old Underwood's status and his mother Claire's family's influence, he can still ensure that he and Stephanie land safely.

But Stephanie insisted on dragging him into this struggle, and that just wouldn't do.

Well known.

Racial equality is the mainstream ideology of the Federation, and similarly, the idea that Hydra should be killed by everyone is also a mainstream ideology of the Federation.

If he gets involved, even if old Underwood becomes president, he won't be able to protect him.

So he had no choice but to part ways with Stephanie.

But he couldn't tell old Underwood the truth about this.

After all, Stephanie's talk about dating him was just a way of telling him he should have big ambitions; she didn't actually invite him to join Hydra's great cause.

and so.

The only reason for breaking up is a difference in values.

Old Underwood nodded upon hearing this reason.

"That's normal. Young people haven't experienced society yet, so it's perfectly normal for their ideas to clash."

"But three years have passed, and you and Stephanie have both been working since you graduated from college almost two years ago."

Locke listened to these words and felt increasingly uneasy.

He had initially thought that old Underwood was asking about him and Stephanie because Malik had contacted him.

But right now?

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Locke glanced suspiciously at old Underwood, grabbed his glass, and took a sip.

Old Underwood smiled slightly.

"So what do you think of Stephanie now—"

"puff!"

Old Underwood instinctively closed his eyes, letting the bourbon drip down his face.

Locke quickly put the wine glass aside, got up, found a towel, and handed it to old Underwood.

Old Underwood took the towel and quickly wiped himself.

after awhile.

Old Underwood tossed the towel aside and stared blankly at Locke.

Locke looked at old Underwood's eyes, shook his head, and said, "This can't be blamed on me. Do you want to hear what you're saying?"

"Is there something wrong with what I said?"

"have."

"What's the problem?"

"I am married."

Locke gave old Underwood a speechless look: "And in ten months, your grandson will be born."

Moreover, it is very likely that they will have three direct grandsons.

Not triplets, but they were definitely triplets.

However, he is not entirely sure yet, but judging from the frequency with which Esme has returned home, it should be pretty much the same.

Locke thought to himself, then looked at old Underwood: "So what did you mean by that just now? You wanted me to divorce Esme and rekindle my old flame with Stephanie? What, you want to run for president?"

Old Underwood shook his head.

"Garret Walker is a strong contender for next election."

"That...

"I've already made an agreement with Garrett Walker: I'll help him, and in return, I'll be the Secretary of State."

"At the same time, your mother Claire's water purification organization will also receive a huge sponsorship from the Sanko Group."

While a party whip is useful, their influence is limited.

The Secretary of State is different; his position is second only to the President and Vice President, and he is responsible for foreign affairs while also playing an important role in international affairs.

Locke raised an eyebrow as he listened to old Underwood's plans for the future: "I thought you had fallen out with the Walker family."

Although few people knew that old Underwood had arranged for him to marry the eldest black woman of the Walker family.

But the person involved must have known.

Therefore, when the Walker family found out about Locke's whirlwind marriage, Garrett Walker felt humiliated. Locke was speechless and aggrieved when he heard the news.

Shouldn't he be the one feeling humiliated?

After all, it's quite obvious who would be humiliated by having a white man marry a black slave woman.

As a result, he didn't feel wronged, but the Walker family did.

If you feel humiliated, then why didn't you do it earlier? Why didn't you just not marry the black woman?

To put it bluntly, it's just that you think marrying a Black woman will get you more votes.

You should bear the consequences of your own actions.

Daring to do something but not daring to admit it—isn't that like someone who's done something wrong but still wants to maintain a virtuous image?

Locke was different.

He is bold and responsible.

"So Garrett is a shrewd politician," old Underwood said in a deep voice, listening to Locke's confusion. "As I said, politics has always been the art of compromise."

Locke didn't respond to that, but instead gave old Underwood a wary look.

"Aren't you afraid he'll break his promise?"

"Heh, traitors don't go far in Washington."

Are you sure?

"I'm very sure."

Then you're probably going to be fooled.

Locke looked at old Underwood's expression, which seemed to indicate that he had everything under control, and thought to himself that this was the thought.

However, he never talks about things that haven't happened and there's no evidence for them.

Locke shook his head.

"Since you've already allied with Garrett, why do I need to contact Stephanie?"

"For the next term."

"hiss."

Locke adjusted his posture and looked at old Underwood: "Garret hasn't even taken the stage yet, and you're already thinking about the future?"

Old Underwood smiled and said, "That's the insight of a mature politician who knows what he wants."

Locke nodded and gave old Underwood a thumbs-up.

What's it like to have a father who doesn't need to expect his son to become a dragon, but instead aspires to be one himself?

Others don't know because they don't have it.

But Locke knows now.

Because he truly has a father who doesn't need him to wait anxiously for Jackie Chan; he can think of Jackie Chan all by himself.

Have a look.

Before the next president has even taken office, old Underwood is already eyeing the throne and making plans ahead of time.

Presidential campaigns are very expensive.

But if you have a wealthy in-law, and that in-law is also a major financial backer of many members of parliament, that would be perfect.

There's just one problem.

Locke agreed with old Underwood's lofty ambitions, then looked at him with a half-smile.

"But I'm already married."

"As far as I know, Stephanie is not married."

"so what?"

Locke shook his head speechlessly and said, "I will not get a divorce, don't even think about it."

He is a responsible man.

Old Underwood remained expressionless.

"I didn't tell you to get a divorce."

Upon hearing this, Locke's expression shifted, and he looked at old Underwood.

Old Underwood crossed his arms and looked at Locke with a very calm expression.

Eyes facing each other.

Locke frowned: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"You know what I'm trying to say." Old Underwood's eyes were unusually calm, devoid of any emotion, only gleaming with self-interest: "The purpose of marriage is merely to unify bloodlines, but without marriage, bloodlines can be unified just as well."

Locke understood what old Underwood was trying to say.

Good guy.

This is under the guise of making him consider the long-term interests of the family, but they're actually forcing him to go out and deliberately create an illegitimate child.

As expected of President Underwood!

Locke sighed inwardly, then looked at old Underwood with a blank expression.

"I'm getting married again."

"ah."

Old Underwood chuckled.

Locke raised an eyebrow.

"What are you laughing at?"

"What's going on with Natasha Romanoff of S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

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