Ch. 741..750

Chapter 741 Cat Is Out Of The Bag

There could only be two reasons Azure sought him out. It was either for Nigel or for Yerek.

Timothy had lost count of how many times Azure came pleading for Nigel’s case. His patience was wearing thin from her repetitive and selfish act.

“You want me to provide a letter of forgiveness for Nigel?” Timothy’s voice was gentle, but his eyes lacked any hint of warmth.

Azure thought he was considering her proposal. Her spirit was lifted, and her gaze on Timothy softened with renewed affection.

“Yes. If you find the writing tedious, I can ask someone else to draft it for you. All you need to do is sign the letter,” Azure said.

A derisive smile crossed Timothy’s face. “What do you presume I could possibly write in such a letter?”

A cold prickle of dread stung Azure’s heart at his words, but before she could retort, Timothy ruthlessly tore through her façade of selfishness.

“Shall I write how Nigel has been vying for the Gibson family’s power, schemed the death of my wife, leading to my physical impairment and enduring mental torture for fifteen years? Or how Nigel abused his position, transferring assets in an attempt to secure his position, even contemplating murder when it failed? Every single crime that Nigel committed was a life’s worth of atonement. Even if I were to provide this letter, do you think a judge would acknowledge it?” Timothy mocked.

Azure’s lips trembled, and she remained silent for a long while before she managed to choke out a coherent response.

“Even if Nigel is released early, he won’t pose any threat to you and Christina. The Gibson family will still belong to you,” she reasoned.

“The Gibson family has always belonged to Christina and me. You don’t even have the right to mention Gibson Corporation,” Timothy spat.

Azure continued to make her case and said, “Yes, I admit my selfishness contributed to today’s tragedy. Timothy, I can confidently tell you that Barnaby has agreed to acknowledge Nigel as his son. If Nigel wishes to compete in the future, it will be for the Stone family’s assets. He won’t interfere in the Gibson family’s affairs.”

Timothy looked at the woman derisively and remained silent.

“I really don’t blame you for not acknowledging me. But I did give birth to you. For the sake of that, leave me a way out,” Azure pleaded, wiping away the tears streaming down her face.

Timothy had grown numb to her pleas, and he was not stirred in the slightest. “Did you know Nigel asked to see me today? He said the same thing, only that he was trying to save Yerek, while you were trying to -save him.”

Azure stared at Timothy in shock. “Nigel? What did Nigel say to you?”

Timothy didn’t intend to keep it from Azure and said, “Nigel was worried his actions would endanger his only kin. He asked me to spare Yerek. As a trade–off, he told me who were the people involved in the plot years ago.”

At that moment, Timothy looked at Azure with a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Barnaby’s name was on that list.”

It was quite the paradox, Nigel and Barnaby both wanted to protect their son, yet their approaches were as contrasting as night and day. One was trying to save his son while the other was digging his own grave.

What a ludicrous situation!

Azure slumped onto the couch, her face ashen. “That’s impossible. Barnaby would never do that…”

Throughout the entire ordeal, she had suspected that only Nigel was the mastermind behind the scheme, with her and Yerek merely serving as clandestine accomplices.

Why would Barnaby want to conspire against Timothy and his wife?

Azure simply couldn’t wrap her mind around it.

If this secret got out, her last source of support would crumble to nothing.

She fixed her gaze on the champagne before her, a streak of determination flashing in her heart.

With a wisp of a pale smile on her face, Azure managed, “After what you’ve said, it seems I’ve no face left to beg you… No, not anymore. I’ll never come to you again.”

Timothy lowered his gaze. “If that’s the case, then you should leave.”

Wiping away her tears, Azure pushed the champagne toward Timothy and said rather assertively, “Drink this, and from now on, our mother–and–son relationship will cease to exist, and we shall see no more of each other.”

It was hardly good news.

Timothy eyed her for a moment before reaching out for the champagne.

Azure watched him with eyes wide as brass bells as she held her breath in anxiety, fearing he might change his mind halfway.

“Don’t drink it!” Two shrill, youthful voices rang out in unison. The next second, the door was pushed open and two small figures charged at Timothy. Lucas swatted the glass of champagne away.

Camila exclaimed, “Granddad, you can’t drink that! She put something in it! My brother and I both saw it!”

Timothy’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he shot a glare at Azure. “Are you that desperate to see me dead?”

All colors drained from Azure’s face. “I didn’t! They’re talking nonsense. How could you believe what children said? You’re my son. How could I harm you?”

Lucas declared fearlessly, “We’ll soon find out who’s lying when we check the surveillance camera footage with Mommy and Daddy.”

Camila chimed in, “That’s right! When you slipped something into the glass, the surveillance camera hidden in the chandelier above your head surely caught it.”

There’s a hidden surveillance camera in the chandelier?

The revelation hit Azure like a bullet, stirring up a storm in her heart.

Camila did not bother to conceal her dislike for Azure. “That chandelier was a gift my brother and I picked out for Mommy. You’re scared now, aren’t you? Your face is pale as a ghost.”

D*mn these two little brats for ruining my plan!

Azure clenched her teeth in exasperation, shooting a–venomous look at Lucas and Camila.

Camila, being the more timid one, quickly hid behind Lucas, peering out behind her brother.

Drawing a deep breath to steady her emotions, Azure pleaded, “Lucas, Camila, I know I’ve been too strict with you, causing you to bear grudges against me. You can hate me, but why do you have to slander me?”

What she needed to do now was to buy as much time as possible so that Barnaby could show up. By then, even Christina and Nathaniel wouldn’t be able to touch her.

As long as she could leave the banquet hall unscathed, she could tamper with the surveillance camera footage, and there would be no evidence to back Lucas and Camila’s claims.

Camila/hands akimbo and indignation puffing her cheeks declared, “My brother and I don’t tell lies! I’m going to get Mommy and Daddy now, and I’m going to tell everyone here that you’re a wicked woman!”

“Camila…” Timothy didn’t wish to cause an uproar, but Camila moved too swiftly for him to stop her. At the same time, he couldn’t find it in him to reject the children’s kind gesture.

Just as Azure was about to take action, Camila had already dashed to the door. She almost collided with Christina who was entering the room, but Nathaniel, quick as a falcon, scooped his daughter up into his arms.

“Camila, where are you hurrying off to?”

 

Chapter 742 Reaping What She Sows

Seeing both Nathaniel and Christina around gave Camila an instant boost of confidence. Hugging Nathaniel’s neck, the girl said in a loud and clear voice, “Daddy, that evil woman added something to Granddad’s drink before giving it to him.”

Even though Camila did not understand the complicated adult world that was filled with deception and manipulation, she could clearly tell good from bad and had exposed Azure’s ulterior motives in the most candid manner.

“She had also asked Granddad to sign a letter of understanding to save Granduncle Nigel,” Lucas chimed in.

Upon hearing that, Christina and Nathaniel fully understood what was going on.

Barnaby, who happened to be looking for Azure, heard what the kids said and cast a sharp gaze at Azure and Timothy.

Supporting himself with his walking stick, the man asked, “What letter of understanding were they talking about?”

Azure tried to cover up the truth but her intentions were noticed by Christina. Christina dashed into the lounge at once, grabbing the documents from the table before Azure could do so.

Without looking at the contents of the documents, Christina looked toward Lyle, who was standing at the door, and said without a change in expression, “Lyle, please take Mr. Lucas and Ms. Camila out of the room.”

As Christina knew that the outcome would be messy, she did not want to taint the children’s innocent world by allowing them to learn about the unscrupulous means used by adults to achieve their goals.

“Understood,” Lyle answered before leading Lucas and Camila away from the lounge.

After scrutinizing the documents, which were all about absolving Nigel of his crimes, Christina hurled the stack of documents on the ground furiously.

Everyone, especially Azure, was stunned. Out of guilt, Azure inched a few steps to the side. She could not help but worry that Christina would lose control and hit her.

“Not only had Nigel broken the law, but he had also committed a felony. He killed my mother. He had taken a life. How dare you shamelessly force us to forgive him?” Christina glanced at the wine that was spilled on the floor and said, “Mr. Taggart, can you please take a sample of the wine and send it to the lab? We will know if the wine was indeed spiked after an examination.”

As Timothy was one of the concerned parties, he had left Christina in charge of handling the matter while he quietly waited for justice to be served.

Barnaby had more or less understood the situation with everything he heard so far.

He was the one who brought Azure to the banquet. By stirring up trouble on the host’s turf, she was not only ruining their day but also embarrassing him.

Sebastian looked toward Nathaniel with an inquiring gaze, and Nathaniel replied, “Do as Mrs. Hadley says.”

“Understood,” Sebastian replied before taking out a silk handkerchief to retrieve a sample of the wine

from the floor. However, he was blocked by Barnaby’s walking stick when he was walking past the man.

“Please wait,” Barnaby said. “Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley, for my sake, can we please settle this privately? Since we are celebrating the grand opening of Mrs. Hadley’s studio today, let’s not create a scene and

ruin such a wonderful day. Besides, it’s also damaging to our families‘ reputations if outsiders see us fighting.”

Christina sneered and replied, “Old Mr. Stone, I didn’t invite her. You were the one who brought her here. If she really cared about your reputation, she wouldn’t have tried to set my father up at my event. Does it make sense that the culprit is asking the victim to take responsibility for their actions? Is the Stone family treating the Gibson family and the Hadley family as pushovers?”

Christina had given Azure a few chances previously, but not only did the woman not reflect on her actions and change her ways, but she had also continued pushing her luck.

“What happened?” Charlie scanned the surroundings suspiciously when he came back after taking the phone call and saw everyone standing in front of the lounge.

The next moment, he fixed his sharp gaze on Barnaby and said in an imposing manner “Old Mr. Stone, you’re welcome to bring guests here to celebrate the special day with us, but it seems like you’re here to create trouble for my daughter–in–law and her family instead. Don’t you think that’s not very appropriate?”

Charlie was openly protecting Christina without even finding out the details of what had actually happened. “Is this the way the Stone family handles things?”

Barnaby’s expression darkened after he was criticized. However, he was unable to refute Charlie’s accusations.

Everyone at the banquet saw him and Azure behaving like a couple, and that was exactly what Barnaby wished for. He wanted the entire world to know that Azure belonged to him.

Now that Azure had created such a huge mess, despite his unwillingness, Barnaby had no choice but to let her bear the consequences of her actions.

Azure jumped to Barnaby’s defense when she saw him being attacked by the Hadley family. “This has got nothing to do with Old Mr. Stone. If you’re angry, you should take it out on me. I’ll take responsibility for my actions.”

Determined to drag Barnaby into the matter, Christina said, “Mrs. Lazuli, Nigel is also Old Mr. Stone’s son. You tried to harm my dad and force him to sign the letter of understanding. It’s hard for me to believe that you came up with the idea yourself.”

If Barnaby was implicated, it would affect the entire Stone family. In order to protect the family’s reputation, the other members of the Stone family might cut ties with Barnaby. With just Barnaby’s support, Azure and Yerek would not be Christina’s match!

Even though Barnaby was also anxious to save Nigel, he would have never done it in such a foolish way.

Azure’s actions had worsened the situation.

Barnaby cursed inwardly, knowing that there was no way Nathaniel and Charlie would allow him to stay out of the matter.

Just as Azure was about to retort, Barnaby signaled for her to stop by glaring at her. The woman had no choice but to obey and keep quiet.

“Mrs. Hadley, how are you intending to handle the issue?” Barnaby asked.

“My views don’t really count. It’s my dad’s opinion that matters.” After saying that, Christina turned to look at Timothy, who was behind her, and asked, “Dad, what do you think is the best way for us to settle this? I’ll go with whatever you say.”

Timothy glanced at Azure before answering, “I’ve been sick for too long. My brain is not working as well as it used to. Christina, why don’t you decide for me? I don’t really have anything in mind.”

As Timothy’s daughter, Christina had every right to act on his behalf.

The corners of Christina’s lips curled up slightly as she replied, “All right then. I’ll settle it for you. I’ll make sure she receives her deserved punishment for what she did to you.”

Timothy nodded in satisfaction. Christina’s determination and assertiveness reminded him of his days.

“Mrs. Hadley, on account of the years of friendship between the Hadley family and the Stone family, I will make sure that your grievances are properly addressed. I hope you will also keep in mind our families‘ relationship when you decide what to do. It would be a pity if we have to fall out with each other.” It was as clear as day what Barnaby was insinuating.

“Friendship?” Charlie scoffed before continuing, “Old Mr. Stone, I don’t think that still exists after the speech you made just now!”

Taking a pause, he looked toward Christina and said, “Christina, just tell us what you wish to do. The Hadley family has your back.

Barnaby had a grim expression while he waited for Christina to speak.

After flashing an appreciative smile at Charlie, Christina fixed her gaze on Barnaby and said, “My request is very simple. Let’s leave it to the police to handle. If it’s proven that the drink was spiked, we will let the law determine Mrs. Lazuli’s fate. If nothing is found in the drink, I’ll get Lucas and Camila to apologize to her. Also, Mrs. Lazuli has to promise that she will not appear in front of us ever again.”

 

Chapter 743 Falling Out

As soon as those words fell, a terrified Azure tugged on Barnaby’s sleeve with a pleading look in her “Don’t agree to it,” she begged.

Enraged, Barnaby shook her off and replied haughtily, “Mrs. Hadley, we’ll do it your way then.”

“No!” Azure blurted as the crowd’s eyes fell on her. “Having your children apologize to me isn’t going to completely undo all the bad reputation I’m getting. Don’t you think you’re being very unfair by making such a request?”

At that instant, Barnaby wished he could shove something into Azure’s mouth to shut her up. “Hmph! Why would we fear being incriminated if we’ve done nothing wrong? There’s no point in Azure meddling with something so trivial. I believe the Hadleys still have some credibility.”

Azure had a pained expression on her face as she heard that. Barnaby had taken matters into his own hands out of fear that she would cause more trouble.

“The investigation will take some time. I have other matters to deal with, so I’ll be taking my leave now. Please have someone update me when the results are out, Mrs. Hadley,” the elderly man requested. “She’ll come with me since there hasn’t been any solid evidence yet.”

He was already respecting Christina and the Hadley family enough.

“If you’re taking her with you, I hope you’ll at least keep to your word,” Nathaniel remarked.

Barnaby scoffed. “Worry not, Mr. Hadley. You’ll get everything as promised.”

Then, he left with Azure.

Nathaniel shot Sebastian a glance, and the latter used a handkerchief to soak up the spilled wine, placed the cloth into a zip–lock bag, and instructed someone to have it examined.

With that, the unpleasant interlude came to an end.

“It’s all my fault,” Charlie lamented, blaming himself. “They wouldn’t have come looking for trouble with you if I hadn’t spent so long outside on my phone. Thank goodness Lucas and Camila saw through Azure’s schemes beforehand. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened otherwise.”

The thought of the possible consequences sent a chill down his spine.

“Relax, Charlie. Aren’t I perfectly fine? You don’t have to blame yourself.” Timothy smiled. “Anyway, you two should go attend to your guests. I’ll carry on with my game of chess.”

With lots of work to do, Christina and Nathaniel left, heading to Lucas‘ and Camila’s playroom.

The two children rushed up to them. “Mommy, Daddy, has everything been taken care of?”

“Yup. Everything’s okay now,” Christina responded while pinching their chubby cheeks. “Remember, if you ever encounter something like this again, be sure to let an adult know right away. Don’t try to tackle it yourselves, okay? It’s too dangerous.”

Lucas paused. “But it was Granddad. He would’ve been in danger if we hadn’t stopped those guys.”

Camila nodded in agreement. “Lucas is right.”

“Granddad’s a grown man. He knows how to look after himself,” Christina advised despite feeling proud of them. “You’re still young, so you’ll have to make sure you’re safe before trying to help others. Okay?”

“Okay,” the children answered in unison.

“Very good.” Christina beamed.

Just then, Nathaniel returned with a grave expression after picking up a phone call.

Knowing he had something to tell her, Christina had Rayne keep Lucas and Camila company so she could head into the office next door with Nathaniel.

“What’s wrong, Nathaniel?” she then asked.

“It’s about the sample that Sebastian had someone send to the lab. Someone stole it during the journey,” Nathaniel explained. “This may essentially seem like a case of robbery, but someone definitely knows the truth more than we do.”

Christina’s brows knitted, but her reaction was much calmer than Nathaniel had expected. “All the footage from the studio’s probably been wiped out too,” she remarked.

Sebastian soon returned with more news, and just as Christina had predicted, they had lost all the footage recorded on the studio’s surveillance cameras.

The fact that Barnaby acted so openly and fearlessly showed how much he wanted to burn bridges with the Hadley family.

“I went to get a technician right away, but even he couldn’t do anything to recover the footage,” Sebastian reported.

At this point, Barnaby wasn’t just disregarding the Hadley family lightly anymore; he was practically challenging them now.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. Then, he suddenly recalled something and asked, “When is Nigel’s closest trial?”

Sebastian pondered for a moment before looking it up on his phone. “This coming Tuesday.”

Nathaniel turned to Christina. “Since Barnaby and Azure are trying to get Nigel a lighter sentence, then I’d say we attack them from there. What do you think?”

The woman smirked. “That’s a great idea. The more they want something, the more we’ll stop them from getting it.”

“Hand all the details and evidence we’ve gathered secretly to the police, and let them deal with this according to the law,” Nathaniel instructed Sebastian. “Also, let Winston know that Nigel might rat them out.”

“Right away, Mr. Hadley.” The latter turned around and left.

Nathaniel wanted to make Barnaby and Azuré regret everything they had done today. There were many others who wanted to watch Nigel fall too..

It’s time to turn this fight really ugly. Some people keep thinking they can mess with us.

Then, an idea came to Christina. “We can’t inform Winston and the others yet. This has something to do with the Stone family’s ongoing feud over their inheritance. Sheridan must be involved.”

“Didn’t you and Sheridan use to get along pretty well? Nathaniel asked in an unusual tone.

Wow! Someone sounds so jealous.

Christina chuckled. “Since when? Sheridan and I are just friends, but it looks like we might become enemies after today.”

“I don’t care what you intend to use him for. Stay away from him. I don’t like you having any sort of interaction with him,” Nathaniel demanded.

Christina nodded carnestly. “Okay. I’ll do my best to avoid contact with him. You’re not mad anymore, right?”

She then cupped his face boldly and stood on her toes to kiss his lips, her eyes sparkling like the stars.

“Can’t you do something about that jealousy of yours, Little Nathaniel?” Despite those words of dissatisfaction, the woman’s tone was filled with adoration.

“I can’t change that because it’s you,” Nathaniel answered candidly. “If anything, they should be the ones changing and staying away from you without being told to.”

Overcome by how unreasonable the man was, Christina hugged his arm and leaned onto him affectionately. “It’s fine if you can’t change. Well, it’s not like it’s a bad trait. Anyway, it looks like there are lots of guests outside. We should make an appearance as hosts. Let’s go.”

With a curl of his lips, Nathaniel headed outside as she continued to lean against him.

Meanwhile, Barnaby and Azure remained silent throughout the journey home after leaving the banquet. The rigid atmosphere remained until they arrived back at the Stone residence.

Then, an odd look appeared on their faces as they walked into the living room and noticed the person seated on the couch.

“Back so soon? Did something unpleasant happen at the banquet?”

Chapter 744 Self Awareness

As Sheridan leaned back into the coach langedly he the

Pushing side Aure’s hand that was dinging onto hir Baraty appeared her with as emotionless expression “Why didest you tell me that ev’re coming back I cond you up at the airpor in me to pick

Watching how the two of them were convening in farmal sermes, Aard was difficult for her so join in in the end, she quietly headed upstairs given

Glancing toward the second floor, Sheridan meered. gone through a leadership change. I would likely her family awkward felt to stay and Sten

I had come back the Stone family m step down from my position as head of the

Barnaby reprimanded Sheridan softly, “What nonsense are you talking about? Soop taking the rumors

Songi outside seriously Changing the heir to the Stone family is a major decision that involves every family member. The last thing I would do is go looking for tele

Even though recognizing Nigel was something Barnaby greatly desired, he was under no on as o which one was the clever one among the fools

If only Nigel and Yerek had some smarts, they wouldre been defeated by Chriss

“In that case, what’s this about you and Old Mrs Gibson Sheridan “Don’t tell me that you and her have rekindle Nigel? Instead, you’re recognizing them simply be

Asking the question was uncharacteristic of the flames of your past and this isn’t just aberat you just don’t want to have any regress in your

Sheridan’s scathing words exposed Barnaley’s intention, ripping away any dignity the latter had

Feeling humiliated. Barnaby gave Sheridan a long stare before eking out a complete sentence

“You can rest assured that my reconciliation with her won’t affect you in any way. On top of that, I’m not that naive to bring her back to the Stone family just to have the others criticize me

“Given that you’re trying to fulfill a wish of yours, it’s not surprising that you don’t care about what others think. However, have you forgotten something important?”

With his hands pressed against the table, Sheridan gave Barnaby a piercing gaze, as if he was a predator preparing to strike

“Thad declared in front of everyone in the Stone family that they’re not allowed to join objected to you recognizing Nigel. Yet, you have gone Back on your word and refused to keep sl by going out with her in public. In fact, you even allowed her to move into the Stone residence did you ever consider my position as the head of the Seone family when you did all that? How am 1 to manage the entire family when you keep challenging my authority?”

Barnaby responded resolutely, “What’s done is done, and it’s too late for any going to kick her out expecially when she is the mother of my son. Sheridan, you rida, you’re the Considering your capabilities, no one will dare disobey obry you. If it really bothers you, we’ll s ince I live sidled everything here. We’ll defioarly not get in you

Barnaliy decisions

Sheridan let a sort to express his disappointmenter Bars

Barnaby lond twight bits all the principles and strategies of lic how to deal with a disobeying family member

Nevenbeless, Sheridan knew what he had to do. Barnaby’s impulsive actions had given him his answer graces

Grandpa. let me remind you that your decision not only puts me in a difficult position but also diagra the Stone family. On top of that, you have also placed our family in a precarious position as the Hailey family will see your action as a provocation. Because of you, the Hadley family will come after the family before I can even think of how to deal with them. Based on how well you know Nathaniel you think he’ll do to our family?”

Barnaby opened his mouth, but no words came out for a long time.

During the banquet, he was focused on stamping his authority and trying to resolve Arure’s predi caining him to neglect the many repercussions of his actions.

Now that Sheridan had reminded him of them, the gravity of the consequences began to weigh down on him

Sheridan might be standing in the vanguard of the family, but he was still responsible for his actions as the former head of the Stone family.

“I’m sorry, Sheridan. I failed to think through it properly.” Barnaby admitted.

“Grandpa, ever since you reunited with your old flame, you’re no longer like your old self.” the disappointed Sheridan lamented, “Looks like the old adage-Love makes fools of us all-does ring true

Barnaby looked visibly awkward when he realized that it was he who blundered first. With nothing to defend himself with, he inquired, “So how do you plan to remedy the situation?”

“Remedy?” Sheridan stared at Barnaby in disbelief as he sneered, “Grandpa, don’t you know that you can have your cake and eat it too?”

Barnaby was rendered speechless.

“Nigel’s trial begins on Tuesday, and I’m sure that he’ll be found guilty.” Sebastian added in an insidious tone, “However, you gave her implicit permission to obtain a letter of understanding from Timothy and to spike the latter’s drink? That woman’s charms have clearly caused you to take leave of your senses!”

“Insolence!” Barnaby banged the table in anger. “I’m your grandfather, Sheridan. How dare you speak to me that way!”

Sheridan sprang to his feet abruptly and glared at Barnaby

“There’s no way she could get her hands on a drug like that if you hadn’t given it to her. If my men hadt informed me about it in time so that I can clean up your mess, the Stone family would’ve been niined once the drug was sent for testing. Of all the drugs in the research center, you had to pick an unfinished product. If it was anyone else who had done the same thing. I would have punished theins severely

Feeling distraught, Barnaby slumped onto the couch with his brows tightly furrowed

Upon regaining his composure, he remarked skeptically. “That doesn’t sound right. The drug that I ordered to be brought over was a completed product that won’t put one’s life in danger. Its only function is render someone mute. All I wanted to do was threen Timothy into writing a letter of understanding in alleviate Nigel’s sentence. I never had the intention of killing him

As he pondered upon the matter, a terrifying thought gradually emerged in his mind.

she told have been ripombeing the Stone for the

Sheridan sa Barnaby sharing his sentimens, he bolnika smirk. In tad of atak hatt’s certainly better than being aantplate dall the time?

Sherstangealted his pekes before leaving in a hurt

hie aber storms upstairs to emiront Azure In very host time a heated argument echoed the mansions up a cigarettes he leaned against ins car, Sheridas save the second loce a distant look stane ickest quizsically, “Me Stone, you spent a lot of effort stealing the testing sample railway to

Mr.se, I would be bad for you if he finds out one day but was ctarette but on the floor and stubbing it out with his feet. Sheridan sncerns, “My veel bewhieved once i remove those parasites from the Stone family I dont care about the at or other

Chapter 745 Falling Out Again.

The fact that Nigel was going to prison was set in stone Nonetheless, Sheridan had planned to spare Azure and Yerek initially on Barnaby’s account.

Unfortunately, they just couldn’t stop covering something that didn’t belong to them. Moreover, they were also gradually becoming a threat to his position.

Sitting in a position of power, Sheridan enjoyed the thrill that came with wielding authority and forcing others into submission. However, anything that escalated out of his control or didn’t bend to bis will would have to be destroyed.

“There’s conflict within the Stone family recently.” Sheridan paused before letting out a nigger as he stared at the opulent mansion before him. “It seems this mansion that Grandpa built for his old flame is jinxed, as it has brought bad luck upon the Stone family. It’s time he builds a new one.”

Just as he spoke, he gave his assistant a thoughtful look before adding, “I’m sure you know what to do

The assistant replied, “Yes, Mr. Stone,”

After Sheridan got into the car, the assistant closed the door behind him before driving away

Inside the mansion, Barnaby and Azure were still quarreling about the drug, unaware of the looming

“Let me ask you again, did you give Timothy lethal poison instead of the drug that’ll render him mute! Are you lying to me?”

Azure had no idea what Barnaby was talking about. She had given Timothy the drug that would make him lose his voice and even made an effort to check when she procured it.

Furthermore, she still couldn’t bring herself to kill someone just to silence them.

Azure shook her head. “I’m not lying to you.” She then gave the matter some thought. “Is the test result out?”

Barnaby responded with a frown instead of answering

“I knew it! Christina must have tampered with the results!” Azure ranted. “After causing Nigel to be imprisoned, someone as wicked as her would definitely not let me off. Barnaby, you had better not fall for her tricks

At that moment, Barnaby couldn’t tell whether Azure was telling the truth.

The only thing on his mind was that the woman in front of him was no longer the woman he lovest decades ago. The pressures of reality had molded her to someone Machiavellian into

He then realized bis insention to rekindle their relationship past was just as Sheridan host ridan bost described ing to make up for the regress in his youth As for Azure she got hack with him for her own

Banyak depily “Let me a would

The candidness of the question caught Azure off guard, causing her to smile awkwardly, “Barnaby, lecs m talk about this. Why are you bringing this up all of a suilden!”

Steeling himself. Barnaby demanded. “Answer me!”

His roar gave Azure a fright. Clenching her fists with a glint in her eyes, she retorted softly. “Is that answer more important than the freedom and future of our son

The truth dawned upon Barnaby

Even though he was mentally prepared for it, confirming her intentions still made him feel as if everything he had done for her was nothing but a joke

“You’re Nigel’s mother, so I’ll still treat you accordingly. Although his case is complex. I’ll try my best to delay it. I just hope that you’ll think through your actions before doing anything” As if he had moved on Barnaby continued, “This mansion will be your accommodation going forward. If you want to return to Hallsbay, I’ll buy you a place there too. Every month, your allowance will be deposited into your account, and you’ll not have to worry about your livelihood for the rest of your life.

The shocked Azure replied. “What do you mean, Barnaby? Are you breaking up with me?”

Regaining the frosty demeanor of the past, Barnaby retorted, “Isn’t this your objective?

A sudden sense of guilt swelled within Azure. “No, Barnaby. Why are you kicking up a fuss at a crucial time like this? Don’t you realize how inappropriate this is?”

She couldn’t figure out what she had done wrong to have caused Barnaby to regret his decision and revert their relationship back to square one.

“You don’t have to force yourself to do something you’re not willing to. Both of us have aged now. We’re no longer young lovebirds who can’t live without one another.”

Barnaby understood what he really wanted. There was no need for him to make up for his regrets. All he was looking to do was take responsibility for the mistakes of the past.

“I'll get someone to transfer the money to you. Going forward, we’ll contact each other by phone to avoid any unwanted attention.”

When Barnaby turned and left, Azure was left standing in bewilderment, as if she had been struck by lightning. A long while passed before she finally regained her senses.

The events that happened consecutively on that day were entirely out of her control.

“Don’t leave. Barnaby!” By the time Azure rushed out, Barnaby had already gotten into his car While banging on the car window, all she could see was his icy side profile.

Upon watching the car disappear from her sight, she didn’t continue to lament her fate. Instead, she rushed into the mansion in search of her phone

She hid in the bathroom and spoke softly into her phone “Barnaby has turned his back on us. Yerel We need to set the second plan in motion”

After she heard his response over the line. Azure’s expression turned grim as she unknowingly raised her

“You were the one who suggestedl we work together. Instead, you failed to stop Sheridan from coming back early, allowing him to ruin my plan.” The mare Azure thought about it, the angrier she became “Sheridan might have some dirt on Barnaby. That’s why the latter may have been forced to protect himself. Also, we need to deal with Christina, who keeps getting in our way. It was she who tampered with the test results.”

Azure dramatically related everything that happened at the banquet to Yerek, sending a chill down his spine. Hearing about how Barnaby had fallen out with the Hadley family almost drove him crazy

When it comes to choosing between the Stone family’s interests and his love and affection for Azure, Barnaby would definitely choose the former.

Yerek murmured. “My sources tell me that Christina has found a new lead. Barnaby was involved in that past incident.”

“What?” Azure was stunned. “Why would Barnaby-

“What’s there to be surprised about? We were only focused on the enmity between the Gibson and Hadley families and neglected the fact that the Stones, Gibsons, and Hadleys were all competitors back then.” Yerek gave Azure an idea. “Therefore, we’re not going to allow Barnaby to extricate himself from the matter. You should use this information to blackmail him. Regardless of how powerful Sheridan is, there’s no way he would disobey Barnaby.”

Nonetheless, Azure felt hesitant about the idea. “Yerek, Barnaby isn’t a fool. Let me think about it first.”

Once the call ended, Azure was lost in thought as she stared into the mirror in front of her

After bidding farewell to the last guest, Christina returned to the break room to rest, only to hear Sebastian reporting the movements of the Stone family to Nathaniel.

“The person who stole the test sample wasn’t sent by Barnaby. In that case, who is the mastermind behind him?”

Chapter 746 When Will You Marry Me

Sebastian answered Christina’s question truthfully. “I’m sorry. The other party came prepared and intentionally hid their identity. As such, I’ve yet to unearth anything”

Instead of reprimanding Sebastian, she smiled. “It’s fine. There’s no need to feel pressured because we need to be patient. Perhaps they’ll lose their composure before us and expose themselves”

Nathaniel turned to Sebastian. “Do you have a backup of the sample?”

In response, Sebastian shook his head. I didn’t expect someone would steal the sample, so I only used a handkerchief to acquire some wine stains. The rest had been swept away by the cleaner. Even if we could retrieve some from the garbage bin, the sample would’ve been contaminated. If we submit that to the lab, not only will it increase the difficulty of their workload, it may all be for naught in the end.

“In that case, send someone to monitor Mrs. Lazuli and Barnaby. We’ll search for clues through other means,” replied Nathaniel solemnly.

“Understood.” Sebastian nodded before continuing, “Mr. Stone hurriedly returned to Jadeborough. According to what I heard, he had a heated argument with Old Mr. Stone when they met up today. The reason was related to Mrs. Lazuli. Additionally, after Mr. Stone left, Old Mr. Stone and Mrs. Lazuli quarreled.”

He was aware of everything they were doing because he had already planted spies on Barnaby’s side.

Raising her eyebrow, Christina asked, “Oh? What was their dispute about?”

“Old Mr. Stone suspected that Mrs. Lazuli was lying to him. He believed she had made him the scapegoat after plotting against Mr. Gibson. Consequently, the responsibility was thrust onto the family, indirectly leading to the war between the Hadley family, the Stone family, and the Gibson family” Mrs. Lazuli is meticulous, but her plan’s too challenging to execute. The possibility of it backfiring is high,

and it has happened. Her scheme had only progressed one-third of its way before Barnaby, her absolute backing, destroyed it. Without his support, she can’t do much. Hence, there’s no way Mrs. Lazuli and Yerek will let Barnaby escape their grasp that easily

“How did Barnaby resolve this issue in the end?” Enthusiasm was present in Christina’s eyes.

Nathaniel stared at her affectionately, allowing her to ask Sebastian as many questions as she wanted

“For Nigel’s sake, Old Mr. Stone decided to reduce the frequency of his meetings with Mrs Lazuli Hell still provide her a residence and living expenses until she passes away,” answered Sebastian

Christina thought. I assumed Barnaby would ignore Mrs. Lazuli’s plight like the last few times, but it does so he can be responsible

Nathaniel remarked. “Barnaby’s strained relationship with Mrs. Lazuli is unquestionably related to Sheridan. If we keep an eye on him, we’ll most likely discover unexpected clues

After it was proven that the individual who stole the sample wasn’t Barnaby, Nathantel shifted his suspicions to Sheridan. I’m aware that Yerek’s partially responsible for this, but I know he’s temporartly occupied Besides, it’s unlikely he’s capable enough to pull this off

“Understood As Sebastian answered, he glanced at the sneaky figure outside of the door. “If there’s nothing else. Fil be taking my leave now, Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley”

Chrisma had already spotted Victoria and smilet “Go Don’t let my junior wait too long Otherwise, she’ll throw a tantrum soon

Embarrassed, Sebastian exited the lounge. Immediately, Victoria latched onto his towering figure like an octopus, ignoring the stares.

Sebastian tried to yank her off his body, but she responded by wrapping her limbs around him tighter. A sigh of resignation escaped his lips as he allowed her to do as she pleased.

“I signaled you so many times. Why did it take you so long to notice! I was waiting outside until my legs were aching, spat Victoria, displeased. She enclosed her legs around his slim waist, her feet dangling in the air. I deliberately wore a pair of ten-centimeter high-heels to complement my gown today After Iran arand greeting the guests on behalf of Christina, my feet were exhausted.

“I was working and couldn’t leave. Please get down first. I’ll accompany you to the dressing room Sebastian suggested.

“No, I want you to carry me there.” Ever since their relationship was approved by Brenda, Victoria acted increasingly coyly with him without minding what outsiders thought of her.

Meanwhile, Sebastian would follow her wishes without complaint. “Stay still, then. Don’t move around, or you’ll fall.”

He promptly carried Victoria to another dressing room. On the way there, he attracted numerous envious looks from countless designers.

“Mr. Taggart dotes on Ms. Lesley way too much. Indeed, good men always already belong to another woman. They’re unlike how the internet describes them at all. I don’t think they’re acting”

“Mr. Taggart is Mr. Hadley’s assistant. Considering how well Mr. Hadley always treats Ms. Steele, I doubt Mr. Taggart will do anything less than that with his own lover. Also, I heard the Lesley family has already agreed to Ms. Lesley’s relationship with Mr. Taggart.“

“Wow! Doesn’t that mean their wedding will be happening soon? If I can design a wedding gown for them. the worth of my resume will look really impressive!”

“Keep dreaming. Even if Ms. Lesley isn’t designing it herself, Ms. Steele will do it. In any case, that incredible job will never land in our laps.”

Sebastian and Victoria heard every word those designers said.

When they arrived at the dressing room, Victoria eagerly asked, “Look, even they want to witness our wedding. When are you planning to marry me?”

Sebastian answered seriously. “Marriage is a big event in one’s life. It mustn’t be treated casually “Of course I want to marry her, but I’m not powerful enough yet I must fulfill the promise I made in front of the Lesley family and present an unforgettable wedding to Victoria!

“I don’t care if my wedding is lavish or not, Seb. All I care about is that you’re my groom”

Can you give me a little more time. Victoria?” inquired Sebastian solemnly

Okay I won’t rush you Victoria smiled

Even though the hid her true emotions well, the observant Sebastian still noticed her disappointment

Give me a second” He promptly let the room for a few minutes before returning with a tablet and pimes I found on the her sight to the tables When she tables. When she did joy

Gleefully, she perused the photos “When did you collget these

“When I was free. Most of them are recommended by series. I think they’re all pretty good, but i don’t

hews know which one you like, so I saved them first to show you later.” Sebastian kept failing to

because

cause he was busy with his job and learning how to manage a company

Take my time to pick one Carefully Victoria held the tablet in her arms as though she treasure Seconds later, she couldn’t help but approach Sebastian

Victoria abou

Just as they were about to kiss someone coughed, chatering the romantic atmosphere in the

Tm sorry for disturbing you twe but there’s an emergency I need to speak with Vir Will you mind lending her to me for a few minutes. Mi Taggart

 

Chapter 747 The Best Senior

The person who spoke was Christina. Sebastian couldn’t find a reason to refuse, so he stood up awkwardly. “I don’t mind. I’ll attend to my work, then. I’ll leave you to your conversation.”

Victoria watched her boyfriend leave before turning to look at Christina resentfully and started howling as she lay dead on the couch.

“Christina, of all the times you could’ve shown up, why must you choose the moment I’m sharing an intimate moment with my man? Are you doing this on purpose?”

Christina walked over and pulled Victoria up. After the latter was properly seated, she smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you two, but it’s only because you two didn’t close the door when getting intimate. Besides, you were too engrossed that you didn’t hear me knocking on the door.”

Victoria blushed and gazed at Christina dispiritedly. “Christina, what do you need from me?”

Christina üttered seriously, “Rayne and I had a discussion. The studio’s first fashion show will be scheduled for the day after tomorrow at Global Shopping Center in the city center. The mall is usually crowded on Saturdays, so we can achieve good publicity. Since the main theme of this fashion show is focused on you, I wanted to know your opinion. If you think it’s not feasible, we can think of other ideas.”

At the mention of work-related issues, Victoria put away her carefree demeanor. “You’re my boss, so the final say is up to you. My creations are already completed, aside from the lacking of some accessories. However, I’ve found a sponsor. The jewelry is being delivered to Jadeborough as we speak. Barring any accidents, it should arrive tomorrow.

Victoria regarded the fashion show with great importance, so she invested a lot of effort and energy in her designs, striving to astonish the public with her works and re-establish the reputation of Christina’s

brand.

“All right. In that case, I’ll have Rayne prepare for the rehearsal of the fashion show,” Christina said.

Having finished talking about business, Victoria cheerfully showed Christina the wedding theme on her tablet, boasting, “Sebastian arranged this for me. I’m going to become Mrs. Taggart soon!”

Christina was genuinely happy for Victoria and uttered wholeheartedly, “Congratulations on having your wish come true in the near future.”

“Speaking of which, you and Mr. Hadley are our matchmakers. How about I let you design my wedding dress at that time? What do you say?” Victoria was worried Christina would reject her, so she hurriedly wrapped her arms around Christina’s and acted coy. “Please agree to this, Christina!”

Naturally, Christina wasn’t going to refuse. She even felt honored to be tasked with that responsibility. “That’s enough. You’re making me dizzy with all the shaking. You’re my junior, so I have no reason to say

Victoria excitedly pecked Christina on the cheek, almost lifting the latter and twirling on the spot in exhilaration. “Thank you, Christina. You’re the best!”

Christina flicked Victoria’s forehead. “First, you have to do well for the fashion show. I’m counting on you to garner popularity for the studio.”

Victoria chuckled and blinked her eyes knowingly. “Don’t worry. I’ll definitely give you a huge surprise at the fashion show in three days.”

“I have faith in your capabilities.” Christina responded sincerely.

Subsequently, the banquet ended successfully. Exhausted, Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor

As Lucas and Camila had to go to school the next day, Charlie and Julia brought them back to the Hadley residence.

Charlie and Timothy were equally skilled in playing chess. After their game resulted in a tie, the two agreed on the time for their next match before parting ways,

After taking a bath, Christina lay in Nathaniel’s arms, keeping him company and chatting with him as he sorted out work-related emails.

“Your dad and mine seem to get along well.” A relaxed expression spread across Christina’s countenance as she recalled Charlie and Timothy’s reluctance to leave the banquet venue earlier.

“They have a common hobby. It’ll also benefit your dad’s health for him to have someone to accompany him after he moves to Jadeborough.” Nathaniel held Christina with one hand while using his other hand to touch the laptop’s trackpad, dexterously switching between software interfaces. “You can find some time to arrange a gathering to strengthen the relationship between our families.”

Christina hadn’t seriously considered that matter before, but now that Nathaniel had reminded her, she swiftly came up with an idea. “Once I’m done with the fashion show in three days, I’ll arrange a gathering for both our families.”

Nathaniel closed his laptop with one hand, casually putting it away, and lay down with Christina in his embrace. “Is there anything I can help with regarding the fashion show?”

Christina replied, “No. Rayne has arranged everything. We also decided to host the event at Global Shopping Center in the city center.”

“If I remember correctly, Global Shopping Center is a property under the Hadley family. If you face any issue then, you can contact the person in charge of the mall at any time.” Nathaniel kissed her forehead. “It’s getting late. Let’s sleep.”

“Good night,” she chirped. The moment she shut her eyes, fatigue quickly overwhelmed her, and she drifted off to sleep soon.

After ascertaining Christina was sound asleep, Nathaniel discreetly got up and left the bedroom.

Sebastian had been waiting in the living room downstairs for a while. When he saw Nathaniel descending the stairs, he greeted, “Mr. Hadley.”

Nathaniel cut to the chase. “What’s Sheridan’s current stance?”

That afternoon, Sheridan had sent someone to seek cooperation with Nathaniel, offering very generous terms with the intention of resolving the conflict between the Hadley and Stone families.

Nathaniel wasn’t a pushover. After browsing through the agreement, he turned the liaison officer away and bluntly expressed his disinterest in the project Sheridan offered.

Sheridan thought Nathaniel was unsatisfied with the proposed revenue distribution, so he immediately had someone draft another new agreement and deliver it to Nathaniel. However, the outcome was the same. Nathaniel rejected the proposition after taking just a glance at the document.

Sheridan was unable to fathom Nathaniel’s intention, so after carefully weighing the pros and cons, he decided to talk to Nathaniel in person.

Nathaniel told Sheridan he would only agree to a face to face discussion under one condition Sheridan had to first deal with the mess made by Barnaley and Anure and provide Timothy with a reasonable explanation

With that, Sheridan cooled down considerably. Then, he relayed a message to Nathaniel, saying he would take that matter seriously. Subsequently, there weren’t any more responses from Sheridan

Nathaniel was finally able to lure Sheridan into the trap he had meticulously spent a long time setting up Since that matter concerned Christina, Nathaniel placed extra effort into ensuring its success.

“Mr. Stone held a meeting with the senior executives overnight, probably preparing for how to maximize his interest in the negotiation with you.”

“The Stone family is really full of cunning old foxes,” Nathaniel uttered derisively.

Sheridan had no intention to cooperate with the Hadley family, but for the sake of restoring the Stone family’s reputation, he was making decisions against his own will.

Barnaby had been shrewd for most of his life, but he ultimately risked ruining the hard work of his entire life because of an old lover.

Nathaniel figured it hadn’t been easy for Sheridan to hold on all by himself until now. Still, the business world values abilities and tactics. Benevolence won’t bring any benefit. Besides, I’m not someone who enjoys showing others kindness anyway.

“Snatch all the projects the Stone family is interested in. It looks like verbal warnings aren’t impactful enough. We need to take some action to teach them a memorable lesson.”

Chapter 748 Irreplaceable

That night, Nathaniel worked to sabotage the Stone family’s investment ventures relentlessly.

When Sheridan woke up the next day, he could never have imagined that the Stone family was on the verge of being completely pushed out of the business circle.

What fueled Sheridan’s anger further was Nathaniel’s audacious attempts to undermine the Stone family. paying no heed to public opinion.

Sheridan knew Nathaniel had run out of patience. What Nathaniel said no longer served as a warning: he was ready to deliver a fatal blow,

Nathaniel had dominated the business realm at a young age, and he remained undefeated against seasoned veterans and ambitious newcomers.

While Sheridan embraced new challenges, he could not shake off the lingering uncertainty of facing Nathaniel head-on. The odds of his success remained uncertain.

Sheridan swiftly convened a board meeting to devise a strategic plan, while his desire to engage in discussion with Nathaniel grew stronger with each passing moment.

Unfortunately, Nathaniel declined his request and flatly refused Sheridan’s attempts to reconcile, citing a busy schedule as the reason.

In his office, Sheridan’s gaze remained fixed on the plummeting share price. Despite his best efforts to regain his composure, the graph displayed on the screen caused his heart to ache with a sense of anguish.

As the stock prices continued to plummet at an alarming rate, Sheridan’s anxiousness grew, knowing that if this trend persisted, the Stone Group would be forced to declare bankruptcy the next day.

Sheridan’s hatred of Azure and Nigel had reached an unprecedented peak. The Stone family found themselves entangled in this situation solely because of the mother and son’s actions.

Unable to reach Nathaniel, Sheridan shifted his focus to Christina. He decided to give her a call.

Meanwhile, Christina was attending a fashion show rehearsal. Upon seeing Sheridan’s number on the screen, she quickly switched her phone to silent mode and casually dropped it into her bag.

The observant Victoria noticed the numbers appearing on Christina’s phone and raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you want to ignore Mr. Stone’s call? This is the perfect opportunity to state your demands.”

Christina was unbothered. “He should reach out to Mr. Hadley directly, not me. I don’t want to involve myself in their business disputes.”

The Stone family was already trending on social media carly in the morning. Even though Christina was not fond of keeping up with the news, the people around her could not stop discussing the Stone family’s plight in front of her. Thus, it was hard for her to remain oblivious to it.

“What a ruthless man Mr. Hadley is. When he decides to make a move, he aims for the kill without hesitation. I bet Old Mr. Stone must have regretted his action for going against the Hadleys.” Victoria sighed, relishing in their misfortune. “Hey, wanna bet?”

Christina glanced at her from the corners of her eyes. “What kind of bet?”

“Let’s see how long the Stone family can hold on. The loser will serve as the other person’s servant for a month.” Victoria’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as her mind raced with cunning plans.

Christina turned around, intentionally protruding her noticeably curved abdomen. “You want a pregnant woman to be your servant to serve you tea the whole day?”

Victoria froze for a moment while staring at her belly. Even if Christina agreed to the bet, he knew Nathaniel would never let her off. If he were to discover that I made Christina my servant, he would not hesitate to offer me a goblet of deadly poison instead of a steaming cup of tea!

After contemplating for a short while, she trembled slightly and shook her head repeatedly. “No, no, no, I don’t want to die young. Let’s change the bet.”

Christina dismissed the proposal, refusing to engage in the bet. “I won’t bet with you. The likelihood of the Stone family going bankrupt is slim.”

Sheridan was not a fool. If he could prevent Barnaby from acknowledging his illegitimate son and take control of the Stone family within six months, the man must have possessed remarkable capabilities and skills.

Victoria, who had limited interactions with Sheridan, was unaware of his true abilities. Curiously, she asked, “Don’t you have faith in the capabilities of your man?”

Christina smiled, her lips curling, “Nathaniel is irreplaceable in my heart. But the battles in the business world are like cruel games, where the winner takes it all. However, destiny is unpredictable, and no one can accurately predict the future outcomes.”

Victoria instantly lost interest, saying, “Never mind then, let’s forget about the bet. We’ve seen enough of the rehearsal. Shall we go backstage?”

“Come, let’s go.” Christina turned around and was ready to head in the backstage direction.

Suddenly, a plump figure abruptly dashed in front of Christina, catching her off guard. Victoria swiftly positioned herself in front of Christina, giving the intruder a stern gaze. “Who are you? Who gave you permission to come here? What do you want?”

Hendrick’s gaze cunningly fixated on Christina, and a wide smile spread across his face, narrowing his eyes into slits.

He nervously rubbed his hands together. “Um… Mrs. Hadley, don’t you remember me? I’m Hendrick Labarge. We had the pleasure of meeting before. Mr. Hadley was planning to discuss a partnership with me.”

Victoria glanced at Christina, her eyes filled with curiosity. Christina pondered for a moment. “Mr.” Labarge. I’m sorry, it took me a while to recognize you.”

Hendrick’s expression turned smug as he disregarded Victoria’s presence. He eagerly extended an invitation to Christina. “It seems like fate has brought us together. There’s this great restaurant just around the corner. How about we grab lunch together? I’ve got something important to discuss regarding our potential collaboration.”

It was not difficult to tell Hendrick had an ulterior motive toward Christina.

Christina declined the offer. “I’m sorry, but I have a lot of work to attend to. If Mr. Labarge wishes to order a dress from us, you can contact the person in charge at the studio. They will be happy to assist you.”

Hendrick grew impatient and attempted to grab Christina, but Victoria, who stood between them, forcefully swatted his hand away.

“How dare you harass a married woman in broad daylight? Are you tired of living freely and want to spend a few days behind bars?” Victoria’s eyes narrowed with a cold gaze as if she were about to wield a big sword and sever Hendrick’s indecent hand.

The sharp pain on the back of his hand shattered Hendrick’s lustful thoughts. He awkwardly retracted his hand and said, “I apologize, Ms. Lesley, I didn’t mean any harm toward Mrs. Hadley, I was just

overwhelmed after meeting her. Please forgive me, Mrs. Hadley.”

Hendrick’s frivolous actions were purely instinctive. However, Christina and Victoria, having experienced enough of such behavior, were not easily fooled by his words.

Christina had some interest in Hendrick, but only because he might be useful to her. Before she could obtain the evidence from him, she thought it would be best not to provoke him. “Mr. Labarge, I’m occupied with preparations for the upcoming fashion show in two days, leaving me little time for a lunch meeting. I’ll talk to Mr. Hadley on your behalf and ask him to directly discuss the collaboration with you. What do you think?”

 

Chapter 749 Masterpiece

Oh, no… The hefty price of coveting Nathaniel’s woman.

Hendrick’s target was indeed Christina, but if he tangled with Nathaniel, his dream would turn into a nightmare.

If Nathaniel were to discover his intention toward Christina, being flayed alive would be the least severe punishment Hendrick could expect. That Grim Reaper will undoubtedly do away with me.

“Ah… I haven’t done drafting my project proposal, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to discuss the collaboration with Mr. Hadley so rashly. After all, Mr. Hadley’s time is precious, and I can’t afford to waste it.” Wearing a resentful expression, Hendrick was forced to cast aside his lewd thoughts. “Since you’re busy with work, Mrs. Hadley, I won’t disturb you further. Let’s meet another day.”

Victoria sneered, prompting Hendrick to flee in a panic.

Watching his pathetic retreating figure from behind, Christina couldn’t help but chuckle. “Why did you scare him? Just let him be. He has the intention but certainly lacks the courage to act on it.”

Victoria snorted. “If he had lingered a few more minutes, I would’ve beaten him up. Has he got the nerves of steel or something? I can’t believe he dares to try to covet you without considering who your husband is.”

Her impression of Hendrick couldn’t be worse. Every time she thought of his lecherous smile, Victoria felt nauseous.

“I’m counting on the fact that he won’t do me any harm, which was why I didn’t confront him outright earlier. Hendrick is a David and Winston’s relative, so keeping him around may still be useful.”

“But you didn’t have to sacrifice your dignity to accomplish that goal- Mmm!”

Christina abruptly covered Victoria’s mouth with her hand. The latter glared at Christina, threatening Christina to let go with her stern gaze.

Christina dragged her aside. “Victoria, this mall belongs to the Hadley family, and there may be people around who are associated with Mr. Hadley. Are you trying to tell everyone that Mr. Hadley is about to be cuckolded by me by making a huge fuss about this? Please spare me. If Mr. Hadley gets mad, even I can’t handle his wrath.”

Realizing how recklessly she was, Victoria smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry. I just spoke my mind without thinking much.”

Christina reminded her, “Don’t repeat this mistake again. We can’t let another person know about our meeting with Hendrick here today.”

Victoria nodded.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of the fashion show soon arrived.

Christina finally knew what was the big surprise Victoria had arranged for her.

It was Hera’s jewelry sponsorship. Not only did Hera generously lend jewelry to Victoria to support the event, but she also personally came to the venue to watch the show.

The initially quiet venue was instantly packed with visitors. Journalists arrived in waves as the flashes of their cameras flickered incessantly

“What do you think of this surprise, Christina? Victoria arched her brow smugly

“Absolutely amazing!” Christina enthusiastically pecked Victoria’s cheek a few times. “This is your reward my dear Victoria”

“That’s not enough. You have to treat Hera and me to meal after this event ends” Victoria seized the opportunity to make her demand. “We want a luxurious and scrumptious seafood feast. I will not accept anything less

“Of course. I’ll make sure you can eat to your heart’s content, Christina chirped. “The fashion show is about to start. Let’s get down to business first. We need to go backstage and do a final check.”

Christina was walking ahead when Victoria tugged at her all of a sudden. She turned around in confusion. “What’s the matter, Victoria?”

Victoria’s gaze was fixated forward. “Christina, isn’t that Melanie? Why is she wearing the final piece 1 designed for this fashion show?”

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she uttered those words through gritted teeth.

Shifting her eyes following Victoria’s line of vision, Christina indeed saw Melanie wearing Victoria’s masterpiece, Floral Goddess.

The billowing hem of the pink gradient dress was adorned with handmade roses and shiny white rhinestones that sparkled under the bright light like a dazzling starry night sky. The strapless design of the dress also accentuated the charm of a woman’s clavicle perfectly. Finally, an artificial floral wreath was the crowning touch, giving the wearer an overall vibe that was elegant and yet not excessively glaring.

With Melanie’s temperament, she could certainly pull off the gracefulness of the dress. However, on closer look, the overall vibe lacked a sense of liveliness but was laced with an additional hint of sultriness.

Unfortunately, that hint of sultriness went against Victoria’s original intent for the design.

Victoria, in high heels, stormed up to Melanie, causing several staff members who were applying makeup on Melanie to be startled.

“Who swapped the model for the final piece without consulting me?” Victoria swept her piercing gaze across everyone present as her loud reproach reverberated backstage. She reached out to pull at the dress on Melanie. “You are not qualified to wear my dress. Take it off now! At once!”

Melanie curled her lips composedly. “So, this is your masterpiece, Ms. Lesley. I understand your feelings at the moment, but I didn’t intentionally steal someone else’s chance to take the stage. The original model is my junior, but she hasn’t been feeling well in the past few days, so I’m taking her place.”

Replacing a model at the last minute was an error in the preparation of a fashion show and could risk turning a great event into a mess.

Victoria uttered solemnly, “I’m the designer for this dress, so I have the right to prohibit a model from wearing my work on stage. Melanie, you’re unworthy to put on my dress.”

The grin on Melanie’s countenance was laced with traces of resentment. “But the event is starting soon, and my makeup is already done. Are you sure you want to replace me at the last minute? Wouldn’t it be a pity if the masterpiece couldn’t be presented to the public in the most perfect manner?”

Melanie had to admit she liked the dress Victoria designed. That was why she resorted to despicable means to substitute the initially selected model, making herself the model to wear the final piece.

“I’d rather this dress become a pile of rags than let you tarnish this design’s original intent and meaning” Victoria grew more agitated as she spoke. She began yanking the dress off Melanie, causing chaos to erupt at the scene.

As Christina was pregnant, she didn’t dare to get involved in the altercation that was evolving into a scuffle.

At that moment, Rayne hastened over. “Christina, what’s going on? Why are they fighting?”

“Contact the security guards to come and break them up. Hurry up!” Christina instructed Rayne. The latter swiftly ran to call security.

A few minutes later, the entangled Melanie and Victoria were finally separated with great difficulty.

Victoria was scratched and bruised, and Melanie wasn’t in better shape either. Her makeup was ruined, and it was already too late to redo it.

Rayne didn’t understand the grudges and disputes between Victoria, Christina, and Melanie. All she saw was the crumpled masterpiece that now resembled a lump of pickled vegetables.

She almost passed out in fury. “What should we do? You’re supposed to go on stage in half an hour. There’s no time to iron the dress and redo the makeup!”

Christina walked over and glanced at Melanie coldly before asking Rayne in an undertone, “It’s fine whether the masterpiece is presented or not. As for Melanie, I want to know how she managed to bypass me and Ms. Lesley’s personal selection to become the model for the final piece of the show.”

 

Chapter 750 A Fruitless Venture

Rayne looked at the chaotic scene around her, a sinking feeling creeping into her heart, for she knew she had sparked a calamity.

“The model previously in charge of the grand finale had a mishap in the hotel bathroom last night. She’s laid up in the hospital, unable to move. Worried that it would cause a delay in today’s show, I urgently contacted the model agency to recommend an experienced replacement to solve the problem. They sent me Melanie,” she explained.

As her gaze met Christina’s icy countenance, Rayne felt a shiver of unease.

“I investigated Melanie’s background thoroughly. She’s been modeling part–time since her university days. Both her beauty and demeanor are exceptional. I meant to discuss it with you today, but it completely slipped my mind in the rush of preparations. I was unaware of the conflict between Ms. Lesley and Melanie. If I had known, I would have rather taken to the runway myself than invited her,” Rayne added.

Knowing Rayne as well as she did, Christina had no doubts about her assistant’s integrity It seemed improbable that Rayne would have accepted bribes from Melanie to let her infiltrate and disrupt their fashion show.

“You’ye mistaken. The person who has a conflict with Melanie is me, not Victoria. Victoria was only standing up for me,” Christina clarified.

Rayne stood in stunned silence, her eyes darting between Christina and Melanie.

Christina did not offer further explanation and instead said, “Although this mess wasn’t intentional on your part, you violated our workplace rules. So, you have to manage the aftermath.”

Rayne had no objections. After all, she was in charge of the fashion studio. “I’ll handle it immediately.”

“Wait,” Christina called after her. “Bring me all the information on the models.”

“I’ll have my assistant deliver them to you,” Rayne replied, summoning her assistant to fetch the required documents. She then concentrated on controlling the damage.

Rayne pacified the seething Victoria before instructing the staff to tidy up the scene. Then, she walked over to Melanie and said, “Ms. Steele, I sincerely apologize for my oversight which led to an out–of– the- norm hiring process. Therefore, I have to replace you. Rest assured, the payment agreed upon earlier will be sent in full to your company. I’ll also contact them to ensure you don’t face any consequences because of this.”

While Rayne leaned toward siding with Christina, she couldn’t be like Victoria, targeting anyone who crossed her path.

Reputation and public opinion were paramount for their newly reopened fashion studio. She had to make sure Melanie didn’t tarnish their image after leaving their doors.

–Melanie met Rayne’s gaze with cold, unreadable eyes. “And what if I refuse and insist on completing this

show as per our contract?”

Rayne hadn’t achieved her position just by currying favor with Christina.

Her voice took on an icy edge. “Ms. Seymour, I suggest you put aside the benefits you think you might gain by making things difficult for me. Ms. Lesley is not just the special designer for our studio but also the heiress of the Lesley family. It would take her mere words to ruin someone’s career. Besides, my boss

wouldn’t just stand by and watch.” Rayne smiled and continued, “If I were you, I’d take the payment and walk away without a fuss.‘

Melanie’s face clouded over, but her manners held strong. They were in a public space, and an image must be maintained. She couldn’t afford to cause a scene.

“Ms. Maguire, I’m not part of the model agency. I am here to help a friend in need. I’m a well–known figure in the entertainment industry. Are you trying to brush me off with a meager payment? Do you take me for a fool?” Melanie retorted.

“As you’ve stated, you’re here on a friend’s behalf. Well, allow me to be blunt. If it weren’t for this fashion show’s lucrative benefits, would you, a figure of modest fame, have been bothered by your friend’s request? Unless you’re implying, you aren’t in it for the money at all?” Rayne paused, her gaze turning frosty. “Or perhaps there’s a more nefarious scheme at play?”

Even if the evidence was all laid out in plain sight, Melanie would never admit to her ulterior motives.

Stiffly, Melanie conceded to Rayne’s initial proposition. “When will the payment be made?”

Rayne’s demeanor warmed slightly. “It can be arranged now. I’ll send someone over to assist you with your makeup removal.”

She beckoned over a makeup artist and a few staff members and personally oversaw the careful removal of the grand attire and jewelry adorning Melanie. Following this, she transferred the payment and even generously covered her meal and transportation costs.

This gesture only served to heighten Melanie’s suspicion that Rayne was treating her like a beggar. Never before had she suffered such an insult.

With her dignity fraying, Melanie collected her belongings and left, her face giving nothing away.

Meanwhile, Victoria stared after Melanie’s retreating form and fumed. “She got off too easy! I should have clawed her face and made sure she was unable to charm anyone else with her looks.”

While attending to the wound on Victoria’s neck with a cotton swab, Christina reminded, “Rayne is a woman, Victoria. Your attempts to ensnare her with your beauty won’t work. Can’t you keep a level head? You would have made the headlines again if your outburst was caught on camera.”

Victoria grumbled a few times, a piteous whine escaping her lips. “Christina, what do we do? My pride and joy, my creation was ruined by that wretched woman.”

Christina remained unperturbed. “I inspected the outfit earlier. Only a few appliqués were damaged. With a few adjustments and some needlework, it should be fine. I have already selected a replacement model. This fashion show is vital for our reputation. I won’t let our efforts go to waste.”

A delighted smile bloomed on Victoria’s face. The next second, she let out a moan of pain, complaining, “Christina, can’t you be more gentle?”

Christina chided her, “Who told you to squirm when I was applying the medicine? Just suck it up.”

Victoria obediently sat in the chair, allowing Christina to continue tending to her wounds.

The fashion show proceeded after a delay of ten minutes. Melanie emerged from Global Shopping Center but didn’t immediately take leave. Instead, she positioned herself discreetly in a corner, her face shrouded behind a mask and sunglasses, sending messages to her dear friend who lay in the hospital.

From the corner of her eyes, she spotted a suspicious figure lingering at the periphery of the show’s cordon.

Every time a passerby approached, the figure would retreat into their heavy coat, standing with their back against everyone, imitating a mere spectator.

Finding the person intriguing, Melanie pocketed her phone and navigated her way toward them.

On sighting Melanie’s approach, the figure turned tail to flee.

However, Melanie managed to out to grab the person by the shoulder. “Hey, are you trying to get into the show?” she asked.

After a brief struggle, the figure gave up and replied in a muted voice, “No.”

Melanie recognized it as an older female’s voice and said, “You needn’t be embarrassed. Today’s show has invited the internationally famous jewelry designer, Ms. Hera. Plenty of people around here are fans of Ms. Hera, who can’t gain access because they lack an invitation just like you.”

The woman looked up at Melanie, who offered her a friendly smile and said, “I have an invitation. I could sell it to you.”