Ch. 446..450: Inherit Billions Chapter 446-450

Chapter 446 The Quiet Christmas at Droses

Seraphina paused, tugging at the shawl draped around her shoulders.

She lifted her gaze to Katie.

"Who gave you permission to open the door just now?"

Katie's expression shifted, revealing a hint of panic. "I... I just thought he was already at the door. Should we turn him away? Besides, Benjamin agreed."

Perhaps it would be easier if she had someone to share the blame with her.

Seraphina's voice was icy, devoid of any regard for anyone's feelings.

"Is that so? Benjamin agreed? Should we ask him to confirm this in person?

Katie's lips quivered, and a flicker of discomfort crossed her features.

"Mr. Dros is an important person. How could I refuse him?"

"No need to tell me who he is," Seraphina replied coldly, turning her back on Katie and walking away.

Having said that, she didn't want to say anything harsher.

Katie should be thankful it was Christmas, otherwise, Seraphina would have thrown her out without hesitation.

Snowflakes danced through the air. Orion smiled faintly as he trudged along the path.

Finally, a person who was almost completely frozen spotted the car.

Ken eagerly dove inside.

"Mr. Dros, I bet Ms. Cross is thrilled with today's gift!"

Orion grunted in response; his mood clearly lightened

"I've doubled your year-end bonus."

At the Droses Estate, Ramona finished dealing with the pleasantries over the phone and sat in the living room. Despite the intended festive occasion, the atmosphere at the estate was anything but joyous. It felt quiet and dull.

Luca was often abroad for work. He had grown accustomed to freedom and was increasingly weary of the strong-willed Theresa.

After finally getting Theresa sent overseas, he relished his independence, refusing to return to face his

wife's wrath.

After all, the company was now in Orion's hands. As a father, Luca couldn't argue with that; his only

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Chapter 446 The Quiet Christmas at Droses

As soon as Orion arrived at the estate, he tossed the keys to Ken. "You can leave now

The butler, Arthur, let out a breath of relief that he didn't know he was holding,

""Mr. Orion, you're home"

Orion pursed his lips as he stepped inside, only to find Ramona sitting there with a livid expression, as if the old man had been waiting for him intentionally, "Where have you been?"

Ramona was furious. His movement was restricted by surveillance, but on such an important holiday,

Orion was not at home.

His grandson simply didn't show him any respect.

"Just went for a walk," Orion replied nonchalantly.

In a fit of rage, Ramona slammed his iPad down on the table. He roared, "So this is what you call a walk? You went to the Cross mansion, making sure everyone in town knows about it? Did you set off fireworks just to please Seraphina? Orion smirked, unperturbed. "Isn't that what you wanted to see?"

Getting close to the Crosses and mending things with Seraphina-wasn't that Ramona's intention all along?

Ramona's anger flared even more.

"I-I didn't say you could throw your dignity away!"

A president of Dros Group shouldn't have to demean himself for a woman. What would the Crosses think of them? Their family's reputation was at stake if this got out.

Suddenly, Orion laughed. His smile carried a chilling amusement.

His demeanor was cold and sharp.

"Using underhanded tactics against a woman is truly lacking in dignity."

His words struck a nerve with Ramona.

The old man's face was paling as she stood up, trembling and pointing a finger at him. "You-"

Orion's words felt like a slap to his face.

How could he be unruly?

Seeing the escalating tension, Arthur hurried forward to intervene.

"Mr. Ramona, please calm down. Mr. Orion means no harm. He's only thinking of what's best for the family."

Arthur turned to Orion, concern etched on his face. "Mr. Orion, Mr. Ramona's health isn't great. Please try not to provoke him. At his are any stress could send him to the ICU and that would be a real problem" 2/3

Chapter 446 The Quiet Christmas at Droses

Orion hesitated, his expression softening a bit.

"Sorry, grandpa. You should go back to your room and get some rest."

He could only compromise to this extent.

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Ramona, after all, was his grandfather who raised him. If he truly ended up in the ICU, Orion knew he would have a hard time explaining himself.

Chapter 447 The CEO's Response

Ramona's expression remained tense as she sat on the sofa, trying to calm herself down.

"You... Orion, I won't get involved in Seraphina's issues anymore. You need to bring your sister back," she demanded, her voice firm.

Orion looked up, his eyes dark and deep.

Ramona trembled with anger.

"It's Christmas! Your sister is out there all alone. What if she runs into a bad person? What if something happens to her? It's been a long time; Hannah has suffered enough. Do you really want her to stay out there forever?" Though Ramona loved this granddaughter, his affection seemed to wane when it came to the interests of the family.

Hannah always stirred up trouble, and her behavior had indeed been frustrating. Therefore, Orion didn't mind sending her away.

However, lately, Orion has become increasingly rebellious. With Theresa and Hannah both absent, he had no one around who would listen to him.

Now he was remembering how great Hannah had been.

Orion furrowed his brows slightly. It had been quite a while since he last checked on her, but the reports he had received about Hannah's recent performance showed that it was decent-not great, but not terrible either. "Alright, if you want to see her, I'll have someone bring her back," he finally replied, pulling out his phone to call a bodyguard.

Ramona sighed in relief, his expression softening slightly.

Once Orion finished making arrangements, he headed upstairs, eager to distance himself from Ramona for fear of driving the old man into madness. His phone buzzed incessantly with incoming messages.

After logging into Twitter, he discovered that the much-discussed fireworks display had disappeared from the news section less than two hours ago. Sure enough, Seraphina's team seemed adept at handling unexpected situations.

The social media influencers who had been working overtime that night must be infuriated.

However, there were still a few comments on Orion's Twitter.

"What a shame! That fireworks show was amazing!" One user wrote.

"Mr. Dros, I support you! But I support Albert even more!" Another added.

"I feel for you and take pity on you, but I still don't think you're right for Ms. Cross!" Someone else chimed

Chapter 447 The CEO's Response

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Orion read the comments, a chilly smile creeping across his face. His anger rose to the surface.

The private messages and comments kept flooding in.

The media's ban on other platforms had turned Orion's Twitter into their outlet for frustration; they needed to express something. What was this Albert nonsense?

Was he really any better than those pretty boys who always prattled on?

How could anyone comment that he and Seraphina weren't compatible?

Were they blind?

There were so many comments, but only a handful of people seemed to support him.

Fuming, Orion shut off his phone and took a moment to breathe.

He felt a surge of discontent-he couldn't let this go!

Orion picked up his phone again. In a self-destructive manner, he began scrolling through the hurtful

comments.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.

He tweeted, "What? Am I inferior compared with those pretty boys? I have money!

"Whether we're compatible as a couple is not for you to decide-Seraphina is mine from the start!

"Who else deserves her if not me? Who has more money than I do?

"Thanks for your support, but I don't need your pity!"

In an instant, the dwindling buzz around his name erupted once more, boiling over like a pot on the stove,

Orion's responses catapulted him to the spotlight.

He didn't see anything wrong with what he was doing; his greatest advantage over others was his wealth, and there was no room for argument.

A domineering CEO had personally stepped into the ring to respond to internet users comments.

While his replies were far from polite, people found humor in his audacity and began to be more forgiving toward him.

As Orion passionately engaged with his online followers, he aimed to prove that he was more suitable for Seraphina than anyone else.

In Cross Mansion, Sarah rushed over with her phone in hand.

She nudged Seraphina and said, "Look!"

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Chapter 447 The CEO's Response

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Sarah thrust her phone toward her, and the trending topic involving Orion jolted Seraphina awake.

Seraphina felt more energizing than having ten cups of coffee.

Her complexion paled due to her shock. "I-Is he nuts?"

Chapter 448 Slander Behind the Scenes

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Sarah struggled to find the right words. She asked, "What do you think? Everyone doubted you two were compatible at first, but Orion's humble demeanor has won him some favor. Now, people are starting to ship you two together, and some are..." Seraphina pressed her lips together, her gaze icy. "What a bunch of idle folks. Why bother worrying about a capitalist? Why should they care?"

"What should we do? Should we limit' his exposure?" Sarah suggested.

Seraphina paused and contemplated. "Who would have the nerve to go against Orion? Forget it."

"Are you just going to let it go?"

Seraphina pulled out her phone. "I'll ask around. There must be some new products launching; we can't miss out on this hype!"

Sarah looked at her, stunned.

For a moment, she was speechless.

Seraphina was truly single-minded when it came to making money.

Once she had organized the promotional products for tomorrow, Seraphina felt a wave of relief wash over her.

No matter how heated the gossip became tonight, the focus would naturally shift once she made her appearance tomorrow.

She stood up, stretching, and glanced around. "Where's little Dani?"

Sarah furrowed and muttered, "He was just here."

Seraphina froze for a moment, then stood up quickly. "Let's split up and look for him."

She headed to the garden, Dani's favorite spot. The warm, dim lights transformed the garden into a stunning fairy tale setting, designed with Dani's tastes in mind.

As Seraphina approached, she noticed a few figures sitting and chatting nearby.

Just as she was about to turn away, she overheard someone mention little Dani.

"Could that kid be the illegitimate child of Seraphina and some man?"

"I think it looks that way. Just look at how the Crosses treat her; they obey his every word and spoil him rotten. No one could treat that boy that well unless they were related." "How could Seraphina do something so shameful?"

"Perhaps the Droses kicked her out because of this scandal!"

"And Orion is still here confessing his feelings tonight? Fle actually wants someone as shameless as her."

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Chapter 448 Slander Behind the Scenes

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After all, once they're married, they'll just do their own thing anyway. This doesn't stop the men from keeping their mistresses outside, especially given Seraphina's wealth. "Surprising, right? She looks so serious on the surface, yet underneath, she's truly shameless. Emeris must feel unlucky to have a daughter like her!"

"Exactly! She's not even as sensible as our Katie. My daughter is so innocent."

Seraphina stood there, feeling a chill wash over her, almost laughing in anger.

For the first time, immersed in darkness, she realized just how much she could endure!

On the surface, these people acted politely, but behind closed doors, they cursed and belittled her in a manner that was truly offensive. Haha!

Snowflakes fell on her. Seraphina thought this year's Christmas turned out to be quite entertaining!

Just then, she heard little Dani's voice from upstairs. He waved at her in his pajamas.

""Ms. Lovely, I'm here!"

Little Dani's simple words jolted the two gossiping women from their conversation.

They gasped in shock and turned to see Seraphina standing behind them, a cold smile on her face.

In the dim light, their faces went pale.

"Seraphina, w-when did you get here?"

Seraphina's gaze was icy, colder than the falling snow. Her smile was barely visible.

"Didn't anyone tell you that discussing someone behind their back while eating their food in their home is a deeply immoral act?"

Oh no, she heard everything!

Their faces turned pallid, panic flooding their eyes.

"Seraphina, it's a misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding."

"Well, we didn't even know where those rumors came from; they aren't true at all!"

The two women scrambled to defend themselves, but Seraphina let out a cold laugh, her tone frigid.

"Rumors? You two just met little Dani tonight. The outsiders didn't know about this. Tell me, where did those rumors originate from?

"If you're going to lie, at least make up a more convincing story!"

The two middle-aged women were sweating bullets; their faces paled as they spoke in a trembling voice.

Chapter 448 Slander Behind the Scenes

"Seraphina, you didn't hear anything! We didn't say anything; you must have misheard it."

"Yeah, let's hurry inside!" One of the women urged.

Seraphina was the only one around. What could she do if they refused to admit that?

Chapter 449 Seraphina Reigns Supreme In This House

Seraphina watched as the two women hurriedly made their way back.

Her expression grew colder, an icy glint deep in her eyes-how infuriating, haha.

Turning to little Dani, she gently took the boy's hand and led him upstairs. "Let's play tomorrow, okay? For now, it's bedtime." Little Dani was still young. He had done remarkably well to stay awake this late.

As soon as he lay down on the bed, the boy was fast asleep.

After a while, when Seraphina descended, the lively atmosphere returned, with laughter and chatter filling

the air.

With a clear purpose in her mind, she sought out the two older women, who now avoided her gaze, their faces pale with dread. "Seraphina, why don't you take a break?" Emeris suggested as he approached her. "If there's anything, let Justin handle it!"

Justin, who was on the verge of falling asleep, was speechless.

With a soft smile, Seraphina replied, "No, I have something important to deal with."

Emeris raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it?"

Seraphina hesitated for a moment, then said, "Dad, if I end up ruining the mood, don't blame me. I know today is special, but I simply can't tolerate this any longer." Emeris looked confused and asked, "What do you mean?"

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Seraphina walked into the side room, her demeanor calm yet commanding. The two women trembled visibly; their faces paled compared to everyone else's.

She lifted her chin slightly and gestured. "Those two over there-I'm sorry, I forgot their names. But what they said outside was utterly unacceptable."

As Seraphina's words hung in the air, everyone paused their activities.

The room fell silent.

Emeris frowned and asked, "What did they say?"

"Why don't you ask them?" Seraphina suggested.

The two women scrambled to their feet, panic evident in their voices.

"We didn't say anything! Seraphina, don't slander us!"

"Yeah, we know you look down on us poor relatives, but we're still family. Why are you so aggressive?"

They clung stubbornly to their denial.

Chapter 449 Seraphina Reigns Supreme In This Hood

The onlookers looked at those women, then turned to the icy demenor of Serghie

Nearby, Alexander cleared his throat and said, "Seraphina, don't be memorable. It's just one night, why make a scene? We're all family here!"

Seraphina pressed her lips together, a light laugh escaping her

"I know, Uncle Alexander. It's precisely because we're frilly that my father and broken we will weste throwing this party and hosting everyone with the benthospitality and thoughtful Effa Howe Her tone shifted as she locked eyes with the two women

"I'm sorry, but if being relatives means we can hurt each other, then I'd rather sever all fe

An unsettling silence enveloped the room.

No one knew what had transpired except for Seraphina and those two women

"What on earth happened?" Someone whispered.

"Yeah, what's going on? Seraphina seemed fine all evening-what's made her upset now?

Seraphina scrutinized the two flustered women, narrowing her eyes. "Not going to speak up, are you?"

The women stammered, "W-what do you mean? We haven't done anything"

Seraphina smiled, her patience wearing thin. Since they refused to admit their wrongdoing the decided to take matters into her own hands.

With a cold laugh, she glanced at Justin and said, "Justin, I recall there's a security camera in the backy Let's pull up that footage."

In a mansion like Crosses, there were no blind spots in public areas

She felt confident they wouldn't be able to escape the truth.

The pair froze. Their complexion was going pale as the realization sank in.

"Seraphina ..."

But it was too late.

Seraphina turned on her heel and walked away.

With a grave expression on his face, Justin hurriedly searched for the footage.

The group had lost all interest in their card game.

Within minutes, the video conversation played before them. Emeris's face contorted with visible anger, a tremor of fury flashing in his eyes.

The conversation from the video played out before everyone's eyes.

Chapter 449 Seraphina Reigns Supreme In This Hous

Emeris's complexion darkened visibly, his features contorting, with suppressed anger. We tremblen slightly, and a flash of fierce determination flickered in his gaze.

The only sound in the living room was the triumphant chatter of the two women from the video, the words echoing ominously in the silence.

The duo were already guilty and felt their confidence crumble, falling to their knees in desper

"Seraphina, we were just speculating! We didn't mean to harm you

"Yes, exactly! We didn't have any ill intentions, we're all family here. What's the matter with harmless

banter?"

Then, a loud crash interrupted their pleas.

Sivir's face darkened, his icy demeanor radiating menace as he kicked a chair aside.

The anger he had suppressed all evening finally reached the limit.

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Chapter 450 Parting Ways Unhappily

The atmosphere in the living room was as cold and heavy as water.

A jolt ran through the group; their complexion shifted from pale to ashen, revealing their discomfort clearly.

Even though they rarely saw the Crosses, they needed their work and support. Whenever they faced difficulties, Emeris had always come to their aid without hesitation.

But deep down, they all knew that Emeris was the only one among the Crosses who would even acknowledge them.

Emeris's children showed minimal affection towards her. Once Emeris stepped down, they would care even less about their plight.

Each year, Emeris hosted gatherings to encourage connections between their children and the rest of the family, providing a valuable opportunity.

They could neither afford to lose the Crosses' support nor could they believe that two foolish women would jeopardize the already fragile ties among them.

They were visibly frustrated and clenched their teeth in anger.

Others cued the eldest, Rosa Cross, in a corner and urged her forward.

With a resigned sigh, she forcibly approached Seraphina and took her hand gently.

"Seraphina, they're just elders speaking without thinking. Don't take it to heart."

Seraphina yanked her hand away, her expression icy. What kind of elders are those two?

Don't even think about using moral coercion on her not a chance!

"I'm sorry, but I've taken it to heart. Out of respect for our family ties, I won't call the police. But now, I insist that these two 'elders' leave my house at once, or will sue them for defamation!" The room fell silent, everyone waiting for Emeris to mediate the situation.

Yet Emeris was equally enraged; he had no intention of speaking up.

Alexander, sensing the tension, chose to stay silent himself. He already faced enough challenges and didn't want to add to the chaos.

Rosa wanted to say something, but Justin couldn't hold back any longer; his voice was frosty.

"Didn't you hear what Seraphina said? Do you need a driver to escort you out?"

"Justin, is that any way to speak? If you're not going to offer support, at least don't add fuel to the fire!"

The others felt too intimidated to confront Seraphina, but Justin, who had toiled through the night, was in a position to speak out.

Justin sneered, "If anyone's unhappy, they can just leave with her!"

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Chapter 450 Parting Ways Unhappily

He plopped down onto the sofa, no longer interested in the escalating drama.

Emeris sighed, rubbing his forehead, his expression dark.

"Seraphina, I'm going upstairs to rest. You handle the rest."

His attitude spoke volumes.

Once Emeris exited, the group felt abandoned and without backing. Seraphina and Justin wasted no time in arranging for cars to escort everyone away. As dawn broke, only Alexander remained, his own troubles weighing heavily on him.

"My home is out of town."

Justin chuckled and said, "Uncle Alexander, you're joking. This situation has nothing to do with you. I'll have Benjamin arrange a guest room for you to rest." At last, peace settled in.

The next morning, visitors arrived bright and early.

Finding Orion lounging in her living room with Ramona and Hannah by his side shocked Seraphina.

Emeris was sipping tea. He nearly choked at the sight of Seraphina's casual demeanor, shaking his head in bemusement.

"You two are really not being considerate; we have guests!" He scolded.

In an instant, Seraphina and Sarah turned and headed upstairs.

Orion's eyes sparkled with amusement, radiating warmth.

Dressed in her pajamas and appearing leisurely, Seraphina looked far from the formidable businesswoman everyone knew her to be.

She resembled a charming, adorable girl instead.

Ramona smiled softly and said, "It's alright; we're all family here. It's nice to see Seraphina being a little more relaxed."

His words hinted at a deeper understanding. Emeris was hesitant to engage further.

"I've spoiled her, but as long as you don't mind, it's fine he said.