Ch. 71..80

Chapter 71

Their talk only lasted for a while before Emma came out of the office and respectfully motioned for Kendall to head in.

"The president will see you now, Ms. Parker."

Hearing that, Kendall gave her thanks again before she took a deep breath and started walking into the office.

Emma then swiftly closed the door after Kendall had entered the room. At that point, Kendall stopped in her tracks as she turned around and looked at the door for a brief moment. Having no other choice, she turned back to look at Dylan, who was sitting at the semi circle desk.

He had on a suit paired with leather shoes and light blue necktie as he put all his focus into working. He was so good-looking that she couldn't look away from him once her eyes fell on him.

It was a fact that he was an utterly attractive man.

"Are you done looking?" he chillingly asked while he put down the signing pen in his hand. He then raised his gaze from the documents in front of him and glanced at her.

Even though there was still some distance between them, she could still feel the coldness emitting out of him.

"Dylan," she called out to him.

There was no backing out now, since she had entered the lion's den.

Convincing herself to pick up her courage, Kendall let out a sweet smile and walked toward him. "I'm here to see you, Dylan."

"You have seen me. You can leave now."

What? He must still be angry at me to be acting so coldly toward me.

She tried her best to not falter as she shuffled to his back and hugged him around his neck.

At that instant, he forcefully flung her arms away and spat, "Touch me one more time and I will get security to drag you out of here!"

"Dylan…" she moaned in a sad voice, intentionally dragging her voice. "Come on. I am sorry, Dylan. It was my fault. I won't give you any trinkets handmade by me anymore. I will buy you something expensive, okay?" She was coaxing him like she would a child. "Tell me what you like. I will buy everything you like for you."

Dylan's face went tense and his thin lips pressed together into a tight line.

Noticing his silence, she peeked at his expression before she took off the jade bracelet she always wore from her hand.

She then placed the bracelet in front of him and said reluctantly, "This jade bracelet was given to me by my grandmother. I heard from her that it was passed on to her mother by her grandmother. Her grandmother was of noble birth, and this jade bracelet is a real antique from over 100 years ago. I don't know how much this is worth, but it is a precious thing to me. I know that it might not be something rare

to you, but this is the most valuable thing I have right now and I am giving it to you. I hope you will be a bigger person, Dylan, so please don't be angry at me anymore, alright?"

Kendall kept stealing glances at him to read his face as she spoke.

"Oh—Dylan. Get rid of that sour look on your face, please! You are such a good-looking man. I am sure you will look even better if you would just smile. Will you show me your smiling face?"

He didn't answer her, and only looked at the bracelet as he picked it up.

It was still warm from her body heat since it had only been a minute since she removed it.

After flipping it around to inspect it, he agreed that it was good stuff after all.

The moment he noticed from the corner of his eye that she seemed reluctant to part with her bracelet, he immediately felt like doing something bad. "I will accept it since you want to give it to me."

Huh? It turns out men like jade bracelets too.

Kendall's unwilling eyes continued to stare at the bracelet for a long time before she finally looked away. "It is my pleasure to give you something you would accept." She then forced a laugh before continuing timidly, "Uh… Dylan? Are you still angry?"

"Who told you I am angry?"

She was rendered speechless by his curt question. Why would he hang up her calls, not reply to her

messages, and even put a sullen face on if he wasn't mad?

"Is there anything else?" he asked again.

"N-No. That is all."

"The door is that way," he sassed. "Go on."

Upon hearing that, Kendall paused for a beat before she murmured, "Dylan."

"Spit it out!"

"Spit what out?"

His already-stoic became even more stern. "Aren't you calling me because you have something to say? I am telling you to spit it out. Say what you want."

"But I have nothing I want to say. I was just calling your name."

"That's all?"

"That's all."

The corners of his mouth suddenly lifted.

He was smiling at her.

However, Kendall couldn't help but get goosebumps all over her back when she saw the mysterious expression on his face.

"Since you like calling my name so much, I want you to call my name 100 times from now on. Record it on your phone. Have it sent to me by the time it reaches 100."

She just knew that nothing good ever came out of him smiling.

At this point, it might be better for him to continue putting his cold expression on. If she continued trying to melt his iceberg of a face, and if she somehow managed to one day, she would probably drown in the melted ice.

"You will have to bear the consequences if I don't receive your voice message."

She was tempted to ask him what were the consequences of her not doing so, but she eventually settled with asking, "Should I call you Master Dylan or just Dylan?"

"What do you think?"

"Alright, fine." She pouted.

Kendall then went around his desk and trudged out of his office with her head down.

Dylan was watching her all the while, and there was a hint of amusement twinkled in his eyes.

Still, instead of calling out to her to make her stay, he quietly watched her leave.

He then gave Ronnie a call after he was alone again.

"Come to my office for a bit," he instructed.

"Roger that."

Ronnie hurried to the elevator after the call and he coincidentally bumped into Kendall, who was waiting for the elevator.

As soon as he saw her, he politely greeted, "Young Mistress Kendall."

She only responded with a dispirited hum as she stepped into the elevator.

He had a feeling that she was disappointed about something, but he didn't have time to spare at guessing her thoughts as he hurried to the top floor.

After he arrived at the office, Ronnie was handed the jade bracelet.

He continued to look at Dylan with a confused gaze without taking the bracelet from his boss' hand.

"Get a box for this and pack it up nicely. I am giving this out as a present."

Ronnie only took the bracelet then. "When will you be needing this, Young Master Dylan?"

"ASAP."

"Understood."

Ronnie then carefully slipped the bracelet into the inner pocket of his suit jacket.

"Young Master Dylan, I met Young Mistress Kendall earlier. She looked disappointed for some reason."

Hearing that, Dylan told him in a calm voice, "She just gave me a treasure of hers. I would be very displeased if she wasn't disappointed."

It would mean that the bracelet wasn't important to her, or she could even be brushing him off if she wasn't dejected after handing it out.

Ronnie didn't dare utter a word after hearing that.

"As for the card I got rid of this morning… Get a few men with you and see if you can get it back."

"Blake has it. Do you still want it, Young Master Dylan?"

Dylan didn't say anything as he mused about how well his bodyguards knew him. It was a good thing that they were all loyal to him. He wouldn't have kept them by his side otherwise.

After Dylan casually waved his hand, Ronnie took it as a sign for him to quietly leave the office.

It didn't take long for Ronnie to get the card that Dylan had thrown away this morning from Blake. Ronnie proceeded to hand it over to Emma, who then brought it to the president's office.

She couldn't help but wonder who in the world was brave enough to give something like this to Dylan.

What came even more as a surprise then was how Dylan not only didn't tell her to throw it away, he actually took it from her with his own hands.

Women were usually more attentive and sensitive to things like this.

From the card and the two little mice on his desk, she suddenly had a feeling that Dylan had changed.

He seemed like he was… in love!

The woman who had managed to win his heart was definitely the luckiest woman in the world!

At the same time, Kendall was wondering if she was the luckiest woman on earth.

Well, it certainly seemed like it.

After all, not everyone could come back from the dead to live their life again like she was doing now.

 

Chapter 72

"Be careful not to break it."

Rosemi was in the midst of instructing a few workers to bring the betrothal gift she had sent to the Parker Residence out of the car and into the house when she barked a reminder at the servants.

These were all expensive items, after all.

Breaking them was almost equivalent to burning money.

She continued to cause a commotion over nothing.

Charlotte was personally cooking lunch to have with her daughter when she heard the noise coming from outside. After she finally couldn't take it anymore, she raised her voice and asked, "Mrs. Sabrina, what is going on outside?"

The servant who was called was feeding Kelly's two Ragdolls as she replied, "I am going to go take a look now, Mrs. Parker."

She then petted the cats and told them in a soft voice, "Enjoy your food, alright? I'll be back in a jiffy."

She had only gone off for a while before she scurried back to the house, exclaiming, "Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Whittle is here to deliver the dowry! She seems very generous with the presents. They look like they are really expensive!"

Charlotte's face immediately turned thunderous as soon as she heard that.

She was baffled by why would Rosemi still stubbornly bring the dowry over when Charlotte had clearly refused her proposal to the marriage between Jackson and Kendall.

Still, she immediately took off her apron and after telling Mrs. Sabrina to take over her task at hand, she hurried outside to the entrance where she proceeded to greet Rosemi.

As soon as Rosemi saw her, a wide grin bloomed across her face and she affectionately called out, "My dear in-law!" The blood quickly drained from Charlotte's face when she heard that.

"Mrs. Whittle, you can't just say things like that! Our families may be acquainted, but we are not in- laws."

Their real in-laws were the Colemans, but it wasn't like Charlotte was at liberty to blurt something like that out.

Just thinking about this made her feel sad for her daughter.

"I brought the dowry here today, Mrs. Parker. See, after you accept these gifts, we can choose an auspicious date for the wedding. And once the big day arrives, we will become official in-laws. I am only calling you that now so that we both get comfortable with it earlier."

"Mrs. Whittle, you—"

"My dear in-law, let's continue our conversation inside," Rosemi abruptly cut Charlotte off as she linked her arm around the other woman's. Rosemi also didn't forget to instruct the workers she brought with her to carry the dowry in.

After saying that, she smilingly brought Charlotte with her into the house.

Her hold was so strong that Charlotte couldn't get away no matter how many times she tried to.

Now that they were already inside, Rosemi brought Charlotte to sit on the couch like she was the owner of the house.

"Oh, my dear in-law. Take a look at the dowry after they bring the gifts in. See if you are satisfied with them. You can tell me if you are not, and I will add more until you are."

"Like I said, Mrs. Whittle, I would like to have my daughter stay by my side for a few more years. Please don't mention the marriage anymore."

How could Kendall marry Jackson when she already was Dylan's wife?

As anxious as she was angry about the situation, she started complaining to herself about how her daughter didn't even bother telling her about something as important as this.

However, as if she hadn't heard a word Charlotte said, Rosemi continued instructing her worker to arrange the gifts in the luxurious hall of the house.

The jewelry was extremely striking that almost hurt to look at.

"These are the keys to a few new cars. This is the key to the villa my boy and your girl will live in after they get married. The renovation is done and it has been aired out. They can move in straight away after the wedding. By the way, my dear in-law, let's go shopping together when you are free. We should

get them furniture for their new place so that they don't have to worry about it."

Rosemi spoke like she was a machine gun firing off rounds and rounds of bullets.

Charlotte had opened her mouth many times now, but still she could not get even a word in.

"My dear in-law, these jewelry are my babies. Some of them are new and I am sure your daughter will like them. Look at how they glow under the light. These are all real gold and silver."

Charlotte had a feeling that Rosemi was taking the chance to show off the Whittles' wealth as well.

"Mrs. Whittle!" Charlotte's fale had turned as white as a paper. She didn't even care that she was being rude as she loudly exclaimed and cut off Rosemi's words. "I have told you—my daughter will not marry Jackson. Please take everything back, and never mention wanting them to marry. Kendall still has her reputation to care about. I can't let your son ruin it."

"Oh my! Whatever could you be talking about, Mrs. Parker? What does Jackson have anything to do with Kendall's reputation? She is not even the one I am proposing a marriage to."

Her words only further confused Charlotte, who then asked, "Who would you come here if not for Kendall, Mrs. Whittle? Is it Kelly?"

Charlotte only had two daughters. Rosemi was definitely here for Kelly if Kendall wasn't her pick.

Rosemi smiled when Charlotte had finally figured it out. "Indeed. I am here to propose to Kelly on my son's behalf. Mrs. Parker, you know how many years Kelly and Jackson have known each other. They have always had a good relationship with each other. They also suit each other well. Look at how good

they look together. Even though Kelly is not your biological daughter, you have been raising her up like one. I am sure you want to see her have a happy married life as well. My dear in-law, the Whittles are a pretty decent family. Don't worry. We will treat her like our own daughter if she marries Jackson."

Charlotte's expression continued to get darker.

It felt like Rosemi was intentionally poking her where it hurt!

Kendall used to be so in love with Jackson that she took care of him and obeyed him like he was some sort of god.

It got to a point where even Charlotte felt jealous that her own daughter was treating someone else better than Kendall ever treated Charlotte.

Charlotte still remembered how Rosemi had looked down on Kendall, but she must have come to propose because Kendall was the biological daughter of the Parker Family.

But now, Kendall had decided she was marrying Dylan instead of Jackson.

Charlotte had made sure to reject the proposal then. And yet, Rosemi had brought the dowry over and this time, it was to propose to Kelly instead. This was none other than a slap in the face for the Parkers!

Charlotte willed herself to stay calm as she asked in return, "Is this your or Jackson's doing? Why isn't Jackson here today?"

"What difference does it make? We are proposing to one of yours, anyway," Rosemi answered, a hint of guilt laced within her words.

She had taken it upon herself to propose without her husband or son's knowledge.

In fact, she was still bitter about how a village girl like Kendall had rejected her son.

She couldn't help but hold a grudge about how Kendall was blowing her own trumpet by thinking that Jackson was in love with her.

As for Rosemi intentionally bringing over a generous dowry and proposing to Kelly after Charlotte had rejected the previous proposal? All this was an act orchestrated by Rosemi to make Charlotte angry.

"Mrs. Whittle, I don't care if this is you or your son's idea. I have told you clearly that I won't let Kelly marry your son. Please go. Also, take all your gifts away with you. They are taking up a lot of space in my house."

There was no way Charlotte would allow Kelly and Jackson to be together after she found out that they were in love with each other.

Since Kelly had it in her to cheat Kendall, Charlotte wasn't going to let it go and she was going to stop Kelly from being together with the man she loved. Of course, Charlotte wouldn't have minded if Kelly ended up becoming Jackson's mistress.

No matter what, she wouldn't allow Kelly to marry Jackson!

"My dear in-law, why don't you give your husband and daughter a heads-up, and ask for Kelly's opinion on this? Who knows? She just might accept it. You shouldn't break up a couple who is meant to be together. You will get struck by lightning as punishment, you know?"

 

Chapter 73

Charlotte only coldly told her, "I call the shots in the family. Kelly will not marry Jackson if I say she can't."

That was, unless Kelly wanted to completely ruin her relationship with Charlotte.

The smile on Rosemi's face faded after Charlotte said that, but she still was amiable when she said, "Mrs. Parker, our families are on par with one another. A wedding between our families will only be advantageous for us both."

"You don't have to persuade me anymore, Mrs. Whittle. Please leave."

With a disappointed face, Rosemi sighed. "I really want us to be in-laws, Mrs. Parker. I will leave the gifts here for now. Give this a proper thought. There aren't many young lads in Orapolis that are better than Jackson. Can your daughter marry someone better if she misses the chance to marry Jackson? See, the sons from the Colemans, the Zorns and the Mendelsons may be a little more brilliant than my son, but they are on a different, higher level! My family and your family aren't all that. Let's not be over- achievers. Those families are far out of our reach."

After she threw out words of mockery, Rosemi added, "Oh—I forgot. You had the chance to climb higher. Didn't the Coleman Family propose to Kendall on Master Dylan's behalf? It was Kendall herself who insisted on marrying Jackson that she burned bridges with the Colemans. Mrs. Parker, I was truly touched when Kendall refused to marry Master Dylan for Jackson. I thought that Jackson had finally found the right one. Can you tell me why you rejected the proposal out of nowhere when everything was going well?"

Instead, Charlotte scoffed and asked in return, "I am curious too, Mrs. Whittle. Why are you suddenly

proposing on your son's behalf? Are they already infatuated with each other, or are you doing this as a revenge toward Kendall?"

Rosemi didn't say anything for a second there, but she soon stood up and blurted out, "Remember what I said about giving it a thought, Mrs. Parker. I will be leaving now."

After saying that, she was just about to leave when Charlotte pointed at the gifts that had somehow filled up most of the hallway. "Please bring the gifts with you," she demanded, wanting the dowry out of her house. "I will have them thrown away otherwise. I am not the one making a loss from this, anyway."

An embarrassed and troubled look appeared on Rosemi's face then, but still she got her workers to move everything out.

She had achieved what she came here for, anyway.

She took light steps out of the main house and looked up into the clear blue sky. What a great day this was!

Kendall had coincidentally returned right when Rosemi was leaving with her little army of workers and cars.

What is Mrs. Whittle doing here with so many people? Kendall wondered as she made haste into her home.

Right when she entered, she saw her mother smashing a glass out of anger. "Mommy? What is wrong?" she caringly asked after hurrying to Charlotte's side. "What was Mrs. Whittle doing here? I

happened to see her car leave when I came back."

"Oh—I am so angry I could have a heart attack!" Charlotte's fist landed heavily on the couch. "She was here to bring the wedding dowry!"

"Haven't you rejected the Whittles for me, Mommy? That darned Jackson! I made it so clear to him. How dare he get his mother to bring the dowry over?!"

Kendall thought that it was Jackson's idea.

"Kendall, Mrs. Whittle is proposing to Kelly on Jackson's behalf. She is trying to take her revenge on you."

Charlotte was glad that Kendall had returned home late, and had avoided bumping into Rosemi. She could only imagine how angry her daughter would be if she had seen that annoying look on Rosemi's face.

Kendall paused for a moment before asking, "How did you reply to her, Mommy?"

"I rejected her. I have said that I will not let them get together. There is no way I will allow it unless Kelly severs ties with us."

After hearing that, Kendall held Charlotte as they sat down on the couch, and she wrapped her arms around her mothers shoulders.

Both Adam and Charlotte had started getting suspicious of Kelly, but their ways of handling her were very different.

Adam had hoped that Kendall would try to get along with Kelly because she had a firm standing in the company.

Charlotte, on the other hand, was trying everything she could to stop Kelly from moving forward.

"Mommy," Kendall softly called Charlotte. "Thank you for unconditionally doing things for me."

As soon as she said that, Charlotte reached out and pulled her ear while complaining, "I can do certain things for you without condition, but there are things I can't. But you! You are doing things behind my back, and you don't even tell me after you have done it. Tell me, Kendall Parker—do you even treat me like your mother?"

Kendall knew Charlotte was enraged about the fact that she had married Dylan. Hence, she could only continue to let her mother continue punishing her ear.

"I am sorry, Mommy. I was wrong."

"You were wrong? You still don't look like you know where your fault lies!"

Charlotte couldn't help but feel bad when Kendall's ear started turning red, so she let go of it before pushing Kendall away from her, not allowing her daughter to get too close to her.

She then stood up and barked, "Come upstairs with me."

And that was what Kendall obediently did.

When they arrived at the study room on the second floor, Charlotte walked straight to the bookshelf and opened it before she brandished a feather duster.

Upon seeing that, Kendall immediately called out sweetly, "Mommy… I really know where I went wrong, but I am already an adult. You shouldn't use violence to educate me anymore. Using violence can easily traumatize children!"

Charlotte let out a chuckle at that. "Oh—so this scares you? Kendall Parker, you better give me a reason that can convince me."

Charlotte forcefully hit the feather duster on the table, making a loud noise that made Kendall jump at the same time.

"I went to talk to Master Dylan, and he told me that you were the one who forced him to marry you. Tell me, Kendall Parker—why did you do something like that?"

The feather duster in Charlotte's hand never stopped flailing in the air and landing on the table. The intimidating noise, too, never ceased.

It seemed like she was really mad this time.

Still, despite how angry she was, she never hit Kendall with the feather duster.

Kendall didn't think that her mother would personally go to Dylan.

She didn't even need to ask Charlotte to know why the older woman went to him.

Unspoken gratitude began to fill Kendall's heart then.

On top of that, recalling the tragedy that had happened to her whole family brought tears to Kendall's eyes too, and they gradually turned red.

"You are already crying even though I haven't hit you!" She hit the table one more time before she tossed the feather duster on the table. She then walked around the table and brought Kendall to the couch as Charlotte, with a heavy heart, wiped away her daughter's tears.

"Kendall, you are my daughter. Even though you didn't grow up with me by your side, blood will always be thicker than water. I am doing this for your own good. Can you tell me what made you change your mind about marrying Jackson, who you were so enthralled with?"

"Mommy," Kendall uttered one word, and her tears began to fall.

Seeing this, Charlotte quickly wiped them away.

"Don't cry, Kendall. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I will stop asking. But Kendall, you are still too young to spend a lifetime with a man with a condition like Master Dylan's. Your life ahead will only get tougher." She sighed while drying Kendall's eyes. Charlotte's own eyes began to turn red too after she let out another sigh.

"I'll tell you, Mommy." Kendall eventually wiped her own tears and started telling Charlotte about her past life, but she made it sound like it was all a dream she had.

After listening to the story, Charlotte stared at her daughter with a confused expression. She didn't know if she should laugh or cry about this, but her daughter's story filled her heart with pain.

"Dear Kendall!" She then poked Kendall's forehead as she commented, "It was only a dream! It wasn't reality. Just because of a dream you had, you actually forced Master Dylan to marry you, had a fallout with Kelly, and also stayed away from Jackson? Don't you think this is ridiculous?"

 

Chapter 74

"I am afraid that my dream will come true, Mommy. I am scared that you and Daddy will really… I would rather treat it as a precognitive dream to make sure everyone is safe than think of it as a mere dream."

Hearing that, Charlotte asked, "But have you ever considered that Kelly would do as she did in your dream exactly because you let your dream break you two apart?"

It wasn't as though Kendall could just tell Charlotte that it was something that had happened in her past life, so the former could only use the words Dylan had said before. "Mommy, Kelly and I will eventually fall out as long as I am you and Daddy's biological daughter. She will still come for my neck even if I don't go for hers."

Charlotte fell silent at that.

She and Adam had trained Kelly to become the Parker Corporation's successor. Kelly might look gentle and polite on the surface but she was, in fact, an ambitious woman.

Thinking that everything Parker-related would eventually fall in her hands, Kelly had been working hard at bettering herself. She had always been driven by the motivation to grow the Parker Corporation, and having it listed as one of the richest companies there was.

However, her plans had been thrown off course when it was revealed that she was the child of a couple from a rural village. She wasn't at all related to the Parkers by blood.

It only made sense that this wasn't a reality Kelly could accept.

Knowing that Kendall was the one who was going to take everything from her only made things worse.

And on top of that, Kelly and Jackson actually…

Kendall said that the two of them were together behind her back in her dream. They even had a lovechild together. Not only that, they eventually ended up causing the deaths of Adam, Charlotte, and Kendall's child…

Charlotte's face had turned pale after she listened to her daughter.

No one could possibly have dreams where every detail was connected. Instead of a dream, it was more like a memoir being played, where every scene was causing fear to arise within Charlotte.

It was no wonder Kendall would make such a decision after she had the dream.

"Don't worry, Mommy," Kendall consoled Charlotte. "I will work hard at getting stronger so that I can protect you and Daddy. I will not let the dream become a reality."

Charlotte then replied in a firm tone, "You're right, Kendall. It is better to think of it as a precognitive dream than just brushing it off. You don't have to worry. I will always be on your side no matter what may happen."

"Thank you, Mommy."

Unbeknownst to them, a small accident had occurred at Whittle Holdings while they were having their heart-to-heart talk.

The company's president, Tom Whittle, who happened to be Jackson's father, was on the way out of his office with Jackson beside him when he reminded his own secretary, "Bring all the documents. Let's not make President Dunhill wait for too long."

He had gone through lengths to secure a lunch with President Dunhill in order to discuss a new project they were supposed to collaborate on. It was a lunch appointment that was extremely important to Tom.

The secretary had checked it again and again before, and she was confident that nothing was left behind. "The documents are all ready, President Whittle," she said.

Hearing that, he let out a hum as he nodded before he walked toward the elevator with his son and secretary in tow.

Ring! Ring!

The secretary's phone began to ring.

She took a look at the phone screen, and informed Tom, "I have gotten a call from President Dunhill's secretary."

"Pick it up, quickly!" he urged, in which the secretary dutifully did.

Her face soon fell as she listened to what the other end of the call had to say. After the call ended, she turned to Tom and said, "President Whittle, President Dunhill's secretary has just informed me that we don't have to head to the appointment anymore. President Dunhill has already discussed and signed a contract for a collaboration with Master Dylan."

"What?!" Tom roared with his eyes widened. He even started doubting his own ears.

Jackson's face had turned sour as well. "Did President Dunhill's secretary really say that?" he urgently questioned. "But he looked like he was looking forward to our appointment! He was even showing positive reactions to our collaboration. Why did he suddenly turn to Master Dylan and even sign a contract with him?"

They were surprisingly fast in finalizing the contract.

"Vice President Whittle, that was all President Dunhill's secretary told me. She didn't tell me the reason. She only told me that we no longer have to go to the appointment. After that, she hung up."

The one who took the business opportunity Whittle Holdings was looking forward to was Dylan Coleman, the god of Orapolis' business world himself. Hence, there was nothing the Whittles could do even if they were angry about it.

The Whittle Holdings didn't stand a chance against the Coleman Empire Holdings in terms of ability alone.

What Tom and Jackson couldn't make sense of was how despite not having history of a close partnership with the Coleman Empire Holdings before, they were, in one way or another, acquaintances. The Whittles had always acted carefully around the Colemans. Even if they weren't friends, the Whittles took caution to not offend the Colemans in any way.

For Dylan to rob the Whittles of what was supposed to be theirs… Could this be a sign the Coleman Empire Holdings was making an enemy out of the Whittle Holdings?

"Jackson, follow me into my office." Tom grunted with a sour face as he turned around to re-enter his office.

"Ms. Zetta, hurry up and try to find out if Master Dylan did this on purpose."

Hearing that, the secretary, Dina Zetta, nodded. It was only then that Jackson turned around and hurried after his father.

As soon as they were alone in the office, Tom looked at Jackson and questioned, "Be honest with me, Jackson—did you do something to offend Master Dylan?"

Jackson immediately protested, "I wouldn't dare do that, Father! I always show my respect to him like he was the King when I see him. I can't even wait to kiss his *ss. Why would I ever offend him? Even if I was bored and sick of my life, I wouldn't do something that would harm our family name."

"Remember that you recently went to the Coleman Mansion because of Kendall Parker? Who else but you would make trouble for our company?!"

Jackson started recalling the time he had met Dylan, and he said with confidence, "I can assure you that it wasn't me, Father. I really didn't get on his nerves or anything. Master Dylan even told me that he will come to Kendall and my engagement banquet when the time comes."

Ring! Ring!

The intercom began to make noise.

Hence, Tom had to momentarily stop scolding his son as he picked up the phone.

Jackson only looked on as his father wordlessly listened to the unknown caller speak. Thereafter, Tom slammed the phone on the table, and even went as far as to tear out the cable connecting to the phone.

Jackson knew in that instant that something had gone terribly wrong.

"Father, what is it?!" he worriedly asked.

Tom suddenly turned toward Jackson and glared at him. "Jackson Whittle, you'd better fess up! What the hell did you do when you were at the Coleman Mansion?! Manager Sho who manages business relations for our company has just told me that a Secretary Miller from the Coleman Empire Holdings has informed him about wanting to cut all business ties with Whittle Holdings!"

Toddy Heller was Dylan's general secretary, which also made him Dylan's right-hand man. There were tons of people who wanted to secure a collaboration with Coleman Holdings by going through a man of his position. However, Toddy was no unloyal pushover. No one had ever succeeded at bribing or getting on his good side.

He was someone who was as unmoving as a mountain in terms of loyalty for Dylan.

Jackson hadn't even mustered a reply when Dina knocked on the door again.

"President Whittle, I have gotten wind that—"

Thinking that things must have taken a turn for the better, Jackson urged her to say what she found out. "What is it? Tell us!"

She gingerly peeked at Tom and muttered, "President Whittle, there are rumors going around about how we have offended the Colemans."

His face immediately fell, and he snapped, "What groundless allegations! Tell the Public Relations Department to clear up the air. And find out who started the d*mn rumor! I will sue them until they have nothing left!"

The rumors started going around when the Coleman Empire Holdings had cut ties with the Whittle Holdings right after the Colemans had signed a contract with Dylan. There were only two possibilities to this—it was either the Colemans who were trying to ruin them, or that there was a third party who was interfering in the Coleman Empire Holdings' name.

The Whittle Holdings had a lot of partners they worked together with which were not close to the Colemans. Still, having a rumor like this out in the public could only be damaging for the Whittles.

Those business partners of his were timid people who were afraid of being burned by the fire. In order to save themselves, they would cease collaboration with the Whittle Holdings, and that would in turn cause the Whittles damage.

The Coleman Empire Holdings were so influential in Orapolis that no one other than the Mendelson Group and Zorn Holdings could ever bear the consequences rumors like this brought about.

 

Chapter 75

"Ms. Zetta, inform Manager Sho that I want him to come with me to Coleman Empire Holdings right this instant."

Tom knew that the best way to save themselves from this situation was to let the public witness how pleasant the conversation was between him and Dylan or Toddy.

He wouldn't even need to address those rumors to make them disappear.

As for the Coleman Empire Holdings wanting to stop collaborating with them, Tom was sure that there was a good reason behind it, and he was going to ask and know about it no matter what.

"Understood," Dina answered before she hurried to Manager Sho.

"What about me, Father?" Jackson asked. He wanted to follow along as well.

Tom only glared at him and huffed, "You stay here and think about what you night have done that got on Master Dylan's nerves. Our families have always been on peaceful terms, but it only took one visit from you to Coleman Mansion to create all this mess!"

"Father, I really didn't do anything that would drag our company name through the mud!" Jackson whined, feeling wronged.

"I am sure you were the reason! You must have offended the Colemans when you and your mother went to propose to Kendall at the Parker Residence. D*mmit, Jackson Whittle! Are you this desperate for a wife? Why did you have to try to fight over one with the Colemans?"

This was the only thing Tom could think of that might have offended Dylan.

"Father, we were the ones who proposed first," Jackson muttered.

The Colemans only went after the Whittles did. Shouldn't the sequence they went to Kendall count as something?!

"Kendall must have threatened to harm herself in front of Master Dylan as her rejection of his proposal in order to marry you, then. This is why he is taking his revenge on us," Tom said.

"But Father, Master Dylan told me that he would prepare a generous gift for Kendall and I when we get engaged. He would even come to the engagement banquet." It was because of Dylan's words that Jackson had gotten so excited about wanting to get engaged and married to Kendall.

Tom was getting more confused by the minute. "You better stay away from Kendall. She is a walking curse. You can tell just from the way she fervently rejected the wedding proposal that she will only cause trouble for her future husband."

After throwing that out, Tom scurried out of his office, and made way to Coleman Empire Holdings with Dina and Manager Sho in tow.

The only thing was, Dylan had left a long time ago by the time the trio arrived at his company.

It was lunchtime, after all.

Kendall was still peacefully having lunch with Charlotte, having no idea of the commotion that was

going on in the business world.

The mother and daughter were happily putting food onto each other's plates.

"You are home, Ms. Kelly. Mrs. Parker and Ms. Kendall are having lunch together. Have you had your meal? Let me grab you a plate," the servant's words rang out, accompanied by Kelly's urgent footsteps. Her appearance immediately disturbed the peace between Kendall and Charlotte.

"Kelly!" Charlotte exclaimed with a surprised expression on her face when she saw Kelly rushing into the house. She then asked caringly, "Have you eaten, Kelly? Come join us if you haven't."

Kelly was trying her best to keep her bubbling temper at bay when she forced a smile. "Mommy, I had a meal with my biological mother when I was taking care of her at the hospital earlier."

Kendall sent a mouthful of food into her mouth and glanced over at her. "What's with your quick steps and fake smile? You got something going on with you, Kelly?" she casually asked.

"I am fine. Mommy, go ahead and have lunch with Kendall. I will be waiting for Kendall in the living room. I have some questions for her."

Kelly had managed to hold it in and not question Kendall in front of Charlotte.

After that, she turned around and walked out of the dining hall, leaving Charlotte confused.

Kendall, however, didn't have a change in her expression. Despite that, she was actually curious about what Kelly wanted to ask her after rushing home like that.

After 30 minutes went by, the sisters in name walked together along a narrow, shaded path within the villa's compound.

They might look like they were taking a stroll, but only Kendall knew how hard Kelly was suppressing her anger.

This only made Kendall more curious if she had unknowingly done something that pissed Kelly off again.

Now that they were in an isolated area far away from the villa and everyone else, Kelly finally came to a stop.

She then rather abruptly turned around and swung her hand at Kendall's face.

Fortunately, Kendall was quick enough to stop the incoming assault.

"Oh—Kelly. Since when were you into slapping people across their faces, huh? Have you considered the consequences of hitting me on my face? How do you plan on explaining yourself to Daddy and Mommy?"

Kendall then nonchalantly threw Kelly's hand away, a smile plastered on her beautiful face the whole while. That act she put on as if she was worried about Kelly only made the latter want to tear her apart.

To Kelly, the Kendall she was looking at now was nothing but a phony.

"Kendall, stop putting on your goody two-shoes act in front of me. You are finally showing your true colors after you have been here for a year. The only reason you came back to us is because you are a

greedy b*tch who is eyeing the family's wealth!"

"This is my home, and all the property under the family's name belongs to my parents. They can give it to whoever they want to in the future. You are making it sound like I have malicious intent."

Kendall then leaned over and inched her pretty face toward Kelly's, instantly tempting Kelly to dig her nails into her sister's skin.

Kendall then continued, "Kelly, what is it that you were going to ask me for you to come stomping into the house and bringing me somewhere Mommy can't see us?"

She stood tall, the smile on her face instantly replaced by a solemn look. "At least tell me the reason you are picking a fight with me, Kelly. I haven't even done anything to you lately that should warrant this!"

"Tell me, did you or did you not badmouth Jackson to Master Dylan?" Kelly suddenly interrogated. "Why would you make Master Dylan go against the Whittle Holdings by feeding him lies? Are you braindead?! Just what did Jackson do to you? Are you holding a grudge against him because he didn't make time to visit you when you were hurt? I thought that you really, really loved him. Is this how you show your love?"

Without giving Kendall a chance to explain herself, she continued spitting out one thing after another. "Are you trying to get Master Dylan to force the Whittle Holdings into a dead end? Then, you will act as Jackson's savior by telling him that you can help him save his company. Are you trying to get him to be grateful for you for the rest of his life? Kendall, why are you doing something so underhanded when Jackson has already promised that he will marry you? You're such a shameless woman!"

It was now Kendall's turn to be confused after listening to all that.

It was true that she never held herself back in front of Dylan when it came to Jackson, but she had never provoked Dylan into doing anything to the Whittle Holdings.

Finally making sense of Kelly's words, Kendall asked, "Did something happen to the Whittle Holdings?"

"Yes, their reputation with their partners is at risk now. Are you happy with what you have done? Were you the one who spread the rumor that Whittle Holdings offended the Coleman Empire Holdings?"

Kendall had a rough guess of what had happened to the company from Kelly's accusations.

Looking at the panicky Kelly, Kendal only coldly said, "That is the Whittle's problem, then. Why are you so worried when it has got nothing to do with the Parker Corporation? You even brought me all the way out here to admonish me. Also, please make sure you get your facts straight before you come at me like this. Check if I have really done what you said I did. You never know what the consequences of falsely accusing someone could lead to."

Kelly had exposed how much she cared about Jackson herself.

Kendall was somewhat looking forward to the different creative ways Kelly might persuade her to be with Jackson in the future.

“……”

Kelly couldn't say anything in return.

She, too, had realized just how much she had overreacted.

She had been so worried about Jackson and the Whittle Holdings after she heard the news that she had impulsively came home to force the truth out of Kendall.

 

Chapter 76

Kelly quickly calmed down and explained the situation, "Kendall, we have joint projects with Whittle Holdings, after all. Furthermore, Jackson and I have been friends for years. I was worried that Whittle Holdings would get in trouble. That would affect our collaboration and could result in our company's loss as well."

There were no forever friends or foes in business. Profit was what made the world go round.

A lot of major corporations and businesses were acquainted with each other in one way or another. The Parker Corporation and Whittle Holdings, too, had engaged in business numerous times. This was something that Kendall wasn't aware of.

"I was too agitated just now, and I didn't control my tone very well. I apologize for that." After Kelly said she was sorry, she started nagging at Kendall again. "You have been back for a year now, Kendall. Even though you have never directly been involved in our company's business dealings and you may not know much about the company, you should at least understand how powerful connections can be. You have obviously gotten on Master Dylan's bad side, and you were even brought back to the Coleman Mansion to be their unpaid nanny. Are you sure you want to make the Whittles your enemy too? I don't ask you to help shoulder Daddy's and my troubles, but the least you could do is to not drag us down."

After Kelly said that, Kendall let out a half smile on her face. "You said it yourself. Dylan brought me back to be their unpaid nanny as his little act of revenge. Why would I ever do something as thick- skinned as provoking him into harming Whittle Holdings?"

Kendall still wasn't at a place where she could easily accomplish something like sabotaging the Whittle Holdings.

Kelly looked at Kendall with scrutinizing eyes, and upon realizing that her sister might be telling the truth after all, she smiled and tried to hook her arm around Kendall's, only for Kendal to inch away before she could do it.

"Is there anything else bothering you?" Kendall asked.

"I am really sorry about what happened earlier, Kendall. I am responsible for a lot of business dealings in the company, and one of them is with Whittle Holdings. It is because I know more about the internal situation that I got anxious and have scolded you."

"Yeah, right." Kendall mocked, the corners of her lips upturned. "You were unbelievably agitated. There is not one person in Orapolis that doesn't know how calm and steady the vice president of the Parker Corporation is. This sort of extreme agitation really isn't you, Kelly."

Kelly had the audacity to boost herself up even though she was actually doing this for Jackson. Not only that, she was also insinuating that Kendall was the one who didn't know the family business, and that she was the one who offended someone she shouldn't have, and had caused the company a loss.

"Kendall, you said that you have let go of the grudge between you and Jackson?" Kelly abruptly changed the direction the conversation was heading into. "Are you… really planning on giving up on him? It was love at first sight for you, wasn't it? And he also has feelings for you. You both are meant for each other."

In all honesty, this was something that Kelly was very concerned about.

She wondered if Kendall had really let him go, or if Kendall was only baiting her to reveal the truth herself because Kendall had already found out about her and Jackson.

"Kelly, did you know that Mrs. Whittle came over to our home today?" Kendall suddenly asked.

Kelly had a bad feeling about it all of a sudden. "What did she come here for?"

Kendall only stared at her without saying a word.

Seeing that her sister wasn't replying, Kelly asked again, "What are you looking at me like that for, Kendall?"

"I want to congratulate you!" Kendall smiled. Just as Kelly was starting to wonder what she was talking about, Kendall explained, "Mrs. Whittle was here to deliver the dowry."

"Dowry?!" Kelly shrieked. However, her voice turned calm again the next moment. "She must have brought the dowry to you on behalf of Jackson. I should be the one congratulating you, Kendall."

"Mrs. Whittle came to propose to you," Kendall unexpectedly told her. "And she even directly prepared and brought the dowry over in broad daylight. She even said it outright that she wanted you as her daughter-in-law. This is a joyous occasion. Congratulations!"

Ignoring the dumb, baffled look on Kelly's face, Kendall leaned in and whispered, "But Mommy was really angry about it. She rejected the proposal."

After saying that, Kendall walked past Kelly and sauntered in the direction they came from.

Kelly, on the other hand, couldn't calm herself down after learning about this.

If only she was the Parker couple's biological daughter, she would definitely have had a grand wedding with Jackson.

However, Kelly was not happy at all about Rosemi coming to their house personally to suggest a proposal between Kelly and Jackson. Instead, she was enraged.

Why would Rosemi do something like bringing the dowry over without telling her beforehand?!

Almost all of Orapolis knew that Kendall liked Jackson. Jackson, too, had said that he would marry Kendall. However, the one Rosemi was proposing to now was Kelly. Truth was, it didn't even surprise Kelly that Charlotte had reacted negatively at that. Not only that, Rosemi's actions would only make Adam and Charlotte think that she was robbing Kendall of her groom…

Kelly immediately took out her phone and called Jackson. As soon as he picked up the call, she blurted out, "Jackson, did you know that your mother brought dowry over to my house and proposed to me on your behalf today?"

Jackson was stunned upon hearing that. "How could my mother do this?" he hissed in a low voice. "She didn't inform anyone before she brought the dowry over? Kelly, I didn't know about this. I honestly had no idea."

"I had a feeling you didn't. Now that your mother has interfered with our plans, I am afraid we will need to come up with a new plan."

"Kelly." Still in a low voice, Jackson asked, "How did your mother react when my mother brought the

dowry over? Why don't we just get married if she has agreed to it?"

Kelly stayed level-headed despite everything that was happening.

She knew she couldn't get married before Kendall did.

Because as soon as she did, Adam would definitely be more cautious of her and her husband's side of the family.

When Kelly used to be an only child, she was supposed to be the one who would inherit everything from the Parkers. Adam had once told her that she must protect the family name and never let her husband have any of their property under his name.

But now, there was Kendall in the equation. Kelly knew that Adam would train Kendall to be the successor of the company if Kelly were to get married first. After all, Kendall was the biological daughter and Kelly was not.

After collecting her thoughts, Kelly calmly explained, "We can't be together now, Jackson. I cannot get married before Kendall does. It is not that I don't love you, Jackson. It is my dream to be your bride. You know what my plans are. Can you please wait for me for a little longer? Your priority now is to get your company out of its current crisis. I asked Kendall about it earlier. She told me that she wasn't the one who talked Master Dylan into taking revenge on Whittle Holdings. I don't think she lied. Think about it—does Master Dylan look like a man who will move mountains for a woman? We might have overestimated Kendall. Also, I know how busy you are, but you need to make time to explain to Kendall that you have nothing to do with your mother's unplanned visit with the dowry. Kendall likes you too much that I find it hard to believe she has let go of her feelings for you in just a little more than a week's time."

Kelly realized that she had been a little too impulsive lately, and it was because of this that Kendall had her suspicions on Kelly's relationship with Jackson. Today was a prime example of the consequences.

Jackson's anticipation was starting to fade away.

The very woman who said that she was crazy about him was pushing him to another woman because of her own interests and ambitions.

He still remembered how he used to despise Kendall, but it was for his lover's thirst for more that he had no choice but to pretend that the one he loved was Kendall.

 

 

Chapter 77

"I cen't telk for long, Jeckson. I em outside. I em going to heng up now." Kelly looked left end right ceutiously, worried thet someone might overheer her conversetion with Jeckson. "You cen tell me if you ever need help from the Perker Corporetion. My words do cerry weight et the compeny."

After ell, she wes still the successor of the Perker Corporetion.

As for Kendell…

Even if she were to be e pert of the compeny, Kelly would never give her the chence to grow her influence es long es Kelly wes still eround.

Jeckson geve her his thenks end efter weiting for Kelly to heng up the cell, he took e few deep breeths. He wes plenning to cell his mother et first, but finelly decided egeinst it. He didn't immedietely cell Kendell to explein the situetion to her either.

She hed chenged so quickly thet he wes et e loss. He even sterted suspecting thet she hed turned into e completely different person eltogether.

He wes efreid thet she wouldn't pick up his cell if he celled her.

After debeting ebout it, he decided thet he should first seve the Whittle Holdings from the crisis it wes in, end only think of e wey to eppeese her leter.

Kendell received e cell from her best friend, Amelie Teylor, right when the former hed just got home.

"Kendell, I em beck! I just got out of the plene. Come pick me up. I bought you tons of good food end

fun stuff!"

Amelie hed gone on e trip end with every new plece thet she went, she mede sure she bought locel specielties for her glutton of e friend.

"Finelly grecing the hometown with your presence, huh?" Kendell sercesticelly rented. "You heertless women! You didn't even tell me before you went on e vecetion. I would heve immedietely followed you elong if you hed informed me."

Upon heering thet, Amelie let out e giggle end teesed her friend, "Am I the heertless one or ere you? You heve given your whole heert to Jeckson. The only person you would go on e trip with is him. You wouldn't heve gone with me. You little bret, you seem to velue your love life over our friendship! Thet Jeckson guy must heve drugged you or something for you to go crezy over him like this."

It wes probebly due to the fect thet Amelie wes viewing the whole reletionship objectively es e third perty thet she elweys hed e feeling thet Jeckson wesn't true to Kendell. Amelie hed privetely brought this up to Kendell before, but Kendell hed been dismissive of her werning then.

"I heve snepped out of it. Weit for me et the eirport. I will be there in e jiffy."

"Fine," Amelie seid with e smile, "I will be weiting for you here. Drive cerefully, okey? No speeding. I em not in e rush enywey. I cen heve something to eet while I weit for you."

"Alright, Rest essured. I heve godly driving skills."

Amelie only replied to her self-preise with silence.

Just es Kendell seid, her driving skills were godly indeed. Sitting in her cer during en emergency felt like it wes e ride on e plene insteed. It wes en experience frightening enough to meke one's heert jump out of their chest. "I can't talk for long, Jackson. I am outside. I am going to hang up now." Kelly looked left and right cautiously, worried that someone might overhear her conversation with Jackson. "You can tell me if you ever need help from the Parker Corporation. My words do carry weight at the company."

After all, she was still the successor of the Parker Corporation.

As for Kendall…

Even if she were to be a part of the company, Kelly would never give her the chance to grow her influence as long as Kelly was still around.

Jackson gave her his thanks and after waiting for Kelly to hang up the call, he took a few deep breaths. He was planning to call his mother at first, but finally decided against it. He didn't immediately call Kendall to explain the situation to her either.

She had changed so quickly that he was at a loss. He even started suspecting that she had turned into a completely different person altogether.

He was afraid that she wouldn't pick up his call if he called her.

After debating about it, he decided that he should first save the Whittle Holdings from the crisis it was in, and only think of a way to appease her later.

Kendall received a call from her best friend, Amelia Taylor, right when the former had just got home.

"Kendall, I am back! I just got out of the plane. Come pick me up. I bought you tons of good food and fun stuff!"

Amelia had gone on a trip and with every new place that she went, she made sure she bought local specialties for her glutton of a friend.

"Finally gracing the hometown with your presence, huh?" Kendall sarcastically ranted. "You heartless woman! You didn't even tell me before you went on a vacation. I would have immediately followed you along if you had informed me."

Upon hearing that, Amelia let out a giggle and teased her friend, "Am I the heartless one or are you? You have given your whole heart to Jackson. The only person you would go on a trip with is him. You wouldn't have gone with me. You little brat, you seem to value your love life over our friendship! That Jackson guy must have drugged you or something for you to go crazy over him like this."

It was probably due to the fact that Amelia was viewing the whole relationship objectively as a third party that she always had a feeling that Jackson wasn't true to Kendall. Amelia had privately brought this up to Kendall before, but Kendall had been dismissive of her warning then.

"I have snapped out of it. Wait for me at the airport. I will be there in a jiffy."

"Fine," Amelia said with a smile, "I will be waiting for you here. Drive carefully, okay? No speeding. I am not in a rush anyway. I can have something to eat while I wait for you."

"Alright, Rest assured. I have godly driving skills."

Amelia only replied to her self-praise with silence.

Just as Kendall said, her driving skills were godly indeed. Sitting in her car during an emergency felt like it was a ride on a plane instead. It was an experience frightening enough to make one's heart jump out of their chest.

After the call with her best friend, Kendall completely forgot about the warning Dylan had given her as she went into the villa and took the car keys from Charlotte. She then drove her mother's BMW and happily headed to the airport to pick Amelia up.

Right when Kendall left the building, she came across Kelly, who happened to be walking back.

"Where are you going, Kendall?"

"Mind your own business."

That was all Kendall said in reply before she stepped on the gas. The vehicle was out of view within a split second, leaving Kelly behind by herself.

There were many intersections at the roads around the villa where cars would always appear out of nowhere.

Driving fast on the roads here could easily result in an accident.

So was the case with Kendall.

Seeing that there was no other car ahead of her while she was on the road, she started speeding up, prompted by the thrill of driving fast cars.

Even when she reached a curve, all she did was slightly decrease her speed.

She definitely did not expect to then come head-to head with not one, but a motorcade when she turned into the corner. Her immediately stepping on her brakes did nothing to stop the car as she had been driving at a high speed.

Panicked, she quickly turned the steering wheel. Even though she managed to evade the cars that came from the opposite direction, she had in turn knocked her mother's car against an afforestation tree by the side of the road.There was a loud noise when the car met the tree.

Bang!

Oh no! I wrecked Mommy's car!

After the initial shock, she hurriedly pushed open the car door and got out to check the severity of the car damage.

The incoming cars had come to a stop as well.

Ronnie, who was in one of the cars, turned his head and alerted Dylan, "It's Young Mistress Kendall, Young Master Dylan."

Dylan had actually recognized her when she panickedly avoided the cars and ended up hitting the tree.

He had made it clear that she wasn't allowed to drive by herself anymore. She was supposed to inform Amos if she wanted to go anywhere, and Amos would arrange a ride for her.

Alas, his words had gone in one ear and out the other.

Not only did she seem to make it a point to drive whenever she returned to the Parker Residence, she also made sure to drive really fast every time!

"I am getting out of the car," Dylan hissed, in which Ronnie immediately acted upon.

He was also praying for Kendall at the same time.

He remembered how Dylan had coincidentally seen Kendall speeding last time. Dylan had instructed his men to remove the tyres of her car then. She was still speeding now like she used to, and not only that, she had almost hit one of their cars…

Young Mistress Kendall probably won't have the chance to lay her hands on another steering wheel after this! Ronnie sighed to himself.

The bumper of Charlotte's BMW had been terribly damaged. Looking at the mess she had made, Kendall couldn't help but feel mortified.

Who would have expected the cars to suddenly appear from the opposite direction?!

She continued to look at the bumper in a daze for one whole minute before she finally turned her head toward the row of cars.

Sh*t! It's Dylan! Her face swiftly turned pale when she recognized him. She couldn't understand how her luck could be so rotten that he always caught her when she was speeding. He had gotten rid of her wheels the last time she sped, even though nothing had happened. But now that she had ended up in an accident… Will he dismantle my whole car this time?

As she looked at Dylan being escorted toward her by Ronnie, she began to brainstorm for a way she could get herself out of this 'crisis'.

"Haha! What a coincidence, Dylan!" she laughed out loud, and even started waving like she was giving him a casual greeting.

Dylan and his bodyguards were all rendered speechless then.

"Why are you here, Dylan? Did you come for me? Look! Aren't I super gentle and considerate to you? I came halfway to welcome you after I found out that you would be coming for me."

Kendall was about two meters from Dylan when he raised his hand, motioning for Ronnie to stop.

He then continued to look at his wife putting up an act as he sat in his wheelchair, his gaze cold.

"Um… I didn't have time to tell Mr. Miller to prepare a ride for me because of an emergency situation. And since I was at the Parker Residence and Mr. Miller is at the Coleman Mansion, I figured it would be too late by the time he got here. That was why I borrowed my mother's car…" The more she spoke, the smaller her voice got from embarrassment.

Color had rushed into her cheeks, making her originally pale face red.

Dylan suddenly spoke up then. "Are you done talking?"

"I am," she gulped while nodding.

"Why are you blushing?"

Hearing that, Kendall brought her hand up to rub on her cheeks, and she bashfully babbled, "Um… It is because of the hot weather! Right. It is a hot day today. It is so warm my face is flushed."

Dylan's face, on the other hand, went black.

Her talent for spewing nonsense really knocked his socks off!

"Come here!" he coldly demanded, instantly giving her goosebumps all over.

Is he going to knock me on my head again?

Knowing that admitting to it was the best thing she could do now, Kendall quickly lowered her head and wailed, "I know that it is my fault, Dylan. I promise to never drive fast! C-Can you please not be mad at me anymore?"

There wasn't a trace of emotion on Dylan's face, but his already-cold voice only went up another notch. "Kendall Parker, you better come here right this instant. Don't make me repeat myself again!"

She started to panic as she looked at him gingerly, and she shuffled toward him slowly, as if she had turned into a snail.

 

Chapter 78

Even if Kendall had really turned into a snail, she was still bound to reach her destination, which was only about 2 meters away from her.

She was finally standing in front of Dylan after she tried her absolute best to drag her feet.

"Dylan," she called out with a sweet smile on her face.

After spending time together, she had figured out at some point that the man had no resistance toward her smile.

It didn't matter if it was after she had done something wrong,or she had gotten into trouble, he would always forgive her with an open heart as soon as she flashed him one of her bright smiles and said a few words to brighten his mood.

This time, however, the man only continued to glare at her with a gaze so cold it made her shrink back in fear. Her smile had proven to be useless for the first time.

Dylan's low, emotionless voice rang out after what seemed like an eternity. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Kendall froze when he unexpectedly showed his concern. She had thought that he would be furious with her.

Even though both his facial expression and tone of voice were gloomy as though she had committed an unforgivable crime, that was how Dylan showed he worried for her.

Her fear had now completely been replaced by a gush of warmth in her chest.

Being the receiver of his kindness in two of her lifetimes was the luck she had been blessed with in her life.

"I'm alright," she said. "It is only the car's bumper that got wrecked. I am okay. I am a little in shock, though."

The man's gaze was still as sharp as ever, but it didn't make her feel frigid anymore.

Just like his aloof personality, he had a cold way of caring for another person. All it took to feel his concern was some getting used to.

Dylan's scrutinizing eyes looked at her from head to toe, and after making sure that she was unharmed, he let out a beautiful smile. However, the words that came out of his mouth next were full of ridicule. "You are in shock? I even thought that nothing in this world could ever scare you."

"That is true! Except for you, Dylan. Respectfully, you scare me."

Right after Kendall said that, he suddenly grabbed her by her wrist and forcefully pulled her, making her fall right onto his chest.

The familiar scent of his body instantly entered her nostrils.

"Ouch! Dylan! Be more gentle with me. It hurts! Be more gentle!"

He was pulling her by her ear like he would punish a child.

As much as she wanted to get out of his embrace, she wasn't willing to sacrifice her ear for it.

It was only until her ear had turned red from the abuse that he finally let go of her.

"Come up with a better lie next time. You are scared of me? I would have believed it if I hadn't caught you speeding twice now. Kendall Parker, do you not remember what I told you before? I want you to write me a 10,000 word self-reflection essay when you go home."

Not only Mommy, Dylan also pulls my ear when he is angry, Kendall grumbled while rubbing her sore ear.

After hearing about the punishment, she almost jumped up in shock.

"10,000 words?!" she yelped. "A 10,000 words self-reflection essay, Dylan? I can't write that! I can't even write a 1,000 word one. How am I supposed to write a 10,000 word self-reflection essay?!"

He continued speaking in his nonchalant voice, "Keep up with your wailing and we will make that 20,000 words. I want the essay by 12.00 AM. Don't even think about stepping out of the Coleman Mansion after today if you don't give me the essay on time."

At that, Kendall pleaded, "I know I am in the wrong, Dylan. Can't you be the bigger person and forgive me this once? Look, I am alright. Only the car was damaged. Don't worry. I won't ask you to replace a new car for me this time."

Instead of answering her, Dylan went on and rolled the wheels of his wheelchair to the front of the car. As he looked at the severely damaged bumper, his softening heart immediately hardened again when

he recalled the frightening incident that had happened just moments ago.

It seemed like a punishment was necessary to make sure that she wouldn't drive fast again.

She could only end up two ways at the speed that she was going at—crippled, or dead.

There was no way he would allow such a thick-skinned woman like her to die. Despite how he constantly acted, it actually made him happy to keep her by his side and occasionally tease her.

"Ronnie, get someone to tow the car away," Dylan instructed in his low voice, to which Ronnie immediately whipped out his phone and made a call.

Dylan then looked to the woman who was still planning to haggle the punishment with him as he commanded, "What are you waiting for? Come over and bring me there."

Kendall immediately jogged toward him and tried to butter up to him again. "Dylan, aren't we a married couple? We are supposed to be devoted to each other. Can't you let me off the hook for the sake of our relationship? Can you decrease the word count by 9,500 words, please?"

Truth was, Kendall had no idea how to write a self-reflection essay as she had never written one before. That being said, she might be able to cough up a few hundred words if she willed herself to.

But 10,000 words? It would take her time to even copy it from somewhere.

His lips were pressed into a thin line wordlessly. She could tell from his cold expression alone that he had no intention of forgiving her at all.

After she pushed him back to his car, she caringly helped to bring him into the car. However, she didn't get in with him.

"Dylan, I-I promised to pick up my friend from the airport," she muttered with a slight stammer. "Can you lend me one of your cars, please? I will bring it back to you after I pick up Amelia. I will even clean it and fill up the tank. I promise not to damage it in any way."

"Are you still thinking about driving?!"

Dylan didn't have the confidence to let Kendall drive another car after witnessing her driving one like it was a plane.

She had just admitted to her mistakes a second ago, but she was already asking for another car now!

This only made him more positive that he needed to punish her harshly if he wanted to make sure she learned a lesson from this.

She sheepishly stuck out her tongue and said, embarrassed, "Um, Dylan… Can you get one of your bodyguards to drive me to the airport to get Amelia, then?"

"Who is Amelia?"

It annoyed him that Kendall still insisted on going to fetch someone even after the accident she had.

If Amelia had heard his tone now, she would probably think, Thank god I am a female. I will definitely die a horrible death if I turn out to be Master Dylan's love rival.

"She is the daughter of the Taylors, and she is also my best friend. You know how I grew up in a village? Mommy would always eagerly bring me along to banquets and parties after I came home to my real family, but the wives and daughters of the rich in Orapolis would always look down on me because they thought I was a village girl. Amelia was the only one who treated me like a true friend. Dylan, I am a woman of my word and I keep my promises. I must go to Amelia since I promised her that I would."

Dylan let out a scoff at that. "Woman of your word? And you keep your promises?"

Her cheeks immediately turned red after hearing him repeat after her.

"Uh… I mean… I will keep my promises from now on."

Dylan had a rough idea of her past after he had looked into her background. He hadn't paid much attention to it then.

His only intention in marrying her was to get her to become his unpaid nanny and trouble her in any way he could.

However, his opinion of her gradually changed after they had spent time together.

He had started treating her like his wife somewhere along the line.

Since the rich and powerful of Orapolis had looked down on his wife, and thought of her as a 'village girl', he would only have to make her the one every woman in the city was envious of.

"Ronnie, take her to the airport. Come back immediately after the guest has been picked up."

In the end, Dylan agreed to the request and he instructed Ronnie to drive Kendall to the airport to get Amelia.

"Dylan, Amelia and I haven't seen each other for some time. We have a lot to talk about, now that she is back from her trip. Can you let me send her to her home and stay there for two hours?"

"10,000 words self-reflection essay," he threw those words at her before closing the door, not bothering to say anything more.

Kendall was at a loss for words when she heard that.

10,000 words self-reflection essay?! she cried. He might as well give me a knife and let me be done with it!

 

Chapter 79

Dylan had one of his bodyguards wait for the tow truck before he went his way with the rest of them.

Kendall, on the other hand, was chauffeured by Ronnie to the airport to pick up Amelia.

They were on the road when she asked, "Where is your young master headed to, anyway?"

"Young Master Dylan said that he's going to visit his mother-in-law's house."

"Oh, Dylan even—wait… What? Mother-in-law?! Isn't his mother-in-law's house my house?"

Ronnie almost laughed out loud if he hadn't caught himself in time. Instead, he mused, "I am surprised you still remember that you are Young Master Dylan's wife, Young Mistress Kendall."

Kendall's cheeks immediately flushed red when he said that. "Don't tease me, Ronnie. I will definitely persist to the end since I was the one who insisted on being responsible over Dylan. Of course I am aware that I am the young mistress. Stop making fun of me and tell me what he is going to my house for."

If Dylan had gone to look for her, he should be on his way back now that he knew she was heading to the airport. That ruled out the possibility of him heading over for her. He is probably there to meet Mommy, then, Kendall thought.

"Does a son-in-law need a reason for visiting his mother-in-law's place?" Ronnie asked in return, making her speechless.

Dylan's bodyguards were just as equally suffocating as he was.

Unbeknownst to Kendall, he initially planned to drop by to pick her up. However, he had a change of mind after the accident that happened to her and he was going to snitch on her now!

Dylan was currently still sitting in his wheelchair. The only difference was that the person he was sitting in front of was Charlotte.

Kelly, who had always been afraid of him, didn't have the guts to face him, so she was about to scurry upstairs when Dylan called out to her.

"Ms. Parker."

Her footsteps suddenly felt like they weighed a ton when she heard that.

As she was unable to take another step forward, she turned around and stole a glance at him. She had to admit that he was a dashing man, but he had a heart too cruel.

An example of his tyranny was how Coleman Empire Holdings suddenly made Whittle Holdings their enemy even though they had always had a peaceful business relationship with one another. There wasn't even a chance for the Whittle Holdings to fully grasp the situation before they fell into the pickle they were in today.

"Master Dylan," she respectfully greeted, not showing a hint of the fear she was feeling on the inside.

"I would like to discuss a serious matter with Mrs. Parker. It may be inappropriate to have another pair of ears listening in on our conversation. I hope you give us space, Ms. Parker."

Kelly's eyes darted in Charlotte's direction and she quickly answered, "Alright."

Then, she informed Charlotte, "Mommy, I will be heading to the hospital to take care of her."

"Go ahead. Be careful on the road," Charlotte calmly reminded.

As Kelly made her way out of the building, the bodyguards that Dylan had brought along also followed after her.

Charlotte couldn't help but think that they were heading out as well not to give them privacy, but to stand guard at the entrance to prevent anyone from entering. What could someone as dignified as this man have in mind to talk to me about? she wondered.

"Mommy," he greeted in his low voice, almost scaring Charlotte out of her wits. She wasn't used to him addressing him in such an intimate manner.

Still, she managed to wear a maternal smile as she softly asked, "What would you like to talk to me about, Master Dylan?"

"Mrs. Parker, Kendall had an accident."

"What?!" The smile immediately disappeared as it was replaced by a horrified expression. Charlotte abruptly jumped out of her seat. "Where did it happen? How badly injured is she?!" she questioned.

"Calm down. Kendall is fine. Only the car was slightly damaged. She still insisted on going to the airport to pick up a friend after the accident, so I had to arrange for a driver to take her there."

After hearing that only the car was damaged and that her daughter was safe, Charlotte plopped back down on the couch again.

As she patted her chest to calm her thumping heart, she sighed. "You almost scared me to death. Thank God nothing happened to her."

They could always replace the wrecked car with a new one anyway since they had many luxury cars sitting around in the garage.

"What about the other person involved in the accident? Were they injured? Was it serious?"

Dylan pursed his lips together and answered, "It was quite serious as the tree trunk almost broke in half. The leaves had fallen all around as well."

"She bumped into a tree by the roadside?"

"Mhm."

Charlotte let out another sigh again, this time out of relief. She could only be grateful that no lives were harmed.

"Are you aware of how Kendall drives?"

"She is quite good at driving. I have been a passenger in her car before. She drives steadily."

He fell silent after she said that.

"I must have seen it wrongly then." He finally spoke again, "But I am sure the person who was speeding last time was her. She was also the person who drove like she was flying a plane today. She wouldn't have almost knocked into my car if she wasn't speeding, and she definitely wouldn't have hit the afforestation tree by the side of the road if she wasn't trying to avoid hitting my car."

Charlotte was at a loss of words upon hearing that. She seemed to be in deep thought for a long second before she carefully brought up, "May I know what is your intention for dropping by today, Master Dylan?"

"I am here to file a complaint, Mother."

"File a complaint?"

"Please do not allow Kendall to drive from now on. She is not as steady a driver as you think she is. She loves speeding. Just watching her drive can give anyone a heart attack."

Charlotte's lips opened and closed, but she didn't know what to reply to him.

Seeing that she wasn't saying anything, Dylan added, "I am sure you wouldn't want today's incident to happen again. Kendall was lucky to only have knocked into a tree and destroyed the car this time, but what if there is a next time? At the speed that she drives at, she could even cause death if she were to bump into another car. Both she and other drivers are at risk here."

Her face quickly turned pale with each word he spoke. "I will do as you say, Master Dylan," she quavered. "I won't let her drive anymore the next time she comes home."

Kendall was the founder of a martial arts training institute before she returned to her biological parents. As someone who was trained in different self-defense techniques, like sanda and taekwondo, she could never behave like the typical daughters of a rich household—usually gentle and obedient.

Charlotte knew full well how Kendall had held back her boisterous, unruly side and lived a careful life ever since she had become a member of the Parkers. Charlotte had always thought that the daughter of the prestigious Parker Family should be one who was a fine, knowledgeable woman. In fact, it was more than she had hoped for when Kendall was willing to put her past behind her.

However, it didn't mean that Kendall's personality had changed in any way because of that.

"Thank you," Dylan said.

"You are most welcome, Master Dylan. Kendall is my own daughter, so I care more about her than you do." And even more about her life and death.

He fell silent after he was done 'snitching'.

Now that he wasn't speaking, Charlotte didn't know what to make conversation of as well.

Even though Dylan was her son-in-law, she still had her reservations about treating him like one.

He suddenly threw out a question. "Did the Whittles bring the dowry over?"

She didn't even take a second to guess how Dylan found out about it as she hurriedly explained, "Mrs. Whittle was here, but I shooed her away. Also, she wasn't here to propose to Kendall on behalf of her son. She was here for Kelly. Please don't misunderstand Kendall, Master Dylan. She wasn't aware that

Mrs. Whittle would come around." The Whittles are asking for Kelly Parker's hand in marriage? Dylan started wondering.

His sharp eyes instantly turned cold when he recalled all that had happened when he had asked his men to investigate both Jackson and Kelly.

The two were obviously in love with each other but somehow, after Kendall had fallen in love at first sight with Jackson, the duo started putting on an act where one was head over heels for Kendall, whereas the other was incredibly supportive of the relationship.

It didn't take Dylan much to figure out what sort of plan they had up their sleeves. Kelly Parker!

He would let her off his hook for now. He might as well leave her to be his company's chew toy. However, he wasn't going to let the Whittles get off easy.

He only spat, "The Whittles are a capricious bunch, aren't they?"

Charlotte immediately erupted from anger then. "Mrs. Whittle intentionally did that to take revenge on my Kendall. Oh—this makes me so mad!"

 

Chapter 80

Dylan didn't say anything to that.

He continued to sit there quietly for a moment before he said to Charlotte, "I have to get back to the office, Mother. I'll be taking my leave now. I will wait for the right time when everyone isn't occupied for the elders in my family to have a meal with you and Father."

The parents from both families should officially meet each other, anyway.

Even though Charlotte had a smile on her face, she couldn't help feeling worried about the suggestion.

The Colemans were still unaware that they now had an in-law. That was why they wouldn't go to Kendall for no reason, or make life harder for her despite how much Dylan was always messing around with her.

Charlotte didn't know if the elders of the Coleman Family, who made it a point to keep their shortcomings on the low, would treat Kendall like one of their own despite all the unpleasant affairs that had transpired after Kendall had become the young mistress of the Coleman Family.

Still, all that Charlotte could do as Kendall's mother was worry. After all, this was the path Kendall had chosen to walk herself. Charlotte couldn't possibly help her daughter reach the end of the road, as this was Kendall's life's journey.

She could only place her hope on Dylan.

As long as Dylan was in love with Kendall, Charlotte wouldn't have to worry about the rest of the Colemans ever trying to pick on her daughter no matter what she did, because she would have Dylan

to protect her then.

After thinking about all that, Charlotte suddenly had a resolution—she was going to teach Kendall the ways to snatch up Dylan's heart as soon as possible the next time Kendall came home.

They might never consummate and be a real married couple, but Charlotte knew that Dylan wasn't entirely heartless.

With him as Kendall's shield, not only would Kendall be safe from the Colemans' possible tauntings, she could even run amok like a crab in Orapolis.

"Alright, I will be waiting for you to arrange it then."

Hearing that, Dylan nodded lightly, thereafter indicating to his bodyguard to push him out.

Charlotte personally sent him off as well.

Looking at him being protectively sent away by his dutiful bodyguards, she couldn't help but heave a sigh.

There must be a deity out there that was jealous of how perfect Dylan was that they intentionally got him into an accident which had left him disabled.

He was a man so full of brilliance that, unfortunately, was tied down to his wheelchair. In a way, he was a eunuch as well. It truly was a pity for a man like him to have met such a fate.

After all of Dylan's cars faded from sight, Charlotte turned around and walked back into the villa. She

then reached for her phone and made a call to her daughter.

Kendall immediately had a feeling that Dylan had tattled to her mother when she saw that she was getting a call from Charlotte.

She brought her phone as far as her arm could reach as soon as she accepted the call.

Still, she could hear Charlotte roar from such a distance. "Kendall Parker, you better get your butt back home after you return from the airport!"

"Mommy, I-I have something to do. I can't go home today. I will be even busier tomorrow because I have to go to the company with Daddy. Maybe some other day. I will go home and keep you company another day."

"Stop brushing me off, kiddo! Listen up—you are banned from driving from now on! I will tear your driver's license to shreds and break your legs if I ever find out that you are driving again."

Kendall playfully stuck out her tongue and teased, "You would break my legs, Mommy?"

"Would you like to try it out?" There was no amusement in Charlotte's voice when she barked back.

"Alright, alright. I will listen to you. I won't drive anymore. Don't be angry, Mommy."

Charlotte continued to nag Kendall on the phone before she finally hung up.

"It was only a tree," Kendall grumbled to herself after the call ended.

Ronnie happened to overhear her then, and he casually told her, "Young Mistress Kendall, that was dangerous behavior that you displayed on the road earlier. Things could have gone terribly wrong if anything had been slightly different than how they were."

"Fine, it was my fault. I know they are only worried about me. I shouldn't be complaining." She leaned back into the seat and continued ridiculing herself, "I even went on Google to refer to how other people write self-reflection essays."

All that she had to do later was to copy word by word.

After all, Dylan didn't say that she wasn't allowed to copy from Google.

…

Amelia had finished eating and had rested at Orapolis International Airport for a while before she sent Kendall a message to ask if she had arrived.

She also sent her location to Kendall for easy navigation.

Kendall, in turn, replied to her by saying that she would be there in 10 minutes.

After reading the message, Amelia looked at the time before typing, 'Drive slowly, Kendall. I am not in a hurry. You don't have to rush over. Be careful.'

Kendall responded by directly sending over a picture of Ronnie's side profile as he drove.

Amelia's eyes immediately shone like diamonds as soon as she saw the photo her best friend sent her. His side profile alone looks so good! she gasped. I am sure he is a total hottie from the front.

Amelia, who was of the same age as Kendall, had a hobby of admiring handsome men. Her interest would go up another level especially when she came across extremely good-looking men. Not only would she secretly take photos of them, she would print out the photos and decorate the walls of her boudoir like they were a nice view.

Kendall even teased Amelia about how her future husband would one day get so jealous if he were to enter her room and see all the photos of other men she used to decorate her room with.

Amelia was a petite woman with a delicate and beautiful face. Personality-wise, she was a lot like Kendall, and that was how they came to be good friends.

Knowing that Kendall wasn't the one driving, Amelia finally felt at ease as she called Kendall.

Right when Kendall picked up the call, Amelia squealed, "Is that a new family driver I am seeing, Kendall? Is he handsome? Goodness, he looks amazing from the side! One look at his photo and my world has been lit up."

Kendall then shifted her gaze to Ronnie's stoic face as he drove.

Dylan's bodyguards were all big and burly men, and Ronnie happened to be the best of them all. He might even be on the same level as Dylan in terms of appearance.

Not only that, Ronnie was the best-looking one out of all the bodyguards.

But of course, Dylan was still the ultimate winner.

Dylan's face was one that men had a hard time competing against, and women fawned over.

"He is not employed by my family." Kendall smiled and continued, "I called for a Lyft. He is the driver I got."

The bodyguard who Dylan kept by his side was a cold and indifferent man. Kendall wouldn't want her friend to do anything that might offend him, in case she got hurt in return.

Hearing the young mistress he served call him a Lyft driver immediately made Ronnie's stern face turn stony. However, he didn't have any intention of correcting her.

Amelia was the daughter of the Taylor Family, after all.

On top of that, she was the kind of person whose eyes immediately twinkled with excitement as soon as she saw a good-looking man. Even if she wasn't actually a promiscuous person, she came off as one.

Ronnie would have to be a dumb guy to tell Amelia who he really was. He didn't want her to start sticking to him like a leech.

"A Lyft driver! Are all Lyft drivers nowadays so hot?! I will have to get a Lyft everytime I go out from now on. I can't be bothered to drive my own car."

Kendall let out a giggle after hearing her friend's words. "Sure, why not?" She went along with Amelia.

"Is he really a Lyft driver?"

Amelia wasn't one who was easily fooled.

"He is not my family driver. It is up to you whether to believe me or not."

Of course Amelia wouldn't have believed Kendall.

At any rate, the Parkers were a wealthy household. How could the daughter of the Parker Family ever use a Lyft?

"Where is your car, Kendall?"

"Someone got rid of the tires, so I couldn't come pick you up from the airport."

"Scoundrel actually did something as ridiculous as removing your car tyres?!" Amelia fumed.

"It wasn't Scoundrel. Mr. Crab was the one who did it."

There was no more fitting nickname for a man who went everywhere he wanted and did anything he pleased in Orapolis.

Seemingly in deep thought, Amelia only asked after a few seconds, "Which Mr. Crab are we talking about? Didn't you already catch him and make a steamed crab dish out of him?"

Kendall smiled at that. Indeed, she should have steamed her Mr. Crab and ate him up.

She then continued, "I will tell you next time. We have reached the airport, Amelia. I will go look for you after we get the car parked. Wait right there, okay?"

"Fine!" Amelia whined before unwillingly hanging up the call.

She hadn't even gotten her answer as to who this 'Mr. Crab' was. It was a blow to her ego for a local born and raised Orapolis resident to not know who it was!

However, Amelia's gloomy mood didn't last for long because she soon met the incredibly handsome 'Lyft driver' who had seduced her with only his side profile.

She wanted to take a photo of him from the front, print it out, and stick it on… Oh, no! My walls are already full of handsome men's photos! Amelia sobbed. I don't think I can make room for another one.