Ch. 401..410

Chapter 401

Chapter 401

Zephyr was astonished. "Mr. Irwin, you're... minding this too?"

"What? I can't?" Rowan glared at him. "I'm-"

He was hesitant to speak halfway through his sentence. He coughed. "You two haven't gotten married, right? What do you think it looks like when you sleep together before you're married!?" Zephyr glared at him.

He had no idea what was up with Rowan. He was sometimes nice to him, but he picked on him most of the time. When he was nice to him, though, it was because of Cordelia. "Zephyr!" Cordelia ran to the front and waved at him excitedly. "Come look, quickly!"

"What is it?"

"This is a mountain spring, right?" She said with a smile, "I see that it's flowing down from the mountain."

"This means that there's fresh water here!" Zephyr smiled as well. He then scanned around and observed carefully, going to a tree.

"What is it?"

"Centrolis has this tree too..." He considered it and said, "This means that we're not far from Centrolis.

"Josiah and the others should be able to find us here soon."

"Rowan nodded. "The weather here is similar to Centrolis', and I've seen Centrolis' map. There are a few small islands by the side that aren't developed.

"We could very well be on one of those islands!"

Zephyr met his eyes and saw a hint of a smile in them.

The trio grew more confident. As they returned to the cabin, they discussed what they would do while waiting for rescue.

Since they could not tell the time, Cordelia suggested carving a line on the table each passing day.

They had sufficient resources from the yacht, so they dried the sheets on the deck while the sun was out. Other than when it was necessary, they refrained from using electricity.

Cordelia wracked her brain to make food taste better.

Three days slipped by unknowingly...

The night breeze was chilly. Rowan looked afar, sitting on the deck. The moon was quiet and gentle like the water. It had been a long time since he watched the moon like this. Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. When he turned around, he saw Zephyr walk over with a blanket.

"It's chilly at night. This is for you," he said softly.

Rowan was surprised.

"No need to look at me like this." Zephyr snorted. "Cordelia asked me to bring it over."

"Cordelia..."

"Don't say her name like that!" Zephyr scowled.

Rowan was not angry. He only nodded lightly. A small smile flashed across his face when he took the blanket.

Zephyr sat next to him with two cans of beer.

"It's not good for your health drinking too much." Rowan pursed his lips. "And I notice you smoke a lot. You hid the pack of cigarettes found in the cabin, huh?" Zephyr scowled.

"Never mind, I won't tell Cordelia." Rowan smiled. "But watch it."

"Mm, I know." Zephyr's answer was perfunctory.

"What do you know?" Rowan eyed him disdainfully. "You'll only be able to protect Cordelia when you protect yourself well!"

Zephyr opened a can of beer and looked at the older man with a complex gaze. "Mr. Irwin, why are you so concerned about Cordelia?"

"Hah, you aren't jealous, are you?" Rowan pressed his lips together. "You don't think that I have ulterior motives toward her at this age, do you?"

"It's not impossible," Zephyr said intentionally. "You're high in status. What kind of woman can't you have!?"

"You... You actually think this lowly of me?"

"Of course not." Zephyr smiled. "I think it's more like... an elder to a junior with how you're treating Cordelia." Rowan stayed silent.

Zephyr probed. "Mr. Irwin, I heard Cordelia say that your children aren't with you. Where are they now?" "Don't ask what you shouldn't." Rowan pulled a long face. "Take care of those around you first!"

Josiah had been anxiously searching for the missing trio these days. His parents had berated him over the matter, but he did not even know how two of Matthew's guys had gotten into the yacht and how the yacht had just strayed from its course and gone right to the deep blue-with a storm that day as well.

There was no GPS location from the yacht, and their phones could not be contacted, so Josiah sent people to search the surrounding islands around Centrolis.

He went to the hospital this day to try his luck, seeing if Seth had received any message from Zephyr. However, he saw a pale and frail figure by the hallway's corner.

The side profile was so beautiful and sad that it made one's heart ache.

Josiah's mind went blank as if a stick had hit him. It was until the girl walked away that he snapped back to himself and gave chase.

"Kelly? Kelly!"

When he went over, the girl was gone.

Josiah panted and looked at the empty hallway in disappointment. When he was about to leave, a familiar face appeared before him. "Nelly?"

"Long time no see, Josiah!"

Josiah did not want to talk to her and forced a smile.

"You were looking for someone?"

"Oh... no," Josiah said, turning around, "Do whatever. I'm leaving."

"Hey!" Nelly called for him with a vicious smirk. "Is the person you're looking for named Kelly?"

"How did you know?" Josiah jolted.

"The whole hospital could hear you with how loud you were shouting.”

"You know Kelly?" Josiah looked at her in puzzlement.

Nelly smiled and nodded.

"Tell me where she is!"

"She... passed away a long time ago!" Nelly looked unfazed. “Josiah, I was puzzled why you'd call for a dead person when you shouted the name just now."

Josiah widened his eyes in disbelief. "She's... dead?"

It felt like thunder struck him out of nowhere, emptying his chaotic mind. He remembered that night, remembered the girl's pale face and frail body. He remembered that she had said she was someone who had stolen time from the grim reaper...

He shuddered violently.

"Kelly's actually my younger sister," Nelly said softly. "She had a congenital disease and died. Josiah, how did you know this name? You wouldn't have encountered a supernatural episode, would you?" Josiah stumbled back in silence.

Nelly snickered and walked in the opposite direction.

When she passed by a storeroom, she looked around to make sure that no one was following her before she opened the door and entered.

Kelly was sitting on the cold floor and looking at her fearfully.

"Wow, baby sis, you're really something!" Nelly grabbed her chin, piercing her red nails into her flesh. "Hooked up with Josiah Bayer now, hmm? I've really underestimated you!"

Chapter 402

Chapter 402

"I hooked up with no one," Kelly said flatly. "We... just got to know each other coincidentally."

Nelly's gaze was vicious as her red lips pulled into a mocking smile.

"Hah, my baby sister's so pretty that even when she's ill, there's a man going after her!" Her sharp nail ran across Kelly's face. "If this face is ruined, I wonder what Josiah will look like when he sees you again." "You won't do that." Kelly looked at her.

Her pale and beautiful eyes were resolute.

Nelly hated this gaze. She was scared of it as well.

"You really think I dare not?" She gnashed her teeth and clenched her fingers to choke Kelly.

Kelly furrowed her brows as suffocating fear and despair crept up to her.

Kelly uttered with great difficulty, "Nelly, if... I really disappear from this world, you'll lose everything too!"

With her sore spot hit, Nelly let go slowly, but her gaze was still sinister.

"If you ruin my face, my injury will be in the open." Kelly smirked. "You wouldn't want anyone to see what you've done, right?"

"Kelly Tanner!"

"Nelly, death is an escape to me. But you want to live, right?

"Think about it. If mom and dad really find out how you've been treating me, you'll lose everything then. Even your birth will be exposed... Are you sure this is what you want?"

The corner of Nelly's lips twitched as she glowered. She got up with balled fists and looked down at Kelly, leaving the room with a scoff.

When Kelly heard the click-clacking of heels fade, she relaxed her tense body and her shoulders jerked. She hugged herself, burying her face between her knees, and could only sob, not daring to cry loudly. Someone passed by the door, but she did not hear it. The person outside halted his steps.

The few seconds that he spent standing in silence felt like centuries-Josiah's mind was blank. His hand that was about to knock on the door shrank back, and he smiled self-deprecatingly before he continued forward with a shake of his head.

How could someone be in the hospital's storeroom? The sobs must be his imagination.

Josiah's phone rang, and he quickly picked up.

"Sir, we managed to track down the yacht!"

"What?" Josiah was overjoyed. "Where is it?"

"The signal's choppy. We can't be sure for now but we're certain that Mr. Z and others must definitely be on one of the surrounding islands!"

"Then go look for them! Contact the rescue team! Add more manpower!"

Josiah yelled as he walked forward briskly.

What he did not notice was that there was a small gap opened in the storeroom behind him. Kelly looked at his back with tears, eventually blurring her vision. She told herself they would never become a thing because he was just her dream.

It was just that she was unwilling to let it go. She clamped a hand over her mouth, and her tears fell harder. She pulled out her phone shakily and went through the texts Josiah had sent her previously. [Kelly, are you alright?]

[There are so many stars tonight. Do you want to come to watch them with me at my place?]

[My bro and sis-in-law got a fat tabby cat. It's adorable. I'll borrow it and let you play with it some day!]

[Kelly, why don't you ever reply...]

Kelly bit her lips and dried her tears.

The last text read: [Kelly, our family's hosting a recital on the sea. Send the yacht a signal if you can come! All my yachts can receive it.]

Kelly's gaze dimmed. Her pale fingers hesitated, hovering above the screen.

Chapter 403

Chapter 403

It was already the fifth day on the island.

The sun was bright these days, and the island felt lively with the large surface area of greens and exceptionally fresh air.

If they were not here because of the mishap, they would have really wanted to treat this trip as a vacation.

Not much food was left, so Zephyr had been trying to catch fish in the sea since yesterday. His luck was decent, and they got to drink fresh fish soup that night. He also found tools like axes and stuff at the bottommost area of the cabin and came back with some logs from the forest.

Cordelia's gaze on him was increasingly more admiring.

If she had drifted to this island alone, she definitely would not have had such a good time. With this man here, everything was different.

Her heart ached for the blisters on his hands as she combed through his disheveled hair. Looking at his face, which had not been shaved for days, she suddenly giggled.

This was another side of Zephyr that Cordelia had never seen.

Rowan felt horrible looking at how clingy the two of them were. He glanced at the blisters on his hands. It was not like Zephyr was the only one doing the labor these days!

Yet, his daughter only had that man in her eyes. She did not have any regard for her father at all.

Rowan chuckled weakly but could not help feeling sad when he abruptly recalled that Xyla had been just like that back then.

He went to the cockpit and resumed studying the yacht manual. He had spent these two days with Zephyr translating the Etalian manual. They managed to understand bits and pieces and generally comprehend what it was saying by sticking those bits and pieces together.

He also tried to play with the buttons and discovered that there was a weak signal. As long as there was a signal, they could send out their particular location!

Rowan smiled and continued studying the pictures.

That day, Zephyr had just turned the main power switch on when Rowan caught him.

"What are you doing?" Rowan nagged with a straight face. "Why are you turning the power on during the day? Didn't we agree to save our electric consumption? To begin with, the yacht doesn't have much electricity, and you're wasting it!"

Zephyr glanced at him. "Cordelia wants to take a shower. I can't let her use cold water."

"Oh..." Rowan turned into another man right away. "Hmm, yes, girls are weaker. She can't use cold water. Let her take a more comfortable shower."

"Me too," Zephyr continued to say, "I need to take a shower too."

"Go to the mountain for that! There's spring water up there!" Rowan glared at him.

Zephyr was rendered speechless and frowned.

Rowan scoffed again. "You're tough-skinned anyway. You won't be afraid of the cold!"

"Zephyr." Cordelia came over with clean clothes.

She nodded at Rowan politely and gave Zephyr the clothes, telling him with a chortle, "Water's ready. Come quickly. I'll wait for you!"

Zephyr rubbed her hair. When he turned back around, he was met with Rowan's murderous gaze.

"What are you guys about to do?"

Zephyr replied at a loss, "Showering. What else?"

"Together!?"

Zephyr looked him up and down disdainfully and said, "What's it got to do with you!?"

"You..."

Rowan had his silver needle between his fingers.

Zephyr ignored him completely and went straight to his and Cordelia's room.

"You brat! This is outrageous!"Chapter 404

Chapter 404

Cordelia went to the deck after her shower.

The sun was right in the center of the sky currently, so it was most probably noon. It was already fall, but it was still quite warm. The deck was toasty from the sun and felt comfortable under the feet. Cordelia saw Rowan sitting at the bow.

Rowan noticed her as well and turned back to greet her.

"Mr. Irwin." Cordelia nodded with a smile.

Rowan gestured for her to take a seat beside him.

"Where's your boyfriend?" he asked her with a smile.

"He's gone to wash the clothes." Cordelia pointed at the forest. "By the spring."

Rowan gave it a thought and went closer to her to ask, "Does he usually do the laundry when you two are home?"

"We have a helper at home, and she usually does the chores."

Rowan creased his brows. "So, this brat is lazy and doesn't do anything?"

Cordelia smiled awkwardly. She did not understand why this older man was poking his nose into everything.

Maybe it was because his children were not around him, and he still wanted to have the authority of a father. 'What a strange old man...'

"Hmm... Actually, Zephyr does quite a lot. Isn't he washing the clothes now? He doesn't allow me to touch cold water ever."

"Oh, that's good."

Ever since Rowan met Zephyr, the father-in-law in him had a form in his mind automatically-adding points for every right thing done and subtracting points for every mistake. Until now, Zephyr's score was negative.

Rowan pursed his lips and muttered in a low tone, "What's there to show off about not letting you touch cold water? A man shouldn't let his woman do that! What if she catches a cold?" "Mr. Irwin, what are you saying?"

"Oh, nothing!" Rowan plastered a smile on. "I'm saying that Mr. Zephyr's quite nice. You both are lucky to be with each other!"

Cordelia blushed and smiled shyly.

Rowan saw that her hair was not completely dry and quickly took off his hat to put it on her.

"It's okay, Mr. Irwin!"

"No!" Rowan was serious. "80% of the human body heat goes out from the head. You've got to protect your little head there, or you'll get sick!"

Cordelia stopped refusing.

Rowan put his hat on her, then carefully removed his scarf to wrap it around her as well.

Warmth gushed within Cordelia as she looked at the man quietly. She had never experienced a father's love, but she hit it off well with this older man whom she had met a few times. How nice would it be if he was her father?

"What are you thinking about?"

Cordelia jolted and met Rowan's loving gaze. She came back to herself and forced a smile. "Nothing."

"You're already an adult." Rowan smiled with a complicated look. "Whatever it is, you have to learn to take care of yourself and protect yourself."

"Mm..."

"I'm not referring to just the small things in your daily life." Rowan lowered his voice and pointed toward the forest. "You need to protect yourself when you're with him too, understand?"

"What do you mean?" Cordelia was perplexed.

"Silly child!" Rowan was anxious. "Men aren't reliable. Don't have high hopes for him. You must have a way out for yourself no matter what. Do you understand it this way?"

Chapter 405

Chapter 405

Cordelia found it funny. The sentence "men aren't reliable" tickled her spot. The old man was a man, too-was this his comment for himself as well?

"Mr. Irwin, men aren't the same!" Cordelia laughed. "I'm confident in my man. He's not like what you said."

"Silly! Would a bad person tell you they're bad?" Rowan was both distressed and amused. "I'll tell you based on my personal experience. You've got to think about yourself more! And you mustn't trust someone easily!"

"Your personal experience?" Cordelia caught the main point swiftly. "What have you experienced?"

"I..." Rowan's expression changed, and he went silent.

What could he say? Tell her how he had taken advantage of her mother back then and how he had taken over Irwin Pharmaceuticals? Or should he tell her that he was the type of man who was unreliable and untrustworthy?

Rowan suddenly lost the courage to be honest and come clean before Cordelia. He rose slowly and waved a hand, walking toward the yacht's cockpit.

Cordelia was a little regretful. It had been rude of her to ask that just now.

She had a good impression of the man. She only knew that he was an Irwin too, as she had heard Zephyr address him as Mr. Irwin. Maybe it was because he shared the same last name with her mother that she felt inexplicably familiar with him.

Cordelia paused before she followed Rowan into the cockpit.

Rowan was currently in front of the master console as he worked it bit by bit, following the manual.

Zephyr came back from washing the clothes.

"What's the matter?" He stood at the cockpit door, looking at Cordelia. "Did he..."

"He found out how to activate the signal system of the yacht!" exclaimed Cordelia.

Zephyr hurried over to help. Electricity flowed through the dashboard, and the monitor lit up.

There was no signal for cell phones here, but the network of the yacht itself was usable. The network was unstable, and the coordinates flashed in and out on the grid.

"These are enough too." Zephyr calmly analyzed and carefully entered a string of characters on the screen before he hit 'Send'. "As long as there's a tiny bit of signal here, we can be located, and the message will get to Josiah's phone sooner or later.

"He'll be able to rescue us then!"

Rowan nodded and looked rarely approving in his gaze.

Zephyr tried to send a message to Josiah with internationally common characters through the yacht's signal. It took about 15 minutes before the first one was sent. He had sent their exact location directly. Next, Zephyr sent it to a few more people-Nicholas, Seth, and Robert. The more people who received it, the bigger their chances of getting rescued were.

"Take a break for now and turn it off." Rowan tapped Zephyr's wrist. "Even if we found out how to ask for help, the yacht doesn't have a lot of electricity. We still have to use it sparingly."

Zephyr agreed. "We'll send more tomorrow.

"We'll send two to three messages a day. Someone will receive them somehow. I've done the calculations. The food in the yacht can last us about a week more. Even when the internet's bumpy, the messages will be sent within two days.

"This means we'll be able to leave here very soon!"

"Yes!" Cordelia breathed in relief. "I'll prepare something to eat now and simply pack up... If we happen to still stay around longer, I could do an inventory check of what we're left with."

Zephyr nodded. Just when he was about to turn off the main console, a new message flashed on the screen!

Rowan was also astonished and gestured for him to open it.

As Zephyr opened it, there were only two words: [Save me!]

Chapter 406

Chapter 406

Zephyr frowned while Rowan looked shocked.

"Can this message be traced back?" asked Rowan.

Zephyr answered in a low voice, "I think so, but I haven't figured the manual out yet and don't know how to operate it."

Rowan took the manual over and went through it line by line.

Zephyr said after a moment of silence, "Mr. Irwin, I think this cry for help isn't for us but for Josiah."

"Mr. Bayer?" Rowan arched a brow. "Did other yachts run into danger too?"

"Perhaps..."

Zephyr squinted. There was a thought flashing in his mind. Josiah had once told him that he liked a girl, and then there was nothing after that.

'Could it be that... it is not that the girl does not want to date him but that she cannot?'

Zephyr felt his heart squeeze. His gaze turned serious as he stared at the [Save me!] message.

Although the radio and internet connection was unstable, Zephyr and Rowan's constant messages were finally responded to.

Two days later, Josiah and Robert arrived on the island with a rescue team and successfully saved all three of them.

On the way back, Cordelia stood at the bow watching the island get farther away from her until it turned into a small black dot above the sea and vanished from her sight. She stared in that direction thoughtfully.

"What are you thinking about?" A jacket was suddenly draped on her shoulders.

She looked back and met the man's tender gaze.

"The wind's strong here." Zephyr wrapped her up snugly and carefully. "Don't catch a cold standing where it blows."

Cordelia smiled at him and cuddled closer to him.

"Guess what I'm thinking."

"I guess..." Zephyr smiled. "That you're reluctant to leave the island."

"How did you know?"

"What thought could you keep from me?"

Cordelia looked up at him with a pout.

This man was scary. She was like a sheet of white paper before him he could see through everything about her.

It was true. She was eager to leave when she was on the island, but now that she actually left, she felt longing. They had spent the days on the island depending on each other to survive. They shared happiness and sorrow and survived the disaster. It was a blessing from the heavens.

Cordelia was starting to miss the sweet spring water, the fresh fish soup, the forest, and the beach on the island. She also missed sunbathing leisurely on the deck. There was also when she would walk barefooted by the beach and pick up seashells hand in hand with Zephyr.

The time on the island was slow, so peaceful that she had forgotten that she had ended up there due to a mishap.

"It's okay. We know about the island's existence now. We can come back anytime if you like it there."

Zephyr pressed a kiss against her hair and took her back into the cabin with a smile. He then asked Robert over and told him with a low tone, "Get the coordinates of that island and find out all its relevant information."

Robert was stunned. "Sir, what are you going to do?"

"Draft a development proposal."

"Huh?"

Chapter 407

Chapter 407

Zephyr frowned, slightly impatient. "When did you turn so slow?"

Robert was rendered speechless.

"I want to buy the island. Understand now?!"

Zephyr bought the island shortly after returning to Centrolis and was ready to develop it.

Everyone in the Hamerton Group thought that he had lost his mind, and Liam was no exception.

That island's geographical location was the worst among the surrounding islands of Centrolis. It was also the smallest. Other than the scenery being prettier, it had no commercial value. The board meeting was bubbling with comments.

"What's gotten into Mr. Zephyr? He's gone away and come back with a cuckoo mind!"

"Buying the island's a loss! What an unfortunate event that the Hamerton Group has a reckless and capricious heir like this!"

Someone even said, "Does that island have some kind of mysterious power that enchants Mr. Zephyr?"

To all that, Zephyr's response was simple. "Who said I bought the island for commercialization?"

"What do you mean?" Everyone was astonished.

Zephyr twirled the pen in his hand leisurely and smirked. "I didn't use a single cent from the Hamerton Group in buying that island. It's from my pocket. Even if I develop it, it won't be opened to the public. "All of you can stop worrying about it!"

Everyone in the board meeting looked at him with widened, astonished eyes.

Zephyr had always stayed low profile. Buying an island so publicly was no different to them from him being possessed.

Meanwhile, he did not only buy the island. He actually held a ceremony because of it and unusually invited a lot of press. The media had caught wind before the ceremony that Zephyr would announce who the big boss behind the western suburbs' land was during the event.

"Is there really a hidden boss behind the western suburbs' land?" The press began to speculate.

"I think it's a gimmick from the Hamerton Group! After all, Mr. Zephyr got the project. Who else in the Hamertons can do this better than him?"

"So, this is a publicity stunt from them?"

"Are you dumb? Would the Hamerton Group need that?"

"Well... that's also true."

Everyone was even more bewildered.

On the day of the event, Splendor Dynasty was crowded with guests. The Hamertons, specifically Zephyr, rarely held banquets and events. This caused people to do everything they could to attend this event just to connect to the Hamertons.

Significant and famous families in Centrolis were there, and the press present were from eligible companies.

The event was big, and Zephyr was there early to socialize.

The black-tailored suit accentuated his manliness. Masculinity oozed from his features, and his movements felt innately noble.

The socialites there watched him discreetly but did not dare approach him due to his strong and aloof presence.

Nelly was the only one going over with a smile when she saw that he was alone.

"Ms. Jenner didn't come with you?"

Zephyr glanced at her. "She doesn't like events with a lot of people."

"Oh." Nelly nodded. "She doesn't seem to fit well with your lifestyle."

Zephyr did not say anything, but Nelly continued speaking. "Occasions like this are inevitable given your identity and status. If she can't adapt, how will she get along with you in the future?

"People say that falling in love is easier than staying together. Heh, Zephyr, I'm not coming in between you two. I'm just stating a fact... You really should reassess your relationship with her. After all, it's better to have similar backgrounds if you're looking to get married."

"Mm, right." Zephyr smiled. "I should seriously consider my relationship with her."

Nelly was stunned.

Zephyr continued. "I should consider that since she doesn't like where it's crowded, I'll try not to appear where there are many people and stay home to keep her company. That'll work."

Chapter 408

Chapter 408

Nelly bit her lips and took a deep breath. She had visited Liam a few days ago, and the old man had still expressed that he would support her marrying Zephyr.

Even when Mandy had kept explaining as indirectly as she could that the Tanners and the Hamertons had never really had any promise of any sort and that marriage should be decided by the young ones themselves, Nelly refused to agree.

This was a fight she refused to give up on. She wanted to marry into the Hamertons. She thought that by doing so, Mandy would hold her in higher regard, and no one in the Hamertons would dare look down on her with Zephyr as her support.

By then, she would not have to be scared of people finding out about her birth. It would be a secret forever that she would crush under her foot.

Nelly recomposed herself. "Zephyr, I know that you're just rushed by impulse now. Ms. Jenner is great, but she isn't compatible with you.

"Marriage is like building a house. It can only go higher when the foundation's solid, right?"

Nelly inched closer to him, seeing that he was silent.

The man's chiseled lines were close to perfect, and his innate finesse and aloofness made every woman go gaga for him. This was also why Nelly must have him.

Zephyr was much better compared to the wealthy playboys.

"Oh, yeah." Nelly continued to smile through her shamelessness. "Rumor has it that you're going to reveal the big boss behind the western suburbs' project in this event... Hah, we've been working together for so long, and I go to the Hamerton Group for weekly reports, but I've never seen any boss!

"You're tricking the press, right? Or... is the big boss actually grandpa?"

"You're thinking too much," Zephyr said coldly. "It doesn't mean that there's no big boss just because you haven't met one. Patience, you'll see the boss in a while."

Nelly forced a smile and passed Zephyr a glass of wine, only for the latter to tell her that he had stopped drinking. It surprised her.

"This is exquisite aged Burgundy. I remember you like wine tasting, no?" She scoffed, "Have you changed your taste too after spending time with Ms. Jenner?"

"Yes, I have." Zephyr smiled. "Cordelia says that drinking is bad for health. I can only stay disciplined in order to make a healthy baby."

"What!?" Nelly froze, unable to control her twitching lips.

"You both... aren't married yet."

"Yes."

"The Hamertons are strict with rules." Nelly forced herself to stay calm. "How did grandpa possibly allow her to get pregnant before marriage and threaten you with a kid?" "Threaten?" Zephyr snorted, "You're wrong. It's me who wants to baby-trap her!"

"You..."

Zephyr feigned thoughtfulness. "But even with a baby, I'll have to think of something else if she still doesn't want to marry me.

"Hah, one day of her not nodding is another day I won't be at peace. Right, Nelly, tell me if you have any good ideas. You know, since we grew up together!"

The brief exchange was enough to embarrass Nelly.

The curious guests looked over. Some whispered and chuckled.

Nelly's dress wrinkled from how hard she gripped it as she grimaced.

"Nelly." Mandy's voice rang. "What are you doing again?!"

"Mom, I-"

Mandy's gaze was stern as she glared at her before she looked at Zephyr apologetically.

"Excuse us, Mr. Zephyr."

Chapter 409

Chapter 409

"It's fine, Aunt Tanner." Zephyr kept his respect for an elder. "Grandpa brought you and uncle up just the day before yesterday and asked me to send his regards."

"Thank him for us." Mandy nodded. "Elder Mr. Hamerton's been taking care of the Tanners, and we aren't ungrateful people... Let us know if there's anything we can help with, Mr. Zephyr!" "Sure."

Zephyr exchanged pleasantries with her before excusing himself to network with other guests.

Nelly trembled. Her hands and feet were icy as rage bottled up in her.

Mandy glanced at her in repulse and said coldly, "It's enough that your father and I are here. You can go home first if you aren't used to the event."

"Mom!" Nelly was in distress. “Grandpa Hamerton's agreed to my and Zephyr's marriage. Why are you still stopping me!?"

"Because I still have shame!" Mandy chided sternly.

Nelly bit her lips and stayed quiet.

Mandy grabbed her arm, yanked her somewhere with fewer people, and glared at her.

"Even though we adopted you from the orphanage, you've spent over 20 years in the Tanners! I raise you like you're my own daughter as well. I'm not even as focused on Kelly! "But how could you be so shameless!?"

Nelly sobbed. "Mom, I want to marry Zephyr for our family's sake..."

"Shut it!" Mandy growled, "If it's really for the Tanners, then stop embarrassing yourself. Stop seeking trouble with Ms. Jenner! What's the point of Elder Mr. Hamerton supporting you? The heir is unwilling. Can the old man tie him up so he'll marry you?

"Nelly Tanner, clear up that head of yours and stop causing trouble!"

Nelly agreed reluctantly, her gaze on Mandy tinged with hatred.

Mandy calmed down and continued. "Also, you don't have to visit Kelly for me anymore. I've resigned from the Tanner Group and will stay home to take care of her full-time from now on."

"Mom, you-" Nelly was appalled.

"What is it?" Mandy was suspicious. "What's the problem with wanting to take care of my daughter?"

Nelly was so nervous that her palms were sweating, and she could not help the tremors running through her.

She had dared bully Kelly all these years because Joe and Mandy were busy with the company and could not split themselves over that. Kelly was ill and would take any grievance as long as she was told that her parents would be harmed otherwise.

Now that Mandy was going to take care of her personally...

Nelly's gaze turned evasive as she paled with sweat dotting her forehead.

Mandy had a premonition about this. She stepped closer to Nelly and asked, "I heard the doctor and nurses say that you visit Kelly often... Is it true?"

Nelly ducked her head and dared not answer.

"What do you do when you visit her?

"Nelly Tanner, answer me!"

Nelly looked at her in a panic, at a loss about how to defend herself. "Mom-"

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd.

The media and reporters had already rushed to the front.

The hall fell quiet in an instant before melodic music was played after a moment. Zephyr appeared before everyone holding Cordelia's hand. Everyone gasped.

"Isn't this Ms. Jenner who's around Mr. Zephyr?"

"Mr. Zephyr's announcing the hidden boss of the western suburbs' project..."

"Could it be this Ms. Jenner?"

Nelly was also dumbfounded, staring in a daze at the center of the hall.

Chapter 410

Chapter 410

Cordelia stood in the center of the banquet hall dressed in a long, cream-yellow, light chiffon dress. She looked graceful and gorgeous, like a fairy fallen to earth. Everyone's attention was attracted to her.

The host was dumbstruck for a moment before he recomposed himself and took a cue card from his assistant. He coughed and began to introduce Cordelia with a grin.

"Everyone, you must've guessed it." The host's voice was sonorous. "This is Ms. Cordelia Jenner. Not only is she the big boss behind the western suburbs' project, but she's also the CEO of three listed companies!"

That instant, the guests in the hall seemed frozen, and the whole world felt like it was sucked into a vacuum. There was not a sound or a movement.

After a few seconds of silence, applause erupted in the hall.

Cordelia wore a light smile as she raked her eyes across the guests and paused on Nelly. Zephyr held her hand tightly and exchanged a smile with her. All the light in the world paled next to her at this moment.

"I have one more thing to announce." Zephyr's expression was doting. "After the island I bought is developed, it'll be Cordelia's private island." People gasped.

"If you wish to visit the island, you'll have to get the island owner's permission from now on!"

Cordelia looked at him with a radiant smile and pressed closer to him.

The socialites who still fantasized about Zephyr just now could only watch in envy while Nelly stood amongst the crowd with gritted teeth and a glower.

Cordelia saw how disgruntled she was and approached her.

She greeted her with a smile. "Ms. Tanner, it's been a while."

Nelly's eyes were hateful.

Mandy was afraid that she would cause more issues, so she hurried over to intervene with a smile. "Ms. Jenner, have you been well?"

"Aunt Tanner." Cordelia looked at the woman. "You're so nice to your daughter, always staying close to her. Hah, are you still worried that I'll go somewhere deserted and slap her this time as well?" Mandy grimaced, "Ms. Jenner, you must be joking... We're in the wrong for what happened last time. Let me formally apologize to you again!"

She was going to bow as she spoke, but Cordelia stopped her with a smile.

Cordelia could actually see that Mandy was not someone unreasonable. Moreover, they had been taught a lesson the last time, so she would forgive and forget when she could.

As for Nelly, though, Cordelia was not going to let her go so easily.

"Ms. Tanner, you mustn't have known my identity, huh?" Cordelia chuckled. "I have my own job, so I haven't been able to follow up on the project and the companies. Zephyr's been managing them for me. "Now that you know my identity, it'd be easier for us to get along in the future.

Cordelia felt so authoritative that Zephyr looked like her subordinate. "Zephyr, Ms. Tanner's contributed a lot to the project. Don't do her wrong in her remuneration!"

"Okay." Zephyr chortled. "I got it."

Cordelia said again, "Oh, Ms. Tanner, I heard that you took a glass of Burgundy for Zephyr just now?

"Heh, he doesn't drink anymore. But since we're here, we should still clink glasses with you as the hosts."

Cordelia gestured for the server as she spoke, and tea was served.

"Ms. Tanner, we'll use tea in place of wine. What do you think? This tea's excellent, and I think it matches you very well!"

There were talks around them, and Nelly was caught in such an awkward spot that the others felt embarrassed watching her.

A few of the project partners thus came to Cordelia in an attempt to mediate the situation.

Cordelia wore a smile and a clear head, facing the pandering of these people. Her hand stayed in Zephyr's palm, his large palm and warmth providing her with immense courage.