Ch. 441..450

Chapter 441

Chapter 441

Joe clinked glasses with them.

The doors opened at that moment, and the venue quieted abruptly. The chandelier on the hall's ceiling was the only one making a soft clicking noise. Cordelia was smiling as she walked toward Joe and Nelly.

Nelly's expression changed instantly. She was going to lash out, but Joe stopped her discreetly.

"Her status is unlike last time now. We'll still meet in the future. Hold it in!"

Nelly took a deep breath and looked at Cordelia coldly.

"Why didn't you tell me about such a joyous occasion today?" Cordelia smiled nonchalantly. "Ms. Tanner, do you still hold a grudge against me?"

"Very funny, Ms. Jenner. That usually happens when people are close. You and I don't seem to even be friends yet!"

"Oh... people who are close?" Cordelia smiled. "What a coincidence. I brought your best friend here today. It'd be best if you two could resolve any grudges you have in front of everyone!" "What did you say?" Nelly's heart dropped.

Joe stepped forward with narrowed eyes. "Ms. Jenner, this is an internal occasion of the Tanner Group. If you're here to congratulate us sincerely, we welcome you. But if you "

"Of course, I know that I have no right to intervene with the Tanner Group," Cordelia said seriously. "But it's unfortunate that I'm the person in charge of the western suburbs' project. I have to be careful about who I work with.

"Mr. Tanner, are you really handing the company over to Nelly?"

"Cordelia!" Nelly exploded. "Are you here to cause trouble? Don't try to oppress me with some person-in-charge status. You think I dare not call security to chase you out?"

As soon as she said that, two lines of people appeared at the door. Each person looked intimidating and held either a steel rod or a machine gun. Their black T-shirts had the word "Thompson" printed on the back.

The atmosphere in the hall turned grim and menacing right away.

Zephyr and Nicholas entered at the same time. The sound of their leather shoes clicking on the marble floor sounded like bullets being loaded into a gun.

Everyone was baffled and frozen.

A reporter with fast reflexes lifted his camera, but his camera was shattered with a shot before he could press the button!

"Apologies, media and press!" Nicholas said coldly, "Let a word about what happened today out, and you're against me, Nicholas Thompson. Think about the consequences on your own!" "You... You..." Joe panicked and turned pale. "What do you want?"

Zephyr went forward to sling an arm around Cordelia and smiled softly at her. His stern gaze then scanned across everyone and stopped on Joe and Nelly.

"I heard someone say to chase Cordelia out just now?" His voice was sarcastic. "Uncle Tanner, is it true?"

Joe's legs turned to jelly, and he stayed quiet.

"You probably have no idea what your daughter has done, huh?"

Zephyr smirked. His eyes were icy. "Doesn't matter. We'll tell you everything, one by one!"

Cordelia asked with a smile, "Zephyr, get Ms. Tanner's best friend here first. They might have some 'grudges' and need to resolve that face to face!"

Zephyr replied gently, "Sure, your wish is my command!"

Cordelia gave an eye signal, and someone instantly brought the person she wanted.

Nelly's heart thumped. Someone entered a while later. Her face was covered, and only two eyes were visible. Yet, that pair of eyes was enough to nearly pull a scream out of Nelly.

"Mona... You're Mona!?"

Chapter 442

Chapter 442

"So, you still remember me, Ms. Tanner!" Mona scoffed.

Nelly was startled. Mona's gaze on her no longer looked like she saw her as a best friend.

"Why... Why are you here?" Nelly went up to chide her softly. "You want to embarrass me like them too? Don't forget, could you be popular without me?"

"Yeah." Mona's voice was quivering. "Nelly Tanner, I wouldn't have ended up like this if it weren't for you!"

She pulled the scarf off her face as she spoke. The deep scars on her face shocked Nelly.

"This is what you gave me!"

"Liar!" Nelly stumbled back. "I've never asked anyone to mutilate your face!"

"Hah, not you, but everything's because of you!"

Mona faced the crowd. They were shocked when they saw the wounds on her face.

"I'm here today to expose Ms. Nelly Tanner!

"She's the one who asked me to seduce Mr. Thompson and drug him. She's also the one who got the press to cook things up. That's how Mrs. Thompson got triggered and lost her baby!" "Mona!" Nelly shrieked. "Are you crazy? Why are you blaming me? Hah, even if I gave you the idea, do you not have a brain? Do you not know how to think? Are you seducing whoever I ask you to?" "You! How dare you argue!?" Mona glared at her, shaking in anger. "Fine, never mind me. We'll talk about your sister. Have you never hurt Kelly Tanner?"

"Shut up!"

Nelly was anxious and went up to shove Mona, but the bodyguard next to her was fast and pointed a gun at her head. Nelly's heart drummed, but she dared not take another step forward.

"You're a sociopath toward Kelly!" Mona enunciated each word. "While Mrs. Tanner wasn't around, you bought a driver to abduct Kelly from the hospital and wanted to drug her to make her mute. Do you deny these?"

"What?" Joe was stunned.

No matter how much he disliked Kelly, she was his daughter. He had never expected Nelly to harm her own sister!

"Nelly... i-is what she said true?"

"No!"

"You still want to shirk it off at this point?" Mona looked at her mockingly. "Have you forgotten that you've promised the driver 30,000 dollars only to turn back on your word? I was the one who paid him in the end!"

Nelly shook her head frantically, her eyes panicking.

Zephyr smirked and played a video clip. On the big screen, the driver wore the prison uniform with handcuffs. He sat behind the metal-grilled window sullenly.

"It's Nelly Tanner... I wouldn't do something like this if she didn't promise me 30,000 dollars! Nelly Tanner said that my mission would be accomplished as long as I took Ms. Kelly somewhere deserted and stuffed the mute drug down her throat so she could never speak!"

Those who were in the hall gasped.

What Nelly had done kept horrifying them to a new level. They commented softly among each other.

"Who dares work with the Tanner Group when this is what the heiress is like?"

"Yeah, I didn't expect Joe to raise such a daughter... I think the man mustn't be a saint himself!"

"They look decent in front of others, but they're atrocious behind people!"

Zephyr pressed the pause button, and the screen froze when the driver looked up.

Nelly screamed, shocked by the stares, and clutched Zephyr's arm. "Zephyr... Zephyr! We grew up together. You know me. How could I possibly do this!? It's them... They're framing me!"

Chapter 443

Chapter 443

Zephyr looked at Nelly in repulse and shook her off.

Cordelia held his arm and looked at Nelly icily.

Nelly still wanted to cling to Zephyr, but the bodyguard stepped forth and shoved her to the floor.

The doors were opened again. This time, Mandy came in, wheeling Kelly. The latter was pale and frail in the wheelchair, but the determination in her eyes frightened Nelly.

"Mandy, Kelly..." Joe was sweating profusely with a nervous expression. "Why are you both here?"

Mandy scoffed, "Are we supposed to watch you hand the family business over to this scornful, vicious b*tch otherwise?"

"Mandy!"

Joe wanted to overpower her, but she tossed a document to him.

"Joe Tanner, you must have forgotten about our prenup, huh?"

"What?" Joe paled as he read the prenup with bulged eyes.

It was only then that he recalled that Mandy's family, the Chrisses, had asked him to sign a prenup before they married over 20 years ago. The prenup had accounted for their premarital assets. When the Tanner Group was established, Mandy owned 2/3 of the company, according to it.

Because Mandy had never been on guard against Joe, she had never taken the prenup out.

Joe was used to being the boss all these years, so he had also forgotten about the existence of this prenup.

Mandy announced, "The prenup states that I have the right to veto the future successor and any important decision within the company!

"I've never practiced the right in the past due to our relationship as husband and wife." Her gaze was cold as she looked at Joe. "But I'm invoking it today!"

Joe turned pale, and his hands shook uncontrollably.

"Everyone!" Mandy took a deep breath and raised her voice. "Nelly Tanner is not my biological daughter. She's an illegitimate daughter of Joe and another woman! He kept this a secret from me for over 20 years, deceived me into raising his illegitimate daughter for over 20 years, and overlooking my own child...

"I refuse to die with this!"

Those who were there were dumbstruck by the news.

Cordelia shuffled to Zephyr and gripped his hand nervously. The man held her hand back, his large warm palm wrapping around her small palm.

"For real?" The crowd buzzed instantly. "Nelly Tanner's a b*stard child?"

"Got to give it to Joe. Having an affair over 20 years ago!"

"Hah, told you. Some people just look like nice guys, but they're actually horrible people!"

Joe's legs gave out, and he would have nearly fallen to his knees if Nelly did not hurry over to hold him steady. She was not doing any better, though. Her cold sweat had drenched the luxurious embroidered gown.

"N-No..." Joe denied, "Nelly... We picked up Nelly from the orphanage. I-I have proof of adoption..."

"I have proof too!" Kelly spoke up firmly.

Joe met her eyes.

This was the first time in over 20 years that he felt his ailing daughter had such a sharp gaze.

"Dad." Kelly looked at him coldly as she pulled out a stack of documents and threw it upward.

As the papers scattered down like a snowy storm, each snowflake told of the injustice and abuse she had gone through all these years.

"This is my proof!" Kelly said softly, "A DNA test and injury assessment reports!"

Chapter 444

Chapter 444

Joe picked up the papers from the floor with trembling hands and read them sheet after sheet.

Mandy gripped the wheelchair handles so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She saw her daughter's jerking shoulders and patted her.

The papers that Kelly had thrown were countless photocopied sets, so almost everyone there could get one to themselves. As they went through the DNA test report and the injury assessment reports, they threw despising and abhorring glances at Nelly and Joe.

"Hypocrites!"

"Despicable!"

Everyone hit the man who was down-Nelly and Joe stood rooted pathetically like they were tied to the gallows.

"Dad, you probably don't know how Nelly has been bullying me all these years, huh?" Kelly asked shakily, "Hah, or did you know and give your silent permission for her to do it?"

"No, no!" Joe panicked. "Kelly, you're my daughter too. Even though you're sick, I've never thought of giving up on you, right?"

"Don't touch my daughter!" Mandy pushed him away resentfully and pointed at him. "You aren't worth being a father at all. You don't even deserve to be a man!"

"Mandy!"

"Dad, don't mind them!" Nelly supported him. "Hah, you want to defeat me with just these things? Dream on!

"If I, Nelly Tanner, is defeated so easily, then-"

"Then what?" A loud voice rang suddenly.

Nelly froze as she saw Linda walking over slowly. She did not look too good, but each step of hers was strong and firm. Linda had her eyes on Nelly, the fire in them capable of burning a hole through the latter.

Cordelia hurried over to put an arm around her shoulder.

"I'm okay." Linda smiled at her and looked at Nelly with a cold smirk. "I'd love to see how indestructible you are!"

Nicholas waved a hand, prompting a few bodyguards to pin Nelly on the floor.

"What are you doing!?" Nelly screamed hysterically, "Let me go! Let go of me!"

Linda said softly, "Cordelia, I told you that I'm going to avenge the loss of my child myself. Be my witness today!"

"Linda, w-what do you want!?" Nelly struggled for her life. "Don't come near me!"

Linda took a metal rod from the bodyguard unhurriedly and weighed it in her hand in anticipation.

"Do you know how painful it is to lose the child in your womb?" She sneered.

"That baby hadn't even stayed in my womb for six months!"

"N-No..." Nelly cried, "Look for the person who killed your child! I-It's... Mona! She seduced your husband and caused this!"

Linda did not listen to her nonsense and swung the rod down on Nelly's stomach.

Nelly screamed, feeling like her bones were being disassembled.

"That child... was induced from my womb by the doctor!" Linda's eyes went red. "Do you know how much it hurts!?

"It hurts more than this!

"My heart hurts more than this!"

Linda swung the steel rod on Nelly's stomach over and over again. The latter's blood-curdling cries resonated in the hall, giving the crowd goosebumps.

Nelly was down shortly, lying limp on the floor like a boneless mess. Linda swung the rod up again, but a voice stopped her.

"Mrs. Thompson!" Mandy's gaze was pleading.

Linda paused and lowered her arm slowly.

Mandy went to her, took a glance at Nelly, who was coughing blood from the blows, and said softly, pushing down the grief in her heart, "Mrs. Thompson, I know that your resentment will hardly fade even if this b*tch dies a thousand times...

"But I'd still like to plead for her. Don't take a life here. I've... still raised her up, after all."

Linda was shaking. Nicholas put his arm around her and patted her back to console her.

"Mrs. Thompson, your hands are clean." Mandy dipped her head. "It's not worthy of tainting them over this one!"

"She's right," Nicholas said coldly. "She's as good as done anyway. I'll get someone to throw her out of Centrolis."

He waved a hand, and his underlings dragged Nelly out instantly.

Linda had vented her resentment. Her hold weakened, and the steel rod hit the marble floor with a clank.

Zephyr took a step forward and trained his deep gaze on Joe. "Now that Nelly's issues are resolved, it's your turn, Mr. Tanner!"

Joe was already scared out of his wits and fell to his knees with a plop.

Zephyr looked at him with a sneer.

The memory of Joe bringing up his marriage with Nelly each time he visited the Hamertons was still fresh in his mind. Joe kept telling him that it was a matter of course for both families to become in-laws since they matched in status.

His expression and tone when he said that and how pathetic he looked now were like two different people.

Zephyr snickered. "Mr. Tanner, are you admitting what you've done so fast?"

"You..." Joe looked up slowly and could not help shuddering when he met Zephyr's deep eyes.

Zephyr produced the evidence of his illegal land transaction.

"Mr. Tanner, still recognize these?"

Joe felt choked like he was going to pass out from how hard it was to breathe.

"You privately sold small plots of land out to rake in huge profits taking advantage of the western suburbs' project. Do you dare say you didn't make this illegal trade!?"

"Zephyr, you... investigated me?"

"Not me." Zephyr smiled and looked at Cordelia next to him.

Cordelia had always been meticulous, so he noticed that there was something wrong with the accounts and found the source of the issue following the clue. She was also the one who had asked Zephyr not to say anything for the time being so that they would not alarm the culprit, thus collecting complete evidence.

Cordelia said coldly, "Mr. Tanner, the dirty money you received went through the Hamerton Group's accounts. Are you trying to make the Hamerton Group your scapegoat?

"Your plan is perfect, and your accounts are done in great detail." She smiled. "But you made a small mistake. It's just one wrong decimal point!"

Joe looked at the accounts and sweated profusely as he sat limply on the floor.

A few people in uniform came in through the doors then.

Nicholas gestured, and his underlings kept their guns behind them. He went up with a smile and shook hands with the head of the group. "Chief Sheridan, it's been a while!"

Thomas Sheridan had seen a lot, given his age. His authoritative gaze scanned the hall before he asked Nicholas with a smile, "What's this about today?"

"Our Mr. Z Hamerton and his wife are eliminating the scum society for you, Chief Sheridan!"

Thomas looked at Zephyr and Cordelia, greeting them politely. He could not help smirking when he saw Joe kneeling on the floor.

"I've been wanting to look into Joe Tanner for some time!

"Thank you for taking control of the situation first, Mr. Thompson!" Thomas said with a smile, "I've brought the arrest warrant too. I'm sure something valuable will come out of the interrogation when he's brought back!"

Chapter 445

Chapter 445

"Thanks for the trouble, Chief Sheridan." Nicholas smiled.

Thomas waved, and someone pulled Joe up from the floor right away.

Joe shouted as he struggled, "You... You're on his side! Don't you know that Nicholas Thompson's a gangster!?"

"Mr. Tanner!" Thomas snorted, "Mr. Thompson's the CEO of Sol Entertainment. He's contributed significantly to the development of film and TV culture, and he will participate in the top ten outstanding youths o Centrolis next year! Do you mean that our mayor can't distinguish right and wrong?"

Joe widened his eyes speechlessly.

"I have to thank Mr. Thompson for being here in advance, so you didn't get away!"

"B-But don't you see his underlings? Those guns..."

"I was going to turn in these guns!" Nicholas smiled.

"Chief Sheridan, I have a friend who works specifically with the police at the border to crush various firearm smuggling activities. These guns are what he's collected, and I'm passing them to you now. It's my duty as a Centrolis citizen!"

Joe was thoroughly dumbstruck.

Thomas chortled. "Mr. Tanner, did Mr. Thompson ask anyone to shoot just now?"

"N-No."

"Then did Mr. Thompson cause you any tangible physical harm?"

"Well..."

"Someone righteous like Mr. Thompson should be the role model of all Centrolis citizens!"

"You flatter me, Chief Sheridan." Nicholas played along. "Since I came to Centrolis, I've made up my mind to be a lawful citizen!"

"That's great." Thomas nodded. "I'd like everyone to follow me back for your statements to be taken. Thank you for your cooperation!"

Taking the statements was just standard procedure. After all, no one dared speak unnecessarily, given Nicholas' intimidation.

The Tanner Group ultimately returned to Mandy and would be under her management before Kelly got better.

Linda was slowly improving as well. She was a cheerful and optimistic person to start with. It was just that the blow to her was too much this time, and she was still a lot quieter compared to the past, even though she managed to push through this.

Cordelia gradually grew closer to Kelly.

One day, she was taking a walk, wheeling Kelly outside. It felt comfortable with the sun shining on them warmly.

Josiah was occupied and would be late, so he had asked Cordelia to keep Kelly company for a bit longer. Cordelia smiled while reading the text and kept her phone back in her pocket.

Kelly's voice was light. "Cordelia, it must be boring accompanying me. Go ahead if you have something to do. Don't mind me, really! I can manage on my own."

"I don't have much to do." Cordelia tucked the blanket on her legs. "The artists in the company are behaving now, and the joint hospital is being built. I just have to check the construction progress according to schedule."

"I'm so envious of you." Kelly looked at her with a smile. "You have a job you like, and you're so capable. You also have Mr. Zephyr by your side devotedly..."

"You have someone by your side devotedly too!" When Cordelia grinned, she looked really pretty with her big eyes that looked like they had countless stars in them.

"I heard Uncle Irwin say that Josiah would accompany you every day when everyone thought you had lost your memory!"

Kelly blushed with a slight sparkle in her eyes.

"Actually, I'm envious of you!" Cordelia said softly, "You've met so many challenges, yet you're still so courageous. It's really impressive... When you stepped out to expose Nelly, you're like a heroine to me!" Cordelia held her hand gently. "Kelly, how did you manage to endure it for so many years? If it were me, I don't think I'd be able to hold out for so long!"

Kelly smiled shyly. "You're making me sound too noble! In truth, I kept those evidence, but I had never considered exposing her in public one day..." Cordelia was surprised.

Chapter 446

Chapter 446

"In the past, I thought that it would be fine as long as Nelly didn't hurt my mom. I didn't have many days left to live anyway, so I'd protect my mom like this.

"But Nelly became worse after that, so I kept my guard up. I sneaked to get my injuries checked each time I went to the hospital, and later, I managed to get the DNA test report.

"Then that night..." Kelly's voice grew softer with a hint of a smile. "I met someone who made me make up my mind."

Cordelia knew that it was Josiah.

If it were not for that night, Kelly would not have been so eager to seek justice for herself. It was because she had met Josiah that a ray of light shone into the darkness that was her life and allowed her to keep going unwaveringly.

"It's just because I met him," Kelly said softly. "That I want the whole world to know about my existence. I want to... stand properly next to him."

Cordelia was moved, feeling a pinch on her nose.

"Josiah won't let you down." She looked into Kelly's eyes. "Kelly, you've made the right choice!"

Kelly grinned. Her smile under the sunlight was the prettiest it had bloomed in over 20 years of her life.

After what happened, Liam requested to meet Cordelia.

"Don't go if you don't want to go. I'll talk to grandpa." Zephyr spoke softly next to Cordelia's ear as he kept her in his embrace.

Cordelia was peeling an orange and pulled a piece to stuff it into the man's mouth.

The sweet and sour tanginess exploded on the tip of Zephyr's tongue and felt incredibly refreshing. He opened his mouth to ask for a second piece when Cordelia stopped.

He stayed frozen with his mouth open for a few seconds before closing it slowly and said, "Whatever your decision is, you mustn't suffer any grievance first!"

Cordelia mulled over it and chuckled.

"How's meeting your grandfather a grievance?"

Zephyr blinked.

"He asked to meet me this time." Cordelia's voice was soft. "He's an elder. It'll be rude if I don't go. I'll be at fault no matter what.

"Besides, I'm guessing that he wants to meet me this time because I looked into Joe Tanner's accounts and saved the Hamerton Group's reputation, right?" Zephyr smiled. That was exactly the case.

When Liam talked to him about meeting Cordelia, he brought up Joe's illegal land trade.

"Zephyr, you'll be there with me, right?"

Zephyr nodded in expressing his loyalty. "Of course!"

Cordelia grinned. "What's there for me to be scared of when you're my support!?"

Therefore, Liam fixed the time swiftly, and they were to meet this weekend.

Cordelia prepared a gift in advance, but Xyla thought that it was not complete or thoughtful enough, so she prepared another one according to her standards.

Cordelia exclaimed after seeing it, "The older, the wiser, huh? Mom, what you've prepared is amazing. So much better than mine!"

"That's for certain!" Xyla smiled. "Your mother has seen a lot. I'm more experienced than you in terms of not making a faux pas in front of the elders!"

"But..." Cordelia furrowed her brows.

The gifts were thoughtful but did not look like they were part of Centrolis' culture and customs.

Part of the gifts was Ejada, which Xyla had personally made.

Cordelia had heard from Neil that girls in Southeast Aciatic had to make Ejada personally and bring them to the elders in intricate gilded boxes when they would visit the boys' families for the first time... Cordelia's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously reached for the pretty box.

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Chapter 447

"Hey, don't touch it!" Xyla swatted the back of Cordelia's hand.

"There are only two pieces in the box. I'll have to make them again if you ruin them!"

"Mom..." Cordelia looked at her in puzzlement. "Why am I bringing this to Elder Mr. Hamerton? I haven't eaten this that much myself!"

"Silly girl!" Xyla said with a smile, "Back where we come from, this is what we use to show our respect for the elders!"

"Back where we come from?" Cordelia looked at her with widened eyes.

Growing up, she had always thought that Jangasas was her hometown.

Xyla's face fell upon realizing that she had said too much.

"You... You don't have to bring it if you don't want to," she said softly. "The other presents are quite valuable too. The Hamertons won't look down on you!"

After saying that, she returned to her room, leaving Cordelia to stay dazed in the living room with furrowed brows for some time.

On the day of the meeting...

Janine, who planned to work overtime, canceled two meetings in a row and stepped on the accelerator to rush to Hamerton Manor, not forgetting to call Zephyr and scold him on the way.

"You brat! Why didn't you let me know that Cordelia's meeting the old man today?"

Zephyr was confused. "For what, mom? So you can wreck the meeting?"

"Rascal!" Janine sped up and went past the yellow right.

"Don't you know what kind of person your grandfather is? Don't you know that he insists you and Nelly get married? Now with what happened to the Tanners, he wants to meet Cordelia... I think there must be some conspiracy!

"Zephyr Hamerton, is your grandfather trying to set up a loaded dinner to threaten Cordelia and then help the Tanners rise back up?"

Zephyr covered his face. He lamented about his mother's wild imagination and explained with difficulty, "Mom, grandpa's not a fool. Nelly Tanner has gotten chased out of Centrolis already. How could he possibly-"

"Hah, that old man already had the potential for dementia when he was younger!"

Zephyr fell silent for a moment before he said seriously, "Mom, I'll keep Cordelia company."

"I'm still worried!" Janine rebutted right away. "You always listen to your grandfather! What if you switch sides last minute? Our Cordelia will be wronged!"

"Mom, do you not trust your own son?"

"I'm going to be there soon anyway!" Janine insisted. "Come out and open the door for me!"

Zephyr did not get to say anything, and the call ended.

He asked Clark to wait at the door but thought it was too careless to ask the latter to go. Given his mother's temper, she would want him to open the door himself. Zephyr sighed, got changed speedily, and hurried off to the door.

He planned on his way there. He would have enough time to appease his mother first, then pick up Cordelia. The point was Janine must not show herself in the main hall. He would just place her in Zen Residence...

It would require five to six minutes of a drive from Zen Residence to the door of the manor.

Janine was already there before Zephyr arrived. She parked and was going to call Zephyr when she heard a sharp braking sound come from behind her.

She turned back and froze, shocked beyond herself.

She watched as a middle-aged man got out of the black Maybach. They had not met for over 20 years, and he had gotten older, but the way he carried himself had never changed. How he looked like a refined scum, especially, was infuriating!

Rowan hurried to the manor only to look up and meet Janine's icy gaze. He froze as well.

Both of them stared at each other for more than ten seconds and felt like they were in a dream.

"R-Rowan Irwin!?"

"You're... Janine Baker!?"

Both of them snapped their heads away upon recognizing each other and looked appalled, like they had seen a ghost.

"Why are you here?"

"Why are you here then?"

"Hah, my son lives here. Why can't I be here?"

"Your son..." Rowan stopped speaking. He thought about it, and due to his medical judgment of kinship and their facial resemblance, realization struck him. "Your son's Zephyr Hamerton?" Janine snickered and rolled her eyes at him.

Rowan only knew that Zephyr was the third heir of the Hamertons and the heir Liam approved the most, but he had no idea who his parents were. He used to assume that his parents could be a pair of regular and honest husband and wife who did not have much of a presence in the Hamertons, so the public rarely mentioned them.

It was a surprise that...

"That's the brat!" Rowan raised his voice. Enemies were bound to meet, he guessed.

"No, no." He closed his eyes and shook his head before opening them abruptly. "I must, right now, this instance, let our Cordelia break up with the brat!"

"Who are you calling a brat!?" Janine propped her arms on her hips. "Rowan Irwin, have some shame! Your Cordelia? Haha... Does Cordelia know who you are?"

"You-"

"According to what I know about you, you haven't reunited as father and daughter, right?"

With his sore spot picked, Rowan was flustered and glared at her without a word.

"I see now." Janine connected the dots right away. "Cordelia was busy a few days ago saying that some joint hospital project's starting, and it's a collaboration with a famous doctor from Southeast Aciatic... It's you, sc*m!"

"Janine Baker, watch your words!"

"This is polite enough for a jerk!"

Rowan took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. He failed to argue over Janine when they were younger, but Xyla was there to mediate between them. It was unexpected that now that they were old, he still had to fight Janine!

Rowan said calmly, "Janine, I don't have the time to fight with you. Since your son's Zephyr, I'll tell you straight. Elder Mr. Hamerton's meeting Cordelia today, and I heard that he's unhappy with her... "I'm here to support my daughter today!"

"Hah!" Janine sneered at him. "You don't even have a title in front of your daughter. What kind of support are you giving her? "Irwin, if Cordelia finds out how you let her mother down last time, what hope do you think you have in front of her?"

An unreadable emotion flashed in Rowan's eyes, and he kept quiet.

The wind rustled the leaves, flipping a corner of his coat open and disheveling his hair.

The world felt like it was dunked into a vacuum as it was distressingly silent.

Then Zephyr opened the manor door and saw Janine and Rowan standing across from each other. They did not look happy.

He paused. "Mom? Mr. Irwin?

"Why are you here together?"

Chapter 448

Chapter 448

They answered simultaneously, "Who's here with him(her)!?"

Zephyr was puzzled. They looked like they had just had a big fight. He also vaguely saw two people conversing when he walked over, now realizing that it was them. Zephyr was thoughtful, not knowing what the grudge was between them.

"Hey!" Rowan widened his eyes when he saw Zephyr. "Why are you still here? Aren't you taking your girlfriend to meet your elder today?"

"I'm going to pick her up."

"Then hurry up!" Rowan wanted nothing more than to kick Zephyr's bottom.

"Mr. Irwin." Zephyr frowned. "You-"

"A ghost covered my eyes, and I took the wrong way!" Rowan rolled his eyes and slipped into his car.

Zephyr looked at his mother in confusion when he drove off. Before he could ask about it, she exclaimed, "Ugh, unlucky!"

"Mom, what's going on?"

"I saw a ghost in broad daylight!"

Zephyr was exasperated. "Mom, you know Rowan Irwin?"

Janine fell silent with a glum expression. It only made Zephyr more certain in assuming that there was an unknown past between them.

"Mom?" Realization struck Zephyr, and he was horrified. "He's not... the reason for your divorce back then, is he?"

Janine glared at him and slapped him right off the bat.

"Do you think your mother's blind!? Even if I cheated, I wouldn't look for someone like him!"

"Then how did you know each other?"

"We..."

Janine was hesitant to speak. She abruptly recalled that Xyla had told her not to mention the past, nor did she want the kids to find out. She just wanted to live the rest of her life in peace. She coughed and waved a hand.

"Nothing. Some petty grudge in the past... No need to play nice with him when you meet him in the future anyway!"

Zephyr was even more bewildered and winced.

If he had not confirmed that Rowan had nothing to do with the plane crash he was in, he would have really thought that his mother was acting this way about Rowan because of him. "Hey, don't just stand here!" Janine looked at him in annoyance. "Aren't you picking Cordelia up? What time is it now? Hurry up!

"If she's late, the old man's going to pick on her..."

She spoke while she walked in resolutely.

Zephyr stopped her. "Mom, where are you going?"

"To greet your grandfather!"

Zephyr was rendered speechless. "Be honest!"

Janine paused. "I'm really going to greet him! And... remind him that Cordelia's not for him to bully!

Zephyr smiled. He knew that his mother would give her all for him and Cordelia.

Shortly, Zephyr arrived at Hamerton Manor with Cordelia.

This was Cordelia's first time here. The last time she saw this place, it was through Zephyr's video call. He sat in the front yard back then, and the night was starry. The dim light fell on him, and at his back was a unique building with a stretch of mountains.

Now that she was here, it felt like a dream.

Chapter 449

Chapter 449

Liam's study was huge, like a library. The bookshelves were as high as the ceiling and were filled with famous books by experts in various fields. Even then, an echo could still be heard from each step taken.

Cordelia sat on the couch and grasped the hem of her skirt anxiously. Zephyr intertwined their fingers together lightly and gave her a reassuring smile.

Liam sat at the table in a suit. Although he was old, he looked well and lively. As he scanned Cordelia, his gaze was cryptic and complicated.

"Ms. Cordelia, please have tea." He was polite to her.

Cordelia nodded lightly and watched how Zephyr did it before she drank the tea. She took a small sip slowly like him.

Liam could see that she was a smart girl. She was not reckless and rash. Even with Zephyr by her side, she knew her manners and knew to keep a distance from him before her elders. If it were others, they might already be doing what they wanted, knowing they had Zephyr's support.

Liam wore an unnoticeable smile.

He chatted with Cordelia casually. Whatever he asked, she was able to answer tactfully.

The conversation did not go on for long. When Cordelia left the study, she felt like she was floating. She felt soft and weak as if a tightly coiled string was slackened in an instant. "Were you that nervous?" Zephyr smiled with an arm around her shoulders. "I can see that grandpa's happy with you."

"Really?" Cordelia did not think so.

The elders in a family like this were usually full of themselves and could hardly change their opinion of someone. "From what I know of him, I think he has accepted you."

"He didn't accept me in the past, though!" Cordelia smiled mischievously. "He wanted me to be your mistress!"

"You..." Zephyr glared at her without heat and was going to tickle her.

Cordelia stopped him quickly and shushed him. "Don't act like this in your house!"

"Mm." The man smirked and said in a hoarse voice, "See what I'll do to you when we get home!"

Cordelia blushed and pushed him away to walk forward herself.

Zephyr grabbed her hand and rubbed his thumb on the back of it. "Cordelia, I'll ask Robert to send you back first. I have to stay here and take care of some company matters."

"Oh." She nodded.

"Work's been piling up previously, so I'll need some time." He looked at her apologetically. "I'm afraid I won't be able to eat with you."

"It's fine. Work's important."

"Do you want to go around the manor? I'll let Robert go with you."

"No." She shook her head. "I'm going back to mom's. She's a little unwell today."

Zephyr was going to call for a doctor when Cordelia held his hand with a smile. "It's all in her mind. You don't have to get a doctor. She probably thought of some things in the past and feels sad." Zephyr nodded and reminded her, "Let me know if mom has any emergency!"

Cordelia promised and got into the car alone. The car slowly drove toward the manor's gate.

The people in the Hamertons were observant. The chauffeur knew of Cordelia's importance to Zephyr and that she could very well be the future Mrs. Hamerton, so he was incredibly friendly the moment Cordelia got in.

Not only did he drive slowly and steadily, but he also introduced the manor to her while he drove.

"Ms. Cordelia, Mr. Zephyr's Zen Residence is not far from here. That's the only Chaiseland-inspired structure in the manor because he grew up in Chaiseland!

"Ms. Cordelia, look over there... Heh, that's the manor's golf course. And there... The Hamertons' horse ranch is on that mountain.

"Mr. Zephyr rides there frequently, and he's a good equestrian!

"And there..."

The chauffeur suddenly stopped talking and smiled awkwardly.

Cordelia blinked. "What about there? Is there something you can't say?"

Chapter 450

Chapter 450

The chauffeur chuckled dryly and blamed his hands. He had actually steered them to Yale Residence!

Who in the entire Splendor Mountain did not know about the grudges between the eldest and the third heir?

"Nothing, nothing!" The chauffeur quickly turned the car around. "That place is not so good. It's not too... lucky to go near it!"

"Really?" Cordelia was skeptical.

Those houses looked beautiful as well and seemed rather luxurious. Those who stayed in there should be someone Elder Mr. Hamerton was fond of too.

"Ms. Cordelia, let me take you elsewhere-"

Before the chauffeur finished his sentence, someone rushed out from the path at the side. He was alarmed and stomped on the brake.

Cordelia nearly hit the seat in front of her due to the momentum. She was even more shocked when she calmed down and saw who it was.

"Yelena?"

"Cordelia... Cordelia!"

Yelena's hair was disheveled, and she did not have any makeup put on. She looked haggard, especially with how abnormally thin she was. It felt unsettling.

"Cordelia!" Yelena kept tapping the glass and spoke hastily. "Cordelia, come out. I have something to tell you!"

Cordelia leaned back unconsciously and told the chauffeur to lock the door softly. As expected, Yelena pulled on the door latch impatiently.

"Cordelia, open the door!" She hit the glass in a frenzy seeing that she could not open the car door. "I'm your sister. We grew up together! Cordelia... You can't just watch me die!"

Cordelia's heart dropped. She looked at the chauffeur in confusion while the latter coughed awkwardly.

"Ms. Cordelia, I told you it's unlucky here! I think I'll try to shake her off!"

"She... What happened to her?"

Before the chauffeur answered, Cordelia heard a pained cry outside of the car.

Yelena was dragged back by a few bodyguards. She kept struggling and resisting, but it was futile. Her voice resonated until it slowly vanished.

Cordelia could not help shuddering.

"Ms. Cordelia, actually... I don't know what's going on either," the chauffeur answered honestly. "I only drive for Mr. Zephyr, and he usually stays around Zen Residence. I really have no idea what's going on in Yale Residence!"

"Yale Residence?"

"Yes, this is Yale Residence, where Mr. Yale lives."

Cordelia paused in thought.

"Ms. Cordelia, Mr. Yale is a bit of a psycho. You must stay away from here when you come again!"

Cordelia's mind went blank.

Yelena's voice still seemed to echo in her ears. She had asked her to get out of the car hysterically, and her eager gaze was filled with such strong survival instinct. Right, she had also asked her not to just watch her die...

Did Yale want to kill her?

Cordelia felt her heart lurch.

The chauffeur had already driven to the manor's gate.

Cordelia got out for some air only to see Rowan standing under a tree not far away, looking over at her. She was surprised.

"Uncle Irwin? What brings you here?"

Rowan's tense face finally revealed a hint of a smile when he saw her. He scrutinized her for a long time and asked softly, "Did they... pick on you?"

Cordelia froze before shaking her head with a smile.

"That's good, that's good," Rowan replied with a smile, relieved. "I'm here... Oh, I'm here to visit Elder Mr. Hamerton.

"Hah, the Hamertons are involved in the joint hospital project, after all. I should meet him! It's already rude of me to only come now."

Speaking of courtesy, Rowan suddenly thought of something. "Right, you're here to meet Elder Mr. Hamerton today. You didn't go empty-handed, right?"