Ch. 731..740

Chapter 731

Chapter 731

Janine side-eyed the person.

Hannah's lackeys were really loyal. Did they think that their master could rise again?

Janine had never regarded these people much back when Hannah was still part of the board of directors. Hannah could only act her way because of Noah. Now that she was no longer on the board of directors, what did her lackeys think they could amount to?

Janine scoffed. "And what makes you think the audience won't buy it?"

The person could not answer.

Janine presented another graph, a report produced after several rounds of market surveys.

From the data evaluation, the production was a niche film, but its reception would not be too bad. At least, there would be no problem trying for an international award.

"Besides, our company has numerous award-winning actors," said Janine. "As well as the prodigious director, Trinity Lulham. I don't have to tell you about her achievements. She's doing great recently, so this film isn't an issue!"

"Madam Baker, having many stars in the film doesn't necessarily mean it's good!" Someone opposed. "Neil and Millie are known only in Centrolis. If we want to keep the Chaiseland and even Eropah's market, we have to use local artists."

"You mean to produce two versions?"

The person shrugged and smiled cryptically.

A whispered discussion broke out in the board meeting. Two versions would mean more than double the cost.

The same person said with a smile, "Madam Baker, didn't Millie do badly when she tried for the Eropah market the last time?"

Janine's face fell.

The opinions in the board meeting changed as well. Someone even chorused. "Yeah, we can't use Millie anymore. Ms. Lulham's going for an artistic film this time, and everyone knows that it's the genre that makes the least money. Why isn't she asked to keep producing commercial films?"

"Ms. Lulham's previous films did very well. The returns were great, weren't they?"

"Yeah, she should keep producing commercial films!"

The board members kept talking, each sentence challenging the bottom line of Janine's patience.

"What do you all know!?" Janine erupted. "What about Trinity shooting an artistic film? It's art! Besides, Millie did badly? The box office didn't do well, but the film won an international award!

"Go back and study more if you're so free! Understand what doing badly means before coming here to argue with me!"

Janine's series of clap backs shocked everyone into silence.

The meeting room was quiet, and Janine smiled, raking her sharp gaze over everyone.

"People, are we resuming the meeting?"

"Yes, yes! Please go on, Madam Baker..."

"Anyone else objecting to this film?"

"No, no more."

"So it's a unanimous pass?"

Janine waved a hand with a smile to gesture to Zephyr to keep presenting the data. The latter pinched between his brows weakly.

In a board meeting where his mother was, he was just her assistant slash follower.

Janine's most distinctive characteristic was that she was fiercely protective of her own.

She had been so agitated just now because Trinity was Cordelia's friend, and Millie supported Cordelia wholeheartedly as well. She would protect people or things that were related to Cordelia, fiercely so. Zephyr was puzzled. By relationship, he was the closest to Cordelia... Why was his mother not that protective of him?

"But Madam Baker, this investment..." Someone still voiced their doubt. "The Baker Group has varied businesses, and media is only one of them. We can't not consider the issue of cost."

Janine looked at the person coldly.

This time, she let Zephyr speak up.

Zephyr cleared his throat. "No need to worry about the cost. Artistic films don't make a lot, but it's also a low-cost production. If the box office is great, the profit is expected to be significant too."

Chapter 732

Chapter 732

"Easy for you to say, Mr. Hamerton! Are the Hamertons paying for it?"

Zephyr narrowed his eyes, a glint of iciness washing over them.

The board of directors supported different parties, and there was a minority who was dissatisfied with Zephyr because his last name was Hamerton and not Baker. "Half of Imperial Media's shares have the last name Baker. Are you going to pay for it?"

"Well..."

Zephyr's commanding presence shushed everyone.

The door to the meeting room opened suddenly, and a shrill voice echoed. "We'll pay for this investment!"

Janine and Zephyr were stunned.

Noah stood with Hannah beside him. The woman beamed in victory. Her gaze on Janine was challenging.

The board of directors could not help exchanging whispers of comments.

"What are you doing here?" Janine got up and was going to call for security to drive her out.

Hannah took a step forward, yelling shrilly, "What are you doing? We're here to invest in the film! Are you pushing money that's coming your way out, Madam Baker?"

Janine looked at her coldly, then glared at Noah.

"I'm chased out of the board, but my husband still has a spot here!" Hannah purposely smoothed down Noah's suit for him and sneered. "Right, Janine?"

Janine took a deep breath and stayed silent.

The more arrogant her opponent was, the calmer she could keep herself. It was because once a person was too full of themselves, they would expose their weakness, and it would be easy to counter then. "Mm, that's right." Janine shot Zephyr a look in secret and smiled at Hannah. "Noah does have a say in the board, so how are you two planning to invest in the production?"

Hannah finally felt it was time to hold her head up high.

"We invest... $15,000,000!"

Zephyr stayed in the study for a long time.

When Cordelia went in with a mug, he could not help frowning when he saw its content.

"Don't even think about having coffee at this hour!" Cordelia smiled. "It's so late now. Milk is better."

"Darling, I might have to..."

"No staying up late either!"

Zephyr chuckled.

He scooped her into his arms and sat her down on his lap. She was much heavier than before.

Having his wife and son in his embrace felt like he was hugging his whole world.

"I heard about the board meeting today." Cordelia wrapped her arms around his neck. "Are you... waiting for the investigation results?"

Zephyr could not help chuckling. He really could not keep anything from her.

"I do suspect where they got the money from," he replied. "$15,000,000 in Eropah dollars, and the artistic film doesn't even need that much money. There must be something behind this!" "They didn't state any condition to invest?"

"There is..." Zephyr paused and answered, "Their condition is for Ava to be the female lead."

Cordelia snorted.

Zephyr continued. "And Aunt Hannah said that they've also set up a new management company, Prestige Agency. The money goes through Prestige's accounts." "Uncle Noah's okay with it?"

Zephyr's eyes darkened. "Uncle Noah's a puppet. He's fine with whatever Hannah says."

Chapter 733

Chapter 733

Cordelia nodded. There must be a hidden agenda, and Uncle Noah might not even know about it!

"It's really unusual that they've suddenly set up a management company and could produce $15,000,000 right away." Cordelia bit her lips and said in a low voice, "I'll have to let Trinity know not to shoot the film first. This has to be postponed. And you've got to look into Prestige, honey!"

Zephyr smiled and tapped twice on his laptop, immediately showing the detailed investigation result on Prestige Agency.

Cordelia paused.

"Darling, do you have to say? I've got it done already!"

Cordelia read that the capital Prestige Agency registered with was not much, and it only signed a handful of artists. The whole company only had a legal person, a manager, and a finance person.

"The legal person's Uncle Noah." Cordelia frowned. "Zephyr, if anything happens to the company, Uncle Noah's the one who will be held accountable legally!"

"Mm."

Cordelia said, "And it doesn't look like a regular company to me. More like a shell company!"

Zephyr closed the laptop with a chortle.

"Alright, stop thinking so much. I'll go to bed with you."

"Darling..." Cordelia hugged him on the neck. "The baby's been so active recently that my back is so sore."

Zephyr carried her back to their bedroom and placed her on the bed to massage her back gently.

Cordelia then fussed that it was warm and wanted to have ice cream.

Zephyr paused and shook his head hesitantly.

Cordelia was disappointed. Since she got pregnant, her mother and mother-in-law kept a close eye on her, prohibiting her from having this and that. Ice cream was one of the blacklisted foods.

Janine followed the list strictly once Cordelia was in Chaiseland and repeatedly warned Zephyr to pay attention to her meals.

Cordelia missed all the junk food she used to have-instant ramen, frozen pizzas, hot chips... It had been months since she had these.

She pouted and turned away gloomily to sleep.

Zephyr coaxed her for some time, but she was still reluctant to turn over. He got up and mentioned having to do some work.

Cordelia nodded and closed her eyes to let him go, but not too long later, she vaguely heard noises outside the bedroom door and seemed to smell something sweet. "Ah!" She opened her eyes in thrill. "Ice cream?"

She perked up immediately. The chocolate sundae with a strawberry top was served in an exquisite porcelain cup that simply made it look appetizing.

Zephyr's gaze was indulging as he smiled and passed her the spoon.

"Thank you, darling!" Cordelia dug a spoonful and was instantly gratified. It felt like she was hit with a shot of dopamine!

"Darling..." She looked at Zephyr. "Why did you change your mind suddenly?"

"What's there you can't have?" Zephyr chuckled and rubbed her hair. "My wife already has a hard time being pregnant. What about having some ice cream?" "Darling..."

"We'll have whatever you want," Zephyr said softly. "But you can't have too much. Just a bit to satisfy the craving!"

Cordelia ate the ice cream and nodded fervently.

"My son isn't that fragile!" Zephyr said with a chortle. "He can take anything cold, hot, sour, or spicy! Right, son?" "You didn't want me to have it just now. Why change your mind so suddenly?"

"Because..."

Zephyr said in a deep tone and put a hand on the back of her head to push their foreheads together.

Chapter 734

Chapter 734

"Because I love you and don't want you to suffer any grievances."

...

Janine waited in silence. She did not accept nor insist on rejecting the $15,000,000 Eropah dollars of investment Hannah offered. She wanted to wait for the latter to expose herself.

Zephyr was like his mother. He kept waiting. Once the other party's patience ran out, they would naturally expose themselves. This was especially after he received Nicholas' call. "The person you asked me to check the other time, I got it!"

"Mm." Zephyr lowered his voice. "What's the situation?"

Nicholas' power was not in Melorian, but he had friends in gangs abroad, so he was able to find things out.

"You said that there's a boss around Melorian with a deep, grating voice? That's Cuck Cole!"

"What?" Zephyr nearly spat his coffee.

"Hahaha, it's said that people in the gangs call him that!" Nicholas said with a chuckle, "His real name's Chuck Cole, and he is coincidentally from Centrolis. He went to Ricos, then to Melorian after failing to establish himself there... He does everything abominable and seems to be on money laundering recently!"

Zephyr nodded and had his guess.

"Where did he get so much money from?"

"Illegal money, duh. Where else?" Nicholas snorted. "It's said that he's only made it and gotten rich by depending on a woman!"

Zephyr frowned. "Nicholas, how do you all go about this money laundering business?"

"Hey, hey, hey, I've quit. Don't get me involved!" Nicholas coughed. "But there are many ways to do it... Investment is one! Invest the illegal money, and it's legal when it comes back!"

"What?"

Investment? Investing in film production was one too, then?

Zephyr felt odd instantly.

Aurelia stayed many days in the villa. She felt very secure since James could not find his way here. It was just too bad that the b*stard had still taken her money in the metal box...

Her heart ached about it. She had long spotted a course in the fashion school and saved up more than half a year to pay the registration fee.

She had not mentioned it to anyone and stayed cheerful, doing house chores in the villa like the other maids.

Everyone in the villa liked her.

Aurelia was mowing grass in the yard when the doorbell rang. She ran over to see that it was a middle-aged woman, who sized her up not very friendlily and said smugly, "I'm here for Cordelia!" "She's resting upstairs," Aurelia replied politely. "May I know who you—"

Before she finished, the woman shoved her away impatiently.

"Hey, you can't just go in like this!" Aurelia went forward to pull her but stumbled from being pushed.

"Where do you come from? How dare you lay your dirty hand on me? Open your cheap eyes! I'm Mrs. Baker! Zephyr Hamerton's aunt!"

Aurelia froze.

Hannah scoffed and continued to go inside but acted like a different person once she was in there. She called out warmly downstairs, "Cordelia! My darling Cordelia, are you home? I'm here to visit, hahaha..." Aurelia felt her ears pop. The woman's voice she heard when she was abducted the other day rang in her head clearly-"Darling, are you inside? I'm here!"

Her heart thumped as she inched closer behind Hannah, keeping a close eye on her back.

Chapter 735

Chapter 735

"Hey, why are you just standing there?"

Hannah turned around and looked at Aurelia coldly. "You're new here? Don't you know how to serve tea and snacks?"

Aurelia calmed her thumping heart and turned to go to the kitchen for that. She kept her head lowered purposely to prevent Hannah from seeing her.

Hannah rolled her eyes at Aurelia but felt strange about the latter's long chestnut-colored hair the moment she turned around.

Hannah froze but went on and ran into Cordelia, who had just come out.

"Oh, Cordelia!"

Cordelia nodded in greeting and smiled perfunctorily.

"What brings you here, Aunt Hannah?"

"Look at you! Can't I visit if there's nothing on?"

Cordelia winced. What was it that people said? One would always curry favor with hidden intentions.

"Cordelia, I see you're getting further along now. Walking and stuff aren't too convenient now, huh?" Hannah wanted to go up and hold Cordelia's arm, but Cordelia avoided it discreetly. "Thank you for your concern, Aunt Hannah. I'm fine."

Hannah felt embarrassed, but she recalled that she was not here to simply greet Cordelia today, and her tone hardened.

"Cordelia, you heard about what happened in the board meeting? Heh... Our Ava has finally succeeded!

"Oh yeah, I heard that you and Ms. Lulham are good friends? She personally rejected our Ava the last time!

"Please, do let her know to teach Ava well when they shoot next time!"

Cordelia looked at her and deeply understood what it looked like for a despicable person to be victorious.

"Yes, Aunt Hannah! Ava's talented and beautiful. It's deserving that she gets the role of the female lead.

"It's just that..." Cordelia smiled. "If you didn't invest $15,000,000, the film wouldn't be able to get a female lead like Ava. I didn't expect you to be so rich, Aunt Hannah! Teach me your ways too. I'm interested!" Hannah's expression soured instantly.

Cordelia was just speaking her mind, but it accidentally hit Hannah's sore spot.

"What ways do you mean? What nonsense are you talking about!?" Hannah yelped, "T-The company belongs to Noah. The investment is his too. It has nothing to do with me!"

"Aunt Hannah, what's gotten into you?" Cordelia frowned. "I didn't say anything. Why are you so agitated?"

"I..."

Hannah had a guilty conscience and licked her lips, avoiding Cordelia's gaze.

"Okay, okay, I'm just here to visit today! Since you're doing well, I'm relieved." "Leave after you eat with us, Aunt Hannah!"

"No!" Hannah was still agitated and only calmed down after a few deep breaths.

Cordelia, who was meticulous, instantly noticed that something was wrong with the woman. However, she said nothing and let the butler send her to the door. When she turned around, she saw Aurelia sending a plate of fruits to the living room.

"That madam... left?" Aurelia asked carefully.

"Mm, yeah." Cordelia slouched on the couch and picked up a cherry. "You've never seen her, right? It's Zephyr's aunt, a Mrs. Baker."

Aurelia stayed silent, looking down.

Cordelia continued. "I don't think she's here for anything. Just wanted to brag that her daughter became the female lead! Hah..." Aurelia was still quiet.

It was only then Cordelia noticed that something was off with her and held her hand, only to be alarmed by how cold it felt.

"Aurelia, are you okay? Do you feel ill anywhere?"

Aurelia shook her head and looked up at her.

Chapter 736

Chapter 736

Aurelia's big eyes seemed to have lost their usual shine and held a hint of terror.

"Cordelia... that woman, I-I think I know her!"

Melorian's weather in June was damp, mild, and rainy. It was going to be summer, but the temperature remained low, especially chilly at night.

Zephyr took a cardigan to drape on Cordelia, who was on the balcony, and hugged her from the back.

"What are you thinking about?"

Cordelia reeled in her gaze to turn to Zephyr. "Zephyr, do you think what Aurelia said... is true?"

Zephyr's gaze dimmed.

Cordelia had told him all about Hannah's visit today and Aurelia's encounter during her abduction the other day.

"She was blindfolded that day, but she heard the voices clearly. Hannah spoke Acian, so it left a deep impression on her."

Zephyr's expression was as grim as he clenched his fists.

If this was really the case, Hannah cheated with Chuck, and Noah was kept in the dark...

Once this was exposed, Noah would lose his wife and money, becoming the victim who was hurt the deepest. The Bakers might be implicated as well! "Zephyr..."

Cordelia could feel his emotions surge and hugged him back softly as she snuggled him.

"Don't think of the worst-case scenario first! It might not be!" she consoled softly. "Aunt Hannah and Uncle Noah have been married for so many years. It's impossible there's nothing between them. And I don't think she's that bold..."

"She's not?" Zephyr sneered. "Hah, she's used my uncle all these years to get so much money and do all these failing businesses with his name... I finally know why now.

"She's supporting Chuck Cole. She's stealing the Bakers' money to support her lover!"

Cordelia held his hand.

"Zephyr, calm down!" She looked at him. "Aurelia said that Chuck and the woman mentioned the Bakers in their conversation. I think we need to investigate Chuck whether or not the woman is Aunt Hannah." Zephyr nodded.

"And keep Uncle Noah safe. I think there's a problem with that company..."

"Of course, there's a problem with a money-laundering company!" Zephyr said coldly.

"What if..." Cordelia was worried. "What if it's really Hannah? She'll recognize Aurelia then!"

Zephyr paused. He had overlooked this issue.

"Should we send her away?" Cordelia considered. "She can't go back to that street for sure. James is still there for her. I suggest... to send her to Neil."

The hotel that Neil stayed in that was under the Baker Group had one of the best security systems in Melorian, and the man had bodyguards he brought from Southeast Aciatic. They were all trained in the special forces and were very skilled.

This way, Aurelia's safety would be guaranteed.

"Hmm..." Zephyr mulled over it. "It's a good idea! I'll send someone to take her there tomorrow morning."

Cordelia smiled. Her husband agreed no matter what she said. It seemed that he was really like his uncle. This Zephyr, who had gone silly in his prime, was like Noah, indulging their wives silly.

It was just that Noah's efforts were not worth it.

"Darling..." She snuggled Zephyr's chest and spoke sweetly. "You're the best."

"Hmm?" Zephyr paused and stroked her hair with a smile. "Only because of this?"

"Of course not! You're the best in everything you do!"

"Everything I do..." The man repeated the words before asking huskily next to her ear, "Then I must do something tonight to prove that I'm the best in everything I do?"

Cordelia blushed and looked at her belly shyly.

Zephyr carried her to place her on the bed. "I promise I'll be very gentle..."

Cordelia surrendered after two soft pushes and was wrapped in his hands to be cared for gently...

Chapter 737

Chapter 737

The next day, Neil nearly dropped his jaw in shock when he saw Aurelia at the door.

"Mr. Harris." The Chaiseland butler bowed gentlemanly. "Mr. Hamerton's instructed that Ms. Aurelia will stay here under your care from now on!"

It took a moment for Neil to process it.

This morning before he woke up, he received a call from Cordelia and groggily listened to her speak-something about it was no longer safe for Aurelia to stay with her, and they had something big to do and that they needed to protect Aurelia...

He had thought that he was dreaming. That was why he agreed in passing when Cordelia mentioned sending Aurelia to him.

It was unexpected that...

"Hey, wait!" Neil did not manage to hold the butler but almost ran into Aurelia instead.

Aurelia stood there timidly with her luggage, and Neil looked at her. Although he frowned with impatience, his hands moved on their own accord to take her bag from her.

He asked for another room soon.

"Key card." He glanced at her. "You stay in this room."

Aurelia nodded obediently.

"There'll be people cleaning it every day, and there's a buffet restaurant downstairs. You can eat whatever you want as long as you show your room card to the staff."

"Mm."

"Let me know if you need anything." Neil coughed after he said that and emphasized, "I mean... the room's checked under my name. You have no identity, technically. What if the receptionist wants to check your ID when they send whatever you ask for when you call them? So, you might as well tell me, and I'll get the front desk to send it. Easier this way!"

"Oh, okay." Aurelia nodded seriously and said hesitantly, "Uncle... I-I want that, can I?"

"What?" Neil furrowed his brows.

"It's..." The young girl blushed and was almost inaudible. "It's..."

She mentioned a brand.

It took Neil a moment before realization struck him, and he felt awkward as well.

It was a cheap sanitary pad brand. There was nothing good about it other than the low price, and it was said that there had been disputes about its quality.

He looked at the girl. She stood there like a little bunny with her head lowered and eyes looking around, just too scared to look at him.

For some reason, he was uncomfortable about it.

"Mm, I... I'll get them to send it to you in a while," Neil answered in a mumble.

Aurelia jolted and smiled in relief. The man's expression was frosty, but he probably did not hate her as much.

"Thank you, uncle!" Her voice was crisp as she began to talk again, "Heh... my period isn't usually this time, actually! I don't know why it came a few days earlier this time! And I only realized it after leaving the house this morning, and I don't have it in my bag, and I'm too embarrassed to go back for it... so I can only trouble you!"

"Right, you can differentiate day and night use, right?"

"Uncle, I want to take a shower and change out of my pants..."

"Okay, okay!" Neil stopped her. "Enough. I'll go out now!"

...

A few days of staying there later, Aurelia shed her pitiful look in the beginning and frequently annoyed Neil to the brink of a volcanic explosion.

"Uncle, are you really an award-winning actor in Centrolis?

"But I've never seen your movies!

"Oh... I remember now. There was a film showing in Eropah previously, and the box office did horribly. The male lead in the poster seemed to be you! "Fredric says that you like the director. Is it true?

"Uncle, why did you hit my head!?"

Nobody knew how many times Neil gave her the death glare every day, resorting to his fists when death glares did not work.

The man thought that the extent of his eye expressions would definitely be on new heights by the time his visa ended and he went back to Centrolis!

Despite that, Aurelia enjoyed every second of it. She knew that Neil would not actually get mad at her.

That day when she came out of the bathroom and saw the sanity pads on the table, it was an expensive brand on the most expensive shelf in the mall. Its wrapping was like a rainbow, and the design was dreamy.

She had taken a piece out, and tears followed-she could not bear to use it.

Neil had said nonchalantly, "Girls should use the best for things like this!"

Aurelia had never been doted on like this, so Neil became a presence of deity to her. She looked up at him, admired him, and kept a passionate, secret love for him.

She knew that she had a lowly background, however, and dared not step over the line.

That was why she joked with him carelessly and laughed to her heart's content to hide her small ego and inferiority. She counted down in secret every day to see how many days were left until his visa was up.

Her mood sank a little with each day that passed. She told herself that they came from different worlds. It was already great that she had this chance to spend time with him.

Right now, she was having a barbecue on the hotel's top floor with Neil.

The weather was wonderful today, and she had just brought it up spontaneously, yet Neil executed it with seriousness, instantly asking for barbecue equipment and food to be sent over. There was also a three-tier buttercream cake because Aurelia had muttered about her birthday approaching two days ago.

Neil put in the candles and asked her to make a wish.

Aurelia knew her wish would not come true, but she still closed her eyes and put her hands together to sincerely wish. When she opened her eyes, she met Neil's deep ones. "Uncle." She suddenly felt a pinch in her nose and squeezed a "thank you" out after some time despite wanting to say more.

"You mean for the birthday?" Neil smiled. "It's nothing. You're 18 now. There should be a coming-of-age ceremony. This is hasty. We'll add the ceremony on your next birthday!"

"Will there be a next time?"

"Hmm?"

Aurelia quickly shook her head and smiled happily.

"You promised! You've got to host me a big one on my next birthday! You know what, I want a party like the royal princess! Very, very grand and luxurious!"

Neil smiled and rubbed her hair.

"Sure."

"I want a birthday present too! A diamond necklace?"

"You money-grubber! How dare you ask something so expensive from me, huh?"

"Just tell me if you're giving it to me or not!"

"No!" Neil glared at her. "Do I look like a diamond necklace to you?"

Chapter 738

Chapter 738

"Hmm... no!" Aurelia answered seriously and frankly, "Uncle, a necklace is a pretty thing!"

"What, you mean I'm not pretty?" Neil was indignant. "Pretty" was not quite an adjective for him, but he was a handsome man acknowledged by showbiz, and his title as the nation's first love did not come in vain.

"No, no!" Aurelia hurried to say.

"Then what do you mean? Didn't you say that necklaces are pretty?"

"It's not that you're not pretty." Aurelia smiled. "But you're no 'thing'!"

"Aurelia!"

How dare she!?

The new film was in the preparation stage, but Trinity was not quite happy.

When Cordelia saw her in the cafe with a pair of dark eye circles and a gaze of despair, she felt so bad about it.

"Cordelia, change her out!" Trinity was exasperated. "What kind of a monster is Ava Baker? Never mind that she can't get her lines straight. She looks the same no matter the emotions! I don't want the title of the prodigious director, okay? How am I a f*cking genius!? I can't teach her!"

Cordelia could not hold back and let a chuckle slip. Even Michelle had not pushed Trinity to such a corner back then.

"Trinity, put up with it a bit more." Cordelia ordered the director's favorite sea-salt cheesecake and an Americano. "Ava's not a monster. She really wants to be an actress!" "Huh?"

Trinity pulled up some photos. It was a collage of four photos, all Ava's face.

Cordelia frowned. "Why are you showing me four same photos?"

"Hah, it's not the same!" Trinity sneered. "The production requires the female lead to express four different scenes!"

Cordelia widened her eyes in disbelief. It was one singular expression!

"If it were Millie, not only would she show four different expressions, she could do four more according to the minuscule differences and let me pick!" Trinity huffed.

Cordelia blinked and stayed quiet. She knew that someone like Trinity, who pursued extreme perfection in art, was not scared of harsh conditions. Her fear was someone who could not understand what she wanted!

"Don't worry." Cordelia said softly after a while, "Ava won't be the female lead."

"Really?"

Trinity's eyes lit up, and she was pumped again. Soon, though, she grew doubtful. "You aren't lying to me, are you?"

"Do you think I'll lie to you with what we have?"

It was only then Trinity grinned in relief.

"Cordelia, Ava came with funds. She's the female lead the company decided on. Why..."

"Never mind about that!" Cordelia sounded confident. "I'm telling you, she won't be the female lead. Just wait and see. Prestige Agency will pull out very soon!"

Cordelia and Zephyr investigated Hannah in secret.

Prestige Agency was really a shell company. When they registered, they intentionally kept the fact that Noah was mentally challenged and bribed the guy assessing the company information, making Noah the legal person this way.

Once something happened to the company, the responsibilities would fall to Noah, and the Bakers would have to clean up the mess!

"Hannah's got a good plan!" Cordelia gritted her teeth. "Darling, we have to tell mom. We can't let her go so easily!"

"Don't worry." Zephyr hugged her. "We stay put for now, and when the time comes, she won't end well."

"What more can I do?"

Chapter 739

Chapter 739

"You..." Zephyr stroked Cordelia's belly and smiled. "Just focus on delivering our son and yourself!"

"Mm." Cordelia smiled. "Hopefully, all this annoying stuff will be over by the time he's out here."

"They will be. Honey, don't disclose anything and let Trinity know to keep it all in for the time being. Don't fall out with Ava!"

"I know!" Cordelia thought of something and added, "Darling, you must look into the account that Hannah uses with that man. It's the most crucial piece of evidence!"

Zephyr's gaze was gentle as he pressed a kiss on her forehead. "Got it, darling dearest!"

...

Hannah's right eye had been twitching these days, and she felt anxious and distressed. She asked Ava, "Ava, what does it mean when your eye twitches? What do the left and right mean separately?" Ava was busy with a facial mask and did not have time to entertain her.

Hannah's temper flared. "I'm asking you a question, and look at how indifferent you are! What? Not yet a big celebrity and already thinking you're a big shot? Who's the one making who you are today!?" "Gosh, stop nagging. It's all thanks to you, okay!?" Ava yelled impatiently, "Left eye for fortune and right eye for disaster! Your right eye has been twitching the whole day. Doom is coming for you!"

"Get out!"

Hannah had been in a bad mood, and it only worsened with what she heard. She pulled her slipper to toss it at Ava and nearly got the latter's face.

Ava cried and yowled, calling her mother unreasonable and grumbling lots more, before she retreated to her own room.

Hannah threw herself on the couch and panted with a heaving chest. She carefully recalled when these symptoms started for her-difficulty in breathing, a sense of suffocation, feeling ill, occasional nausea... Right, it was after she went to Cordelia's place!

Hannah froze, and Aurelia's chestnut hair suddenly flashed in her mind! The maid was ridiculously gorgeous, and Cordelia was currently pregnant. Keeping someone like this around was creating trouble for herself. What if Zephyr was seduced by the vixen...

Yes, a vixen she was!

Hannah shuddered, and a chill ran down her back. She broke out in cold sweat. She recalled it now. The sl*t she met at Chuck's place the other day... She could not see the former's appearance since she was blindfolded, but the long chestnut hair had left her an impression!

Would it be such a coincidence? Were they the same person?

The more Hannah thought about it, the more off it felt. If the sl*t was really on Cordelia's side, she must know something!

Ava threw things around in her room, and the servants watched, too scared to stop her. When she vented enough, she opened the door to see Hannah sneaking out, already reaching the door. She paused and caught up. "Mom, where are you going?"

"I... I have something to do!" Hannah did not look good.

Ava knew that she was up to no good looking at her sneaky behavior and lowered her voice to ask next to her ear, "Going to Uncle Chuck?"

"Shut up!" Hannah was like a deer caught in headlights.

She looked around and threatened Ava, "Don't tell anyone! If that fool asks about it, say that I'm out shopping. Bring up half a word about Uncle Chuck, and I'll skin you alive when I'm back!" "Okay, okay, my lips are sealed." Ava rolled her eyes. "Hah, when haven't I known when you went to him in the past? I've never seen you so nervous!"

"Shush, why are you still on about it!?"

Hannah glared at Ava and warned her some more before she hurried out the door.

She had to ask Chuck about it and tell him she was not there to be jealous. She wanted to find out about that woman because this was related to the life and death of both of them.

Chapter 740

Chapter 740

Hannah did not even drive her car. She walked some distance to the quieter area away from the main streets and hailed a cab. She remained uneasy the whole way and only gradually felt better when she was in Chuck's territory.

The cab stopped at the junction, not directly to Chuck's residence. This was a tacit understanding they shared after so long.

She walked another distance to keep things under the radar after getting out of the cab. Today, however, she felt like there was a pair of eyes on her from the back when she made a turn into the quiet alley. Hannah shuddered and jogged on with her head lowered, but the feeling of being watched stayed with her.

She turned around, but there was no one behind her, yet when she moved forward, the footsteps behind her sounded clear in the alley.

She stopped, blinking, and took another alley. Then, she quickly slipped into Chuck's apartment.

After ensuring no one was following her, she opened the door with a key. The obscene sight that greeted her nearly made her cough blood!

Chuck was f*cking two foreign women on the couch, and they were on the Thurks rug she had bought him!

"Argh! You b*stard! You animal!"

Hannah shrieked and grabbed the vase next to her to throw it at them. The threesome could not react in time, and one of the women got hit on the head, resulting in a large gash and a lot of blood. The other woman ran out in fright without even putting anything on.

Chuck growled and grabbed Hannah by the neck to throw her against the wall. Hysterical cries, a fight, and curses were then heard in the room.

The loud noises went on for more than half an hour before they came to a stop.

When Chuck's underlings came in to clean things up, Hannah was on the floor with a bruised face, and Chuck's face also had a few bloodied scratches. The woman whose head was busted from the vase Hannah had thrown was sent to the hospital.

"You sick b*stard... You've got no conscience!" Hannah cried, "Chuck Cole, I've been together with you for years, and this is how you treat me!?"

Chuck lit up a cigarette and threw her an impatient glance.

Hannah sat up and cried, slamming the floor, "I wouldn't have lost that person if I had known! I should let them follow me till we got here! Why should I protect you? I should let the Bakers know about you and let them take care of you..."

"What did you say?" Chuck glared and yanked her up from the floor. "F*cking say that again!?"

Hannah snorted, "You're scared too?"

"Who followed you?" Chuck narrowed his eyes, his saliva flying as he questioned, "Speak up, who followed you!?"

Hannah nearly suffocated from his choke.

Despite that, her mind worked unusually well in moments when oxygen was scarce. Even though she had no idea who was following her, if she could drag Cordelia into this and let Chuck get rid of her... she would save herself a lot of effort!

"Chuck..." She held his wrist. "Listen to me. It's Cordelia... Zephyr's wife, Cordelia!"

"What?" Chuck knew nothing about her.

It was just that he did hear about the Baker patriarch doting on his grandson even though the latter was not a Baker, so the Baker Group was actually under a Hamerton's reign. The woman the Hamerton kid could lay eyes on must not be a regular one!

Chuck snickered, "How do you know she's the one who sent the guy?"

"She... She's probably suspecting," Hannah said with pauses. "I could hear between the lines when I visited her the last time. She's skeptical about our company and money! Chuck, you've got to—" "I've got to pull my funds out!" Chuck rubbed his hands and paced around the apartment.

Hannah was surprised. She wanted to say that he had to get rid of Cordelia as soon as possible. No one f*cking asked him to withdraw anything!

How was Ava going to be the female lead if he pulled his money out!?

"Chuck, what I mean is-"

"Stop laundering the money first!" Chuck waved a hand. "Your company's already registered anyway. It's not like it'll run away! I'll launder it after things quiet down and that little b*tch stops suspecting!" "But how will the production go on if you pull out?"

"Are you stupid?" Chuck glared at her. "Isn't there the Baker Group's money without mine? Can't they afford to shoot a film?"

Hannah choked and was unable to speak for some time.

Chuck only had himself to consider. He had never considered how humiliated she would be in front of Janine and how embarrassed her daughter would be in front of the Bakers if he pulled out the funds! No matter how much she had contributed and sacrificed, she could not warm him up!

Perhaps she had expected too much of him. If he did love her, why would he openly hook up with other women?

Hannah took a deep breath. "Chuck, the money's transferred to Prestige Agency. If we pull it back, it might..."

"What? Are you thinking of taking all my money!?" Chuck arched his brow.

"Of course not." Hannah was still afraid of him. "It's just that it takes time to pull the funds back. A big sum like this requires a few days."

"It's fine. I can wait!" Chuck said and went back to his room with his hands on his back.

Hannah stood rooted with chills slowly seeping from the bottom of her heart.

Zephyr went to Cordelia's checkup with her and received his secretary's call when they were waiting for the result.

"Sir, we've looked into the accounts between Hannah and the man. There's also a sum that went through Prestige Agency but is being pulled back these days. The sum is huge, so it hasn't been completed yet We've screenshot the transaction to keep as evidence."

"Mm, well done!" Zephyr smiled and told Cordelia the good news after he ended the call.

"We have the evidence now, but we can't alarm them," Cordelia analyzed calmly. "Chuck is from the gangs. He'll do anything once his buttons are pushed! We have to be careful."

"Of course." Zephyr swiped a finger across her nose. "Protecting my wife's safety is the priority!"

"And our son's!"

"Oh, fine," the man answered reluctantly. "Can't forget the son no matter when..."

"Mr. and Mrs. Hamerton! The result is out." The nurse came to them. "The report's here. Please come with me. The doctor would like to have a word with you."