“What are you looking at?” Bernard asked as he sat beside the bed.
He leaned in to snatch the phone just as he noticed the chat with Shaun.
“Don’t read that.”
Hera deftly evaded his grasp and hurriedly scanned the message list. Douglas’ avatar showed seven unread messages, with several group chats marked as 99+.
Before she could read the details, Bernard snatched the phone back.
“Let me see it again.”
Hera lunged to reclaim the phone, but Bernard held firm.
And so, beneath the enchanting moonlight, the two spent a carefree night together.
In the living room of the Killian residence in Jedburgh, Chad’s grip tightened on the newspaper as he exclaimed, “XS Corporation strikes again!” The front page boldly proclaimed, “XS Corporation Invests 200 Million in Everett Group.”
“XS Corporation seems to have it out for Killian Corporation. I wonder if this is sheer coincidence or if they have insider knowledge,” mused Karen White, the matriarch of the Killian family, standing beside Chad.
Chad had been gearing up to threaten Bernard with the investment contract. However, when he learned that the Everetts had accepted XS Corporation’s investment, he felt like he was punching cotton.
Karen’s words reminded Chad that if XS Corporation was solely targeting Killian Corporation, it was simply unfortunate. But if it was the latter, it signaled something grave-a spy within Killian Corporation!
“Who’s the party pooper stirring up your mood during the New Year, Chad?” boomed a deep voice from outside the door.
Then entered a tall, thin man with a high forehead and sharp features. It was Rhett, the fourth son of the Killian family. Following him was a lavishly dressed woman, Linda Atkins, and Frederick.
“Uncle Chad, Aunt Karen, we’ve come to wish you a Happy New Year,” Frederick said respectfully.
“Rhett, Linda, Frederick, you guys are here. Come in and have a seat.”
Karen smiled as she signaled the housekeepers to prepare tea.
“Uncle Chad, is Uncle Bernard still not back yet?” Frederick suddenly asked.
Mentioning Bernard was like igniting a fuse for Chad. Bernard barely touched his New Year’s Eve dinner the previous night before leaving and hadn’t returned since. Seeing this news early in the morning had only added to Chad’s frustration.
“Why are you bringing him up?” Chad snapped.
Rhett glanced at the newspaper Chad had put aside. He had read it and heard about Chad and Bernard’s recent falling out.
That was precisely why he had come today.
“Chad, Bernard has always been like
this.
Os not worth getting worked up Look who I’ve broked up
along,” Rhett said.
He turned toward the door.
“Come in.”
A figure dressed in a gray cloak with a hood stepped inside as he spoke.
The hood was lifted to reveal an 18-year-old girl. It was Giselle.
Chad sized Giselle up and sensed a hint of familiarity in her features.
Turning to Rhett, he asked, “Who is she?”
Frederick chimed in, “Uncle Chad, she’s Uncle Lucius’ daughter. The one mistakenly switched at birth 18 years ago at the hospital. She’s Cecily’s younger sister.”