As Rose retired to her room and Miles stepped away to answer a call, Harriette was left alone. Miles hadn't even spared her a glance, almost as if from beginning to end, only Rose and Miles existed, and she was invisible.Even Eleanor, who seemed intent on troubling Rose, hadn't directed any of her pent-up frustration from waiting outside the Young Estate all day toward anyone.A bitter chuckle escaped Harriette's lips, her outward smile starkly contrasting the churning fury within. Silently cursing Eleanor, she then recalled the invitation for Rose to visit Finch Manor in ten days to examine the evening gown. The real purpose of the visit was crystal clear. Eleanor wanted to flatter and curry favor with Rose. Rose's newfound status as the heiress of Young Group and daughter of the former head of Lerain Group had elevated her to such heights that even someone as proud as Eleanor was compelled to step down from her pedestal and seek her favor. Jealousy surged within Harriette,
Without so much as a glance at Clover, Elijah approached Rose, his gaze locked firmly on her. His eyes seemed to drink in the sight of his daughter while simultaneously searching for the reflection of another cherished figure within her."I'm here to take Rosie to the office," Elijah declared, his natural air of authority leaving no room for argument."I doubt anyone would dare to argue with him," Clover thought."Since he's here to take Rosie to the company, there's nothing more for me to say," Miles mused.From a distance, Jonathan reflected on his decision. "I made the right choice. It's enough just to see my wife."Meanwhile, Rose found herself unconsciously immersed in Elijah's gaze. She couldn't help but wonder if this was how a father gazed at his daughter.The way he looked at her made her feel warm inside, a sensation she could only describe as happiness. It spread through her heart like sweet honey, leaving her wanting more."Let's go," Elijah said, holding out his arm
Upon receiving the news about Elijah's attendance, Eleanor was so delighted that she couldn't sit still. She paced back and forth in the living room, murmuring excitedly, "Elijah is coming… Elijah is coming..." Her excitement was palpable. Suddenly, realization struck, causing her to halt mid-step. "Since he's attending, this birthday celebration must be nothing short of spectacular!"The event needed to be lavish and exude the Finch family's deep-rooted influence. Only then could Elijah, their potential partner, truly grasp the strength and prestige of the family name. However, orchestrating such an affair would require meticulous planning and coordination.Eleanor considered overseeing everything herself, but her age made the task challenging. Her first choice was Jonathan. However, she knew that this birthday banquet was meant to be in Lizzie's honor, and Jonathan had never accepted Lizzie as his stepmother.After carefully weighing her options, she decided on Cyrus. He would b
Indeed, the drawing was remarkable.The sketch captured Rose's eyes and brows so vividly that they appeared almost lifelike. However, Jonathan couldn't help but wonder if it was appropriate for Ezra to sketch another man's woman like this openly.Despite the subtle edge in Jonathan's comment, Ezra remained unfazed. The soft, rhythmic scratch of the pencil against paper filled the room as he continued to sketch, completely engrossed in his work. Jonathan narrowed his eyes. He had always known about Ezra's love for drawing, a talent inherited from their mother. Ezra had a natural affinity for colors and lines, and as a child, he would often sit beside Nancy, sketching while she painted.Those moments stirred complex emotions in Jonathan. He loved the peacefulness of the scene but resented that he wasn't the one sharing that connection with their mother.After her death, Ezra had put down his pencil, seemingly for good—or so Jonathan had thought. To see him drawing again was a pleas
It was Lizzie's birthday, and she was dressed more elegantly than ever. Cyrus had personally gone to pick up Ezra, and after saying goodbye to him, Lizzie made her way to the women's side to greet her guests. However, before she even reached them, she overheard some unpleasant remarks.Yara had arrived at the flower wall before Lizzie. Ever since Rose had been revealed as the long-lost daughter of the Xanth family from Lerain Group and simultaneously inherited Young Group, Yara had been in a foul mood. Every gathering she attended with her friends seemed to center around Rose, with words full of admiration and eagerness to get closer to her.This evening was no exception, as the gathering of influential women inevitably turned to the subject of Rose. Not wishing to engage, Yara sat quietly on a swing chair hidden behind the flower wall. The surrounding gossip left a bad taste in her mouth, but she took some comfort in knowing that someone else was suffering even more than she w
It was only natural they were in awe of Jonathan. After all, the man was the heir of the Finch family. Each family present might have eligible sons of marriageable age, but even if they combined all their assets, they wouldn't come close to a fraction of what Jonathan possessed. A comparison would be futile, for there simply wasn't a competition.Exchanging furtive glances, the crowd couldn't help but speculate that Eleanor's hospitality toward Rose was likely paving the way for Jonathan.They weren't entirely wrong. Eleanor was indeed laying the groundwork, but not for Jonathan.As Rose followed Eleanor into the main hall, she was immediately taken to a display case on one of the walls showcasing an evening gown. Unlike the previous encounter, the damaged gown was not tucked away in a corner but proudly displayed at the center of the case, its imperfection prominently on show."This is actually my favorite gown, but…" Eleanor lamented, her gaze fixated on the damaged section.
"You must accept it..." Eleanor said, her tone and gaze were unwavering, leaving no room for refusal.However, Rose couldn't bring herself to accept such an extravagant gift. "No, I can't... It's too much, Mrs. Finch Senior," she said, trying to decline."What do you mean, 'too much'? You're helping me repair the gown, aren't you?" Eleanor cut her off, giving Rose no chance to refuse.Just then, Eleanor caught sight of a figure at the doorway. "Lizzie, come and look at this. Doesn't this necklace look perfect on Rosie?"Most of the guests had already arrived downstairs. Lizzie came up to invite Eleanor to join them but was stunned to see Eleanor personally adorning Rose with the necklace. "Is she really going to give that necklace to Rose? That necklace…" she mused."Lizzie, come in," Eleanor urged, snapping Lizzie out of her thoughts.Lizzie stepped into the study, quickly regaining her warm and composed demeanor. "Mom, all the guests have arrived.""Is he here too?" Eleanor'
With a knowing look, Elijah said, "Since you like it, just keep wearing it.""As for the other matters…" he mused before turning his attention to the smiling Eleanor. "Mrs. Finch Senior, I am Elijah Xanth, Rosie's father. Thank you for showing her such generosity. I heard that Finch Group is focusing on expanding into overseas markets..."Eleanor's heart raced with anticipation, but she maintained her composure. "Indeed, Finch Group is exploring opportunities in overseas markets. We appreciate any support you can provide, Mr. Xanth."The Xanth family's influence extended beyond the realm of business. Many issues could potentially be resolved with a single word from Elijah. The challenge lay in convincing him to speak up.Eleanor knew securing a promise from Elijah wouldn't be easy, but laying the groundwork now was a start. Just as she was about to exchange pleasantries to build goodwill, Elijah continued, "If the Finch family has any needs that I can assist with, I'll certainly do