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
When Carl confessed his longing for her, Lizzie didn't doubt him for a moment. She knew the sincerity of his emotions and capitalized on his yearning to maintain a firm grip on him. She had transformed him into a devoted tool, an obedient dog that loyally carried out her commands from the shadows.With dogs, only occasional treats were necessary to ensure their unwavering loyalty. Had it not been for her need to utilize Carl that day, she wouldn't have bothered indulging this "dog". However, there was a task that required his assistance.So, when he said he missed her, Lizzie nestled softly into his embrace, her hands encircling his neck as she initiated a kiss.Her sudden display of affection was akin to pouring fuel on a fire, and Carl could no longer restrain himself. Passion took over as he left a trail of fervent kisses across her skin, claiming her hungrily.Half an hour later, the heated breaths in the warehouse finally calmed down. Carl meticulously wiped away any evidence
The person who had spoken was the manor's gardener."The medical building? That place's quite a distance away from here. What would Lizzie be doing over there?" Cyrus wondered.After exchanging strained smiles with the guests, he excused himself and hurried toward the medical building.The night had already fallen, and though the path was lit with bright lamps, it was eerily empty as all the guests were gathered inside the main hall.As Cyrus drew closer to the medical building, his heart pounded fiercely in his chest. An inexplicable sense of foreboding enveloped him.Approaching the building, he spotted a familiar figure standing at the entrance."Mr. Cyrus," Carl greeted. His towering figure was clad in a black suit, and his expression was unreadable behind dark sunglasses. Even when standing still, his powerful frame radiated an air of preparedness.Though there were many within the Azure Clan, Cyrus recognized Carl immediately. As the former head of the Finch family, he kne
Alan York was Regalia's most renowned calligrapher. His achievements in the field were unparalleled, and the few works he left behind before his passing were invaluable masterpieces.Nobody had expected Lizzie, the lady of the Finch family, to be Alan's student. After all, Alan never just took on any student. Only those with true talent could earn his mentorship.Upon hearing this revelation, the guests regarded Lizzie with newfound admiration. After all, she was still the lady of the Finch family, and despite the buzz around Rose, who was the daughter of the Lerain Group's Xanth family, Lizzie's importance couldn't be entirely overlooked. The Finch family still held significant weight, and everyone present knew when to show the appropriate deference.It was evident that Eleanor had intentionally brought up Lizzie's calligraphy skills, and the guests looked forward to witnessing them. "Who could have guessed that Mrs. Finch was Alan's student? Her calligraphy must be exquisite!
Lizzie shot a fleeting glance at Rose, her eyes glinting with the satisfaction of someone who believed they had won. It was brief, but Rose caught it, leaving her puzzled."What was that about?" she wondered.Before Rose could make sense of Lizzie's strange look, Lizzie straightened up, having just finished her calligraphy piece. The room buzzed with a chorus of praises, the admiration reaching a crescendo as though the work had been crafted by a grand calligraphy master."Thank you! My daughter-in-law is so fortunate to receive such generous praise." Eleanor beamed, basking in the glow of everyone's compliments.Although she appreciated fine calligraphy, she lacked the expertise to truly evaluate Lizzie's work. However, having seen the real Lindisfarne Gospels, Eleanor couldn't discern much difference between Lizzie's rendition and the original. With the chorus of admiration filling the room, Eleanor felt confident. But it wasn't the approval of the crowd that she sought. Wh