Zephyr’s expression was cold with a deep gaze. He looked at Janine quietly.He did not know why she had such a prejudice toward Cordelia, but he knew that he would do his all to protect the woman he loved.“It’s set,” Janine said impassively. “You and Nelly have no marriage agreement, but both families have been in that understanding for years. It could be tricky to take care of it.“But you don’t have to worry. I’ll get it sorted with the Tanners!”Janine approached him and patted his shoulder twice. “Just do as I say. Spend some time with the girl I told you about!”“That’s impossible,” Zephyr uttered icily.The atmosphere froze, and it felt like the temperature had plummeted.Janine looked at him with a stern gaze.Zephyr said clearly, “Mom, if you insist, I’ll pull all my shares out from Imperial Media!”“What did you say!?” Janine was alarmed.“You probably know already. Rules in Centrolis are different from Melorian.” His voice was flat, but each word was impactful.“I
“You…” Janine’s smile was doting. The more she looked at Cordelia, the more she liked her.Cordelia let her in, and Xyla was shocked to see Janine.“Mom, she’s here to visit you.”Xyla was silent for a moment. Seeing that Cordelia was still standing at the side, she told her with a smile, “Go do your shopping. I’ll chat with her for a bit.”Cordelia pressed her lips and stayed rooted.“Nothing to worry about!” Xyla waved a hand. “This woman here is my best friend!”It was only then Cordelia nodded, but she softly told Xyla to hold on to her phone and call her instantly if anything happened before she left.Janine had a gaze of complicated feelings as she watched Cordelia leave.“Envious, huh?” Xyla arched her brow, getting up to boil some water for tea and chuckling smugly. “I could tell back at the art exhibition. You’re very envious that I got a daughter!”Janine rolled her eyes. This woman had not changed—she still had to be better than her in everything! Forget it. She wou
Emotions rippled in Xyla’s eyes.A while later, Janine was struck with realization and blurted, “Those medicine formulas!?”She knew that the ancestors of the Irwins were royal doctors in the palace and had been for generations. They later combined the local herbs unique to Southeast Aciatic and came up with a set of formulas that they used until this day.Xyla nodded with mixed feelings.Janine looked at her. “Those formulas were supposed to be yours! Rowan giving them to you is returning them to the rightful owner, yet you’re still hung up on him?”“The formulas aren’t mine,” Xyla said softly. “The Irwins’ formulas had long been lost. My grandfather later sponsored a medical student, Rowan’s birth father, who became our family's right-hand man. The medicine formulas… were his creations.“The whole set of medicine went viral back then, but… since I left the family, all types of medicine produced by the Irwins’ drug manufacturing factory have switched formulas.”Janine was stunn
“Hey, Xyla.” Janine suddenly gave it a thought. “If you sell these formulas, I’m afraid they’ll be more than invaluable, right? Ha, it seems like Rowan isn’t entirely atrocious. He has given you a way out!”She quickly calculated in her mind. The profit generated in the medicinal drug industry was immeasurable.“Surprise, surprise, Xyla. What you have is more valuable than the Baker Group!”“Nonsense!” Xyla stuffed her mouth with cakes. “I’m not selling these!”“You…” Janine rolled her eyes. “You’re just so stubborn! I don’t even know how much my daughter-in-law’s suffered with you…”“What daughter-in-law?” Xyla was stunned.“You forgot?” Janine said seriously, “We agreed back then. If you have a daughter and I have a son, we’ll become in-laws!”“No way! My daughter’s taken!”Disappointment flashed in Janine’s eyes. “She’s… married?”“Not yet. But soon!”“It doesn’t count when she’s not married yet!” Janine was worked up again.Xyla looked at her up and down disapprovingly a
Cordelia thought that Zephyr should not be busy since it was near lunchtime, but she had no idea that a terrifying storm had just ended in the meeting room on the other end.In spite of it, Zephyr’s heart melted listening to the soft and sweet voice. No matter how big a temper he had, it was gone like the wind. He smiled, looking affectionate and indulging.Cordelia waited for a bit upon hearing there was no sound on the other end and asked nicely, “Are you… busy? Did I interrupt anything?”“No,” he replied in a low tone.“Then what are you doing?”“Do you want to hear the truth?” The man chuckled.“Of course!”“Missing you.”The two words colored Cordelia’s cheeks pink as she clutched her phone.“What about you?” Zephyr asked as well, “What are you doing?”“I’m missing you too,” Cordelia said softly.Zephyr grinned. The ominous cloud that had been fogging him was all gone.The others in the meeting room looked at Robert with an expression like they had seen a ghost in broa
“Oh…” Cordelia nodded. She was a little disappointed, but work was more important. “Alright, come over at night if you’re free then.”“Sure.” Zephyr stroked her hair. “I’ll carry these back for you.”“It’s fine! It’s just lobster and some vegetables. I can do it myself. Besides, we have a guest. I might only be able to go back a bit later.”“A guest?” Zephyr paused. Cordelia’s mother rarely interacted with people. How did she suddenly have a guest?“Mm. It’s my mom’s best friend from last time,” Cordelia said with a smile. “An elegant middle-aged woman.”Zephyr nodded without thinking much of it. He held her shoulders and looked at her. “Cordelia, I plan to… arrange for you and my mom to meet.”Cordelia’s heart went right up to her throat.“Don’t worry.” Zephyr said gently, “I’ll handle your relationship with her in the most appropriate way. I won’t put you in a tough spot.”Cordelia was saddened. “I’m the one who put you in a tough spot…”“That’s silly of you to say!” Zephyr
Cordelia froze, feeling embarrassed, as she listened to the comments around her.Donald rolled his eyes arrogantly as he spoke. His assistants made way for him, and he rushed for the door.When they left, an assistant ran into Cordelia. It was unknown whether that was intentional. Cordelia lost her balance and nearly fell, dropping the interview equipment in her hands.“Hey, what are you doing?!” Her cameraman was angry for her.Cordelia stopped him. “Forget it…”“Wahl Street elite? This is the kind of people Wahl Street has?”“Alright, let’s not argue with them here,” Cordelia said softly. “We won’t get anything out of the crowd here. We’ll only be embarrassing ourselves if we keep making a fuss. Would you want to get scolded by the chief editor?“Why don’t you head back first?” Cordelia gave it a thought. “I’ll think of something later and see if I can make it to the next talk!”The cameraman let out a heavy breath. He had other tasks in the agency, so he could only leave as
Donald went over frantically. “Madam Baker…”Janine had a poker face as she questioned coldly, “You ran into my child just now. You’re not apologizing?”Donald was befuddled. He stuttered after a while, “T-This… young lady is…”“The most precious princess of the Baker Group!” Janine snorted. “Do you catch that clearly?”Without even a glance at the man, she took Cordelia and left the financial center with her after speaking.Both of them came to a cafe outside.Janine did not know what Cordelia liked, so she ordered all the coffees available. Cordelia was unable to stop her. The warmth and friendliness this woman showed caught her by surprise.“Thank you so much for just now,” Cordelia said sincerely.“It’s a small thing. No need to thank me!” Janine looked at the girl with a beam, but she seemed to have something bogging her mind.“Cordelia, what’s the matter?”“Oh, nothing.” Cordelia forced a smile, still clueless about how she would pen this interview draft.Janine could