Kevin waited outside a conference room at Queen Enterprise with a money bouquet.Hayden was still in a meeting. The woman was truly busier than he was. She managed a huge company and had endless meetings, paperwork, and business negotiations.Although it was time to get off work and the sky had turned dark, Hayden’s meeting went on. The evening wind was strong. Kevin specially picked a larger coat to wear when he was heading out, so Hayden could stick close to him and share his warmth. She probably did not need it though. After about ten minutes, the conference room door opened. The senior executives who attended the meeting filed out of the room. When they saw Kevin with the huge bouquet, they stopped their discussions and greeted him politely. “Mr. Kevin.”“Mr. York.”They addressed him differently, but he returned each greeting with a smile. Since Zachary was not around, those who said “Mr. York” were addressing Kevin. When the crowd was far enough, they whis
Hugh smiled but returned after taking a few steps. He approached Kevin and asked cautiously, “You won’t tattle to my parents about me, right?”“I won’t as long as you promise to do the same.”They had some control over one another. Kevin was afraid of Hayden getting mad, while Hugh feared his parents urging him to marry. Even if Donald and Sophia did not urge Hugh to marry, they would give him a good scolding. Kevin had become their new favorite person. He was more adored than Hugh, the couple’s real son. Hugh often complained to Hayden that he probably was not their parents’ biological son. Donald and Sophia liked Kevin too much. He and Kevin might have been switched at birth. Hayden’s reply was an ashtray flying toward him. Hugh felt he was at the bottom of the food chain within the family. Sigh. It was because he was never in a serious relationship. If he were to bring a girl home, his place in his parents’ hearts would rise. However, upon thinking about how much
“Hugh is too laid-back. You should give him more work to do.”“I’m aware of his capabilities. I already assigned him everything he could handle and withheld those that were beyond him. He shouldn’t bite off more than he could chew.”Hugh was great, but he was slightly lacking compared to his sister. Besides, Hayden had been managing Queen Enterprise for several years. She had accumulated more experience than Hugh. Suddenly, Hayden smiled. She said, “Hugh will be angry if he finds out that you’re asking me to increase his workload.”“I’m not scared of him. I’m sad to see you working so hard every day. On the other hand, Hugh has so much time to accompany different women and go shopping or to parties every day. He’s living his life.”Hayden said, “I’m used to this kind of life. I can’t get used to being idle even for a day. Maybe I’m born to work.”“Where’s Liberty?” Hayden asked. “She’s waiting at Fortress Hotel. Should we meet her there or head to Fisher Manor separately?”
At Fisher Manor, Belinda was hosting a banquet and had invited Liberty over. The manor’s employees had been busy since afternoon. Many family members had come over to help out as well. As it was supposed to be a family banquet, only the Fishers would be attending it. Everyone who had some sort of status in the family was allowed to attend whereas those with lower ranks or were distant relatives were not allowed to attend.Many of the Fishers were unsatisfied. Since it was a family banquet, everyone in the family should have been invited. Even if they were distant relatives, they still bore the Fisher surname and were part of the family. Why could they not attend a family banquet?Their dissatisfaction with Belinda grew. Nevertheless, they dared not voice out their unhappiness for fear of Belinda’s revenge upon her discovery. She treated the lower-ranked family members worse than she would a stranger. Therefore, many of them missed Tiara, who used to view everyone as equal
Tiara had the loyalty of her assistant and the sincere love of her husband, unlike Belinda and Hunter, who prioritized their personal needs more. Their love was not genuine. As expected, men who looked too pretty could not be trusted. “Hunter is unwell? I see. He should rest.”The man knew Belinda was lying, but he let the matter slide and asked no more questions about Hunter. Other people quickly switched the topic and continued their conversation with Belinda. At that moment, the butler rushed in and went to Belinda. She said respectfully, “Ms. Hunt is here, Madam Fisher.”The crowd went quiet. Belinda turned and talked to Celine and her sons, “Go and welcome Liberty. Even if you’re her senior, she’s a guest who traveled here from afar. We should be wonderful hosts.”Going by the family tree, her sons were Liberty’s uncles. “We know, Mom,” Adrian replied. He led his siblings to the gates. Before they arrived at the gates, they saw Caroline’s car entering with sever
Adrian, accompanied by his siblings, walked up to Liberty. He politely introduced himself, “Ms. Hunt, I’m Adrian, the eldest in my family. According to the family tree, you should address me as Uncle Adrian.”“These are my brothers. As for Celine, I believe you’ve made an acquaintance.”Adrian introduced his siblings to Liberty.Liberty nodded politely and addressed him as Mr. Clark and not Uncle Adrian.When meeting with Belinda, she did not refer to her as “grandaunt” either, let alone Adrian.Furthermore, Belinda had not publicly acknowledged that Audrey Stone and Lisa Hunt were her nieces.When Belinda visited the Stone family, her attitude was clearly that of an adversary. Family ties did not matter between enemies, especially when there was no affection involved.There were only grudges.Celine commented, “A child without parental upbringing will always lack manners. They don’t even greet their elders properly.”Liberty looked at her and retorted, “Who might you be, in t
Whether Liberty contended or not, Belinda’s position will not fall to them.Unless all the females of the Fisher family perished, only then would they have a chance to succeed Belinda.“Look at how warm Caroline is toward Liberty, it’s like they’re sisters.”Even though they were by right aunt and niece, based on Caroline’s attitude toward Liberty, it genuinely seemed like they were sisters.Liberty also gave face to Caroline, treating her with courtesy.Celine’s jealousy toward Caroline surfaced again. Everything Caroline possessed—power, status, identity—originally belonged to her.Without Caroline, she would still belong in the Fisher family, second only to her mother, capable of controlling everything.Others used to flatter and fawn over her, unlike now where nobody paid attention to her when she walked out.Her close friends had gradually distanced themselves from her due to the change in her status.Celine realized that they had become her friends only because of her st
Jason quickly looked around and whispered, “There shouldn’t be anyone around to hear us, right?”Even in their own home, they dared not speak loudly.It made Jason feel quite uncomfortable. He was becoming increasingly disenchanted with the rules of the Fisher family.Unlike other families where sons were the successors, daughters took over in the Fisher family.Within the Fisher family, daughters held a higher position than sons. Even though they shared the blood of the Fishers, being born as males meant they would not have the opportunity to take charge of household affairs.“Caroline and the others have gone far. They shouldn’t be able to hear us. I’m just reminding you three that if you cherish your side chicks, don’t bring it up openly. Don’t let my sisters-in-law find out. Even if Mom wants to favor you, she will still deal with you if their families come to make a fuss.“Would you agree to a divorce then?”Adrian said, “The women outside are just for fun, not wife materia