Liam let out a weary sigh after listening to Celena, his voice tinged with resignation. "Celena, do you trust me?""Yes!"With a firm nod, Celena stepped closer and clasped Liam's hand. "I trust you completely!""Will you let me handle this, then?"Their hands locked together.He then turned, his gaze as sharp as a blade slicing through the air as he faced the onlookers. His voice cut through the tension. "We're not affiliated with Stone Group. They're nothing to us! They disowned my wife Celena seven years ago, and that was the end of it."His declaration sent shockwaves through the crowd, leaving Yafe and his group reeling.Cheryl's face was a mask of confusion as she looked at Celena, but inside, she breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing she wanted was for Celena to acknowledge her past and return to the Stone family. She would rather lose the deal than have Celena reclaim her place.However, the green-eyed monster whispered in her ear, reminding her how Celena had dazzl
As soon as Liam finished, Cheryl burst out, "Me, apologize to that tramp, Celena? As if! Why should I? There's no way I'm agreeing to that!"Liam ignored Cheryl's raging tantrum and gave Luis a knowing look. With Celena in tow, they made their way through the crowd and out of there.Cheryl glared after them, seething, then spun to face Luis and demanded, "Why her, Mr. Garrie? Celena's got nothing, no company, no clout! Why pick someone so clueless?"Luis turned to Cheryl with a frosty stare, clearly annoyed, and retorted, "The choice belongs to Max Group and Mr. Lynch. Who are you to question it?"With that, he turned to the onlookers and declared, "The open audition for this partnership is settled. Celena's the one."After finishing his piece, Luis, followed by his bodyguards, spun on his heel and strode away.The elite crowd of tycoons and business moguls at the entrance could only stand by, watching Luis leave, their hands reluctantly clutching the ungiven gifts. As they left,
Liam kept those details from Celena. She did not need to shoulder such burdens.He was determined to restore Celena's confidence, piece by piece."However, what if Grandpa does come to me, pleading? He's not young anymore. It breaks my heart to think of him straining himself at his age. I'm really worried about his health… "That was Celena for him, always too kind for her own good. Even after all the hurt Reginald had caused her, she was still caring for him, fretting over his well-being."However, Celena, do you really want to spend your life under the scornful looks of others? Don't you want to go back to being a Stone? Isn't that what you've dreamed about for the last seven years?" Liam pressed."I do!" Celena's reply came swift and determined, but then her face fell, tangled in doubt. "It's just...""There is no way about it. Trust me, I've got this!" Liam cut in, knowing her tendency to overthink.Celena took a deep breath, calmed herself, and nodded. "Alright, I'll trust
"Grandpa! Liam's got some nerve! He's demanding that our whole Stone family roll out the red carpet, go to Celena, and beg her to return to the Stone family!" Cheryl fumed. She paused, stealing a glance at Reginald. Noticing his face turning stormy, she quickly lowered her voice, saying, "And he wants me... to apologize to Celena and that little kid, and he even said... he even said...""What else? Out with it!" Reginald was fuming, his eyes blazing with anger as he slammed his cane onto the blue floor with a resounding thud!Cheryl jumped, a shiver running down her spine, but a surge of glee bubbled within her. She kept up her outraged facade, whispering, "He said you, Grandpa, should personally go and ask..."Boom!That was the last straw. The Stone family's members in the hall went off like a bomb! They bellowed with fury."Are you kidding me? Our family's elder is supposed to go and ask himself?""Liam stepped out of line, just a washed-up soldier, a nobody. He has the gall t
"However..."Sherah looked hesitant, and she tried to explain further, but the sharp tap of Reginald's cane on the floor cut her off.Reginald's expression turned stormy as he slammed his cane down hard, declaring, "That's enough! The decision is made! Walter is correct. Celena is your daughter, and you two are the right ones to go!"With that, Reginald rose angrily and strode out of the hall.No sooner had Reginald departed than Walter and his family looked on with barely concealed glee. "Yafe, Celena is your girl, and you're her dad. She'll listen to you. If you pull off this deal, you'll be the family's hero, and your place as head of the Stone family will be undisputed."Teresa's smile was bright as she added, "Exactly, Yafe. Dad's got faith in you, and so do we. You're going to clinch that partnership!"Hayden Stone's family could not hide their delight as they added, "Yafe, we'll be here waiting to celebrate your success!"The hall emptied as everyone dispersed to their re
Yafe walked in silence, looking indifferent. The opulent mansion before him did nothing to stir his interest as he made his way to the grand entrance.However, his emotions were a raging storm inside. He could not believe that his daughter, the one he had always dismissed, lived in a place ten times more luxurious than the Stone Mansion. The task given to him by Reginald then seemed daunting.Just then, Calum stepped out from the villa's gate, confronting the trio with a frosty demeanor. "Hold it right there! How did you get in?"Yafe was momentarily stunned by Calum's piercing presence and the deadly intent in his eyes. He stuttered, "I... I'm here for my daughter, Celena! I... came to bring her home!"Calum's eyes narrowed, his imposing demeanor briefly faltering before he doubled down, eyeing Yafe with renewed force. He glanced at Sherah and Qemal, who were peering around behind him, and retorted, "Oh? From the Stone family, are you?"Qemal quickly moved forward, all smiles. "E
Thud!Qemal was sent flying like a ragdoll, hurtling through the air before rolling across the ground and coming to a painful stop."Ah! Ouch! It hurts like hell! Mom, that witch Celena actually let that brute hit me! You have to make her pay!"Qemal's face was beet red as he clutched his stomach, sweat streaming down his face as if caught in a downpour. The kick to his gut had felt like a sledgehammer swinging at him.Sherah, hiding behind Yafe, rushed to her son's side when she saw him take the hit. She helped him up, gently dusting off his clothes where the dirt was barely visible.Her face flushed with fury, she spun to face Calum and bellowed, "You had the nerve to hit my son? Did Celena put you up to this? You think you're tough, acting like a big shot? Just wait, I'm calling the cops on you!"Calum looked at Sherah's clueless rage mockingly and stepped forward. He gave the mother and son duo a frosty look as they leaned on each other. He said icily, "Seems like you don't w
Reginald's heart clenched as he saw Qemal's battered form. He adored his two grandsons to bits, and it pained him to see one hurt. Furious, he exclaimed, "Celena has really crossed the line this time!""Reginald, you can't let this slide! Celena's got it out for our Stone family. She doesn't give a shit about us and even less about you! We didn't even get a foot in the door today before the security threw us out like trash! Reginald, you've got to do something..."Sherah's tears flowed, her face the very picture of sorrow. A woman in her prime, her beauty and style only made her distress more touching.Reginald's face darkened with anger as he turned to the silent Yafe and demanded, "What in the world happened?"Yafe let out a long sigh, a look of defeat in his eyes. "Dad, it went down just like Sherah said. We got to the villa's gate today and got stopped dead in our tracks. We didn't even see anyone, much less set foot inside! I bet they're playing hardball, wanting you to show u