Wynn would probably be drowned in public opinion if that happened.This made it obvious how blatantly biased Harvey was toward Wynn.Harvey didn't want to associate with Celeste in this kind of setting, but he couldn't bear to miss the chance to connect with Matthias.So, when Celeste went to the restroom, he, Wynn, and Lennox approached Matthias.Introducing himself, Harvey said, "Mr. Yoder, hello, I'm Harvey Locket, father of both Wynn and Celeste. It's a pleasure to meet you."Matthias politely shook his hand and replied, "So, you're Mr. Locket. Nice to meet you."Harvey glanced at Wynn and continued, "Celeste has a bit of a stubborn personality, and there have been some misunderstandings between her and Wynn. As her father, I've always hoped they could get along well, but unfortunately, no matter what I say, Celeste just won't listen…"Matthias feigned realization. "Oh, is that so?""Yes." Harvey sighed but then smiled. "Still, I'm very happy that Celeste has the opportunit
Wynn also saw Celeste. She remained composed and said to Matthias, "We have something to attend to, so we'll leave first. Let's talk another time.Matthias shook hands with them. "Alright, let's catch up next time."Without sparing Celeste another glance, Wynn turned and left with Harvey and the others.…Matthias' status and reputation naturally attracted attention, and by noon, several influential figures approached him with invitations to lunch.From what they hinted, Trevor would also be attending.Trevor's table would likely gather industry leaders, making it an ideal opportunity to delve into the future direction of AI. Essentially, the market's trajectory was tied to the decisions of these individuals.This was not just a chance to glean insights but also to build connections. If the discussions went well, collaborations could be finalized right at the dining table.Matthias was indeed tempted.He turned to Celeste while silently seeking her opinion.With Trevor presen
If Celeste dared to cause a scene, it would undoubtedly upset Trevor.Given what she knew about Celeste and Trevor's marital status, Celeste wouldn't dare provoke him. After all, if she did, it would only deepen Trevor's disdain for her.Lennox felt somewhat reassured after hearing this, but she was still worried that Trevor might treat Wynn too kindly, which could be too much for Celeste to bear.Celeste, however, paid no attention to what they were thinking. She wasn't even particularly aware of their interactions, as she was more focused on the person sitting beside her—Bryson Leonard.Bryson had known that Celeste would be attending the expo and had made a point to greet her earlier at the event.The last time they met at a banquet, they had an engaging conversation. He had been wanting to connect with her again since, but both of them had been too busy. Now that they had run into each other, he wasn't going to let the opportunity pass.Not long after they were seated, he str
Despite having been at the table for quite a while, Trevor and Matthias hadn't exchanged a single word.Hearing the comment, Trevor picked up a napkin, dabbed the corner of his mouth, and looked at Matthias with a smile. "It's true, I've been considering it. What's your take, Mr. Yoder?"Matthias wasn't one to pass up an opportunity for business."To have Mr. Fleming's interest is an honor for YodaVision Co."If Trevor and Matthias were to collaborate, Wynn would be delighted. After all, closer ties between them would mean more chances for her to interact with Matthias. And if that happened, it would make it easier to bring Matthias over to her side.With that thought in mind, she shot a cold glance at Celeste.Celeste, however, spent most of her time chatting with Bryson. Though she kept a casual ear on the overall dynamics at the table, she wasn't overly concerned.If Matthias genuinely wanted to collaborate with Trevor, she had no objections. After all, there was no reason to
When Matthias noticed what had happened, he immediately paused his conversation with Yale and walked over to Celeste."Are you okay?"Celeste shook her head."Did you twist your ankle?""A little," she admitted. Her ankle was indeed aching. It was likely sprained.Seeing Matthias' concern warmed her heart, but it also left her feeling a tinge of sadness.She was well aware of the looks people were giving her. They probably thought she had intentionally thrown herself into Trevor's arms. Even now, seeing that she was injured, they likely believed she deserved it.As for Trevor, he hadn't even offered to steady her properly, let alone ask if she was alright after the fall.The only person genuinely concerned for her here was Matthias."Let me take a look.""No need—"There were so many people around.Ignoring her protests, Matthias scooped her up effortlessly. After carrying her away from the crowd, he set her down and knelt to inspect her ankle. Removing her high heels, he g
Celeste instinctively declined. "No need to trouble yourself. I'll pick it up myself."Her straightforward refusal led to a brief silence on the other end."Mr. Harper?" she prompted."Alright. I'll send you the contact information for the repair shop shortly.""Thank you. I appreciate it."Beck didn't say anything else and hung up the call.With her injured ankle, it was impossible for Celeste to pick up the car herself. After thinking it over, she decided to ask Matthias for help.Matthias agreed. He promised to bring the car back once he finished his work.That evening, Celeste ordered takeout. Just as she finished eating, her phone rang. It was Jordyn."When are you coming home?" Jordyn asked.Celeste replied directly, "I sprained my ankle and can't walk easily. I'm staying elsewhere to recover, so I won't be coming home. You should go to bed early."Jordyn gasped. "What? Mom, you hurt your ankle? Is it serious? Does it hurt a lot?""It hurts a bit, but it's not serious
After a brief pause, Beck said, "I'll send you my account details shortly.""Alright," Celeste replied politely. "Sorry to trouble you, and thank you so much for your help today.""There's no need to thank me," Beck replied coolly before ending the call.Matthias, who had been sitting nearby and overheard the conversation, asked, "The person who helped with your car today?"At that moment, Beck sent over his account details along with a photo of the repair invoice.Glancing at the message, Celeste opened her payment app and replied, "Yes."From the way Celeste had spoken to Beck, Matthias could tell they weren't particularly close.Matthias knew Beck as well and was aware that Celeste also knew him. However, to his knowledge, there was almost no connection between the two of them. Even when he heard Celeste address the person on the phone as "Mr. Harper," it hadn't immediately occurred to him that it was Beck.Celeste transferred the exact amount of the repair cost back to Bec
Hearing Jordyn's words, Celeste was momentarily brought back to her thoughts.Yesterday, when she fell, Trevor didn't help her.When she got hurt, he acted indifferent.He behaved that way not just because he didn't care about her but also because he didn't want Wynn to misunderstand.In his heart, Wynn's thoughts and feelings were what mattered most.Whether Celeste lived or died didn't concern him.Otherwise, how could he have been so cold when he saw her fall and get injured?With this thought, her expression turned indifferent. Just as she was about to decline, Trevor spoke first. "Ask your Mom," he said to Jordyn.Jordyn turned to Celeste. "Mom, Dad wants to know if you want to talk to him."Celeste pressed her lips together briefly before responding, "No, I'm busy.""Oh," Jordyn relayed this to Trevor. "Dad, Mom said no."Trevor simply replied, "Okay."Jordyn said, "Okay, Mom. Bye.""Bye."After hanging up, Jordyn set down her phone and turned to Trevor. "Dad, I t
Jordyn wrapped her arms around Celeste's neck, burying her small face against it to shield herself from the cold wind.Celeste's clothes were soft and warm, and Jordyn snuggled into her embrace, rubbing her face against her neck with enjoyment.Trevor was always punctual. By the time Celeste carried Jordyn to the parking lot, his car had pulled in.Seeing them, the car stopped right beside Celeste.Even though her dad had arrived, Jordyn didn't get down from Celeste's arms. Instead, she playfully said to Trevor, who had lowered the car window, "Dad, carry me inside."Trevor didn't say anything. He simply got out of the car and took Jordyn from Celeste's arms.Happily, Jordyn swung her legs in the air while nestled in his hold.As Trevor leaned in to take her, Celeste caught a familiar scent—Wynn's perfume.When he had been sitting beside her earlier, he hadn't smelled like this.This meant that after leaving them, he had gone to the Shaw family.Trevor looked at her and said,
Zachary said, "Sure."Trevor nodded and turned to Celeste. "Are you going home tonight?"Celeste had still been going over the conversation between Trevor and Zachary in her head. When he suddenly spoke to her, she paused for a moment before responding, "No."Trevor nodded again. "Got it." Then he stood up and said, "I'll come by later to pick Jo up."That meant he was leaving.Celeste replied coldly, "Got it."Trevor didn't say anything else to her. Instead, he walked over to Betty and said, "Madam Klein, I have things to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."Betty didn't stand up, and her tone was equally cold, "Sure. I won't see you off."Trevor didn't seem bothered by her indifference. He turned to Ivan, gave him a slight nod as a form of greeting, and then left the banquet hall.Outside the hotel, Beck had just stepped out of his car when he saw Trevor walking out. His movements stalled for a brief moment.Trevor quickly got into his car and drove off.Beck watched but re
Neither Celeste nor Trevor spoke again.Celeste's younger cousins had rarely seen Trevor before. Now that they were seeing him in person, they couldn't help but look at him with curiosity.As someone who had held a position of power for years, Trevor exuded authority effortlessly, even without trying. When he noticed their gazes, he glanced at them briefly.Unable to meet his eyes, they instinctively looked away, not daring to stare any longer.Trevor showed no reaction to this, nor did he make any effort to exchange pleasantries. He simply shifted his gaze away, calm and indifferent.Trevor was the man Celeste loved. She had thrown herself into this love headfirst, and after all these years, she still couldn't escape.Given the way Trevor had treated his own niece for so long, it was impossible for Ivan not to harbor resentment toward him.However, what could he do?The Rodriguez family was powerless against Trevor.Now that Trevor was here, as the host, Ivan had no choice bu
Wynn didn't panic at all when she heard that Trevor was at the Rodriguez family's party.After all, Martha had such a close relationship with Betty. She'd definitely let Trevor attend Betty's 70th birthday on her behalf since she couldn't make it herself.Wynn had known this long ago. Still, she was a little upset even though Trevor was there because of Martha's order. When the crowd found out that Trevor went to the Rodriguez family's party instead of coming here, they assumed something had happened between Wynn and Trevor. Wynn remarked in a cold voice, "Madam Daniels and Madam Klein have a good relationship, and Trevor was only there as instructed by Madam Daniels."There had been rumors that the Rodriguez family and the Fleming family were on good terms.But people hadn't seen them interacting with each other before, so they only took it as a rumor.Perhaps it was true then, judging by what Wynn had said. At that moment, someone came in. They had a gift box in their
"Yes."Linda scoffed. "That's so shameless of her!"Just talking about that made her upset. "Could it be that they have a great connection, which is why such a significant person is attending her birthday?""No," Wynn replied coldly. "They just barely know each other." From her perspective, Celeste got to know Zachary through Matthias. So, the reason why Zachary was there today was probably because of Matthias."Oh, okay," Linda said.Beck and Miles were sitting at the table beside Wynn's, right behind her.Initially, Beck was quietly enjoying his meal. He paused for a moment when he heard how Zachary was at Betty's birthday party. He asked, "The Rodriguez family's birthday party?"Miles then explained, "Oh, today's the birthday of Celeste's maternal grandmother. The parties for the Rodriguez family and the Shaw family are on the same day, and the guest lists coincide. Thus, most of the overlapping guests are attending this one because of Trevor and Wynn."Miles had no prio
Celeste was sitting beside Zachary.He was still talking to Betty, and he hadn't spared her a glance yet. Celeste turned a little to Matthias. "Thank you, Matthias."She could tell that Betty was in a much better mood after Zachary came. "There's no need to thank me." Matthias shrugged. "Mr. Newman just happened to reply to me regarding the project you came up with not long ago. Then I told him about this, and he came. So, really, you should be thanking yourself."As Celeste was about to speak, she heard someone mention Trevor's name. Hesitating for a moment, she turned around, only to see Trevor at the entrance. With all eyes on him, he approached Betty with steady steps. "Happy birthday."Then, he handed the gift box to her and said, "Just in case the first gift wasn't to your taste, I brought another. I hope you like it."Betty didn't realize Trevor would attend at all. Yet his arrival didn't bring joy to her.Sure, the Shaws were shameless, but without his support,
With that, Matthias interrupted, "Can we hold off for a bit, Mr. Rodriguez? There's someone else coming, and they should be here in ten minutes."Ivan was well aware of how Matthias and Celeste were connected.Matthias had always taken care of Celeste as well. Hence, Betty and Ivan were pretty grateful to him. Upon hearing what Matthias had just said, Ivan asked, "Is he by himself? We still have empty seats at the main table if he doesn't mind joining us.""He's totally okay with it," Matthias replied. "Okay."Ivan nodded and instructed the staff to serve the other tables first, while their dishes would be served later. As the first few dishes arrived, Matthias glanced at his phone. Then, he pulled Celeste aside and said, "The person is here. I'll go get them."Celeste nodded. The moment she turned around, she heard a familiar yet icy voice. "No need, I'm here already."Celeste was stunned. She immediately turned around. "Mr. Newman?"Zachary hummed a reply.The remaini
Just then, Beck and Miles arrived. The moment the Shaws and Lockets noticed the two, they went up to them.After all, these two were anything but ordinary in Baumond. It was only natural that they held the two in high regard. Linda had already met Beck before. The moment she laid eyes on him again today, a blush crept onto her face, barely concealed by her makeup.Ruby laughed, seeing Linda's reaction. The Harpers were just as distinguished as the Flemings, and with Beck's remarkable qualities, the Shaws were more than happy to see Linda take an interest in him.With Wynn and Trevor a certainty, and now Linda and Beck potentially forming a match, the Shaws would definitely hold undeniable power in Baumond in the future. With that in mind, the Shaws showed even greater enthusiasm when talking to Beck and Miler.Wynn furrowed her brows when she noticed the Shaws' attitude toward the two men. She thought they were being too sycophantic.As friends, Wynn and Beck were e
Seeing the endless stream of arriving guests, Patricia and Mason were all smiles.It was just as what the Rodriguez family thought, they did remember Betty's birthday. No, in fact, after so many years of celebrating Betty's birthday, forgetting it was simply out of the question. Thus, it was no coincidence that they held their housewarming party today. They couldn't help but fume, thinking back to how they had planned to move across from the Rodriguez family, only for Celeste to interfere and enlist Trevor's help, throwing their plans into disarray. But Trevor later made up for it, and ironically, they ended up better off because of it. It made them even more delighted, thinking about how they had scheduled their housewarming party to clash with the Rodriguez family's event and successfully diverted their guests. "Their party must be nearly empty now, huh?" Linda stifled a quiet laugh. "They couldn't even keep their guests after all that effort. It's just humiliating at th