Frank was hesitant if he should ask Helen what was wrong, but Gina suddenly started snapping sarcastically from the other end, "What's holding you up, Helen? You called him and told him, and that's all you have to do. Mr. Graves is waiting for you downstairs! He wouldn't even be allowed here if not for your grandfather's sake!"Beep.Helen hung up right then, while Frank shook his head self-deprecatingly, still holding his phone.Still, he smelled food just then and stepped out to the dining table.However, it ended up becoming an awkward table of four with Frank himself, a surprised Carol, a silent but scowling Winter, and Aria, who was grinning ear to ear.Eventually, despite the awkward vibes, Winter looked up at her friend impassively and asked, "What are you doing here, Aria?""Frank told me to come."Aria held a fork over her lips, looking especially innocent since she was wearing her Riverton University uniform without her usual flamboyance.Turning toward Carol, she excla
Frank had no idea that Winter was miserable that Aria stole her beloved.He merely presumed that his drunken fumble made things awkward between Winter and Aria, and he certainly had no words of comfort for that.As such, his frustration only grew as he listened to Winter's sobs.Beside him, Aria was hovering around him, placing food on his plate while sliding pointed glances at the direction in which Winter left.She could not help it—Frank was as rich as he was successful, and Winter could not blame anyone that he was taken since she did not seize him.-Henry Lane's funeral was held the next day.Vicky called early in the morning to inform Frank that she was busy and that he should attend as Grande Pharma's representative.Frank did not dwell on it and drove Aria to Grande Square to pick out a couple of dresses suitable for the funeral.Aria was excited through it all and dragged Winter across every specialty store before finally picking a black dress tailored by a famous de
Aria glared at Jean as she left and shrieked, "Well, we're no longer friends now!"Jean did not look back but raised her hand over her head to give Aria the middle finger."Alright, stop drawing attention already." Frank intercepted Aria and quickly left Grande Square as a crowd looked on.Aria's scowl only faded after Frank bought her a ten million dollar diamond necklace.She was still obsessing over the green diamond pendant that Frank gave Winter all those days and wanted everything Winter had too!-Henry lay in a casket within Lane Manor.Helen, wearing a black dress with a white flower brooch, was staring at it fixedly.Gina, Chaz Graves, and everyone else tried to move her, but she refused to budge.Chaz was even smiling as he dropped to a crouch beside her. "Don't worry, Helen. I've asked my dad to invite every Riverton bigwig to give your grandfather a proper send off. I'm sure he can rest in peace to see them here."Gina's eyes lit up at his words. "You really are
"Dan Zimmer, head of Riverton's Flora Hall!""Neil Turnbull of Morhen!"As the announcements came one after the other, every bigwig of Riverton seemed to have arrived.All the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) owners, along with other partners of the Lanes, were left astounded."I wouldn't have known that a modest family like the Lanes knows every bigwig in Riverton!""We have to ride on their coattails!""Aren't you slow? My friend works at Lane Holdings…""Actually, I heard that Lane Holdings called for an emergency meeting. Helen Lane is no longer CEO—it's Chaz Graves from Southstream.""What? Wait, is it still named Lane Holdings?""Who knows?""All these bigwigs must have come because of Mr. Graves.""No matter how pretty Ms. Lane is, she'd never get so many bigwigs to pay respects. Isn't it obvious who they came for?""Wait, aren't you forgetting someone? Wasn't Ms. Lane married before? Could it perhaps be her ex-husband?"Cindy rolled her eyes when she overhe
Chaz's attitude left the Riverton bigwigs silent."You bastard!" Kenny Sparks, being a martial artist, was more direct in temperament.Like the others, he knew that Frank still had feelings for Helen despite their divorce. Chaz was asking for it by meddling!"We'll speak to Mr. Lawrence to confirm this issue. Watch your back, boy!" Kenny snapped, and stormed off angrily."What? Mr. Quill, what's his—"Chaz was not expecting this turn of events—did these people not come under his father's invitation?Dan seemed to realize what he was thinking and snorted in disdain. "Kid, did you think we came to pay our respects to Henry Lane because of your father? You'd be overestimating your family in that case."Gerald turned right then, not bothered to look at Chaz twice. "You should be thinking how you're going to explain yourself to Mr. Lawrence! You Graves have messed with someone above your pay grade!""Farewell."Tim left as well. Though he had not spoken with Frank much, he learne
As Frank hung up, he finally arrived outside Lane Manor.A doorman promptly stopped him, snapping sternly, "I'm sorry, Mr. Lawrence, but Mr. Graves gave express instructions not to let you drive inside."Aria wound down her window and snapped at the doorman, "Hey! This is plain disrespect! You have no right!"Frank stopped her. "Forget it. I'm not planning to stay anyway."He simply parked by the curb and headed inside Lane Manor with Aria.He immediately found Chaz and Donald having a particularly happy chat, and Donald's eyes went red the instant he saw Frank.Enemies really cannot stay in the same room. Although Donald was not about to start a fight just then, he flashed a sarcastic, savage smile at Frank. "Cherish your last days, Mr. Lawrence.""When's your son's funeral? Do send an invite to Skywater Bay—I'll definitely be there."Frank would naturally not take his jibe lying down, and his single remark certainly struck Donald where it hurt."You bastard!" Donald almost e
Aria argued, "Your ex-wife is even more unreasonable, telling us to leave!"Helen was going to explain herself but ultimately closed her eyes and repressed her flaring emotions as she snapped coolly, "You can both leave if you disrespect my grandfather again.""Be quiet." Frank glared at Aria too, finally silencing her.He strode up to Helen's side and stood before Henry's casket. He then dropped to his knees and kowtowed three times."I will never forget that you saved my life, Gramps. I've done you a dishonor—I failed to protect your family and caused your death. I'll always feel remorse for my actions and can only hope that you'll forgive me."Gina promptly laughed coldly at that. "Oh, you actually know that? Though I suspect that you'd actually feel remorse.""Yeah! You're a murderer! Helen's grandfather died because of you!" Cindy cried crocodile tears even as she pointed at Frank as everyone watched."Mom! Cindy!" Helen's eyes turned red as she lost it right then. "Please
However, Helen's plans went south.Chaz's involvement and his leverage forced Helen to go against her own wishes.She had to sacrifice herself to keep Frank safe…"Quit gawking. Frank is mine," Aria suddenly said coolly beside her.As a fellow woman, she could certainly see the intent in Helen's eyes and quickly asserted dominance."What?"Helen stared at Aria, stunned. She was just a college student dressed in risque fashion and with modest looks, depending entirely on makeup.And given her earlier outbursts, she clearly lacked tact.Why would Frank be interested in her?Naturally, Helen's skeptical reaction left Aria's inferiority complex flaring.Helen was a natural beauty with a stunning figure, but she would still beat Aria despite her haggard looks after all the recent stress.There was just no way Aria could win—not even ten of her would.There was even less need to elaborate on style, when one was a plain Jane and the other a strong, independent woman."Frank and I