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
Frank received a call from Burt Yorkman, who was wheezing and sounded weak over the phone. "It worked, Mr. Lawrence. Quinn Ocean and her father Bocek believed me, and you'll be hearing about Goldeater Cane before long.""Yeah, good work… Why do you sound so weak?" Frank asked in curiosity."Oh, I just had to suffer a little to make it look convincing… Oof, that woman can really land a hit. Some of my ribs are broken and she could've killed me right there." Burt chuckled.Frank, however, could tell that he was pushing himself. "Head to Flora Hall if you have the time. Just say my name, and someone will do their best to treat you.""Sure," Burt replied right away but soon added worriedly, "I have to warn you before that, Mr. Lawrence—Bocek Ocean is a monster, and his place in Skyrank is deserved. You have to watch out when you're fighting him.""Got it." Frank hung up and took Aria home to Skywater Bay, where he found a middle-aged man in a white shirt, waiting with two bodyguards o
Aria was sweating over her brow even as she stood at a corner.At White Court Hotel, she had set things up so that Frank believed he had a drunken fumble with her.She knew there were cameras in the hallways and the elevators, but there were voyeurs too…?!Did that mean that what she did that night was recorded, and Eron's daughter wanted to tell Frank about that?Forget Frank's fury once he was found out and take back everything he gave her—the life in glamor and riches she envisioned would go up in smoke!Even as the thought struck her, Aria forced a smile as he turned toward Frank. "I'm a little tired… I'll go to my room now.""Yeah, sure," Frank replied, already suspicious after seeing her unusual reaction.Moreover, he was a Birthright rank elite and had overwhelming self-restraint, not to mention that he checked himself right after and did not find anything unusual.And if he really passed out drunk, how would he even get it on with Aria?If anything, Frank had his suspi