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Chapter 100
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The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 101
Edith hesitated. "I'm planning to do one...""My daughter is the principal violinist in an international orchestra, but I wouldn't think of talking about that to most of my friends," Lisbeth said."But—"Sally tugged on Edith's elbow, a clear signal."You're too humble, Madame Kenway. Everyone knows that every Kenway is the best in their field. All of you inspire admiration. And I agree with you—Taylor is an exceptionally skilled woman. I've always thought highly of her," Sally added.She certainly knew how to switch gears.After flattering Lisbeth, she turned to me. "Madame Kenway thinks so highly of you! You should appreciate this honor.""Of course, Mrs. Kennedy," I replied with a noncommittal smile.Sally waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, don't call me that! We're family, after all."I froze. What nonsense was that?!"No, you're family with my sister, Maddison. Please don't mix us up, Mrs. Kennedy," I said sharply.Sally looked as though I had slapped her in front of eve
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 102
"Watch who you're talking to, because I think you're the stupid one!""I'm not. In fact, to prove it, I can tell that your dress is a knockoff," I claimed.Lisbeth finished her speech at just the right moment, and the crowd erupted into applause. I joined in.The woman, however, was pouting. She looked down at her dress and muttered, "How could this be a knockoff? I spent a lot of money and pulled a lot of strings to get it!"Her friends were just as stunned. "Did someone scam you?""No way! I've always bought from this seller. She knows a lot of top designers and tailors—she can always get her hands on high fashion and branded wear!" the woman insisted.Then she turned back to me with a glare. "How dare you accuse me of wearing bootlegs? You're projecting, aren't you? In fact, yours aren't even branded!"I smirked and pulled up an image on my phone. "This is the real dress. This photo was taken live at the fashion show where it debuted."Look at it, girl. The color and pattern
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 103
The crowd burst into laughter while I remained frozen in stunned surprise.Soleil was the daughter of the Kenways. She was the sister Soren had mentioned all along.I first met her at the hospital, where she pretended to be an Uber driver.That day, when she received a call—which she claimed was from her brother—I had glanced back and seen a handsome young man standing haplessly by the entrance.I had thought he looked familiar, but now I knew why.That man had been Soren.The second time we met was at my birthday party.Jean had said she was the one who scrubbed the Internet clean of any news about that embarrassing wedding, and everyone had wondered how she did it.Now I knew why. She was a Kenway. Either she had spoken to the tech companies behind these platforms or had informed Soren, who had handled it himself.And then, when I was drunk out of my wits and hadn't noticed Soleil leaving, Soren had suddenly appeared. He had claimed to be looking for someone in the club and
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 104
Brenda was too impatient. Her dress was starting to fray as she tried to pull away non-stop.The other young women rushed toward them, intending to help but only making things worse."What the hell is with your dress?! It should be illegal!" Brenda snapped."Me? You're the one who bumped into me!""Which wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for your stupid dress!""At least, my stupid dress isn't a knockoff! You're the one who's been embarrassing yourself since you put yours on!"The two were getting closer to starting a brawl, so I stepped in. "Enough, let me handle this."Man, I would have paid to watch a catfight if this were not happening at Lisbeth's birthday party. The other young women stepped away so I could examine it more closely.And the funniest part? It was the simplest tangled string imaginable. All they had to do was move closer and pull the strands off the flowers quickly. Oh my God. These women wasted so much brainpower trying to be the prettiest or the mos
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 105
Soleil led Brenda and me to the lounge on the second floor while instructing one of her people to bring needles and thread.Brenda had wanted to remove the dress so I could work on it, but since we couldn't find a shirt in her size, I had to sew it while she was still wearing it.Still, half an hour later, I had repaired the dress so well that no one would have guessed it had been ruined."See that? This is what it means to have a big heart, Brenda. You should learn from her instead of your self-important friends with main character syndromes," Soleil snarked between bites of her pastry.Brenda looked pretty upset but wasn't about to defy the Kenway heiress."It's all Edith's fault!" she grumbled. "I'm so not her friend anymore!"Soleil clapped the crumbs off her hands. "Aite. Let's go, Miss Jones!""Miss Jones?" I laughed. "What happened to 'Tay'?""Fine, Tay. In return, you can only call me Sol."Soleil was cheery, spunky, and a lot of fun. It was hard not to like her.I th
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 106
Soren pointed toward a direction. "The balcony. There are fewer people there."I looked at him, slightly slack-jawed. "Don't you need to, uh, host the guests?""Aren't you a guest?"My cheeks flushed as I followed him to the first-floor balcony.The night breeze was cool, carrying with it the fresh scent of pines and the forest.The question resurfaced in my mind."Mr. Kenway—""Taylor—"We paused, realizing we had spoken simultaneously, and laughed."You first," he said.I pressed my lips together to steady my quickening heartbeat. "I really want to know: have you known me before this? Have you been trying to approach me?"He seemed to swallow hard. His mesmerizing eyes were fixed on my face.After a moment of silence, he finally said, "Don't you remember me at all, Taylor?"I was stunned. "Er… Have we met before?"I searched my memories as hard as I could, but his face—or anyone who resembled him—didn't appear in any of them.He noticed the confusion on my face and fla
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 107
I looked closely and noticed a small, almost imperceptible scar running across his right forehead."After hearing about our mysterious heroine, I asked the townsfolk who it might be. By the time I identified you and found your house, your grandmother had already taken you back to the city. I was too late," Soren revealed.I was stunned. Our history went back that far? What could I even say to that?If we had missed each other then, though…"What about the second time?" I asked."It was summer the following year. I was swimming in the river with two friends. I'm a strong swimmer, but I had terrible luck that day. Not long after entering the water, my legs cramped. Soon, the current started pulling me downstream."My friends tried to save me at first, but they couldn't keep up. So, they rushed to find help…"My eyes widened. I remembered this!"I was crossing the Schansey Bridge on my way to buy ice cream. I saw someone struggling in the water and called for help, but no one else
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 108
I gesticulated slightly, unable to voice my thoughts aloud.I wanted to ask, "Why didn't you ever show up in my life again, despite wanting to meet me all these years? Why only start now?"He seemed to understand. "I only stayed in Schansey for three years. Grandpa was transferred to another base, so I followed him elsewhere. I didn't even expect us to see each other again someday.""When did we see each other again?" I asked, confused."When you were studying at the university.""Huh?! I was at the National Academy! Were you also a graduate?""Mm-hmm."We were alumni! The National Academy was located right here in Metropolis, one of the top five universities in the country—though its fashion design program was notoriously lackluster. At the time, I had chosen the university for one reason only: Edward. He was a third-year student there.I had liked him for so long. I followed him there, and a year after I enrolled, we were in a relationship.Soren said, "I was doing my re
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The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 468
Before I could respond, Jean asked, "Don't you think this is a bit unfair to your son? His father's still alive, yet he'll never get to know him.""I didn't say he won't ever see his dad. I just… don't want it to happen now," I muttered.I was afraid Soren would fight for custody. I thought it might be better to wait until Silas was old enough to make his own informed decisions. Then, if I had to, I'd let them meet."But this is when a son needs his dad the most! A father missing out on his child's early years will be something both of them regret deeply," Jean said gently.Her words echoed in my head. Thoughts spun out of control. I just wanted the conversation to end."I… I'll think about it. You should get some rest, too. Tomorrow we're going on an excursion!"-Jean stayed for four days before flying off to her next destination. Her family had been pressuring her to find a boyfriend for the past two years, and she'd spent every major festival, including Brigidlia, abroad jus
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 467
Soren had no idea whether I was still single or how I was faring. Just in case he ever needed to escape the confines his family had imposed on him and rescue me from my misery, he had chosen to remain single himself.The thought of hearing about me after he married must fill him with dread. If I was still alone, he wanted to be my partner again. He longed to be with me, but his family had ensnared him.My son had finished his bath. I rocked him to sleep before returning to the living room.Jean was gazing at the night view from the balcony. She turned to me. "I'm surprised people here celebrate Brigidlia too.""There are people who share our ethnicity and culture everywhere. A festival helps them feel connected.""So, is my boy asleep?" she asked."Mm-hmm. I don't let him nap too much during the day so he can sleep early at night. Then I can get some time to myself."She stared at me for a few seconds. "You're a goddamn superwoman, aren't you? Raising a kid on your own and still
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 466
I had dreamed of Soren several times over the past two years.Each time, he would see how difficult it had been to raise the child alone and strangle me, shouting, "I told you, didn't I? If I hear any news about your life being anything less than perfect, I'll drag you back here, whether you want it or not!"I would wake up with a start, muttering bitterly, "Why is this just a dream?"I missed Soren.Sometimes, I daydreamed about his reaction to seeing his own son. Other times, I imagined us getting back together and living as a real, happy family.That would be so great.Jean nodded. "I think so too! Do you know he's still single? I don't think he's let go of you yet.""That's impossible. Maybe he doesn't want a romantic relationship at all."She shook her head. "I heard that his grandfather's condition has worsened. He probably doesn't have long. And yet Soren still ignores his command to marry.""His grandfather is sick again?""What do you mean again? He's old and sick. I
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 465
I watched the city shrink below me before it blurred into nothingness.A young girl sitting next to me noticed and silently passed me a packet of tissues.I thanked her and tried to bury the emotions stirring inside me, doing my best to stifle the pain.The long flight was exhausting.I finally fell asleep, leaving the pain behind as I drifted into the waking hours.-Two years later, Jean arrived in Loegria to see her godson.I picked her up at the airport with him in tow.I spotted her from a distance and waved excitedly.Silas Jones, in his pram, waved back, babbling, "Jea-Jea! Jea-Jea!"By then, Silas was 15 months old. He could walk well but still hadn't learned to speak much.Jean hurried toward us, dragging her suitcase. "I'm finally here! The plane was delayed! I hope you weren't too worried…"I wrapped her in a tight embrace. "I'm fine! I saw the delay on the FIDS board. I wasn't in a rush, so I decided to wait."Jean looked down at Silas, scanning him from head t
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 464
After calming myself, I finally drove home.When I arrived, Amanda was surprised. "Hey, I thought you left before I did! When I didn't see you, I thought you went out to eat with Jean."I shook my head. "Nah. There was a traffic jam."I'd packed my personal belongings from my office into a box.Amanda looked at me closely and asked, "Hey, are you okay? I know how much you invested in this brand. It took a lot to get here. It must hurt to sell it now.""I'm a little sad, but it is what it is. I don't feel too bad about it.""Well, you don't sound too upbeat."I sank onto the couch, suddenly feeling exhausted. "He called me while I was on my way back.""He? You mean Soren?""Yeah.""What did he say? Did he want you to get back together?" Her gaze fell to my abdomen. "Did he find out about the pregnancy?"I shook my head. "No. I sold the company and returned his money. He called to ask where the money came from.""He suspected something, didn't he?""Suspected? He knew. He st
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 463
Soren finally asked, hesitantly, "Is that really the reason?"Oh, he believed me."Of course. What else?" I retorted.I was grateful this conversation was happening over the phone. If it had been face-to-face, I would've fallen apart in panic."I thought you were doing this to avoid me," he said, his tone cold.My heart skipped a beat, but I feigned calmness. "Don't overthink it. We've been broken up for a while now. If I wanted to avoid you, I would've done so long ago."He fell silent again. I knew it was time to hang up. The longer I spoke, the more openings he would find.Just as I was about to say goodbye, he asked, "You've moved?"He'd been trying to find me recently!Panic surged through me, and I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. "Yeah. Just recently.""To avoid me?""No! My college friend Amanda is staying in Metropolis now. Do you remember her? She was there during the centennial too. She even sat in your car—""I know who she is," he interrupted. "I rememb
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 462
Jean was efficient. She convinced her family to buy the Edwardian Taylor in record time. When the news broke, my colleagues were alarmed, thinking something bad had happened.I sent out a notice telling everyone not to panic. No one would be fired after the change of ownership. I also told them to keep the news under wraps.I worried that Soren was still watching my business and me. Maybe he'd notice something was off.The acquisition process went smoothly. I lowballed my company's price as a quiet thank-you for all the help I'd received along the way.Jean's father signed the contract and paid me immediately.Seeing the sudden swell in my bank account was dizzying. This company represented years of effort, bearing witness to my first relationship and even my civil partnership.And now, it was sold. The man who had started this with me was in prison, while I was preparing to leave.Everything is impermanent.I took some time to collect myself before paying off the remaining deb
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 461
"Cause' I miss you?" I replied.We went to the Oriole. Amanda and I had been there once before—back when we met Candy and tricked her into paying for our food.This time, I swapped wine for a fruit punch and thanked Amanda for coming. While we waited for our food, I got straight to the point.Amanda looked stunned. "Is… today supposed to be April first?"I laughed. "Ha! No. This isn't a joke. I'm going to sell the company and make you my COO. If you agree, then Jeannie will be your boss, not me."Jamie's contract hadn't matured yet, so he was still the manager instead of the COO. That's why I had so much work—covering that empty position, too.Amanda stared at me, confused. "But… why? Why sell your company? Are you… in trouble?""No, it's because…" I trailed off, unsure if anyone might be listening.I leaned in and whispered in her ear instead.Amanda blinked, clearly bewildered. She looked at my abdomen. "Soren's?!"I nodded."Oh my god. Are you sure you're not the main cha
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 460
I had been pretty worried about what to eat for lunch, but Jean's question solved the problem. I was craving food from the Oriole!"My usual favorites. If you'd be so kind, hee hee.""I'll get the cook on it.""Aww, you're the best, Jeannie," I cooed.Unfortunately, Jean saw through me. "Hmph! Flattery won't get you anywhere, lady! You're still going to get an earful when I get there!"Cherry returned from walking Bullet and asked what I wanted for lunch. I told her Jean was on her way with a feast."Oh! Should I return to the office now?""Nah. Stay and enjoy lunch with me first, at least!"Jean arrived a little after 11:00 p.m. with the Oriole's finest.As I lunged at the food, Jean asked, "You're not showing morning sickness yet, huh?""Nah. My pregnancy is still early. I'm fine." I was planning to use my relatively good appetite now to indulge and store energy for my little one.It was this thought that made me realize I still wanted to keep the baby."Jeannie, I want t
