MasukShare
Chapter 390
Bab terkait
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 391
No one was around now. I lifted the groceries with my fingers and walked toward Soren.The truth was, my heart was already fluttering like a butterfly. But I was also timid and nervous—my feet shuffled hesitantly beneath me.Soren had already risen and said his farewells to his coworkers.When he noticed how slow I was, he walked toward me, arms outstretched like an eagle, a wide grin spreading across his face.I couldn't hold back any longer. A smile burst from my lips, and I lunged into his arms.He caught me around the waist, spinning us both in circles.Medhelanon natives watched us, their expressions filled with the same intrigue one might reserve for watching a drama.Soren set me down, and our eyes locked. My cheeks flushed with warmth."They're staring at us, Soren! Could you be a little less conspicuous?" I muttered.His eyes twinkled as he kissed my head lightly. "They're just strangers. Let them watch," he said with a smile. "Besides, didn't you just mention seein
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 392
Soren hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead, his restraint evident.I could tell he was trying to control how much he missed me with all these people around. I felt the same way, too.I wished we didn't have to eat. I just wanted to return to the hotel and do something adults would understand.But with our tagalongs, I had to suppress that impulse as well.During the meal, Soren remarked, "Ugh, the food isn't as good as your cooking. It's so mediocre."He had been complaining nonstop since he started eating. He just wasn't used to foreign cuisine.It reminded me of what my coworkers did whenever they had to travel abroad.I chuckled. "Some of my colleagues bring instant noodles with them.""Did you do that?" Soren asked."No. I don't really care about food. As long as I'm fed, I'm content."I'd gotten used to the neglect in the Jones family. All I ever ate was leftovers, or sometimes nothing at all. I was never given a choice.To me, even though foreign cuisine wasn't wha
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 393
As expected, Soren's lips curled into a knowing smile.I added, "You deliberately refused to accept the handkerchief I returned, didn't you?"He simply smiled shyly—a confession as clear as any."See? That means you've already given me a love token. You don't need to give me another.""A handkerchief isn't worth much.""That's because it's not the handkerchief that matters. It's the heart and the feelings behind it. You've never forgotten me over the years. That determination and faith are priceless. Nothing is more precious than that," I replied.It was the first time I'd ever said something so romantic.Soren let out a long sigh."You're the most stubborn woman I've ever met," he said, both helpless and affectionate."I prefer to call it being principled," I quipped, setting my utensils down and wiping my lips with a napkin. "We can exchange gifts now that we're together, but the debt from before all this started shouldn't just disappear."I had said this before, but I was
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 394
"Where else could I be staying?" Soren asked sweetly, winking. "You don't want me here?"My face flushed. I turned away from him. "I don't care! You can sleep in the barn, and I wouldn't give a damn!"He followed me and grabbed my hand. "I'd sleep on the street if it meant I could have you next to me.""I'm not doing that with you!" I protested, trying to pull my hand free.He pressed closer, wrapping his arms around my waist.We were so close I could smell pine forest and musk, a strong scent of male pheromones that would have made any woman blush.Suddenly, I couldn't summon my usual indignation. It dawned on me just what kind of person he really was.Soren was the type who hid his strength and assertiveness behind the skin of a soft-spoken gentleman. Even the smallest hint of that other side of him was enough to make you cower.At that moment, rejecting him seemed unthinkable.His arm was firmly—forcefully—around my waist, and I felt like my whole life was caught in his gri
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 395
"Just have your meal!" I said frantically to cover my embarrassment, shoving the lunchbox into her hand.Jean found a spot nearby to eat and watched me pack clothes, personal grooming items, my laptop, and documents."So you're not staying here for the rest of the week?" she asked."What? No! I'll come back once you're at your place!" "Excuse me? You'd rather spend the night with Mr. Kenway than with me?" she complained."Jeannie!" I cried in panic.Goddamn it—not in front of him!Soren wore a half-smile that didn't match his awkwardness.Jean, though, had more teasing in store."Taylor will be reeeally busy tomorrow, Mr. Kenway. Please be gentle, mindful, and considerate during exercise, okay?" she quipped."Well, there's more than one room in the presidential suite," Soren said matter-of-factly."Oooooooh. I see," Jean replied, drawing out the "oh" for as long as possible.Then, suddenly, she added, "What's your secret, Mr. Kenway? How do you manage to control your desir
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 396
Hearing Soren say it would happen "sooner or later" only made me more anxious. Did he mean sooner... or later?While my mind was still racing, he had already brought me to the presidential suite. The place was lavish and expansive, complete with a personal butler.I snapped out of my spiraling thoughts. "Which room am I sleeping in?""The master bedroom," he said, pointing.I gathered my clothes and stepped inside. The king-sized bed caught my eye, and a sudden realization hit me. "Wait, if I'm sleeping here... then you—"He followed me into the room and closed the door behind him with a soft thud, using his back. "I'm sleeping here as well."I stared into his smiling eyes, stunned. "B-But t-then...""We're just going to sleep in the same bed. Relax," he said in a low, teasing voice. "Or... were you hoping for something more?"I froze, baffled and jittery. I had a feeling I knew what he meant, and it was sending me into a quiet panic."No! I don't want anything 'more' to happe
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 397
After more than ten days of preparation, the fashion show finally began in earnest.That day, I barely had a moment to sit down and catch my breath. I had several collections lined up: a distinctly Victorian and Edwardian-inspired line, a bridal collection, and a workplace-themed collection.During a short break, while I was busy directing my models on what to do next, Cherry leaned in and whispered, "Tay-Tay? A few of our coworkers said they saw Mr. Kennedy in the VIP section."I was smoothing out creases on a model's dress when I turned, frowning. "Which one? Edward?""Yeah."I froze for a beat. "Ignore him. He's free to go wherever he wants anyway."Soren had come to support me, even with the Brigidlia Festival going on.But Edward? Why the hell would he show up now—when his family was in the middle of a crisis and he was still dealing with his chronic illness?Sure, he had attended some shows back when he was the CEO. However, he had no ties to the company anymore. And I, t
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 398
The bouquet remained in front of me, unmoving, as if it would never budge unless I took it.Soren stared at Edward, his gaze dark. With a tilt of his head, he signaled to Sean.Sean understood and stepped forward to retrieve the flowers. But Edward dodged him."Come on, Tay. I'm here, choosing to overlook the fact that you played a part in my family's suffering because I genuinely wish you well. So why can't you accept a simple gesture of kindness from me?" he said.Plenty of people around us knew who we were, including the aforementioned fashion titans. Some journalists and media personnel still lingered nearby.I could tell Edward had timed this perfectly to pull off yet another stunt. If I didn't handle it well, it could easily turn into the next viral story.I finally accepted the bouquet and handed it to Sean. "Thanks for the flowers, but if you've got a whole speech prepared, save it. And for the record, the only reason this brand is still called the 'Edwardian Tailor' is t
Bab terbaru
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 440
I inhaled Soren's natural scent, but no amount of it could absolve me of the love and longing I'd felt for him over the past few days.I stood on my tiptoes, initiating a kiss in a daze, with no regard for the fact that we were still outside.Soren, too, seemed to have lost his mind a little. He knew we shouldn't kiss in public, yet he didn't refuse when I made the first move.But then, the honk of my car brought us back to our senses.The driver shot us a strange look. "Um... Could you close the door so I can park your car, please?"He probably thought something was wrong when he saw how hurried I'd been moments earlier.But now that we'd arrived, it became clear—I was in a rush because I missed my "husband."That realization probably left him stunned.Honestly, I was stunned as well.I never thought I'd act that way, but the driver's reminder sparked such embarrassment in me that I buried my face in Soren's arms.Soren laughed, his chest vibrating with the sound.He reache
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 439
"I'm sorry, Alex, but I have to go. It's an emergency," I said to the birthday girl, not even bothering to hang up the phone.Alex must have been startled by the look on my face. She nodded quickly and urged, "You should get someone to drive you. You've had a lot to drink!"But I didn't reply. I bolted out the door, with Jean close behind, already calling someone on her phone."Calm down, Taylor. He's not going anywhere. No matter how long it takes, he'll still be at your house. Let someone else drive, okay?" Jean pleaded, doing her best to stop me from doing something reckless.The cold night air hit me, cutting through my drunken haze and sharpening my focus.I nodded. "Alright, I won't do anything stupid. I… I can't cause him any more trouble than I already have."I mumbled the last part, but Jean heard it anyway.She grabbed my arm, gripping it tightly. Her tone turned serious. "You really need to rethink this breakup. You two are so in love—it'd be such a shame to throw tha
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 438
I couldn't bring myself to turn Alex down after she'd invited me so many times, so I finally agreed to meet up.I stopped by the nearest luxury store and picked out a bracelet for Alex, having it wrapped in a pretty gift box.By the time I arrived at the venue, I was pretty late—the others had already started, and even the candles on the cake had been lit.Alex looked breathtaking that night. She stood at the center of the crowd, cutting the cake amid everyone's well wishes.As for me... I sat off to the side and drowned myself in alcohol.Jean noticed and came over, nudging my arm. "What's wrong? You look so gloomy tonight. You've only been away from your boyfriend for a few days, but you already look half dead."I twirled my wine glass, my gaze gradually losing focus.In a daze, I murmured, "Pretty soon, I'll be well and truly dead."Jean frowned. "What are you talking about?"I downed my drink and said coldly, "I'm breaking up with him.""What?!"Thankfully, the celebrati
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 437
"Alright then. Miles has strongly requested to speak with you. We'll connect you two through the speakerphone." The officer pulled out his cell phone and made the call.After a brief conversation with the person on the other end, he activated the speakerphone and placed the phone on the table.I heard Miles' voice crackle through the speaker. "Taylor? Is that you, Tay?"Hatred surged within me at the sound of his voice, and I replied through gritted teeth, "Yes.""You need to help me, Tay! I've been set up! Edward told me he had a job that would make me a lot of money. He said all I had to do was take some photos and upload them… I thought it was a legitimate gig, so I went for it, but... it's a trap!"As expected, it really was Edward.How many traps has he set just to get back at me?Hearing Miles call me "Tay" after all the years of his disdain made it clear he was in genuine shock.Unfortunately, I felt no sympathy."You're being charged with espionage. There's nothing I c
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 436
Finally, I felt a sense of relief after that phone call.For the first time in a while, I was even free from insomnia that night.I still had two more fashion shows to attend after the one in Medhelanon, which kept me incredibly busy. Sometimes, I wished I could clone myself.The silver lining was that with my mind so occupied by work, I didn't miss Soren as much, and time passed faster than before.Just as I was about to leave for the day, my office phone rang."Hello?""Hello, is this Taylor Jones?" a polite yet stern voice asked."Yes, this is she. May I ask who's calling?""Miss Jones, we're from the Department of Homeland Security. Is Miles Jones your brother?" "Miles?" I froze. "Yes, he's my brother. Why?""We've arrested him on suspicion of espionage. We'd like a family member to assist with the investigation. Can you visit the nearest police station?"The shock hit me like a wave.Miles? A spy?He had been a total deadbeat for as long as I could remember, living o
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 435
"Yeah, I've been really busy these past few days. There's a special project I've been working on that requires me to hand over my cell phone. That's why I haven't been able to stay in touch."Soren was telling a white lie, likely to keep me from worrying about him."So… are you mad at me?" he asked with a soft chuckle."No, I'm not." Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision so much that I could barely drive.I maneuvered through the traffic and pulled over by the bus station.After wiping my tears and forcing myself to calm down, I spoke again. "I'm not mad at you, Soren. Don't worry about me—just focus on taking care of yourself.""Okay. I'm doing alright, though my hours have been long. But I can manage." His voice remained gentle, and I decided not to call him out on his lie.If he didn't want me to know the truth, I'd pretend not to notice. It was the least I could do to preserve his dignity."How much longer do you have to be away?" That was all I cared about. I just
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 434
I didn't know what else to do except apologize.Lisbeth sighed faintly. "I don't blame you. Soren would never change his mind unless he talked himself out of it."He went overseas because he couldn't bear listening to us rant, begging him to leave you. He thought hiding abroad would solve everything, but it only gave others the perfect excuse to accuse him."I looked at her, grateful she knew her son so well.Still, I blamed myself and regretted my actionsIf I'd known Edward would be in Medhelanon, I would've stopped Soren from going. But from Soren's perspective, he would've gone regardless, even if the world had crumbled around him. Lisbeth said, "I believe he's innocent. I'm sure he'll be proven innocent and home in a few days. But this has been a warning to us all."His grandfather's health has always been fragile, and his blood pressure spiked when he heard what happened yesterday. He made several calls to figure out how the investigation is progressing."I asked urgentl
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 433
My mind was in chaos, thoughts scattering in every direction. "Where is he? Will he be convicted?" My eyes were red, my voice hoarse without my realizing it. "I'm not sure," Lisbeth replied. "His father wouldn't have told me any of this if I hadn't pressed him. Before that, we all thought he was away on a business trip." Throughout our conversation, Lisbeth stared at me without looking away, her expression grave.Although she remained composed, I sensed her deep unease. She wouldn't have come all the way to my studio if she weren't deeply troubled. "I know he's innocent, Ms. Lisbeth. Soren is innocent. He'll be fine, even if he's under investigation," I said, trying to reassure both her and myself. "Yes, I hope so too." She nodded, her demeanor softening slightly. "To be honest, Taylor, I like you very much. Setting aside how you saved Soren's life, I admire you greatly. You're beautiful, well-educated, capable, and self-taught. You've also avoided the vices that pla
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 432
Cherry had been to the Kenway residence before and had met Lisbeth, so she immediately escorted her to my studio, even though Lisbeth hadn't made an appointment.I was shocked by her unexpected visit but greeted her with a friendly, respectful demeanor."Ms. Lisbeth! Why didn't you let me know you were coming? I would've gone downstairs to greet you if I'd known."I had learned a thing or two from Candy, so I did my best to sound as pleasant as possible.Lisbeth simply smiled, removing her goatskin gloves and scarf.Her personal assistant, who had been behind her, took her things before leaving the studio.I hurried over to help as Lisbeth began to remove her coat, then hung it up nearby."This is a lovely place," Lisbeth said after casually scanning the room. "Sol's been talking about it non-stop ever since she came here."I couldn't understand why she was visiting, and I wasn't brave enough to ask, so I played along. "It's a little messy. I haven't had time to clean up after
