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Chapter 56
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The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 57
Thanks to my best friend's encouragement, my daydreams, and my own admiration for him, I dreamed of Soren that night.My wedding to Edward had continued. I walked down the aisle in the bridal gown I had sewn for myself.The crowd showered me with cheers and praise as I made my way toward my Prince Charming.The man lifted my veil.I gazed into the eyes of the groom.It was not Edward at all. It was Soren!I scanned the crowd in bewilderment, searching for Edward, certain there had been a mistake. But Soren… He took my hand, and we continued down the aisle, walking and walking, as though we would remain on this path together forever.I was about to kiss him when the alarm started to buzz.I held onto the dream as tightly as I could, trying to savor this moment, but reality had a way of breaking your dreams apart.I opened my eyes with difficulty and reached for my phone.My reminder memo shook off any lingering grogginess: [Divorce appointment.]I quickly jumped out of bed an
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 58
A few years ago, Marcus had convinced my aunt to retire from her job at the company, and she followed his advice. But since then, too many of his relatives had wormed their way into positions within the company, like pests. The business had begun to spiral downward.This forced Sarah back into the workforce. After much effort, she finally regained control of the company's finances, ensuring that the Zack family could no longer exploit it for financial gain.Her actions quickly turned her into their enemy. They started badmouthing her to Marcus, driving a wedge between them and causing cracks to form in their relationship.My aunt must have taken some money out of the company's account to help me. Marcus discovered this and seized on it as a decisive blow against her.Even though nothing came of it and the money was returned without a dime spent, it was enough for them to make an issue of it.If they were to get a divorce, I feared that my mother's terrible fate would befall my aun
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 59
The amount he asked for was so absurd that it destroyed any goodwill I could have had for him.Sure, I might appear to be the cause of this mess, but it was all the Zacks' doing.There was no way I was going to let these fools use me as a scapegoat.Wayne scanned my office, jealousy clearly written on his face. "I heard you're divorcing Edward, but in return, he gives you the company."And then! You've managed to charm the Kenways, huh? Especially that mysterious Mr. Kenway. He even spent 40,000,000 dollars to buy your mom's bracelet," he said matter-of-factly."The way I see it, 7,000,000 dollars is as easy as a spit, right? Use your womanly charm on Edward or Mr. Kenway, and either of them would gladly throw the money at your face!"I smiled. No wonder this brat was here. He seemed to think he had me all figured out."I broke up with Edward—and it wasn't exactly on good terms, to put it mildly. I'm not borrowing money from him. Ever," I replied calmly. "And I'm not involved wi
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 60
Edward grew nervous before Wayne had even said a word. "Where are you going to get 7,000,000 dollars? You don't have that much money!""What do you want to know?" I retorted. "I know your plan, you ass. You're trying to make me owe you, so you can hold this over me later. I'm not stupid enough to fall for that."Edward was flustered. "You're overthinking this, Tay. I just want to help."Wayne started to shriek, "How about you lend me the money right n—""If you want to borrow money from him, Wayne, be my guest. But get off my property," I interjected grimly, pointing toward the door. "You two can discuss the loan, but it won't be coming from me."Wayne cast a hopeful look at Edward, who ignored him.I smiled, knowing I was right about Edward's intentions.Wayne realized Edward was never going to lend him money without my involvement. His expression darkened, and he stormed away.Silence returned to the office.I turned to Edward. "Why are you here? The procedure is at 3:00 p.m
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 61
"If that's what you think, what am I gonna say? It's not like you remain single for me," I snapped, deliberately trying to provoke him further.Edward glared at me, his eyes wide, his breaths coming in ragged bursts.After a moment, he growled, "No wonder you've turned so cold to every bit of goodwill I've shown you. You've found someone better, haven't you?"I thought Maddie was exaggerating, but now I see you for who you are, Taylor. I didn't know you were such a disgraceful gold digger!"This man could fabricate any narrative to justify his twisted beliefs, couldn't he?I laughed bitterly at his accusation."Seriously? An asshole who betrayed the vows of our civil union, our years-long relationship, and the values you claimed to hold sacred—someone who even backstabbed the person who saved his life—is lecturing me about being a disgrace?" I fired back."Anyone else in the world could call me names, but you? You have no right! Hell, I was the one who kept you alive for years!
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 62
"No, I'm just renting it! I don't want to keep it! 7,000,000 dollars just for a few days! You can't get a better deal than this!" Edward argued.I snickered.He looked upset. "What?""I thought you were just being generous with Wayne just now. You even said it'd be under my name," I said, pausing my laughter. "But you're actually setting me up!"I laughed bitterly. I was relieved I hadn't agreed to anything, but God, it hurt so much."No, Tay. You're misunderstanding me. If you think 7,000,000 dollars isn't enough, I'll lend you 40,000,000 dollars so you can pay Soren off and never have to associate with him again," he said quietly.Tears streamed down my face, and I wiped them away with a tissue."Hell no! I'm not touching anything from you! Everything you touch is poison!"And don't you dare think I've forgotten why the bracelet ended up costing 40,000,000 dollars! You raised the price because you were trying to impress that bitch back at the auction!"And now you're pretend
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 63
Where did his conscience go? Did Maddison claim it?Through him, I had learned the true depths of human depravity.That night, when Jean called and asked if I had succeeded in divorcing him, I said no. She was livid and started shouting profanities at him.I stopped her. "I need your help.""All ears, Tay.""I want to sell my company's stocks. Your web of connections is wide enough to get me potential buyers, I'm sure. Any names you can think of?"Jean picked up on my intention instantly. "Aha! You're trying to gather enough money to help Sarah!""Exactly. I will not allow the Zacks to bully her. If I'm the one who provides her with this money, that company will be hers instead of theirs!" I replied firmly.That way, Marcus and his ilk would have to answer to Sarah."Easy peasy. Your company's been doing well, right? Tons of people will be happy to buy your shares. My brother even told me to quit working on my family business and just invest in your business!""That's a deal! I'll sell
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 64
"That's right! Check the kitchen if you don't believe me," Lisbeth replied with a smile."No, I believe you! I just... I just can't help but think you're too kind to me. I'm already getting really nervous," I admitted.I couldn't understand why a family so high in the hierarchy would do so much for a mere tailor. Even if my designs were exceptional, the Kenways could have easily found other fashion designers."Don't be nervous, dear. I simply like you. You're very pleasant," she said warmly."T-Thank you, ma'am." I honestly couldn't believe my luck.While Lisbeth changed into her usual clothes, I texted Jean.Me: [Is Chef Remy taking a leave today at The Oriole?]Jean: [Yeah, he is! How did you know? He has five days off a month. As long as he applies for leave a day earlier, we always grant it. He said he needed a break today.]I gripped my phone tightly. So Soren meant it when he said I could come to the Kenway residence and eat Remy's food for free?Oh my God!Lisbeth reap
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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
