“Ma’am!” Saydie exclaimed.The waiter bowed and apologized in great panic. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”Maisie took out a handkerchief nimbly, wiped her hand, and then said with a smile, “It’s no big deal, you’re good to go.”Nolan looked at her. “I asked someone to prepare a gown just in case something like this happened. I think it should suit you very well, Ms. Henry. After all, the banquet is nowhere near over yet.”It seemed that she was planning to leave the venue halfway. However, the banquet was not over yet, so he said that to keep her here for now.Wesley grinned and said, “Indeed, Ms. Henry came to attend my banquet. She mustn’t be wearing clothes that are stained with wine. That would make other people think that I’m not playing a good enough host.”Maisie raised her head and accepted the kindness readily. “Then I might have to trouble you for the gown already, Mr. Goldmann.”Maisie asked Saydie to accompany her even when she went to change her attire in the guest room be
Nolan chuckled again with his profound gaze, “You wouldn’t have come out of the room if you didn't want to see me.” The moment Maisie had chosen to step out of the room, it meant she wanted to see him too. ‘The security of Mr. David’s banquet can be considered as the top of the notch when it comes to its strictness this time around, not to mention that I’m Mr. Henry’s daughter. Who would dare to lay a finger on me so casually? ‘However, of course, he’s famous for his huge pair of cojones. He even did it so blatantly.’ Maisie’s heart trembled. She had been aware at the time that the power outage must have been intentional, and she had guessed it, more or less… Maisie snorted. “You’re as cheeky as you used to be, Mr. Goldmann.” Nolan did not refute her statement, which meant that he had admitted it deep down. Maisie did not want to get too involved with him and said to Saydie, “Let’s go down.” Saydie nodded, took a glance at Nolan, and followed closely behind Maisie. Un
Nolan sat in the dimly lit study, rubbing his glabella until Quincy walked into the study with a glass of warm water.Over the years, Nolan had to rely on sleeping pills to fall asleep.“Sir, do you need me to look into Ms. Vanderbilt’s affairs?”That included how she had gotten involved with Mr. Henry and the paternity test.Nolan’s eyes dimmed. “No, I’ve more or less already speculated about her relationship with the Metropolis.”It was obvious why Erwin would serve her mother back then and even protect Maisie up until today.Nolan took out the medicine box and poured a pill onto his palm, but he did not take it immediately.Quincy looked at him. “Ms. Vanderbilt surely provoked Roger as soon as she arrived in Stoslo. And I think her appearance at Mr. David’s banquet tonight was to win Mr. David over to her side.”The corners of Nolan’s lips raised inexplicably. “But they couldn’t have ever imagined that I had already roped in Wesley.”‘Not only Roger wouldn’t have thought of
Maisie asked the two bodyguards to wait outside the main entrance and entered the villa with Saydie.Quincy was already waiting for her in the lobby of the villa. “You’ve come.”He looked at Saydie and claimed, “Mr. Goldmann only allowed you to go up alone.”Maisie’s footsteps stopped, and she looked at Saydie. “Wait for me here, I’ll be fine.”Saydie hesitated but did not refute. Still, she watched as Maisie went upstairs.Quincy took a glance at her and smiled all of a sudden. “I heard that you’re quite a fighter, Ms. Saydie. I wonder if I can learn a thing or two from you when you’re free?”Saydie gave him a sideways glance and answered without frowning or hesitating, “Not unless you want to die.”Quincy was rendered speechless.When Maisie walked into the study, a man was standing in front of the window with his back to her and with only a shirt on him. It was still the same reassuring silhouette as before, but he felt a little lonely for some reason.Nolan had already sen
Nolan smiled, but it carried hints of sadness. He said in a low voice, “I was afraid that I would lose control if I saw you, just like how I saw you yesterday.”He approached her and blocked her path. “Zee, if you didn’t show up, I would have lost control and come to find you, but you showed up.”Nolan’s persistence and control had forced him not to think about it for three years. He had managed to fool everyone but himself. Maisie’s hand loosened, while her long lashes covered the emotions she had in her eyes. After a long time, she retracted her hand. “We should talk about our partnership.”Nolan looked down, smiled, walked to the desk, and picked up a file. “Here’s a list of candidates. Wesley gave it to me.”Maisie paused. “Why would he give this to you?”She snapped back to how she was in the past. Even if it was because they were talking business, he was content.Nolan approached and handed the file to her. “Because his concerns are the same as ours.”Maisie took the fil
Was Nolan willing to bet on it? He had already won the bet, anyway.Maisie really wouldn’t have let Saydie harm him. If Nolan’s constant need to stick to her was terrible, what about her? She wanted to let go but wouldn’t, wasn’t that just as terrible? The man behind her laughed. “I’m not confident, I just trust you.”Nolan raised his hand and held her hand with his palm facing upward. He slipped his fingers between her fingers and held onto her hand, then lowered his voice. “I’m sorry, Zee.”His tone was apologetic, remorseful, and cautious. If he hadn’t done so many things to make her leave three years ago, that accident might not have happened.“What’s the point of apologizing?”Maisie’s eyes turned dull, and she started laughing at herself. She retracted her hand, stood up, and walked aside, avoiding eye contact. “Dad is dead, so is Cherie. We lost our child too. If I hadn’t stood in the rain—”“What child!?” Nolan gulped, shock and complicated feelings flashing across his
Nolan stared at Quincy for a long time before his lips curled upward. He was unintentionally sarcastic. “You’ve been by my side all these years, but you colluded with my grandfather to keep me in the dark.”Nolan knew that his grandfather was behind the announcement of their divorce. His grandfather had also gotten Quincy to force Maisie to sign the divorce papers. He knew that Quincy wouldn’t have hidden this from him if not because of his grandfather’s orders.But how could he have stood on his grandfather’s side and kept him in the dark about such an important issue?“Mr. Goldmann, Elder Master Goldmann did that for your own good—”“For my own good?” Nolan scoffed and mocked himself, “I was the reason she lost our child. He did things for my own good, but now, I will be indebted to her and our child forever.”The child that was never born. He didn’t know about the child all these years. How was he supposed to make it up to them and face the truth?Nolan started coughing blood
“If you’re willing to accept that, His Highness will treat you well and even give you more benefits.”Shawn made it seem like this would affect the alliance between the royals of the two countries, but he was actually telling her that Metropolis didn’t have the right to be involved in Stoslo’s affairs.Did she want to keep the territory for the benefits?Maisie laughed. “Metropolis shouldn't have interfered, but this isn’t about benefits. Anything that has to do with the de Armas is my business.”Shawn was evidently unhappy because she wasn’t backing down. “If you insist on interfering, His Highness won’t just let this slide. This is my final advice to you.”Shawn stood up, buttoned up his suit, and left, while Maisie calmly said, “I have a past with the de Armas.”He paused but didn’t turn around. Maisie turned to look at him. “I’m going to keep the territory.”After they left, Maisie asked the housekeeper over and asked, “Who’s this Shawn that the prince sent over?”The hou