“Apart from the birthday celebration,” Maisie turned around and looked up at him, “There’s another important event.”Nolan stared at her. “What’s the important event?”Maisie grabbed his hand and grasped his palm playfully. “I won’t tell you just yet. You’ll know it by tomorrow night.”At Soul…“Ms. Vanderbilt, can we really get off work early tonight?” During the town hall business meeting, Maisie stood on the stage and announced that everybody could get off work early, and everyone in the audience was excited.Maisie held on to the microphone. “You’ve worked so hard at Soul Jewelry for so long. As the owner of this company, it’s only natural for me to pay you back with some benefits. It’s Mr. Goldmann’s birthday celebration tonight, and I want to invite everyone to attend the banquet. How does that sound?”“Since our boss has spoken, we’ll definitely be there!”Looking at the employees who were cheering under the stage, Maisie laughed.After the meeting, Maisie and Kennedy le
”Later on, I asked him why he wanted to marry you when he came to me to learn more about what happened to you back when you were still studying. And he told me that he had seen you a long time ago, way earlier than three years ago.“So exactly when was it? It was on the night of our college party, which he attended as a music student invited by our college. He watched your solo during the orchestra performance and thought it was extraordinary. He also met the three of us backstage by chance, but no one knew anyone at the time.“But who would have thought that years later, one of the three would become his cousin and the other would become his fiancée?”Ryleigh blinked with a surprised expression. “These… Why… Why didn’t you tell me all these?”Maisie crossed her arms and leaned back into the chair. “You never asked, and I’ve been too busy ever since, so I forgot.”Ryleigh pursed her lips.‘By the way, I have no impression of him at all. I didn’t even know that the boy who played
Larissa wore a snug fit evening dress and had a hand fan with her. She took a glance at Yael and leaned into Christina’s ear. “Haven’t you always been rather reluctant to get associated with the Goldmanns?”Christina cleared her throat and whispered, “That’s all in the past. I can’t keep all those things on the top of my mind all the time, can I?”Larissa realized the change in her mindset at first glance and wrapped her arm around Christina’s arm. “Then let’s board the deck together.”Yael and Helios followed the two best friends closely, and that was everyone from the Bouchers and the Lucases. The banquet became even more lively after their arrival.After a while, Daisie and Colton arrived with an adult-sized mascot, the mascot’s costume tightly covering the person inside. No one would be able to recognize that it was Ryleigh at all.Ryleigh stared at the people around the venue from within the costume with tearless grief.‘Zee said she had a brilliant idea in mind, ensuring th
Colton’s cell phone rang all of a sudden. “It’s Waylon!”He picked up the video call and handed it to Nolan. “Daddy, Waylon, and Great-grandpa want to talk to you!”Nolan picked up the phone. The video was a blessing from Waylon and Titus.Maisie leaned over and exclaimed, “Waylon!”Waylon’s indifferent face turned a little warmer after seeing his mother again. “Mommy, I miss you.”“Your daddy, your younger siblings, and I are waiting for you to return to Zlokova during the winter break. Have you been a good boy and listened to your great-grandfather while you’re abroad?”Waylon nodded. “Yes.”Nolan placed his arm around Maisie’s shoulders and looked at the person on display. “Take care of yourself while you’re there, don’t get sick.”Listening to his father’s concern, although Waylon did not give off any expression on his face, he accepted it with a tough attitude. “I know. You’re being way too wordy.”Waylon then handed the call to Titus, and the latter exchanged a few words
Barbara finally could not help it as she seemed to have a picture of how Ryleigh looked now in her mind and laughed out loud.Helios and the others just happened to look in this direction when they heard the peal of laughter. Some of the wealthy socialites who had never seen Barbara asked, “Who’s that woman standing next to Mrs. Goldmann? Haven’t you seen her before?”Tanner cleared his throat. “She’s the daughter of the Chases.”“Ah, so that’s the daughter of the Chases?”“Didn’t someone break the news before that, saying that she’s a murder—” Before that person could even finish speaking, Tanner had already bumped him with his elbow, motioning him to shut up.That man looked at Helios as the latter lowered his head and lightly shook his glass of wine. Although his attitude did not change much, that man noticed the slight and almost imperceptible split-second change in Helios’ expression when the word “murderer” was mentioned.Larissa came over to have a drink with Maisie, and t
“Really? That’s a shame.” Yael finished the rest of his drink. Tristan patted his shoulder and leaned close, “If that weren’t the case, Mrs. Boucher would probably be my wife instead.”Yael didn’t say anything but frowned. Maisie and Nolan were enjoying the drama. She got close to his ears. “Did you invite Tristan?”She had informed Madam Nera about it since it was Nolan’s birthday party. She probably wouldn't have brought Tristan along, right?“No.”Maisie was curious. “Party crasher?”Nolan’s lip twitched. “He’s an old, shameless man. I wouldn’t be surprised.”'He actually just brought his great-grandnephew over.' Upon recalling something, Nolan put down his glass, leaned in, and said, “I need to tell you something.”She paused. “What?”He played with her hair behind her neck. “That old man plans to send the eldest grandson of the Knowles to stay at the Goldmann mansion for a while. What do you think?”Maisie was surprised. ‘Let that child stay at the Goldmann mansio
Maisie put out her right hand, crying tears of joy. “Yes, I do!”Nolan hugged her, cupped her face with his hands, and kissed her. Helios and Barbara covered the children’s eyes.The two rugrats were rendered speechless.Madam Nera and Larissa smiled broadly while Yael and the others were clapping. The ship started to sail across the sea. In contrast with the rowdy deck, two people stood at the stairs of the second floor.Tristan lit a cigarette and looked to the port that was far away. “I guess you’ve decided to stay with Yael and have a good life.”Christina had a silk shawl over her shoulders, standing in the dark. The light from the sea only illuminated half of her body. “Yes, Yael knows about our relationship. We’ve accepted it.”Tristan breathed out a puff of smoke and chuckled. “Really? That’s nice.”“You approached me not because you loved me.” Christina turned around with her back facing him. “I admit that I fell for you once. Your sweet nothings were a comfort to m
Ryleigh didn’t know what to say. ‘Hold on!’ Ryleigh finally understood. “Me getting a cousin-in-law… are you talking about Helios?”“Who else?”Ryleigh was shocked, but her eyes started sparkling. “My cousin and Barbara?”The two of them stuck their heads out, their gossipy hearts burning. Barbara and Helios stood at the end of the corridor, watching the night view far ahead.“Why aren’t you with them? It should be quite lively downstairs.”Barbara turned to look at Helios. His white suit was whiter than the moon in the night, still as clean and unblemished.Helios looked back, put his arm on the railings, and then leaned in. He looked up, and the wind blew over his smooth hair. “I’ll be asked to drink if I go down.”He was just there to avoid drinking!Barbara’s lips curled. “You should have quite a good alcohol tolerance.”Helios looked at her. “Who told you that?”She crossed her arms and smiled. “I’ve never seen you drunk.”Helios loosened his tie and smiled back. “W