Alec wasn't expecting that question from Jenny. He thought it was weird, too, but because it was his grandfather, he didn't prod into the matter. He believed his grandfather wouldn't hurt him.Now that Jenny was asking the question, he grew serious. "What if he's right? We are quite suited for each other."Jenny was speechless. "Can you take this seriously?" Jenny rolled her eyes at him, speaking crossly."Fine." Alec nodded, no longer teasing her. "Which part of it do you think is weird?""I can't quite describe it. I just think that it's weird that he keeps insisting on it. There are so many eligible women in Parrington, but he insists that we're suited for each other. It just seems so far-fetched." She felt that his words were not grounded in reality.Alec didn't retort. He had his doubts before. "So, you think my grandfather is lying?""That's not what I meant," Jenny hurriedly explained. "I'm just curious to know why.""It's okay. I couldn't figure it out either." Alec smil
"Congratulations, Zack. You're going to do so well," Jenny congratulated him.Zack seemed a little tipsy. His cheeks were tinged with a shade of red. "Don't worry, Jenny. I won't let you down.""Let's just go in," Gilbert said.They began heading toward the hall. It was swarming with guests. "I didn't think you knew so many people, Zack," Jenny said. "So many people came to support your business." She looked around carefully. Quite a few of them were big names in Parrington, and she was surprised.Zack was a little embarrassed. He scratched his head, saying, "Everyone's here because of Gilbert. Not a lot of them know me."He knew where he stood. Without Gilbert, Zack was nothing. At least, that was true right now.Of course, he had faith that if he worked hard, he would create a promising future for himself. When that happened, people would no longer refer to him as Gilbert's brother and call him by his name.They talked for a bit, and then Zack went back to the entrance to gr
"I'm sorry. I'm afraid I can't help you." Jenny shook her head. Although she wanted her brother to find happiness, he had to first fall in love with someone he truly liked.Upon hearing her refusal, Marigold was upset. "Why? Do you think I'm not worthy of your brother?""It's not a matter of being worthy. It's a matter of feelings." Jenny looked at her, then glanced at Gilbert, standing some distance away. "Since you've come to me for help, it means he doesn't like you. I can't help you if that's the case." If Gilbert were just embarrassed, Jenny would be of help. But since Gilbert obviously didn't like Marigold, she had no reason to help her.Marigold was a little disappointed, but she couldn't argue with that logic. What Jenny said was true. Gilbert didn't like her and had flat out rejected her multiple times before. Now that she was here, he had shied away. If not for an event like this, she wouldn't have been able to see him.As if sensing her disappointment, Jenny asked, "Why
"She likes you, but you already know that." Marigold had turned to Jenny for help because she most definitely had already told Gilbert about how she felt but was faced with his rejection.Gilbert scoffed. "Likes me? Who knows if it's a trap set by the Wagners? They've always done underhanded things to achieve their goals."Were the Wagners that pathetic? Before Jenny could think of a reason, Alec walked over. "That's not right of you to say, Gilbert. Who hasn't done underhanded things in the business world? And that includes you."Marigold stood next to Alec, her eyes reddened. Evidently, she had heard Gilbert's words."I quite forgot that you're close with the Wagners, Mr. Faust, especially with Paul Wagner. People even say that you're like brothers. Of course you'd stick up for them," Gilbert said sarcastically. His words implied that he turned up his nose at the Wagners, and now, even Alec.Alec didn't deny it and said, "So what if we're close? Do you have something to say?""
Marigold left right after she spoke. Jenny stole a glance at Gilbert's expression. It was worse than before."Didn't you always tell me not to judge a book by its cover?" Jenny said after a moment's silence. "Maybe the Wagners are dislikeable, but that doesn't mean that every member of the family is bad. At least, I think Marigold's decent."Gilbert said nothing. She didn't know what he was thinking. He stared at the direction in which Marigold left for a long time, still lost in his thoughts."Gilbert?" Jenny called. He came back to his senses.He looked at Jenny and said, "You're just too naive. Is she going to announce her motives while getting close to me?""Aren't you overthinking things? Marigold is just a girl. You can choose not to like her, but accusing her of evil intentions that she may or may not have is going overboard," Alec finally said, unable to bear it anymore. He and Marigold were not close, only coming into contact with her through Paul, but he could tell that
"Stephanie? Didn't she come here with you?" Mr. Walker looked bewildered. "A few days ago, she said she was going to stay over at your place. You didn't know?"Jenny was stunned. Stephanie hadn't mentioned anything like that."Something happened to you, right? Once you got back, Stephanie said she was going to keep you company for a few days. I figured that since you'd been through an earthquake, you'd need the support. So I didn't think too much of it and let her go," Mr. Walker continued.Jenny didn't answer. She remembered how Stephanie had called her to check in on her but had not come to see her. Jenny thought that she was busy, but that wasn't the case, apparently.Her silence made Mr. Walker nervous. "What's wrong? Didn't she go to see you?""No. She gave me a call but never visited. I thought she was busy, so I didn't think too much of it." Who would have known that Stephanie told her father she was coming to see her? Wasn't this a blatant lie?Now Mr. Walker was truly ne
Jenny had departed quickly and without telling Alec. So, when Alec noticed she was missing, he called her and learned about Stephanie's situation."Don't worry, alright? I'll send someone out to look for her, too." Alec said."Thank you," she said. If Alec was willing to help, they would find Stephanie faster.When the call ended, Alec ordered Vincent to get someone to do the job. He then felt that it wasn't enough and called Paul as well."Help me find someone," he said once the call was accepted."Who?" Paul's voice was calm. Alec had no idea what he was doing, and he couldn't care at the moment. He told Paul about Stephanie. But then, Paul did not answer, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He thought this was weird."Is there a problem?" Alec asked. Finding someone was an easy task for Paul. It was the first time he was reacting this way.After a moment, Paul laughed lightly on the other end. "She's got such a good friend.""What does that mean?" Alec frowned. He could sense
Facing his friend, Paul didn't hide things from him. He told Alec about his situation with Stephanie and asked, "Do you think I'm wrong?""Of course!" Alec responded at once. "If you really like her, you have to pursue her the right way and make her your girlfriend. And if you don't like her, quit wasting her time. Now you're forbidding her from being your girlfriend, yet you're not letting her go. I'd call you a motherfucker, but you're worse than that."He had no idea what his friend was thinking. If he liked her, why was he treating her like this? Who could accept it?Paul frowned, his expression solemn. "You know what my family is like. I could never marry her."He didn't want things to be this way, but he knew how the Wagners worked. If he got together with Stephanie, he wouldn't just be making her miserable; he'd be hurting her too. Alec grew quiet. The Wagners were much more complicated than the Fausts. Alec could pursue whomever he wanted, but Paul had no such liberty."