Nicole stopped Benjamin from leaving. "Do you have a say in that? Is it necessary to hold a meeting over something so trivial?"Benjamin let out a soft hum. "I do have a say in this, and it's necessary if I say it is." He sounded calm, as though he was just stating a fact.But what he said pissed her off. "Ben, you're singling us out of spite!""So what if I am?"Nicole's eyes widened, and her face contorted with anger. She was at a loss for words.Things were tense between them. Joseph looked from one to another and tried to make peace. "Zachary is still young. He doesn't know what he's doing. Please don't bother yourself over him, Ben."Indeed, he's not a good fit for Ms. Victoria. We'll annul the engagement and pay the compensation. But we can't pay the lump sum. It's too much for us."Benjamin glanced at him. "You can mortgage your immovable assets and stock bonds if you don't have enough cash. I believe it's not a problem for you. I want it by today."Nicole blew a fuse. "
In the spacious living room, Zachary tried his best to lower his presence. He even stifled his breath as he tried to slip away.After toppling over the table, Nicole was still seething. She turned to glare at her son just in time to see him edging outward carefully.She immediately lost her temper. "Zachary Harper, look at what you've done! Get back here!" she bellowed as veins bulged on her temple.Startled, Zachary tried to flee. But he chickened out when he sensed Nicole glaring at him dangerously.Nicole hissed, "Why do I have such a good-for-nothing like you as a son? You're not only incompetent, but you're also a mischief-maker. I spend most of my days cleaning up after you."What use is there in me racking my brains for your future when you behave in such a way? I can grovel and beg all I want, but you'll still fail me!" Her anger flared as she spoke. She stomped toward Zachary and prodded him on the arm. "Where were your hands when you needed them? Did I give birth to an
Yves watched as Joseph entered the house. He clicked his tongue. "Joseph adapts well to the situation and knows what to do. He's much smarter than Nicole."He was studying us just now when we were inside. Ben, do you think he has discovered something? I have the feeling that he has.""Nicole wouldn't have married a guy who's all brawn and no brain." Benjamin opened the car door as he continued, "It doesn't matter if he has found us out. What can he do about it?"Then, he got into the car and dismissed Joseph altogether."Well, that's true. He's married into the Harper family. You can deal with him if he's up to no good." Yves agreed. He opened the door to the driver's seat and hopped in.Benjamin said coldly, "Head back to Zion Estate.""Sure," said Yves. "Nicole won't cause much of a fuss on her own. But if she cooperates with your admirer's family, I'm afraid Mrs. B will be at a disadvantage."It had been peaceful these few years because you didn't have a girlfriend … However,
Victoria looked suspiciously at Benjamin. Then, she peered at the paper he placed on the table.Her eyes instantly lit up when she saw the words "Certificate of Title"."Benjamin …" she exclaimed. Her hands moved before she could think, and she picked it up.Grantee: Victoria JamesonOwnership Status: Sole ownershipLocation: 888 Dawn Street, Rivendell Apartment #1, Hammington, Youngville.Victoria skimmed through the details and noticed the gross building area. It was 4176.4 square feet.She was stunned by the sudden bliss and couldn't resist the smile forming on her lips. "Is this the house Zachary is giving me as compensation?"According to the market price, a house of that size was worth more than 100 million.As expected of the Harper family, they would dish out birthday gifts worth hundreds of millions.For the sake of this house, she would've given Nicole and Zachary leeway for the annulment fee. However, what they did was simply too despicable.She continued reading
Meanwhile, Yves did as instructed. He was still outside Zion Estate when he contacted the media and forwarded all the videos and photos to them. Using his connections, he made it a trending topic.In the morning, these videos went viral on the internet. Netizens were all over it and threw shade at the Jamesons.Just then, Julia, who claimed on "My Child" that she had looked after Victoria for many years, wept bitterly as she publicly expressed her remorse, "I don't know Victoria Jameson, less so take care of her."I'm not related to her at all. Mr. Jameson offered me money to lie on the TV show and go along with their act. I don't know why they did that. I just did what he paid me to do."I swear I'm telling the truth this time, or else I'll get hit by a car."Someone interviewed Daisy's neighbors living in the same village, and the video went viral, too. Unlike those who spoke up for Roman, everyone held their IDs this time."I'm from Ark Village, and this is my ID. I take respo
Benjamin read the information on the Jameson family. "I've only promised you that I wouldn't hold a meeting with the Harper family.""You misled me on purpose!" Nicole's expression was ferocious. "Benjamin, what kind of bullshit do you preach at church? Have all the women in the world died?"You're so infatuated with that vixen, you would even go so far as to set your sights on your nephew's fiance and steal her from him? Do you have any integrity? Do you have any sense of shame?"You don't even like her, it's—"Joseph realized what she was about to say. Startled, he put his hand over her mouth.Benjamin heard her muffled voice over the phone. Pen in hand, he put it on the table with a tap. "A vixen? What's her relationship with Zachary?"His voice was mild, but Nicole could sense the warning and dissatisfaction in his tone. He subsequently hung up the phone.Nicole listened to the beeping end tone on her phone. She trembled with fear.Regret started to well up within her. But
Colette returned to her room angry and afraid, trembling all over.She proceeded to call Jane's phone. She wanted to discuss countermeasures with her, but the line was still busy.She angrily kicked her legs and tossed her phone on the bed. She then quickly picked it up again. She sat by the headboard and in a fit of masochism, logged onto Twitter to scroll through the comments.All of a sudden, her hand touched something. She turned her head to take a look.It was a dead disemboweled rat. There was rat blood on her hand.Colette shrieked in fear. She was so disgusted, she almost threw up.She threw her phone aside and ran out of her room. Coincidentally, Ginny ran out of her room. She was shrieking as well. Colette asked in a trembling voice, "Mom, what happened?"Ginny looked frightened. Her expression was worse than Colette's. "Snake … There's a snake in my room."Colette swallowed hard. She hugged Ginny and comforted her. "It's okay Mom, don't be afraid."Before she coul
This series of events brought the public's attention to Victoria's reunion with her parents. The attention had reached its peak.The trending topic kept changing, but it was all related to Victoria. The comment section was extremely lively."Assistant: 'President, Ms. Victoria has been bullied.'""President Brow Raiser: 'Who has bullied my woman?'""Mean official account and journalist: 'We apologize.'"A user commented, "A promiscuous CEO turns over a new leaf and spoils his beloved wife. The classic Mary Sue story arc has actually happened in real life. How romantic."They added, "Mr. Homer is so manly. His boyfriend prowess is at maximum. I envy Victoria. Why can't this Cinderella story happen to me?"Someone replied, "Look into the mirror. You'll understand why you aren't the Cinderella."Another wrote, "Society is brought down by the exact type of people like those in the media who don't report the truth to the public. They echo whatever is trending on social media, and ev
Victoria saw that Benjamin wasn't looking like he was kidding at all. She placed both of her hands on his chest and turned her head away when he leaned in to kiss her.She then pushed him away hard and changed the topic by saying, "I heard that Solomon was beaten up in his own house last night."Benjamin chuckled lowly and said, "There's no use changing the topic."As he was talking, he arched his neck and pressed his lips near Victoria's ear.Victoria's ears, especially her helix, were extremely sensitive. She subconsciously pulled her hands back and covered her ears with her palms.Benjamin took the chance to wrap his arms around Victoria's waist and pulled her close to him. His face was close to hers.Victoria could feel Benjamin's burning desire as she was pressed down onto his lap. She now knew better than to struggle.This was just shooting herself in the foot!It wasn't that she didn't know what he was like, but she just had to stir him up.Victoria felt uneasy when she
Victoria used her other hand to support her cheek as she blinked.She said, "How could someone who dislikes wasting words and unnecessary chatter nag endlessly over just a small wound?"Benjamin coldly asked, "Are you complaining that I'm long-winded and annoying now?"He looked aggrieved, as if he would be angry if Victoria were to answer "yes".Victoria laughed out loud again and replied, "I'm not!"She used her finger to poke at Benjamin's cheek.She was smiling when she asked, "Are you madly in love with me, Benjamin?"Benjamin looked at Victoria seriously as he crouched by her legs.If it was before this, he would've nodded and replied "of course" without hesitation. But now …Benjamin couldn't be as confident and sure when he recalled Wendy's previous words.Victoria didn't think much of it and took Benjamin's silence as affirmation.She continued, "I'm thinking that you're definitely madly in love with me. That is why you're so heartbroken and reacted abnormally even
"Where are we heading to now, Ben and Mrs. B? Why are the people here so weird? Why are they dressed up as if they're in a period drama?"What is this place? Why are the both of you here?"Yves was back to his lively self as soon as he got into the carriage. He started asking endless questions."You regained your memories now, Ben? I knew you'd never forget about Mrs. B no matter what. Even if you did, you'd definitely remember everything as soon as you saw Mrs. B!"Yves gushed on. It took him a good while to realize that Benjamin's expression had changed. Even the atmosphere in the carriage became strange.He asked, "Did I say something wrong?"Wendy laughed dryly and replied, "He's not as deeply in love with Victoria as you think he is. He didn't remember anything."Yves laughed awkwardly before pursing his lips.He started to butter Victoria up."How did you know Ben is here, Mrs. B? How did you find—"Victoria pursed her lips and glanced at Gwen who was driving in the fro
Yves stared at Anna. She started out mumbling, and her voice grew louder toward the end.He looked confused. "Ben, Mrs. B, what is she talking about?"He was sure she was speaking the same language but couldn't, for the life of him, understand what she meant.Upon listening to Anna, Wendy immediately felt she was too quick to agree to Yves' request because of the money. She wanted to push him aside.However, he was in a sorry state with his limp. His face was visibly thinner than before, and his eyes weren't as bright as they used to be. She found herself sympathizing with him.Victoria pressed her lips together, and her brows creased further.Benjamin turned to Silas. "Go and get Asher!"Anna didn't dial back on her arrogance. "Great idea. I'm looking for him, too."There was a horse race today, yet he locked me up in that cabin! I have a score to settle with him!"Victoria recalled Asher leaving the stables urgently during the day and had a hunch about what happened."If yo
Yves looked up with teary eyes and could vaguely make out Benjamin's sour face.He rubbed his eyes with all his might. Benjamin's face slowly became clear to him as his vision cleared."It's really you, Ben! Oh, Ben!"He was pleasantly surprised, as though he finally had someone to rely on. He teared up in excitement.The next moment, he became aggrieved again. He was just like a three-year-old who was bullied by a stray cat.He cried, "You're here, Ben. Why didn't you ask someone to look for me? You've no idea what I've experienced."I've been locked away in that shabby cabin and almost lost it. I miss you so freaking much!"Benjamin looked less sour now. He took out his handkerchief that he brought along wherever he went.He passed it to Yves, who had tears and snot all over his face. "Clean up. You're a grownup man, you know. Look at you."With one hand taking the handkerchief, Yves clung onto Victoria with the other.Benjamin stared at his hand that was holding onto her.
Asher felt his heart shatter. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I've already gifted it to someone else!"The person in charge felt his heart ache, too. "I wanted to inform you when you arrived, but you told me to talk to you after the race."You've always said that horse has a character and that you like it, no? I never expected you to give it away."Who did you give it to? Could you, perhaps, buy it back from him?"Asher was dispirited. "I can't."He waved it off and continued, "Forget about it. It belongs to someone else now."I'd been obliging to its every wish for all the time it had been here. Still, it never obeyed me."It's intelligent and chooses its own master. I can't tame it. It's no better than an average horse to me."Tell those who witnessed that incident that they shouldn't talk about it to anyone. You may leave."The person in charge glanced at him. Bowing, he acknowledged the instruction he received and left.Asher looked toward Sebastian and sighed dejectedly
Silas and Wendy immediately hurried over in excitement when they heard they were going to split the winnings.Wendy, who wasn't the best in maths, counted gleefully, "We bet one thousand gold coins. As the odds are at one to 246, we'll get … ten thousand, 200 thousand … 244600 gold coins. Am I right?"She surprised herself when she said that out loud. She and Silas exchanged glances and started hopping about in delight.That was a lot of gold coins! They were rich!"Ten percent of 244600 gold coins would amount to roughly 24 thousand gold coins, so 20 percent would make it about 50 thousand. Victoria—"Silas and Wendy were already dizzy. Turning to them, Victoria instructed, "Give us a moment, and take Onyx with you.""You …" Silas looked at her suspiciously. Was she planning to keep all the money to herself?She gave him a warning glare, and he and Wendy obediently led Onyx away.They shouldn't offend their moneybag right now.Victoria looked at Asher. "That's over 240 thousa
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound. It was a teenager who was around 15 years old. Not bothering to keep up his image, he sat on the floor and clung to Sebastian's leg.Besides him, many others were standing around Sebastian. They all looked at Sebastian pitifully.Asher loudly asked the one kneeling, "Just look at you, Troy Lancaster! What happened to your enthusiasm?"It's only a meager sum. Do you really have to react this way?"Troy Lancaster? He was the Lancaster family's youngest son, Sebastian's younger maternal cousin.Victoria had a photographic memory. She saw his name when she skimmed through the log book earlier.He had bet 500 silver coins, which wasn't the least of all. It wasn't a hefty sum either, considering who he was.The Lancasters had very conflicting approaches in his upbringing. His mother pampered him, while his father was very strict toward him because he thought he was spoiled.Judging from his reaction, he must've been greedy and impulsivel
Once Roxy left, several women with ill intentions who criticized Victoria earlier became uneasy. They came up with excuses and left one after another.As the drama ended, everyone calmed down. Some were listless, while some were feeling down.There were also a few who approached Victoria, among whom were mainly men. They earnestly introduced themselves.Benjamin scanned the men who surrounded Victoria and somehow felt betrayed. Glowering, he seemed about to fly off the handle.His glare was too harsh, and many retreated after a short exchange with Victoria. She studied those who resolutely remained beside her.Compared to people from the outside world, the clan members had less desire for material possessions.Those who stood their ground didn't feel displeased at losing a hefty sum in the bet. They also withstood the pressure Benjamin's glare exuded.It was fair to say they were the best among the best.They were from decent families and had been receiving proper education sin