Chapter 379: Richard's Road to Apology

Chapter 379: Richard's Road to Apology

For over twenty years, Alexander had been all alone!

He gazed at Catherine's serene, elegant face. Behind her, warm light slanted down, the beams washing over Catherine and bathing her in a soft, holy glow.

In Alexander's heart, Catherine had always been an angel sent from heaven!

"In my empty twenty-odd years, thank you for coming into my life, Catherine."

To outsiders, Alexander's family appeared glamorous and successful.

Whether it was his mother's family or his father's family, both commanded prominent positions among the major families in Imperia City.

But only he knew the bitterness behind it all!

The cutthroat family politics, the perpetual absence of a father's love, the corporation he was expected to hold together... Until she appeared, his life had no color.

"The year you saved me, I was going through a great many terrible things."

The Howard family wanted nothing more than to see Alexander fail.

That year, they used every means possible to suppress Alexander, piling on enough "trails" that one small misstep would have spelled his downfall.

One wrong step, and he'd truly have been on his way to join his mother.

Meeting Catherine gave Alexander new hope.

To find her and thank her in person!

But the Galactic Aurora Collective always appeared and vanished without a trace. For Alexander to search for a Catherine with no surname across the vast borderlands was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Catherine reached out and pulled Alexander up.

"What a fool."

In Catherine's eyes, Alexander was foolishly childlike -- and all the more endearing for it.

This man - It seemed she would never be able to forget him for as long as she lived!

Thinking about it that way, the idea of spending the rest of her life with the person before her actually filled her with excitement!

When Aurora heard that Catherine and Alexander had decided to get engaged next spring, she couldn't stop smiling.

"Good, good! Mom will arrange everything for you!"

This was the most joyful news the entire family had received since Catherine came home!

At Richard's entertainment company.

Staring at the pile of documents before him, Richard was visibly irritated.

"You accepted this ad deal for me? Didn't I say I wasn't taking on any advertisments for the next two years?"

The executive agent spoke up: "Mr. Windsor, this perfume deal will raise your commercial value, and fashion industry opportunities will keep coming your way..."

"Am I short on fashion opportunities? And they've already chosen their spokesperson - you want me to steal it from someone else midway through their deal?"

Richard was furious!

He had been absolutely certain this matter had nothing to do with him.

But when he came in and looked into it, it turned out his own people had arranged it!

After all these years in the industry, to have something like stealing another person's endorsement happen under his name -- Richard felt deeply embarrassed...

The executive agent quickly explained.

"Mr. Windsor, word has it that Quinn is currently selecting brand ambassadors... If we shoot this perfume ad, Quinn will definitely notice you!"

"If we can secure the Quinn Couture endorsement, all your future opportunities will leap to an entirely new level!"

The Quinn Couture brand endorsement - countless people in the industry were green with envy just thinking about it.

"Sophia is set to shoot this perfume ad, and she's most likely gunning for the Quinn Couture endorsement too!"

Richard felt a headache coming on.

"Get in touch with the brand -- I'm pulling out of this ad."

"But we already agreed..."

Richard said seriously: "Precisely because we agreed - didn't Sophia and the brand agree too? If the brand can break their promise to Sophia on my account, then I can break my promise to them. What's wrong with that?"

It actually did sound pretty logical...

Richard had never poached anyone else's resources since his debut!

He had no interest in working with a brand that had so little regard for its contractual obligations.

With Richard's influence in the industry, there were plenty of international luxury brands lining up for his endorsement.

But the executive agent was still reluctant to give up this resource.

"What about the Quinn Couture endorsement - should we still try for it?"

"Follow the normal process. I don't want to see this kind of thing happen again. If there's a next time, you're fired!"

"I understand."

The executive agent hurried out to handle the aftermath.

Richard leaned back in his chair, his mind spinning for a while before he could gather his thoughts.

After a long moment of hesitation, he went ahead and dialed Sophia's number.

"What do you want? Let me tell you, don't even think about poaching Howard Group resources from me!"

"I'm sorry. I've looked into it, and believe it or not, this was never my intention."

Sophia rolled her eyes with characteristic grace.

"You've said your piece. Either way, I'm the one who suffers -- not like you, someone who's never known what hardship is."

"I'm sorry! I failed to keep my people in check. As an apology, I have a few endorsement deals to offer - would you consider them?"

"Of course, I'm not an idiot."

The endorsement opportunities Richard could offer were typically top-tier luxury brands.

Turning down an offer like that -- she'd have to be a fool!

"Then can I treat you to dinner? You pick the place."

"Skip the dinner -- I don't want to end up photographed in some scandal."

Listening to the dial tone, Richard sat momentarily stunned.

Philip, lounging on the sofa wirh a newspaper, looked up and teased, "Richard, did you just get rejected?"

Unbelievable - even Richard could be turned down for a dinner invitation!

Richard pressed his temples.

"That bored, are you? Take your documents and get out of here. Just the sight of you is annoying."

Philip was speechless.

As the youngest in the family, was he really supposed to be everyone's punching bag?

"What does this have to do with me?"

"You're here interfering with my signal."

Fine, fine - everything was his fault!

"Say, Richard, you're not... interested in Sophia, are you?"

"Philip, have you been single so long that you see romance in everything?"

Philip laughed.

"I never said it was love!"

"I just want to make a proper apology, nothing more. Don't read into it! Instead of poking your nose into my business, you should focus on finding Mom a daughter-in-law."

"This coming from the guy who can't even get a girl to agree to dinner with him!"

"If you're so capable, you ask her out?"

Philip raised an eyebrow and smiled, "What if I succeed?"

Richard was just being stubborn, refusing to admit it was his problem!

While talking, Philip pulled out his phone and actually called Sophia.

"Sophia, about that case you mentioned last time - I've got some leads. It goes to court next month. Want to meet up today to discuss it?"

"Sure, I'll treat you to dinner. Thanks for your help."

Philip waved his phone triumphantly, his grin absolutely infuriating.

Richard was speechless.

Philip snatched the documents from the desk, ready to make a quick exit before Richard could throttle him.

He couldn't win against him, but he could certainly run!

But just as he reached the door, he heard Richard clear his throat behind him.

"I'll come along. I need to apologize in person anyway -- that's all there is to it!"