Chapter 207
Meanwhile, at the Grayson Villa, the atmosphere in the living room was suffocating.
Marshall stood at the entrance, having just changed his shoes. Before he could step further inside, his mother blocked his path.
Tatum wore a dark green velvet loungewear set, her expression so sour it looked like she'd just swallowed a fly. "Say that again."
"Mom, I said I'm not breaking up with Allegra." Marshall met her gaze. "The engagement party will go ahead as planned. I've already had people looking at dates."
Tatum's eyes widened instantly. "Have you lost your mind? Can't you see what's happening to the Wipere family right now? Their cash flow is cut off, their partners have all fled, and the bank is knocking on their door every day for repayment. You marry her, and you're planning to use the Grayson family's money to fill their bottomless pit?"
"Mom, the Wipere family's problems are theirs. I'm marrying Allegra the person, not her family's mess."
"You—" Tatum gripped the armrest of the sofa, so furious she nearly lost her breath. "Do you know she was publicly exposed for plagiarism at the awards ceremony? Do you know the award she won was stolen from someone else? Do you know the entire jewelry design industry has blacklisted her? And you're telling me she's a good woman?"
Marshall was silent for a few seconds, a flicker of hesitation crossing his eyes. But that hesitation was quickly crushed by stubborn resolve. "That's all in the past. Allegra has changed. She's been studying, taking exams. She scored 98 on the research aptitude test. She's not the same person she used to be."
"Ninety-eight?" Tatum let out a cold laugh. "Do you know who scored perfect marks and ranked first in the nation? Your former fiancée, Lucinda! You swapped out a fiancée who scored first nationally and controls several tech companies for a plagiarist and a thief!"
Marshall's expression shifted, his lips pressing into a tight line. "Mom, I don't want to talk about the past anymore. Allegra has waited for me all this time. I know how she feels about me. Last night, I had too much to drink. If it wasn't for her..."
"Her what?!" Tatum shot to her feet. "You got drunk and stayed in a room alone. Who could have done anything to you? Do you even believe that yourself?"
Marshall choked on her words, his Adam's apple bobbing several times before he finally said quietly, "I'll take responsibility for what I need to. I'm marrying Allegra. That's final."
He grabbed his coat and walked out.
The door slammed shut behind him. The entrance fell silent for a few seconds.
Tatum stood in place, her chest heaving violently.
She leaned on the armrest and slowly sank back onto the sofa. Then she picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Hello? I need you to investigate someone. The Wipere family's daughter, Allegra. Check all her recent movements, everyone she's been in contact with, everything she's done. As fast as possible. I don't care how much it costs."
She hung up, leaned back against the sofa, and pressed her fingers to her throbbing temples. She muttered quietly, "We never should have broken off the engagement with that girl. Lucinda was one in a million. Talented, smart, beautiful. She's running several companies now. Which one of those things isn't better than Allegra? Such a shame..."
She closed her eyes and sighed. "Such a shame it's too late now."
That evening, at the auction.
The hall wasn't large, but it was lavishly decorated. Everyone seated was someone of note in Starlight City.
When Lucinda and Reginald walked in, more than a few gazes drifted their way.
Reginald wore a deep gray suit and walked half a step to Lucinda's right, his hand resting lightly at the small of her back.
After they took their seats, Lucinda flipped through the auction catalog in her hands. On the third page, her gaze stopped.
"That plot in Suncrest City?"
"Yes."
Reginald glanced at her. "I remember. You mentioned it in passing once. Said the scenery there was nice."
Lucinda thought back. She did remember.
Half a month ago, she'd seen a photo of the Suncrest City lake district on her phone and casually remarked, "This place would be perfect for an amusement park." She'd said it offhandedly and had completely forgotten about it.
She looked up at him. "You have that good a memory?"
"When it comes to you, I remember everything."
A flippant laugh came from nearby.
"Well, well. Someone else interested in this plot?"
A young man in a floral shirt walked over, a flashy diamond watch on his wrist, his collar unbuttoned three buttons deep, revealing a gold chain.
Behind him trailed a young woman in a tight dress and sky-high heels, chin tilted high.
Otto Neville.
The only son of the Neville family from Sunrise City. His father, Isaac Neville, was the richest man in Sunrise City.
He stopped in front of Reginald, looked him up and down, then let his gaze slide past him to land on Lucinda.
His eyes were sticky, uncomfortable, sliding from her brow to her lips as if he wanted to devour her whole.
"Beautiful." His mouth curved into a self-satisfied grin. "What future is there in sticking with a guy like this? Just a gigolo. He has to fight for a plot at an auction—clearly strapped for cash. My dad's Isaac. Richest man in Sunrise City. Stick with me, and you won't need auctions. I'll buy it outright and give it to you. You want to build an amusement park, a resort, a private villa? Whatever you want."
He reached out his hand toward Lucinda. "You're way too pretty to waste yourself on him. Be with me. I'll make you my woman. You'll live like royalty. A hundred times better than being with him."
Lucinda immediately dodged, glancing at him once.
She looked at him for three seconds, then seemed to remember something. The corner of her mouth curved slightly.
The smile was faint—so faint it was almost invisible—but for some reason, Otto felt a chill run down his spine.
She said, "Richest man in Sunrise City? Isaac's your dad?"
Otto lifted his chin proudly. "Now you get it."
Lucinda looked at Otto's smug face, and the faint curve at her lips slowly disappeared.
She said nothing more, her gaze sliding off his face as if she'd just looked at something filthy.
This man probably didn't even know yet that his father's "richest man" title wouldn't last more than a few days.
The woman in the tight dress beside him was still waiting for a response. When none came, her smile began to stiffen.
Otto also sensed something was off.
Why wasn't she responding?
Knowing he was Isaac's son, shouldn't she immediately plaster on a smile and cling to him?
"What's your problem?" His voice wavered slightly, but with a few lackeys behind him, he still held his ground. "I'm talking to you. You hear me? You gonna disrespect me like this?"
Lucinda didn't answer. She turned her head slightly to look at the man beside her.
Reginald's expression darkened. He took half a step forward.
In an instant, Reginald's aura flooded the room, as if someone had hit the mute button on the entire auction hall's side lounge.
The two lackeys who'd been snickering moments ago stopped laughing. The woman in the tight dress's smile froze at the corners of her mouth.
Feeling the weight of Reginald's presence, Otto suddenly felt his throat tighten.
He'd seen men who'd worked under his father for over a decade. He'd met a few genuinely powerful bosses. But none of them had ever made his back go cold just by standing there.
This man in front of him—he hadn't even lifted an eyelid, hadn't moved a finger. He'd only stepped forward half a pace, and Otto felt like something was crushing his chest.
That kind of pressure was even heavier than when his father lost his temper.