Chapter 15
Seraphine's POV
I immediately caught Heath's hesitation and spoke first. "Dad, the audience in a live stream loves to read into things. Brielle's reputation is poor right now. If she appears at the press conference and someone deliberately misguides the narrative, it will be detrimental to the new product's promotion. The Whitaker Group has had enough turmoil recently; let's not add any more risks."
Amara immediately retorted, "How could that be? As long as the outside world sees your sisterly affection, there won't be any problems. Seraphine, just give your sister a chance to make amends."
I looked at her hypocritical face, my thoughts turning. If I continued to forcefully object, it would make me seem like I was ostracizing Brielle. I might as well play along and keep her under my watch.
A plan instantly formed in my mind. I put on a smile and changed my tune. "Yes, Mom has a point."
Amara was taken aback, clearly caught off guard by my sudden change of heart.
I looked at Heath. "Mom is right. We are a family, after all. If Brielle can use this opportunity to perform well and salvage her image, it would be good for the company."
Heath was stunned. "You really think so?"
I nodded, my tone sincere. "Dad, let Brielle do it. I'll take good care of her. Let the past be the past."
Heath clearly hadn't expected me to agree so readily. He looked at me, then at the expectant faces of Amara and Brielle, and finally nodded. "Alright. Seraphine is the sensible one, considering the bigger picture. It's settled then." He then looked at Brielle, his expression turning colder. "You listen to your sister's arrangements. Don't just think about showing off!"
"Okay, thank you, Dad! I'll definitely do a good job!" Brielle beamed, promising repeatedly.
I gave her a deep look, then glanced at Amara, who was studying me with a probing gaze, and offered a flawless smile. "Let's eat. The food is getting cold."
The meal was finished in a seemingly harmonious atmosphere. After dinner, I accompanied Heath for a walk in the garden.
"About the press conference, I plan to invite Octavius to attend. He'll give me an answer tomorrow."
Heath's steps faltered. "Octavius? Our company has been trying to secure a collaboration with him for a while. It would be great if he could come, but you two..."
"I was foolish before." I interjected with a slight smile. "The Capulet Group is a trendsetter in the industry. If we can get him to attend and he shows approval for our new product, other investors will naturally have more confidence. I will do my best to build a good relationship with him. I'll do anything for the company."
Heath looked at me, his eyes filled with admiration and emotion. "Seraphine, you've really grown up. You're becoming more and more thoughtful. I will consider training you as my successor."
Hearing this, my heart stirred, but my face remained humble. "Dad, you're too kind. I still have a lot to learn."
Heath patted my shoulder and then asked, "By the way, do you really have no feelings for Mitchell anymore?"
I immediately shook my head, my tone cold. "His character is flawed, and what he did was a disregard for the Whitaker family. If I forgive him, outsiders will think the Whitaker family is easy to bully."
Heath deeply agreed. "Yes, you and I are on the same page."
After the walk, I was about to go back to my room to rest when Brielle, who had been waiting at the top of the stairs, stopped me. She stared at me, her eyes full of suspicion. "Seraphine, you must hate me for ruining your engagement party! Would you really be so kind as to let me have a chance to shine? Tell me, what ulterior motive do you have?"
Looking at her suspicious face, I found it laughable and raised an eyebrow. "What motive could I have? The press conference is a key project for the company. Both Dad and Mom have spoken. I'm just going with the flow."
"Really? Is it that simple?"
I said impatiently, "If you're not comfortable, you don't have to go. As for whether you can gain the favor of Father and the shareholders, we'll each rely on our own abilities. Don't always assume others are as bad as you!"
Brielle was speechless.
I didn't bother looking at her unpleasant face and returned to my room. Just as I closed the door, Ondine's call came through. "How's it going? Did that mother-daughter duo cause any more trouble? Do you have a way to deal with it? I'm dying of anxiety!"
I walked to the window. "Don't worry, I have a plan. Now it's just a matter of whether Brielle will walk into her own trap."
Ondine let out a sigh of relief. "That's good. By the way, a relative of mine brought back some super delicious pastries from abroad. I'll send them to your company tomorrow for you to try!"
"Great." I smiled. "If you're sending them, I'll definitely eat them all."
After hanging up, I took a shower and lay in bed, ready to sleep. I habitually scrolled through my phone and happened to see a post from one of Octavius's friends.
I casually clicked on it, but my gaze was instantly captivated.
It was a photo on a luxury yacht. In the corner of the photo, Octavius's profile was unintentionally captured. He was holding a glass of champagne, dressed in a casual white shirt, his figure as eye-catching as ever.
In the photo, Octavius was slightly turned, talking to a woman in a long dress. They looked somewhat intimate.
My heart sank.
In my past life, Octavius's grandfather, Nolan Capulet, couldn't stand seeing Octavius repeatedly rebuffed by me. He felt sorry for him, for losing his dignity in his pursuit of me and being deliberately humiliated by me. So, Nolan began to frequently arrange blind dates for him, introducing him to various socialites.
Although Octavius refused them all, a photo of him having dinner with a woman had been taken. That woman was named Quinlan Powell. Her family background was comparable to the Capulet family's, and her appearance seemed to match the woman in the photo.