Chapter 47 She Hooked Up with Frederick Himself
"Don't know him," Frederick said flatly.
Philip beside him added leisurely, "But he knows his daughter."
Everyone present was seasoned in business and didn't pry further, only making a mental note—no matter what, they couldn't afford to offend a woman named Xandra Cavendish.
"Fred, you didn't let me directly deal with Lucius just so he'd give the house to Xandra?" Philip asked in a low voice.
Frederick took a sip of tea and said flatly, "Yes. From now on, I'm living off her."
Philip fell silent.
The CEO of the Russell Group actually said he was going to "live off a woman"? Could he care about his reputation a little?
Just then, his phone rang. It was the butler from home.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Philip Russell, Mr. Daniel Russell refuses to eat anything today and insists on seeing you."
"Got it, I'll be right back."
Philip hung up and prepared to leave.
"Something wrong?" Frederick asked.
"My son's asking for me. I need to go."
"Go ahead."
Frederick nodded without trying to keep him.
Outside The Chef's Loft, Lucius had just walked out of the restaurant when the night breeze made him realize his back was drenched in cold sweat.
Thinking of that man in his lofty position, he felt both humiliated and helpless.
Lucius had grown up poor, enduring countless cold shoulders, so he'd learned early to read people's expressions and desperately wanted to become someone exceptional.
He knew very well how realistic this world was. For a young man from a humble background like himself, becoming part of high society would take immense effort with no guarantee of success.
But if he married a wealthy woman, that would be different—he could at least save twenty years of struggle.
So when he accidentally met Xandra in high school and learned she was a wealthy heiress, he'd set his sights on her.
He'd found ways to get close to her and win her favor.
His plan had been successful—enduring others' gossip to be with her, he'd used her family's connections to rise rapidly and leap into high society circles.
However, after abandoning her, his fortunes had taken a sharp downturn.
Xandra had actually married the king of Seaside City!
He'd become wealthy because of her, and now because of her, he was about to return to square one!
Lucius closed his eyes, suppressing his frustration as he returned to his villa.
At that moment, Vivian was sitting on the living room sofa scrolling through her phone looking for work.
She'd been fired from Russell Jewelry, and after sending out resumes for several days, she hadn't received any responses.
The Russell Jewelry design competition had been livestreamed, so the entire jewelry industry knew she'd been fired for "character issues."
What major company would hire someone like that?
Vivian was anxious and irritated, hating Xandra to the core.
Hearing the door open and knowing Lucius was back, she immediately got up to greet him.
"Lucius, you're finally home."
Lucius had been away on business these past few days and they hadn't seen each other, so she hadn't had a chance to share her grievances.
Lucius looked at the familiar house, thinking about how he was about to lose it, and slumped onto the sofa with a dark expression.
"Get me some water."
"Okay."
Vivian went to the kitchen, poured a glass of ice water, and handed it to him.
"Lucius, did you resolve the company issues?"
Lucius drank half the glass in one gulp, his gaze somewhat vacant.
Resolved? Maybe.
If he transferred the house to Xandra, would Frederick and Philip stop targeting him?
"Lucius, say something." Seeing him dazed, Vivian's heart tightened.
Lucius made a perfunctory sound.
"That's good." Vivian breathed a sigh of relief, then said aggrievedly, "Lucius, I was fired from Russell Jewelry, all because of Xandra."
Lucius froze. "What happened?"
Vivian's face was full of resentment. "She must have seduced Frederick's special assistant, so the company deliberately held a design competition to find an excuse to fire me."
Xandra seduced the assistant? Lucius sneered inwardly—that probably wasn't the reason.
Thinking of Xandra marrying Frederick, frustration surged through him again.
"Xandra didn't seduce anyone else. She seduced Frederick himself."
Vivian froze. "How is that possible? Where did you hear that?"
Lucius didn't speak but pulled out his phone and showed her the video he'd just recorded.
After watching, Vivian's expression changed instantly. "Lucius, are you sure? This man is really Frederick Russell!"
Xandra's flash-marriage husband was actually the big boss of the Russell Group!
"Yes. My company's problems—he's the one behind it all." Lucius rubbed his temples, looking thoroughly irritated.
"How can this be? Is Frederick crazy? With so many society daughters available, he chose to marry a woman who's had children!" Vivian exclaimed incredulously.
Lucius also thought Frederick's willfulness bordered on pathological—but he had indeed married Xandra.
"Lucius, from the video, it seems Frederick is hiding his true identity from Xandra... I think he's just playing around." Vivian was consumed with jealousy, desperately trying to put a negative spin on things.
Lucius had a splitting headache and was too lazy to argue with her now.
"Move out tomorrow. I need to transfer this house to Xandra."
"What? Why?" Vivian's voice shot up. "Lucius, you're not trying to use this as a way to start over with Xandra, are you?"
Lucius was already irritable, and at her words, his anger flared. "Start over with what? She's Frederick's woman now. I don't have the guts to touch her."
Being yelled at, Vivian felt extremely wronged. "Why are you yelling at me? Is any of this my fault?"
Lucius suddenly stood up, his face dark. "Vivian, if it weren't for you, how could Xandra have broken off our engagement? If she hadn't broken it off, my company wouldn't have problems! So everything is because of you!"
Vivian was both angry and furious. "Lucius, you were the one who looked down on Xandra for having children out of wedlock and didn't want to marry her. How can you blame me?"
"Shut up!" Lucius snapped. "I only looked down on her because you kept whispering in my ear!"
Vivian choked, then retorted, "I never told you to put her in another man's bed! You were the one who gave her the opportunity to meet Frederick for business reasons! In the end, it's your own fault!"
Lucius slapped her.
"Vivian, get out now!"
Vivian had always known Lucius was selfish and only cared about himself.
Seeing the fury on his face, she covered her cheek and turned to leave.
But thinking about how she had no job now, and if she lost Lucius too, she'd have nothing left.
She bit her lip, suppressed all her emotions, returned to Lucius's side, grabbed his hand, and said with red-rimmed eyes in a low voice, "Lucius, I'm sorry. I said the wrong thing just now. Don't be angry... Think about who's been by your side all these years? I truly love you."