Chapter 65

Sylvia's gaze landed on an exquisitely crafted gold lock-shaped locket, with "Long Life and Good Health" engraved on its surface, and two delicate gold bells dangling below.

"I'll take this one," Sylvia said softly to the sales associate.

She reached out to take the pendant, her fingertips gently tracing the cool patterns on it, but her eyes couldn't help showing a hint of loneliness.

This pendant was the first blessing she could give her child as a mother.

But when she thought about how this child would face a single-parent life with divorced parents right from birth, unable to have a complete family, her heart felt like it was being pricked by countless tiny needles, bringing waves of lingering sadness.

Rhea sensed her daughter's thoughts and squeezed her hand sympathetically, offering silent comfort.

In the evening, they returned to the Smith Manor carrying bags of all sizes.

As soon as they entered, Rhea's phone rang in her purse.

She answered the call, and after just a few words, her expression changed slightly, her tone becoming urgent: "How could this happen? Wasn't everything already settled? Okay, I understand. Don't worry too much, take care of yourself."

After hanging up, Rhea's brow furrowed deeply.

"Mom, what's wrong? Was that Dad?" Sylvia asked while changing her shoes.

Rhea sighed, looking serious: "It was your father. He said there's a problem with the company's acquisition deal. It was supposed to be officially signed tomorrow, but the other party suddenly called saying the signing is postponed."

Sylvia paused, her delicate brows furrowing.

The Spencer Group had been declining in recent years, and with Hayden's poor health, this acquisition was the Spencer Group's only way out.

All the preliminary due diligence and negotiations had been completed smoothly—why would the other party suddenly back out at the last minute?

"What did Dad say?"

"Your father is also confused. The other party only said their management has other considerations." Rhea looked worried.

Sylvia had a feeling things weren't that simple. Changes in business often came with invisible power plays over interests.

She comforted her mother with a few words and decided to stay at the Smith Manor for now to see how things developed.

Night deepened.

Sylvia had just finished washing up and was about to return to her room to rest.

Suddenly, the beeping sound of the keypad lock came from the entrance.

Sylvia instinctively looked over to see Lucas pushing the door open. Today he surprisingly hadn't stayed out, but had come home carrying the cold night air with him.

The two came face to face in the spacious living room.

Lucas pulled off his tie, his gaze falling on Sylvia in her oversized nightgown, seemingly waiting for her to walk up and take his coat like before, or at least greet him.

However, Sylvia merely glanced at him indifferently, her look as if viewing a lifeless piece of furniture.

Holding her glass of warm water, she didn't even lift her eyelids much, simply turned around, walked past him, and with a "click," closed the guest room door.

Lucas stood frozen in place, his hand on his suit jacket slowly tightening, knuckles turning white.

This feeling of being completely ignored was more infuriating than being cursed at to his face.

The next morning, events confirmed Sylvia's unease.

Hayden called again, his tone even heavier than the night before.

Not only had the other party indefinitely postponed the signing, they had suddenly demanded a reassessment of the Spencer Group's assets and put forward a series of extremely harsh additional conditions.

"Reassessment?" Sylvia gripped her phone, her eyes gradually turning cold.

This wasn't about management considerations at all—it was blatant harassment.

The other party had already thoroughly investigated the Spencer Group's financial situation. This move now clearly meant someone was applying pressure behind the scenes, deliberately obstructing the acquisition.

Who was pulling strings behind the scenes?

Several thoughts flashed rapidly through Sylvia's mind. She hung up and turned to Rhea, her tone decisive: "Mom, let's go home. Something's not right about this. I need to ask Dad about the specific details in person."

Rhea had the same thought and quickly nodded, going to pack.

Sylvia went upstairs to get her personal belongings.

Passing by the study, she noticed the door was open. Lucas, unusually, hadn't left the office early and was sitting at the desk reviewing some documents.

Hearing footsteps, Lucas looked up.

Sylvia stood in the doorway with no intention of entering, her tone businesslike and cold without a trace of emotion: "I'm going back to the Spencer Manor."

Lucas's hand holding the pen paused, his brow furrowing: "You're pregnant and you're still running around everywhere?"

"My dad's company has some issues. I'm going back to check." Sylvia didn't bother to say more, dropped this line, and turned to go downstairs.

Lucas watched her departing figure without any reluctance, and that nameless anger surged up again.

He irritably threw the pen on the desk with a sharp "crack" that was particularly piercing in the quiet study.

The black sedan smoothly pulled into the residential area where the Spencer Manor was located.

As soon as Sylvia and Rhea got out of the car, they saw a refined, upright figure standing downstairs.

Vincent was wearing a light gray windbreaker, helping Hayden unload things from the trunk.

"Vincent," Sylvia walked forward.

Vincent turned around, and seeing her with her large belly, immediately put down what he was holding and came over, taking the bag from Rhea's hand: "Why did you suddenly come back? It's windy outside, let's go in quickly."

The family returned inside. Rhea went to the kitchen to prepare lunch, while Vincent helped Sylvia sit down on the sofa.

At the dining table, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Hayden sighed, not even touching his usually favorite coffee, looking troubled as he explained the acquisition complications again.

"Their attitude changed too abruptly, as if they suddenly received orders," Hayden shook his head, completely puzzled.

Sylvia put down her utensils, her brow slightly furrowed: "Dad, did you thoroughly check out the other company's background before?"

Before Hayden could answer, Vincent, sitting nearby, put down his soup bowl. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his expression becoming somewhat stern: "I asked friends in the circle to look into this company's background last night."

"On the surface, this acquisition company is an independently operated investment firm, but in reality, their largest controlling shareholder is very mysterious."

Vincent's words stirred up many doubts in Sylvia's already suspicious mind.

Her hand holding the utensils paused slightly, and Lynn's face, hiding malice, flashed unexpectedly through her mind.

This thought came out of nowhere, yet carried a certain sense of alarm.

Sylvia recalled that night at the restaurant — the jealous, malicious look Lynn had shot at her from behind the screen. She also thought about how Lynn always did whatever it took to get what she wanted. Bit by bit, Sylvia's heart sank.