“It’s nothing urgent—just something with my sister.”
“What happened to her?” Caitlin asked.
“After the awards night, she had a miscarriage. She was hospitalized for a bit, but yesterday, just after being discharged, my mom called saying she’d gone missing.”
“Missing?” Caitlin frowned.
“Yeah,” Zeke confirmed. “We tried looking for her, but then we found a note she left, asking us not to look for her. I think she couldn’t handle the emotional blow and went into hiding.”
He sighed. “Honestly, let her be. I’ve got no affection for that sister of mine. She’s selfish, spoiled, and completely reckless—reminds me way too much of Zorro.”
He didn’t want anything to do with it. But his mother was still worried—worried that after such a tra
Benjamin’s dark eyes flickered as he glanced at Tonya. He then took a plaque from the staff and handed it to her.“Congratulations. This is your prize.”Tonya looked down at the plaque in her hands. Written across it were the words: Bentley Mulsanne Sedan.“Oh my God!”Her heart nearly stopped. The Jones family had actually prepared a luxury car worth over a million dollars as a prize.The crowd erupted with envy, marveling at the family’s extravagance. Even something as casual as a raffle yielded gifts most could only dream of.Tonya was, without a doubt, the luckiest woman of the night. As she stepped off the stage, she was met with countless envious stares.Sydney clutched her arm, squealing. “Tonya, you’re too lucky!”Landon and Wanda were overjoyed, practically beaming with pride for their daughter.But in the crowd, Wendy’s jaw tightened. Watching To
The women held their breath, waiting for the emcee to reveal the result.“Number 177! Congratulations!”The emcee scanned the crowd. “Which young lady holds ticket number 177?”Everyone pulled out their admission stubs, comparing with each other. None of the numbers matched.So who was 177?Wendy glanced at her own ticket. To her shock, the number was 177. Could it really be this much of a coincidence?She stayed quiet, planning to tuck the stub away—she had no intention of dancing. But the sharp eyes of the woman beside her caught the number.“She’s 177!”Gasps spread, and soon all eyes turned to Wendy. Several women nearby confirmed it was indeed her number.Jealousy flickered in their gazes.“177 is her? No way, what are the odds?”The emcee, having received confirmation, gestured toward Wendy. “Would the young lady holding ticket 17
Tonight, Wendy was breathtaking.She wore a flowing violet gown that shimmered with scattered sparkles, as if draped in silk touched by the glow of dusk. Her once-rounded features were now sharpened and refined, and her slimmed-down figure—still soft in all the right places—was shown off perfectly by the cut of the dress.Her long hair was loosely curled, tumbling down her back, jeweled pins glinting under the light, blending seamlessly with her gown. The dress highlighted her curves where they should be full and tapered her waist where it should be slender, creating a figure that exuded a kind of allure no skeletal beauty could compare to.It was exactly this look, this warmth, this softness, that Benjamin was utterly obsessed with.The crowd buzzed with whispers, everyone curious about the mysterious young woman. Among them, the Smith family recognized her first.“That’s… Wendy?” Tonya gasped.&ld
Tonya and Sydney hadn’t expected to fall flat on their faces—let alone right at the feet of the most sought-after men in the room.Every pair of eyes turned toward them. Both women knew they had just humiliated themselves, but at the same time, this was the closest they might ever get to Benjamin. They had to seize the chance.“Ouch…” Tonya clutched her ankle and began to play up her pain. Maybe Benjamin would show pity, lean down, and help her up.Determined to make the most of it, she even rolled herself closer, until she was nearly at Benjamin’s shoes.Sydney had thought of trying the same tactic, but the moment she looked up and saw his face clearly, her blood ran cold.That heir to the Jones family… wasn’t he the same man who had called her ugly in the coffee shop?It couldn’t be—could it?Benjamin glanced down at the woman sprawled in front of him and recognized
“You’d need to be based in V Country full-time,” Caitlin explained. “At most you’d be able to come home for holidays. Things over there are still in heavy preparation stages, and it takes a lot of energy. It won’t be as easy as it sounds. The real question is whether your family would be okay with you living there long term.”She had her own reasons for saying this. Sending Jillian to Departure City would also conveniently create opportunities for Hayden.“No problem,” Jillian answered firmly. “When I studied abroad, I sometimes only came home once a year. As long as my brother supports me, my parents will too.”She had made up her mind. It wasn’t just about pursuing her design career—she also wanted more chances to see Hayden. Their relationship had been stuck in a standstill, limited to chats online and over the phone. If they could meet face-to-face more often, maybe something
The Jones Family’s ball was being held in the grand ballroom of the resort hotel, and preparations had begun early.By four in the afternoon, guests were already arriving one after another. Luxury cars filled the parking lot, and every attendee was dressed to impress.Most families with unmarried daughters had brought them along. Everyone had heard the same rumor—that tonight’s ball was specifically arranged to help the Jones heir find a partner.Who wouldn’t want to marry into one of New York’s most powerful dynasties?Who wouldn’t want to secure an alliance with the Jones Family?Since it was still early, Benjamin invited Sebastian to join him for a round of golf, while Caitlin took Wendy to get styled.Even if Caitlin couldn’t personally deal with the Smith family tonight, she was determined to make Wendy the brightest star of the evening.On the golf course, Sebastian and Benjamin ha