Chapter 4: Engagement party

"Mr. Sebastian, here's your schedule for today," Ethan, Sebastian's assistant, walked into the CEO's penthouse bedroom early in the morning, as usual.

Seeing Sebastian pinching his nose and rubbing his eyes, he asked with concern, "Is your eye condition acting up again?"

As Sebastian's long-time assistant, Ethan was well aware of the CEO's health issues.

"No, it's fine. Do we have any special arrangements today?" Sebastian inquired.

"You have George's engagement party tonight," the assistant emphasized.

"Wasn't the engagement party yesterday?" Sebastian asked, puzzled.

"It didn't happen yesterday; they said they rescheduled it for today, the former CEO, your father wants you to attend" Ethan replied truthfully.

Meanwhile, Charlotte had just returned home.

"Daddy, sister went to the nightclub yesterday without telling anyone; George searched for her for a long time," Charlotte's stepsister, Eva, was already stirring up trouble.

Charlotte recalled the photos Eva had shown her, and she felt furious. Eva, dressed in a seductive nightgown, seducing George, was now pretending to be an innocent girl.

"Sister, you're back," Eva said, noticing Charlotte turning the corner.

"Charlotte, you must attend today's engagement party. Our family has business ties with George's family, and many future projects depend on their cooperation," Charlotte's father, Quan, said sternly, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Dad, Eva seems to really like George. Why don't you let her go?" Charlotte spoke frankly.

Hearing Charlotte's words, Eva's heart skipped a beat, hoping her father would agree.

Quan looked at Eva calmly. "Charlotte, your engagement to George was arranged by both families long ago. George's grandfather is very fond of you. He specifically requested you as his granddaughter-in-law." Quan didn't want to joke about the future of the family's business. Their family's fortunes depended on George's grandfather's favour.

"Go freshen up. The butler has scheduled a styling appointment for you. You must attend today, and I'll consider giving you the art gallery your mother left behind," Quan stated bluntly.

Charlotte's lifelong wish was to inherit the art gallery left by her mother, and now it was controlled by Eva's mother, her stepmother.

Charlotte clenched her fists. She couldn't compromise easily now. At this point, she had to go through the motions; George wouldn't do anything to her anyway.

Meanwhile, on George's side, his father, Rodriguez, was lecturing him.

"I don't care about your past behaviour. Today, you must appear at your engagement ceremony; your grandfather has ordered it. And today, your little uncle will also attend. Your little uncle, my brother, now holds the largest company in our family. Your grandfather wants to save face for him. Whether our family can get more business in the future depends on your grandfather's opinion. If you dare to lose face in front of your little uncle today, I'll break your legs."

Rodriguez exerted his authority as the superior.

George had no choice. He feared his grandfather the most; his father was easier to deal with, but if his grandfather got angry, it would be disastrous. Besides, his little uncle, Sebastian, had always lived in his little uncle's shadow since childhood.

His little uncle, Sebastian, was an outstanding person, skipped grades in school, intellectually surpassed everyone else, and had been groomed as the future successor of the conglomerate since childhood. He was calm and decisive in his actions, making the elders in the family obedient. After all, the high profits generated every year were not easily created.

In the blink of an eye, the engagement ceremony arrived.

Charlotte, dressed in a gorgeous gown, attracted the attention of the crowd. George, in a suit, looked at the beauty in front of him. In his heart, he regretted a bit. He didn't resist Eva's seduction. Charlotte was much more beautiful than Eva, and she had a unique charm.