Lahat ng Kabanata ng Goodbye, Saintess.: Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

Baron swallowed hard. This didn't sound promising. Was he about to turn down the offer? If more people in Astergrad knew Sebastian's true identity, this man wouldn't lack for investors. Each one would be ready to throw absurd amounts of money at him."What is it?" he asked cautiously."I have a goal, sure. But I've never started a business before. I've been a firefighter since I graduated. That means there's a chance you could lose your money if you invest in me, and I need to be honest about that. If you're fine with the risk, then I'll gladly work with you," I clarified.I studied Baron's face. I had no idea what he was thinking, but I couldn't lie or hold anything back. The amount he offered wasn't pocket change. I wouldn't let anyone walk into this blindly.Unbeknownst to me, Baron was sighing in relief."Oh, that's it? Not a problem!" he said brightly. "I'm a great judge of character—trust me. I'm offering my money gladly, Mr. Grimwald. Even if you suffer a catastrophic loss

"Sebastian's into our daughter, isn't he? This is our God-given chance! Just think—even Goldman had to show him respect. The guy must be way more important than we ever imagined!" James exclaimed, practically buzzing with excitement.He turned to head straight for Rhea's room."Where are you going?" Dorothea called after him."To let our sweetheart out, of course! They need more time together. No, she needs to marry him as soon as possible!" he said with a laugh.Baron outranked him in every way, but if Sebastian became his son-in-law, the power dynamic would flip instantly. Baron would be the one taking James' slaps like a bitch!"Hold on, dear. I'm serious." Dorothea grabbed his arm. "Something doesn't add up. It's not that simple.""What do you mean?"Dorothea rolled her eyes. "You're making assumptions based on circumstantial evidence. We need to do our homework first. Think about it. Do you really believe some rich young man is out here pretending to be working class just f

That had always been a white lie. I wasn't mediocre. I just didn't want to steal your spotlight, Hera.I felt my resolve strengthening while I thumbed through the materials in my hand. Three of the pages caught my eye. I took them out and examined them. I remembered them now. I wrote these analyses after I graduated and married Hera.Back then, Edge Inc. was in the middle of a growth spurt, right around the time we got married. Hera had a packed schedule, meeting clients daily and jumping into new business ventures. The pace was starting to get to her.I could already see the cracks forming in the foundation. The rapid expansion left structural weaknesses exposed as the company swelled in both size and operations. From my experience, I knew that if nothing changed, the momentum could lead to a collapse within seven years.One night, she came home sober—a rare thing at the time. I showed her a three-page analysis I had written on the company's financial risks and how to fix them.

I didn't have time to remember more before I heard Claire calling from the entrance, "Over here, Sebastian!"She was waving at me.I was pleasantly surprised. Claire looked even prettier than I had imagined. Her makeup was on the heavier side, yet it did not feel overdone. It suited the occasion perfectly. Meanwhile, her outfit emphasized her impressive curves. It was no wonder her old classmates might get the wrong idea."Come on," I said, holding out my hand for her car keys.Claire smiled shyly and took my hand instead. "The party's not over yet. Can you keep me company for a little while?""I have something early tomorrow," I said, frowning slightly.She shook her head. "Don't worry. It won't take long. The party's almost over anyway. You should at least say hi to my friends before we leave. It'd be rude if I just left like this."I nodded. "Fine. Just a quick greeting, right?"Claire pulled me into one of the private rooms, still holding my hand, and began introducing me.

"Come on, Sebastian. We really should go. Ezra's completely drunk, and that must've been humiliating for him. I don't think he's going to let this go," Claire said with growing worry, tugging on my shirt again.She was already starting to regret introducing me to her old friends.I patted the back of her hand. "Hey, I'm alright. Let's go."And I meant it. I wasn't going to stoop to the level of a drunk fool.But Ezra had rallied his allies faster than we expected. He and a group of men were already outside the room, surrounding us.Security guards stood in a tight circle around Claire and me, forming an unbreakable wall. Then the wall parted briefly to reveal Ezra stepping forward with a smug grin."Think you can run, you wuss? Now you see just how much power I really have!" he shouted. "Scared? If you're scared, get on your knees. Call me Daddy and apologize for your insolence. Then maybe, if I'm feeling generous, I'll let you walk."I could hardly believe this fellow. What was