Afraid Gregory might refuse, she pressed her palms together, murmuring a desperate, “Please, please.”
Gregory sighed, resigned. “Fine, I’ll drop it off. You head back.”
It was as if she’d just been handed a royal pardon. The secretary all but bolted, her heels clattering down the hallway as she scurried away before Gregory could change his mind.
Gregory could only shake his head at the whole ordeal. Turning to the office door, he raised his hand to knock, but Soren’s earlier instructions echoed in his mind. Soren had been clear: anything related to the Whitmore family was his call, and his alone.
After a moment’s hesitation, Gregory decided it was best not to risk angering Mr. Fawkes again. He lowered his hand and quietly walked away.
The Whitmore Residence.
“Really? The Fawkes family confirmed their investment?”
Winston, who’d been lounging on the sofa, shot up with delight the moment he heard the news. He could hardly contain his excitement.
“That’s fantastic, thank you! Please thank Mr. Fawkes for me too. With this, the Whitmore family’s project is sure to succeed–we won’t let Mr. Fawkes down again.”
After expressing his gratitude several more times, Winston waited, grinning, for the other person to hang up.
The commotion brought Hazel downstairs in her pajamas. The moment Winston saw her, he hurried over, swept her up in his arms, and spun her around and around, ignoring her startled squeal.
“We did it, darling!” he laughed breathlessly. “How did I end up with such a brilliant wife?”
Winston was practically glowing with joy.
In the past, getting the Fawkes family to invest always required Old Mrs. Fawkes’s intervention. This was the first time Soren had agreed so decisively.
22:01
Hazel had been right all along–relying solely on Evangeline’s help to secure favors. for the Whitmore family wasn’t a sustainable plan. If you want something done, you have to build your own strength.
Hazel disentangled herself from Winston, smoothing her nightdress with a composed, almost mysterious air–as if hiding her true abilities behind a calm façade.
Winston, still beaming, couldn’t help but ask, “How did you come up with such a perfect solution? I always thought you didn’t know the first thing about business, but you keep surprising me. You’ve been hiding your talents, haven’t you?”
Hazel couldn’t help but feel a little dizzy from all the praise. The truth was, she’d just come across the idea online by chance–she’d never expected it would actually work.
Still, she pouted playfully, giving a little huff. “If you listened to my advice more often in business, maybe you’d notice even more of my strengths.”
Winston nodded his agreement, then suddenly sighed. “It’s a shame, though. We still don’t have a son to inherit your business acumen.”
The thought brought a flicker of regret. Back then, he’d kept his relationship with Hazel a secret from Evangeline’s mother, hoping for a son. But Evangeline’s mother absolutely refused to have another child, no matter how much he tried to persuade
her.
He’d been frustrated, but as someone who’d married into the Whitmore family, he didn’t dare push too hard. Instead, he kept his resentment to himself and looked for another opportunity.
In the end, Hazel had given him a daughter too. On top of that, Giselle was sweet but hopelessly naïve–not exactly heir material.
The thought made his heart sink.
Hazel saw right through him. She leaned in, whispering suggestively in his ear, “Well, why don’t we try for a son?”
She’d meant it as a flirty joke, but when her soft hand brushed his chest, Winston felt a sudden rush of desire.
–
“Alright then let’s try for a son.”
He swept Hazel up again, her laughter ringing through the house as he carried her upstairs.
Chapter 29
After packing her things, Evangeline lay down for what she thought would be a short rest. But the moment her head hit the pillow, exhaustion took over, and she drifted off.
She had no idea how long she’d slept until the sharp ring of her phone jolted her
awake.
It was Soren,
“Tomorrow afternoon, come with me to the Fawkes estate”
His voice was cold and curt, unmistakably Soren.
