Although the ck family didn''t quite match the Fitzgeralds in wealth or power, they were still a renowned financial conglomerate, with no shortage of business ties between the two families.


    Virgil and Kathie ck even held a small number of Fitzgerald Group shares.


    Victor was now the head of the Fitzgerald Group.


    Still, the cks were considered his elders—and among the Group''s earliest founding members.


    Victor barely lifted his eyelids, his voice t and unreadable. "Is that so?"


    Across the table from Isadora, Kathie shot her a scornful nce.


    Pretty enough, Kathie thought. But women like this were always the most calcting.


    Honestly, in this day and age, who still tries to climb thedder by having a child? She was convinced Victor had only been taken in by Isadora because of the baby. Isadora met Kathie''s disdainful gaze head-on, her own eyes cool and detached. So, Deanna had gone and called in reinforcements.


    Kathie''s lips curled into a disdainful smile, her toneced with mockery. "Of course, with changes happening in the Fitzgerald family, we had toe back and see for ourselves."


    Victor lounged in his chair,pletely at ease, one arm draped casually behind Isadora''s seat, the other hand tapping idly on the table.


    "Well, since everyone''s here, let me make introductions." Victor''s eyes flicked to Isadora. "This is Isadora-the mother of my child. We''ll be officially married next month."


    At that, Kathie''s expression soured.


    "Victor, darling, you can''t be serious. The Fitzgerald Group is one of the most prominent families in the city. Your marriage is not something you can decide on a whim. A casual announcement like that means nothing."


    With that, she lifted her hand with practiced elegance.


    A waiting housekeeper quickly ced a tablet in her grasp.


    Kathie opened it and, without a second nce, tossed it onto the table.


    "You, youngdy-your family owns a couple of department stores, right? The Vaughan Group, isn''t it? Frankly, I''m embarrassed to even say the names of those ces out loud."


    "And your little scandal with Terrell? The whole city''s heard about it. Wasn''t the


    child supposed to be his? How did it suddenly be Victor''s?"


    She leaned in, voice sharp as a


    needle. "You think you can string along both men and toy with my nephew? Aren''t you worried you''ll lose even those few little stores you have left?"


    Isadora noticed Victor''s gaze flicking toward the trending headlines on the tablet.


    Under the sparkle of the crystal chandelier, his longshes veiled any emotion in his eyes.


    Isadora''s grip tightened.


    She opened her mouth to speak, but the man beside her beat her to it, his voice low and icy.


    "Since when do any of you get to pass judgment on my fiancée?"


    Kathie froze, caught in the crosshairs of Victor''s cold, razor-sharp re. A chill ran down her spine, and the rest of her words died in her throat.


    Virgil cleared his throat, putting on the airs of a concerned elder. "Victor, your aunt doesn''t mean anything by it. We''re just worried you might be taken@dvantage of. Letting a woman with that kind of reputation move into the Fitzgerald


    ver


    estate-your grandfather would be turning in his grave."


    Victor gave a cold, mirthlessugh, his tone darker than ever. "Well, you''re wee to go down there and ask him yourself how much it bothers him."


    Virgil''s face darkened, his tone stiffening.


    "You''re the chairman now, Victor. Your marriage concerns the entire future of the Fitzgerald Group. Don''t you care what the shareholders and founding members think?"


    "If you want the child, let this youngdy deliver it and have the Fitzgerald family raise it. But the title of Mrs. Fitzgerald is not something just anyone can take."