<b>Chapter </b><b>252 </b>
Ada’s wedding came to a close amongst a chorus of praises.
Evadne had truly hit the jackpot this time, bringing fame and fortune, reviving the K Orld Hotel from the brink of extinction in less than a year and even propelling it to new heights.
<b>In </b>half a year, she had impressivelypleted the tasks assigned by Emeric, even exceeding his expectations.
The first order of business, of course, was to return to Skyrim and im her reward from Emeric!
Chuckles all around!
That night, Evadne went to pick up her younger sister, Nydia, from school, and they drove off towards Skyrim in a top–notch emerald–green Rolls–<b>Royce</b>.
The sisters joked andughed in the car, their intimacy and joy were palpable.
“Evadne, I can’t believe that you’re actually the top jewelry designer, Alea!” Nydia eximed with a blush, pping her hands <b>in </b>surprise.
“Hold your horses! I know what you’re about to say. You’re about to wax lyrical about your admiration for me, aren’t you?”
Evadne fl*pped her raven locks, lifting her nose slightly, “I’ve heard enough ttery, Nydia. If you want to ask me for some jewelry to y with, just say it.” “That’s not possible!”
Nydia shook her head vehemently, cheeks turning rosy, “You’re Alea, only international celebrities get to wear your designs. You could give Daryl a piece of jewelry. I heard from Mom and Dad that Daryl’s husband is about to be the President of Helgen. The First Lady wearing your jewelry wouldn’t be <b>a </b>disgrace, would it?”
“To outsiders, Alea is a celebrity, but to our family, it’s just a name.”
Evadne raised an eyebrow in feigned arrogance, pulling her little sister into a side hug, “When you go back to school, you can boast all you want. Your sister is Alea. Once they know it, they’ll be lining up to butter you up.”
Nydia thought about the rumors about her at school, and how Bernard had been subtly challenging her.
Unable to help it, she was about to cry, but she quickly put on a brave face, biting her l*p tightly.
“Speaking of which, I really miss Daryl.”
Evadne and Nydia huddled together, their eyes gleaming, “I wonder if Daryl’s husband is treating her well. If he dares to mistreat her, I’ll shred him into spicy shredded pork!”
“I guess you won’t need to, Evadne. Cassius, Arnold, Bet, Elvis, Aaron and Dad, none of them would let him off the hook.” Nydia joked.
Yeah, that sounded about right.
Daryl’s husband probably wouldn’t be foolish enough to try his luck with the brutal punishments of the Ashbourne family.
“Huh? Evadne, why isn’t Jason with you?” Nydia had been looking for Jason ever since she got in the car. She finally mustered up the courage to ask.
“Oh, he’s been really tiredtely, so I gave him a break.” Evadne replied nonchntly, giving nothing away.
Their car smoothly entered the gates of Silveke Harbor.
As the sisters stepped out of the car, they ran into Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey with their three sons, who were also walking towards them.
Evadne hadn’t known that Emeric had invited the Dempsey family over for dinner that night. She was slightly surprised, but quicklyposed herself.
Upon seeing Evadne, Cedric’s eyes turned green with envy, as if he were about to crow like a rooster.
“Miss Evadne. Jason.called out to her with a dry voice.
He took a small step forward, but suddenly remembered what Evadne had told him the other day. His longing to get closer to her shrank back, and he retreated. Evadne nced at Jason nonchntly.
With his tall figure, drooping shoulders, and pale l*ps, he looked like <b>a </b>lost puppy, pitifully adorable.
But she couldn’t give him hope.
Giving him hope would truly ruin him.
“Ms. Evadne! It’s been a while!” Dave greeted her politely with his wife.
“Mr. Dempsey, there’s no need for formalities. Just call me Evadne as you used to.” Evadne replied warmly.
“Times have changed. You’re now part of thepany’s management and you’re also Jason’s boss. Things are different now.”
Dave was well aware of the fame and potential Evadne had<i>, </i>and he knew he had to tread carefully.
Cedric scoffed, finding his father’s groveling attitude embarrassing.
Did the Dempseys really have to bow down to the Ashbournes forever?
Evadne let it go when she saw Dave insisting on being formal.
Mrs. Dempsey subtly examined the Ashbourne sisters.
Evadne had grown into a stunning beauty. When she was a child, she was a porcin doll, but now she has transformed into an exquisite fairdy. Anyone who saw her would be instantly captivated
No wonder her Jason was so love–struck and worn out. It pained Mrs. Dempsey to see him this way.
Moreover, the gap in status between the Dempseys and the Ashbournes was toorge. Although the Dempseys were a family of schrs, they were worlds apart from the Ashbournes, the wealthiest family in Skyrim
Her son was trying to reach for the stars.
Then, Mrs. Dempsey’s gazended on the quiet and graceful Nydia.
“Mrs Dempsey, it’s nice to see you!” Nydia quickly curtsied, her heart racing when she saw her crush’s mother, her cheeks turning a rosy red.
“Nice to see you too, Ms Nydia”
If her son was truly desperate to marry into the Ashbournes, then Nydia could be a viable alternative.
She was polite, gentle, and seemed to be a good match for her youngest son. The only drawback was that her mother was not the legal wife of Emeric
Although Nydia was Emeric’s daughter, her mother was neverwfully wed to Chairman Emeric Plus, she was her mother’s only daughter. This, understandably, put her in a less favorable position within the Ashbourne family
When the prospect of Jason marrying Nydia was mentioned, Myra felt that her son would be short–changed.
Nydia fluttered her eyshes and sneaked a peek at her beloved.
But a single nce was enough to make her heart flutter like a frightened deer, causing a dull ache in her chest.
Jason only ever had eyes for Evadne.
She knew his passionate love–filled gaze better than anyone else.
Because she had been looking at him with the same eyes for the past seven years.
The Silveke Harbor was bustling that night, but Casslus was tied up with work and couldn’t make it back in time..
However, both Arnold and Aaron managed to show up for the feast as if they had nned it.
The atmosphere was initially good. Emeric and Dave were of the same age and old friends, so they enjoyed each other’spany.
Mrs. Dempsey and the three Ashbournedies also had a lively chat.
But something was off between the youngsters.
With the presence of the police, the prosecutor, the Judge, thewyer, and Evadne the intiff, the north side of the dining table felt like a mini courtroom.
“Mr. Cedric, I heard yourw firm in Elmsworth is doing quite well.”
Arnold smirked sarcastically, swirling his wine ss. “It seems that all the big cases we’ve had in Elmsworth these past couple of years have had you as thewyer for the defense.” “As awyer, it’s my duty.”
Cedric retorted with a nonchnt smile. “If a clientes to me and trusts me, of course, I will do my best to win the case.”
“That’s quite interesting.”
Aaron crossed his legs, sizing up Cedric like a suspect. “It seems that the ones who engage you are either wealthy or influential. Your client base seems quite exclusive.”
“That’s not necessarily the case. Although I’m the head of the firm, I’m not the only one running it. I have two shareholders to share the profits with, and dozens ofwyers to pay. I, too, am just a man trying to make a living in this world.” Cedric sighed, feigning distress.
Gosh!
Arnold, Aaron, and Evadne nearly choked on their food upon hearing these sanctimonious words!
How could Cedric and Jason, both sons of the esteemed Judge, be so different!
“Cedric, you’re now a topwyer in Elmsworth, well–known nationwide.”
The usually silent Jason finally spoke up with a cold smile, “The lowest fee you’ve ever charged for a case this year was two hundred thousand dors, and the highest was 1.5 million dors. This is just your personal ie, not including the cuts you get from your associates.”
The dining room fell silent.
Emeric and Dave stopped their conversation, turning their attention to the younger generation.
“I believe my personal ie and that of myw firm are private matters, not suitable for discussion at a gathering like <b>this</b>.” Cedric forced a smile, wincing at the pain from the wound on his cheek that he had covered up with foundation.”
“I’m bringing this up to make a point, that you are notcking in money. You’ve even amassed a fortune that the average person couldn’t spend in a lifetime.”
Jason’s eyes shed as he chuckled, “So I don’t understand, apart from money, what made you take on the Abernathy Group’s case knowing that they are Ms. Evadne’s enemies?
What?
Holy cow!
Was Jason the betrayer of kin tonight?
He just ripped off Cedric’s mask of hypocrisy–in front of everyone. Were these brothers really going to be enemies?
Evadne hadn’t given Jason a single nce all night.
But at that moment, her expression icy, she suddenly looked up at him, her gaze as calm and piercing as a winter’s night.
She knew that Jason was doing this for her.
But she neither wanted him to do it, nor needed him to.
<b>“</b>Jason! You can’t vent your frustrations here. Save it for when we get home!” Ivan pulled at him under the table, sweating from tension.
But Jason, his handsome face stern, showed no sign of letting Cedric off the hook.
Cedric, unable to hide his difort, looked as if he had been struck by a severe illness.
“Jason! Stop spouting nonsense!”
Dave reprimanded Jason in a stern voice, then turned to Emeric with an apologetic smile. “I apologize, Chairman Emeric. I’ve clearly failed to discipline my son properly. I’m embarrassed to have made a spectacle in front of you.”
<b>“</b>Not at <b>all</b>.”
Emeric remained calm andposed<i>, </i>chuckling lightly. “Jason has been like a son to me since he was a child. He worked under my eldest son, Cassius, andter assisted Evadne. He’s a capable young man with a strong moralpass. I’ve always thought highly of Jason, treating him as if he were my own son. I know what kind of person he is, so I’m not offended in the slightest.”
A son?
With those words, Jason’s status skyrocketed instantly, while delivering a heavy blow to Cedric!