<h4>Chapter 357: Mason’s Scheme</h4>


    At this moment:


    Y City.


    Mason sat in the living room of the Rodriguez family vi, having tea and chatting with Mayor Rodriguez.


    Mayor Rodriguez held his delicate teacup, savoring the aroma of the tea, which filled the room. An ancient painting on the wall, poetic atmosphere to the room.


    "So, when are you nning to have the wedding with Be?" Mayor Rodriguez asked with a smile. He was quite pleased with Mason, as he was the heir to a prominent overseas family, and marrying his daughter would bring considerable benefits.


    Beughed yfully from the side. "Dad, how can you ask such a personal question? He’s not even interested in marrying so soon!"


    But it wasn’t that Mason didn’t want an early wedding; he had no intention of marrying her at all.


    Mason smiled lightly. "Mayor Rodriguez, did you forget what I said when we first met? Ms. Rodriguez and I are just friends."


    His tone was calm, but the hint of pride in his expression left Mayor Rodriguez stunned, a sh of anger rising in his chest.


    What did Mason mean by this? Was he trying to walk away after ying with his daughter?


    Mayor Rodriguez set his teacup down heavily. He’d heard rumors that Mason wasn’t nning to marry Be, which was why he’d asked the question today.


    The Rodriguez family might not have a long history in politics, but he was the mayor now, and he wouldn’t allow Mason to treat them with such disrespect.


    "Mason, don’t think that just because you’re the heir to the Scott family overseas, I, Matthew Rodriguez, would fear you! You used my daughter, and you still have the nerve to say such things!"


    Matthew stood up, his eyes zing with fury.


    Mason chuckled. "Mayor Rodriguez, you’re mistaken. It was your daughter who pursued me. At the hotel on Treading Immortal Mountain, she came to my room. If she hadn’t gotten into my bed, would I have been forced into contact with her?"


    Be’s face turned deathly pale as she stared at Mason with tearful eyes.


    Though she’d initially liked Eric, Mason had won her over after they’d been together.


    She had given her heart to him, yet Mason was willing to say such things in front of her father! To her, it was the ultimate humiliation.


    "You insolent boy! How dare you speak of my daughter like that!" Matthew, seething with rage, pointed toward the door and shouted, "Get out! Nevere back! Our Rodriguez family has no need to marry off our daughter to someone like you!"


    Tears filled Be’s eyes as she clung to her furious father. "Dad, don’t get upset. It’s not good for your health..."


    Mason stood, brushing off his clothes with calm elegance. "Thank you for the tea, Mayor Rodriguez. If you ever need help with anything, I’ll assist however I can—for Be’s sake, of course."


    "Get out!"


    Mason’s polite words were hollow, dripping with insincerity.


    He raised an eyebrow, walking out with a cold, graceful air. Be bit her lip in bitterness, fighting back tears.


    Matthew took a deep breath. "My dear daughter... I’m so sorry. You’re my only daughter... oh!"


    To think that the daughter of the Rodriguez family could be treated this way. If he were stronger, Mason wouldn’t dare to look down on their family.


    Be shook her head, wiping away her tears as a wave of pain gripped her heart. "This isn’t your fault, Dad. I’ll be fine!"


    Even if she’d been cast aside, she wouldn’t do anything foolish. All of this was E’s fault. It was a pity Leah and Rachel hadn’t been able to get rid of her.


    As the mayor’s daughter, however, she could only rely on others to strike back. Going to jail or breaking thew for a worthless woman like E? No way.


    After leaving the Rodriguez family, Mason made a call with a casual tone, "How’s Logan doing these days?"


    "Second Young Master, the First Young Master is still spending all his time with Miss Hannah."


    Mason’s lips curved into a slight smirk. "Good. Logan is ying a dangerous game. Hannah is the Miller family’s precious daughter, and if anything happens... well, let’s just say there’ll be consequences."


    Logan was difficult to deal with, which was why Mason had informed the Miller family that there was a woman in a mental hospital in S City, Country S, who bore a striking resemnce to their recently deceased niece.


    Once Hannah returned to the Miller family, it would be like a new beginning for her.


    When Hannah and E eventually crossed paths, Mason was betting on E to win. Logan, who adored Hannah, would be shattered if he lost her. Mason’s feelings for E wereplicated and possessive; if he couldn’t have her, he’d rather keep her as an indirect ally.


    What did he mean by an "indirect alliance"? Through Logan and Hannah’s rtionship, they’d both be opposed to E. And since Logan was also Mason’s rival, that made E an unofficial ally.


    Mason was shrewd enough to know that Logan was like a tiger eyeing him warily. Even if Logan won the inheritance, one mistake would still risk him losing his position.


    "Second Young Master, our recent investigation shows that this Hannah seems different from the previous one."


    "No worries. The Miller family is powerful enough to turn anyone into a star. But... send a copy of Logan’s profile to Eric. I’m sure he’ll find it interesting!"


    Mason chuckled coldly, then hung up and drove back to his office in Country S.


    A week passed in the blink of an eye.


    E sat in the ssroom, chatting with Lauren about Henry’s situation. Henry had gone abroad three days ago, and now Lauren was considering taking a break from school to care for him.


    "Lauren, you’re only a freshman. If you take a break, when would youe back? And if... Henry wakes up and still doesn’t like you, wouldn’t you be heartbroken? Or worse, if he... never wakes up?"


    "It’s okay. My life hasn’t been particrly meaningful anyway. My family’s not well-off... my father’s a gambler, and my mom left years ago. You don’t know what it’s like—every time I go home, my crazy dad hits me, demands money, tells me it’s useless for me to go to school. My grandma, who was the only person who loved me, passed away. So... there’s really nothing for me back home."


    Lauren’s eyshes fluttered; she’d been thinking about this for a long time.


    Her father, now fifty, was still entangled with a married woman from the neighboring vige. Any money he had was spent on her, never making it to Lauren.


    E fell silent, then said thoughtfully, "If you really want to go, money’s not an issue. Just be sure you won’t regret spending your best years on a man who doesn’t love you."


    "I won’t regret it," Lauren replied softly.


    E nodded. Just then, her phone chimed.


    She quickly unlocked the screen to find a message from Eric.


    "The NDA report is out."


    Those few words offered no further detail, making E grind her teeth in frustration. Was he teasing her on purpose?