Back in the car, Laverne let out a sigh of relief. "From the look in Mr. Wells''s eyes, he''s very interested in you. Your n to get close to him was a sess."


    Vanessa clutched her chest, a wave of difort washing over her.


    Well, the man was sixty. When he moved in close, she caught a whiff of that old- person smell and it really put her off.


    Compared ton''s captivating, crisp scent of cedar, Vanessa felt slightly nauseated.


    Laverne noticed her difort. Although Vanessa came from a humble background as an illegitimate daughter, the wealth and famen had given her over the past decade were no less than that of any heiress. Deep down, Vanessa was proud.


    "Vanessa, you need to think this through. Once you start, there''s no turning back. Now that you''ve caught Walden Wells''s attention, you have to see this through to the end," Laverne reminded her. She was now banking on Vanessa''s connection with Walden Wells to revive her own career.


    She was gambling the next few years of her career on Vanessa.


    Vanessa stared out the window without responding. Her mind was filled with images ofn, Henry Holt, and Xavier Vaughn-all so vibrant, handsome, young, and charming. Now, she was about to serve a man older than her own father. She needed courage.


    Just then, Laverne''s phone rang. She answered it. "Hello? What''s up?"


    "Laverne, did you hear? Walden Wells was also on the list of candidates for the Guild of Commerce chairmanship. And my media friends said he had been secretly lobbying for the position for a while."


    Laverne hadn''t been aware of this. "Isn''t Walden Wells qualified enough?"


    "He was more than qualified, but who knew some dark horse liken woulde out of nowhere and take the spot that should''ve been his."


    Laverne responded, "Okay, have your media friends keep a close eye on this."


    After hanging up, Laverne thought for a moment and then turned to Vanessa excitedly. "Vanessa, I just got some important news. Walden Wells was apparently a shoo-in for The Guild of Commerce chairmanship, butn swooped in and stole it from him. It seems there''s some serious bad blood between them now."


    Vanessa''s eyes widened in surprise. "What are you saying?"


    "Walden Wells must haten''s guts right now. Knowing his personality, he won''t let it


    go. Once he finds out about your past rtionship withn, he''ll definitely want to take you for himself."


    Vanessa leaned back against the seat, clenching her jaw. Walden Wells was her most powerful ticket to breaking free fromn. Now that he also despisedn, she might even be able to use him to destron''s career his reputation and everything he held dear.


    Vanessa''s fingers tightened into a fist, her eyes growing more determined: The earlier hesitation had vanished. She took Walden Wells''s business card from her purse. It seems need to arrange


    In


    my next meeting with Mr. Wells as soon as possible."


    "Don''t rush it. You need to y games and keep him on the hook. Getting you too easily will make a man lose interest," Laverne advised, patting her arm.


    She had faith in Vanessa''s abilities. Otherwise, how could a rich heir like Henry have been willing to be her backup for seven years?


    Back at Eleanor''s home, after dinner, Evelyn wanted to practice her writing early. Ian was teaching her in the first-floor study, as Evelyn had specifically requested her dad''s help.


    Eleanor went upstairs to work for a while. At eight-thirty, she came downstairs just as Joslyn was finishing cutting up some fruit. "Ma''am," Joslyn said, "could you take this te of fruit into the study for Evelyn?"