Chapter


    4508


    These days, everyone at Yantail-from upper management to entry-level staff- took their work seriously. No one dared ck off or try to coast, knowing a poor quarterly review could mean a pink slip.


    As Yantail grew stronger, it had be one of the most sought-afterpanies


    in Eaglioncile. Fresh college grads were lining up tond a spot there.


    If you didn''t hustle, someone else would. If you didn''t value your job, someone else was ready to take it.


    That''s just how cutthroat the world had be.


    Unless you were born into wealth, the only choice was topete to survive. Serenity asked, "Do you think you''re better off now than you would''ve been if you had taken that offer and worked under Romina?"


    "Definitely better off now," River replied. "If I''d joined her, she probably wouldn''t have even given me the time of day. But going up against her-that''s where the fun is. It drives me to make Yantail even bigger, just to prove I''ve got what it takes."


    He''d never once regretted choosing Yantail over Lafond''s Group.


    He wasn''t like his sixth brother-willing to work for his sixth sister-inw. River wanted to stand on equal ground.


    Serenity looked at him. "Then have you realized you actually like Romina? Not just like-you love her."


    River paused. "... Sis-inw, I know Grandma asked you to nudge me toward marriage, but just because I have a few conversations with a woman doesn''t


    mean we''re destined to be together."


    Serenity gave him a long look. "If that''s how you see it, then fine. Let''s head home -the kids are asleep."


    River nodded and drove his sister-inw and nephew home.


    Once they got back to River''srge vi, he helped carry Maverick, fast asleep, upstairs. The boy was six and already used to sleeping alone, so River had set up a room for him next to


    his own. Serenity and her daughter slept in another wing, separated by his study and a guest room.


    "Sis-inw, Baby''s out cold. Want me to wake him up for a bath?"


    "No need. Let him sleep. He can shower tomorrow."


    Serenity asked River to cover the boy with a nket, then carried her daughter back to their room.


    With his nephew settled, River headed straight for his master bedroom. He couldn''t wait to try on the suit Romina gave him. He stood in front of the mirror, turning this way and that. The longer he looked, the more convinced he was-he looked amazing.


    He took a few selfies and sent them to Romina.


    "This suit fits perfectly, like it was custom made. Don''t I look great?" he


    messaged.


    Romina stared at her phone for a while before


    replying


    with a smirk: "When you''re not being a jerk, you are handsome. But when


    you are, people forget your looks and just want to p you."


    River fired


    back:


    “I''m mean? You''re just as bad. That temper of yours makes people forget how pretty you are and start seeing you as a little demon instead."


    Romina: "..."


    She swallowed her frustration.


    It waste. She didn''t want to ruin her mood and lose sleep over this. So she did


    what she always did-blocked his number for the night. She''d unblock him once she cooled off tomorrow.


    This had be a routine.


    After all, he''d been the one to add her on social media in the first ce—just so they could argue more conveniently.