How could someone as capable as River not make it?


    He had to be lying. There''s no way he was telling the truth.


    "That Maybach up ahead belongs to River, right? I remember his license te," Romina said.


    She remembered it clearly-and Maddox did too.


    Truth be told, most of the business elites in Eaglioncile could recognize River''s license te. His talent had made him a standout. When he led Yantail out of crisis and into the ranks of major corporations, he caught everyone''s attention. Romina wasn''t the only one who had targeted Yantail. Others had made moves behind the scenes, but Romina—and the Lafond Group behind her had always been open about theirpetition. They never yed dirty.


    Compared to his other rivals, River actually respected Romina. At least she was straightforward—no sneaky tricks behind his back.


    "It''s him. He got here pretty early," Romina noted.


    Maddox nced at her and smiled. "Romina, you may not want to hear this, but I''ve got to say it—my aunt asked me to remind you. At tonight''s banquet, even if you see River, try to keep your distance. Don''t stir up conflict and make things awkward for Mr. Lacroix."


    Romina replied, "I''ll try. But it''s not just up to me. He''s got to be willing to keep his distance too. Maddox, you don''t know how shameless that guy is. Even if I steer clear, he''ll stille over."


    River had asked her to treat him to a meal, and she refused.


    Now, she was worried he might bring it up in front of everyone-maybe even in front of her grandfather-and twist it into something ridiculous. Say she took advantage of him or something.


    Maddox chuckled. "You two really go at it."


    "At first, I just wanted to beat him. But then he wouldn''t let me go. Yantail''s be a major yer, and my Lafond family can''t deal with them the way we used to. I watched a fiercepetitor rise. I had a chance to stop him, but I didn''t. Now he''s thriving." Romina sighed. "I''m almost thirty. Life had always gone smoothly for me... until I met River. He''s the first one who ever made me feel like I failed."


    Maddox said, "You two are like rivals who admire each other deep down. I think you respect him. If he weren''t the boss of Yantail, you''d probably try to steal him away."


    What Maddox didn''t dare say was that he also kind of wanted to steal River- professionally.


    The Johnstone and Lafond families weren''t in the same industry, but they had ovepping business interests. They weren''t enemies of Yantail, but a lot of people respected River''s abilities.


    Plenty of people envied Yantail''s owner-lucky enough to hire a professional like River whopletely turned thepany around. Now, the guy didn''t have to lift


    a finger and still brought in money hand over fist every year.


    Despite many people trying to sow discord, he never once doubted River.


    In terms of judgment, the man had excellent instincts.


    After he transferred half of Yantail''s shares to River, no one dared try to poach River anymore. Even with people whispering in his ear, he''d say the same thing every time: I trust River.


    If River ever wanted full control, he''d dly sell him the other half at a low price. Yantail''s boss''s wife, though she was terrified that day woulde. If anyone so much as muttered something bad about River in front of her husband, she''d lose her temper and rip off her polite demeanor,shing out like a storm.