The three kids didn’t understand why adults liked to stand together and talk. Since there were no other children to play with in the hall, they decided to go to the backyard instead. Humberto grabbed Cierra’s hand and ran.
“Cierra, come with me. I know where the swings are, you’ll love it,” Humberto said.
Cierra almost dropped the small cake she was holding, but luckily she quickly caught it and stuffed it into her mouth.
“Wait for me, cake… cough,” she mumbled with a full mouth.
William quickly followed behind, holding a cup of juice. “Humberto, slow down a bit, make sure Cierra doesn’t fall.”
“She won’t!” Humberto replied confidently.
The three kids disappeared in a flash, and the adults in the front hall were too busy with their own affairs to notice. Besides, every corner of the banquet hall was equipped with surveillance cameras, and Humberto, being the young master of the house, wouldn’t let them wander off too far.
As soon as Cierra and Humberto left, Emelia, dressed elegantly, walked in hand in hand with her husband Marco. Spotting Franco and Georgina, Marco greeted them first.
“Uncle, Aunt.”
Emelia followed suit, greeting them as well. Georgina took a moment to process the situation. When did she acquire such a grown-up nephew?
In a discreet move, she nudged her husband with her foot, silently asking him what was going on. Franco looked bewildered for a moment before whispering to his wife, “His mother is my father’s cousin, so he’s technically related to the Bray family.”
However, everyone knew that Old Bray had distanced himself from the family, venturing out on his own and struggling to make a living. There were even times when he was bullied by his cousins and nearly died in the barn, including Marco’s grandfather. By the time it reached their generation, the relationship had grown distant, let alone knowing Marco.
However, today was Matthias Eaton’s eightieth birthday celebration, and guests were to be treated with courtesy.
“You’ve grown so much in the blink of an eye. Is this your wife? She’s truly beautiful,” Franco awkwardly complimented.
The awkwardness of the exchange was palpable to everyone around, leaving Marco and his wife embarrassed. What should they say next? Franco sought help from his wife. Georgina rolled her eyes at him before taking charge, leading Emelia away.
“You’ve come from afar. Please have a seat on the nearby sofa and rest for a while. I’ll have someone prepare two rooms for you to stay temporarily,” she said politely.
Marco didn’t just come to visit; he was also seeking Franco’s help as his company was under financial pressure. However, Emelia politely declined Georgina’s offer.
“Thank you, Aunt, but that won’t be necessary. We’re staying here for a few days, and we’ve already booked a hotel outside. The reservation cannot be cancelled,” she explained.
Marco had no choice but to go along with her decision. Georgina didn’t insist, not wanting to accommodate two strangers in her home.
“Alright then, since you’ll be staying here for a few days, I’ll send someone to pick you up the day after tomorrow for a visit,” Georgina suggested.
Those who understood knew what she meant by “the day after tomorrow.” Marco felt a sinking feeling. He had come all this way with gifts, but it seemed his uncle and aunt weren’t too welcoming.
Emelia’s expression changed instantly. As a daughter of the Foley family, she used to be the center of attention at gatherings. But after marrying Marco, she felt constantly excluded and looked down upon. The contrast was hard to swallow.
“Thank you, Aunt, but you must be busy. Marco and I will explore around,” she said tersely.
“Alright,” Georgina called a maid to lead them to the food area in the hall.
Meanwhile, she turned to talk to another woman wearing a silk dress. She was the wife of the mayor of Yrose, accompanied by her son, who appeared pale and unhealthy.
Emelia shot Marco a furious glance as soon as they turned away.
“What kind of uncle and aunt are they? Just looking down on people like that!” she exclaimed loudly enough for the Eaton family maid following them to hear.
Marco felt just as angry and frustrated but kept his composure. He couldn’t argue with a woman!
Just as they sat down on the sofa to rest, a loud announcement caught everyone’s attention at the entrance.
“The Chairman of Nymphscape Group, Mr. Channing, and the CEO, Miss Cheyenne, have arrived!”
Just hearing the words “Nymphscape Group” shocked everyone into silence, and all conversations came to a halt as everyone turned to the entrance.
A graceful woman in a black evening gown, with long wavy hair cascading down her shoulders, walked in confidently. Her demeanor was as regal as the priceless diamond crown atop her head.
Cheyenne, with a smile on her face, was arm in arm with her father, who had changed into a new custom-made white suit to match his daughter’s attire. He exuded elegance and sophistication.
Whether it was the Eaton family or the Bray family, they had no dealings with Nymphscape Group, so the arrival of Cheyenne and her father was both surprising and delightful to them.
“Quick, quick, Georgina, check to see if my collar is straight?” Georgina couldn’t help but find her father’s nervousness amusing.
“Dad, even if she’s Cheyenne, she’s still your junior. Aren’t you overreacting?” Georgina commented.
Old Eaton gave his daughter a look that said, “You don’t understand.”
If Cheyenne were just the CEO of Nymphscape Group, he wouldn’t have been so eager to make her acquaintance. After all, the Eaton family was well off, though not as much as Nymphscape Group, they lived comfortably. However, Georgina overlooked one thing: Old Eaton was an old art lover. He loved traditional aesthetics like calligraphy, painting, chess, and sculpture.
Although Cheyenne was young, her painting “Peach Creek” fetched a high price of 35 million at a charity auction last year. And he was the one who bought it. So, when Old Eaton saw Cheyenne, it was like a fan meeting his favorite artist. How could he not be excited?
In the pause, Channing had already led Cheyenne to the Eaton family. Being the elder, Channing spoke first.
“Old Mr. Eaton, we apologize for the sudden intrusion. Please forgive us if we have caused any inconvenience.”
He handed Old Eaton a plant of centennial ginseng. “This is a centennial ginseng. May it bring you longevity and good health.”