“Finally, the day has come! Once you dump that useless Flynn, Nathan will be free of constraints and will definitely confess his feelings for you!”
Paulina Johnston was brimming with confidence, her grin stretching wide across her face.
At that moment, Matteo Kaur approached, frowning. “What are you two doing? The banquet is about to start. Hurry up and find your seats!”
Paulina and Madeline immediately fell silent and followed Matteo to their assigned table.
Although Kendal Roy had invited the Kaur family, she didn’t think much of them, relegating them to a corner table.
Even so, Madeline and her mother were overjoyed.
“Ugh, my skin has been so itchy these past few days. It’s unbearable! Madeline, remind me to buy some ointment after the banquet,” Paulina complained as she scratched at her arms.
Her eyes were bloodshot and yellowing, her complexion dull and lifeless.
Madeline grew worried and was about to suggest a hospital visit when a commotion erupted at the entrance.
Layla had arrived.
Wherever Layla went, she became the center of attention. Today, she wore a deep blue blazer over a crisp white shirt. Her hair was tied back simply, highlighting her flawless, porcelain-like face.
Her expression was cold, exuding an air of aloofness. Combined with her naturally regal and commanding aura, she caused an immediate stir.
Even the actresses Kendal Roy had invited paled into insignificance next to Layla.
No amount of makeup could compare to Layla’s unadorned beauty.
Even kings and conquerors would bow before her.
Layla’s unique presence was unmatched. She was nobler than a princess, prouder than a queen, and her sharp, commanding energy seemed innate, radiating superiority over all.
“Ms. Woods has been appearing in Niarak far too often lately.”
“True. She’s been openly assisting Ms. Carlisle, and the two have been at odds with the Sharp’s Group for a while now. Today might be the day everything comes to a head.”
“I’m not so sure. The second in command organized this banquet partly to calm General Cruz and General Yancey, and partly to mediate between the two sides. I doubt things will escalate to outright conflict today.”
The crowd buzzed with speculation, everyone offering their own theories, unable to agree on what might happen next.
Moments later, Lilia Carlisle stepped out of a pink Bentley.
She was dressed in a pale green evening gown, with a dazzling pearl necklace adorning her slender, snow-white neck. The necklace alone was worth a fortune.
Her expression was cold and proud as she walked with her head held high, like an elegant peacock. Her delicate, refined face was accentuated by bold red lips and long lashes. Her sparkling eyes seemed as luminous as the stars over the Arctic skies.
“Ms. Carlisle has arrived. Besides Ms. Woods, no one in Niarak can outshine her.”
“Exactly. Ms. Carlisle is already a prodigy in her own right, and with Ms. Woods backing her, she’s been unstoppable in the business world. She’s destined to become a legendary business empress in Ostrad!”
“With their combined strength, the Sharp’s Group has no chance of rising again. Not even a deity could change their fate, especially with Layla’s terrifying power…”
The crowd’s admiration grew louder, with men marveling and women envying and idolizing Layla and Lilia.
Even Madeline couldn’t help but stand up. Whenever she encountered Layla, her emotions became uncontrollable.
Layla was her idol-the person she had always dreamed of becoming.
Now, that dream was within reach.
Once Nathan confessed his love and she leveraged the Fletcher family’s connections, she would swiftly amass immense wealth.
She envisioned herself gracing the covers of business magazines, returning to Niarak in glory, and basking in the admiration and flattery of everyone around her.
“Layla, one day, I won’t be any less than you,” Madeline thought to herself.
—
“Ms. Woods, Ms. Carlisle,” Kendal Roy greeted them with a smile as she approached.
She wore a black evening gown that radiated dominance and exuded a commanding aura.
Layla returned a faint smile and asked, “I heard the second in command’s sisters also came to Niarak. Why aren’t they here today?”
Kendal hesitated briefly before replying casually, “They dislike noisy events and rarely attend such gatherings. I thought it best for them to sit this one out.”
She wouldn’t air family grievances in public, especially her sisters’ disdain for Molly.
Lilia shook her head with a faint smile. “What a shame. Layla recently advanced to mid-level Grandmaster and was hoping for a sparring session.”
“What?” Kendal’s eyes widened in shock. “Ms. Woods advanced again? Wasn’t she a newly minted Grandmaster just recently?”
Layla smiled but said nothing.
Lilia, on the other hand, remained calm. “Fast, you think? Isn’t this typical for prodigies like her?”
“Mid-level Grandmaster is not the end for her. In no more than ten days, Layla will become a Great Grandmaster!”
Kendal was visibly stunned, her shock growing with every word.
She hadn’t expected Layla’s progress to be so rapid, nor for her to claim she could reach Great Grandmaster status in just ten days.
This was the hallmark of a true monster-a peerless prodigy. Kendal couldn’t help but feel inferior.
“Let’s focus on business during the banquet and avoid other topics,” Layla said calmly.
Lilia nodded, but her gaze swept across the room with a faint look of disdain. “Ms. Sharp is quite the big shot-she’s not even here yet.”
“And where Ms. Sharp goes, that dog of hers is sure to follow,” she added with a sneer.
Kendal chuckled knowingly. “Ms. Sharp wouldn’t attend without Flynn. After all, that man has no other talents besides his uncanny ability to disgust people.”
Both women exchanged a smile, their disdain for Flynn strikingly similar.
To them, Flynn was nothing more than an arrogant, vulgar brute-a clown embodying every negative trait imaginable in a man.
In their eyes, Flynn was utterly worthless, a petty fool who relied on the power of others.
Once the real business battles began, Flynn’s true colors would be exposed.
Kendal glanced toward Matteo Kaur’s table and smirked. “Don’t worry. I made sure Matteo Kaur is here. Flynn won’t dare act up!”
“And when General Cruz arrives, Flynn will have no choice but to keep his head down. He won’t utter a single word during the entire banquet.”
Lilia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you mean by that? Does Flynn have a grudge against General Cruz?”
Kendal’s expression turned smug. “Not yet. But once I ask General Cruz a few questions, Flynn will be forced to back down.”
“Of course, there’s always the chance that General Cruz won’t bother with this clown. But if that happens, Flynn’s shamelessness will undoubtedly keep him jumping around.”
Lilia grew impatient. “Second in command, stop keeping us in suspense. What exactly are you talking about?”
Even Layla frowned slightly, curious about Kendal’s intentions.
Kendal covered her mouth, trying to suppress her laughter. “The last time I visited Ms. Sharp’s house, Flynn was there. We talked about the Cloudgate Mountain massacre. Guess what that clown said?”
“He actually claimed he was behind it! And he went so far as to say General Yancey is his disciple!”
Kendal could barely keep her composure as she spoke, tears of laughter glistening in her eyes. She thought it was the most absurd thing she had ever heard.
Lilia burst out laughing. “General Yancey is his disciple? That lunatic is completely unhinged! His lies are getting more and more outrageous!”
“What a master-class clown!”
“If this continues, he’ll probably start claiming he’s best friends with the elders of the Imperial Center!”
Layla shook her head, disappointed by Flynn’s shamelessness. Did he really think everyone else was an idiot?
General Yancey was a man of unparalleled status-a Greater Sovereign commanding an army of 300, 000, revered by millions.
Even Layla couldn’t measure up to him. Flynn, a convict who had spent ten years in prison, dared to claim he was Yancey’s mentor?
Flynn would eventually die because of his own arrogance.
Kendal, still giggling, said, “That’s why, when General Cruz arrives, I’m going to make sure to ask him about this.”