Flynn paused mid-step when he heard someone calling his name. He had been walking alongside Aunt Mabel, guiding her family to their reserved suite. Originally, he had planned to book the most extravagant suite at the Four Seasons Hotel-the Purple Rose Suite-but it had already been taken.
Left with no choice, Flynn opted for the Phoenix Suite, the second most luxurious option, located just across from the Purple Rose. He was about to lead Aunt Mabel and her family inside when a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
His smile froze.
It was Madeline.
A wave of irritation passed through him.
“Didn’t I tell you not to wander aimlessly around Slatin? You-” He stopped abruptly, noticing them. “Mabel? Mia?”
Madeline, too, had recognized Mabel’s family.
Matteo, Jessica, and Mabel were old friends from university. Mabel had even visited Niarak the previous year. Naturally, Madeline knew them. But because of the Clark family’s strained relations with the Duffy family, she hadn’t dared to visit Mabel after arriving in Slatin.
Yet now Flynn had brought them here himself.
The Duffy family was currently public enemy number one amongst Slatin’s elite.
Madeline found herself pitying Flynn.
He still didn’t understand the Clark family’s stance. He was holding onto hope, waiting to be welcomed back, thinking that they would forgive and forget everything. Did he really believe that even helping the Duffy family wouldn’t tarnish his chances?
Flynn, oh Flynn.
Did he not realize that the Clark family had already exiled him, forbidding him from appearing before them?
To them, he wasn’t even as important as a dog they owned.
And yet, here he was, still attempting to reconnect with the Duffy family.
Arrogant. Blindly confident. Flynn still hadn’t changed. He couldn’t grasp reality.
Madeline shook her head, unwilling to inform him of the Clark family’s true attitude. It was almost too cruel.
But leaving him in the dark wasn’t helping either.
“Madeline, you’re in Slatin too?” Aunt Mabel looked surprised, glancing toward the suite Madeline had just exited.
Inside were several second-generation elites of Slatin, their status and influence evident.
Why was Madeline mingling with them?
When Mabel’s gaze fell on Brody Brightmoon, her expression immediately shifted.
Brody Brightmoon met her eyes, his gaze lingering on her with an unsettling hunger. A sly, wicked smile curled at his lips.
Mabel had dressed up for the occasion, her natural beauty shining through. Despite being nearly fifty years old, her youthful appearance made her look closer to thirty.
Brody’s breath hitched as he stared at her.
“Madeline, do you want to… talk inside?” Mabel quickly turned away, flustered, and hurried into the Phoenix Suite.
Flynn noticed her unease and glanced toward the Purple Rose Suite.
His gaze locked with Brody Brightmoon’s, who had yet to take his eyes off Mabel. Flynn’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Brody noticed Flynn’s scrutiny and lazily shifted his gaze, meeting Flynn’s eyes briefly before casually looking away.
Of course, Brody knew who Flynn was.
Adrianna’s ill-fated son.
He had heard from Vicente Clark just yesterday that Flynn was nothing more than a failure. Despite possessing the medical book for so long, he had only managed to reach the level of Grandmaster.
It was surprising that Flynn had come to Slatin at all.
Did he think that surrendering the medical book and gaining minor achievements in Niarak would earn him a place back in the Clark family?
What a joke.
He would never set foot in the Clark family’s home again.
Brody’s thoughts drifted back to Mabel, already imagining what the night might hold.
As for Flynn? Why waste energy on an ant? He wasn’t even worth mentioning.
The other wealthy heirs in the room shared the same disdain. Everyone in Slatin knew Flynn as the Clark family’s discarded son.
Ten years ago, they had sent him to prison.
Now, he was nothing but a joke to them.
Even the stories about Flynn’s accomplishments in Niarak-how he had helped Sharp’s Group defeat the Dragon Gate Group alliance-failed to impress them.
After all, wasn’t it only because of his mother’s medical book?
In their eyes, Flynn was nothing.
Madeline followed Mabel’s family into the Phoenix Suite.
“Aunt Mabel, I’ve decided to settle in Slatin,” Madeline said with a soft smile, though there was a hint of guilt in her expression. “I’ve taken a position as Vice President at DreamDollars Investments.”
Before coming to Slatin, Matteo had urged her to visit Mabel’s family.
But she had hesitated and ultimately chose not to, weighed down by the complications of the situation.
Now, meeting them here, she couldn’t help but feel ashamed.
Aunt Mabel had always been kind to her, bringing her gifts every time she visited Niarak. And yet, things had become so tangled and difficult.
“DreamDollars Investments? Madeline, you’re not a CEO in Niarak anymore?” Mia asked, surprised.
Madeline nodded. “No, Wayne, my college friend, invited me to Slatin.
There’s a larger platform here, a vast market. I thought I’d learn from him for a few years before heading back.”
She avoided mentioning the Clark family, knowing it would only make things awkward for everyone.
Turning to Flynn, Madeline hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Flynn, I’ll be honest with you. The Clark family has forgiven your past and decided to let bygones be bygones. But they won’t accept you back into the family. Don’t keep waiting for their response.”
Her words were carefully chosen, softening the harsh reality.
The truth was, Paxton had made it clear: if Flynn dared to bother the Clark family again, they would break his legs.
Flynn froze for a moment before letting out a cold laugh.
“How amusing. Paxton changes his face faster than flipping a page,” he sneered. “What a despicable man.”
To Flynn, Paxton had shamelessly begged him for the medical book, only to revert to his true colors once he failed to obtain it.
Madeline misunderstood Flynn’s reaction, thinking he was devastated.
“If it weren’t for my father,” she said gently, “the Clark family wouldn’t have agreed to reconcile at all.
Letting you go and cutting ties completely is already generous. Don’t hold on to false hopes.”
See? Flynn must be disappointed.
He had thought that surrendering the medical book would earn him a grand welcome back into the Clark family. But they hadn’t done anything of the sort.
Flynn was pitiful.
But who could he blame? His arrogance and overconfidence had led him here.
After arranging seats for Aunt Mabel’s family, Flynn poured them water, ignoring Madeline’s remarks.
Madeline, sensing the tension, turned her attention to Mia.
“Mia, you’re working at Haralu, right? When are you leaving?”
“I moved back because my parents aren’t in good health,” Mia replied.
“Oh? Which company are you working for now?”
Mia smiled faintly. “I haven’t found a job yet. I interviewed at Golden Crest Imports yesterday, but unfortunately, I didn’t get the position.”
She glanced at Flynn.
He had promised to help her yesterday but hadn’t delivered any results yet.
Still, Mia understood. Flynn had likely used his Niarak connections to reach out to Golden Crest Imports. Perhaps Bobby Sheppard, the president, had tried to help.
But the Langford family must have refused.
After all, the Duffy family remained outcasts in Slatin…
“Is it still because of what happened decades ago?” Madeline asked cautiously, aware of the painful history.
Mia’s bitter smile was all the answer she needed.
Madeline bit her lip, gathering her courage.
“I’ll call Mr. Clark and ask,” she offered. “It’s been over twenty years. Surely the punishment against the Duffy family should end by now.”
Paxton had forgiven Flynn. Surely the Duffy family could be forgiven too.
She dialed Paxton’s number.
“Mr. Clark, I have a favor to ask. Aunt Mabel’s family is deeply remorseful. They’re living in hardship. Could you consider lifting the restrictions on the Duffy family…”