Paxton had returned to Slatin yesterday.
He gathered all the renowned doctors in Slatin to study Adrianna’s handwritten medical notes.
However, despite hours of effort, none of them could make much sense of it. The only conclusion they reached was that Adrianna’s expertise lay in ancient medical techniques-knowledge they had long lost.
There was a legendary doctor in the South, Bodhi Rivers, known as “Dr. Rivers,” who was a master of ancient medicine.
Upon hearing this, Paxton immediately boarded his private jet to meet him. Tessa Watson and Vicente Clark accompanied him. For someone as reclusive and esteemed as Dr. Rivers, the Clark family’s full presence was necessary to show proper respect.
Finally, this morning, they met with Dr. Rivers, who confirmed that he could decipher Adrianna’s notes within six months.
Paxton was delighted. While hosting a banquet for Dr. Rivers, he received a call from Madeline.
“You want me to let the Duffy family go? Fine! As you wish! Hahaha!”
With the Clark family gaining the medical notes and receiving Dr. Rivers’ assurance, Paxton was in a great mood.
Like an emperor granting amnesty, he readily agreed.
What harm was there in giving the Duffy family a reprieve? After all, Slatin was his domain, and he was its ruler. Did the Duffy family think they could rise against him?
They were nothing but dogs, wagging their tails and begging for mercy, living at his whim. This was the price they paid for helping that wretched woman, Adrianna!
“Thank you so much, Mr. Clark!” Madeline hung up the phone, her excitement shining as she turned to Mabel. “Aunt Mabel, the Clark family has agreed to lift their sanctions on the Duffy family!”
The James family was stunned.
They couldn’t understand why Paxton had agreed so easily.
Had he grown a conscience?
Did he decide to accept Flynn’s reconciliation and let go of his grudge against the Duffy family?
Still, the way Madeline phrased Paxton’s words didn’t sit well with Mabel’s family.
What did she mean by saying the Duffy family had repented?
The hatred between them ran deep, impossible to erase!
But what choice did they have in this situation, other than silent acceptance?
A family needed to survive, after all.
It was a bitter paradox.
Flynn frowned.
Something felt off.
He couldn’t believe someone as ruthless as Paxton would suddenly have a change of heart.
But no matter what schemes Paxton had, they wouldn’t stop the inevitable fall of the Clark family!
Even if Paxton knelt with his entire clan at his mother’s gravesite in repentance, the Clark family was destined to be wiped out!
“Aunt Mabel, wait here. I’ll go find Mr. Ambrose and ask him to call Chase Landford. He’ll definitely allow Mia to join his company!”
Madeline got up and headed to the Purple Rose private room.
Her steps were confident and proud, her movements light and carefree.
In her mind, Paxton’s agreement was largely due to his affection for her.
Clearly, she still held a place in Mr. Clark’s heart!
The moment Madeline stepped into the Purple Rose private room, a tall, striking woman entered behind her.
Layla had arrived.
She was dressed in a meticulously tailored dark blue suit that accentuated her flawless figure.
Her high-collared, form-fitting blouse outlined her slender, snow-white neck, and her black high-heeled boots highlighted her long, straight legs.
Her cold, stunning beauty was accentuated by her deep, sharp eyes and her slightly arched brows, which gave her an air of arrogance and indifference.
“Layla!”
“Miss Woods!”
“Miss Woods!”
The people in the Purple Rose private room rose to their feet, greeting her with smiles of genuine respect.
Layla was dazzling.
A rare combination of talent and beauty, she was truly extraordinary. How many women in the world could compare?
To the wealthy heirs of Slatin, Layla was as pure as a goddess, someone they wouldn’t dare to disrespect.
Only Vicente Clark was deemed worthy of her.
“Miss Kaur?” Layla acknowledged the crowd with a nod before noticing Madeline. Her brows furrowed slightly.
Madeline quickly bowed with a forced smile. “Miss Woods, I’m here in Slatin too. I’m now the Deputy General Manager at Mr. Ambrose’s DreamDollars Investments.”
“Oh? Congratulations.” Layla replied dispassionately, as if she had learned something new.
Flynn’s medical notes had not helped him-they had, instead, benefited Madeline. Paxton’s disdain for Flynn ran deeper than Layla had imagined.
“Hmm? Flynn? What’s he doing in Slatin?”
Just as Layla was about to take her seat, she saw Flynn exiting a private room across the hall. Without hesitation, she walked out.
“Miss Woods still has a marriage contract with that Clark family outcast, doesn’t she? Why hasn’t she annulled it yet?”
“Exactly! Even beggars know he’s unworthy of her. Why keep the engagement?”
“The marriage contract should be transferred to Vicente Clark. Miss Woods’ husband must be someone as extraordinary as him!”
The wealthy heirs of Slatin paid no attention to the events in Niarak, viewing it as a backwater unworthy of their interest.
They didn’t know Layla had already annulled the engagement.
But they were aware of some internal matters within the Woods family. While the entire Woods clan supported breaking off the engagement, Layla’s father insisted on keeping it.
Madeline forced a bitter smile. “You might not know, but Miss Woods annulled the engagement three months ago.”
This revelation sparked a lively discussion, with unanimous approval from the crowd.
“Miss Woods made the right choice! I’ve always said they’re from completely different worlds. He couldn’t even fit into our circle, let alone hers!”
“Miss Woods is like a deity on a mountaintop. Even if he made some achievements in Niarak, he’s still just a mortal at the foot of the mountain-there’s no comparison!”
“Do you think he came to Slatin to beg the Clark family to take him back? Or is he hoping to cling to Miss Woods, since her father still hasn’t relented…”
“You know Mr. Woods hasn’t relented, yet you dare gossip about this?” Cora Caldwell’s face darkened as she glared at the group, her eyes filled with anger.
The group immediately fell silent.
“And you! Who told you to spread this around? Can’t keep your mouth shut?” Cora snapped at Madeline, her tone icy and displeased.
Layla’s annulled engagement was a secret known only to her. Even the Clark family had only learned of it after Mike Clark visited Niarak. The Woods family had kept it tightly under wraps.
Yet here was this woman, blabbing away.
“I’m sorry, I… I…” Madeline stammered, trembling as she lowered her head.
Layla cast Madeline a cold glance. “No matter. I’ll speak to my father about it when he returns.”
Flynn, meanwhile, looked annoyed.
Moments ago, the food had arrived, and James had been enjoying the wine, planning to buy a few more bottles of fine liquor for the Duffy family. But as soon as Flynn stepped out, Layla had stopped him.
His good mood vanished, ruined by Madeline and Layla.
He didn’t want to engage with them and tried to leave.
“Stop! This concerns Sharp’s Group’s development in Slatin,” Layla said firmly.
“Sharp’s Group?” Flynn paused, curious to hear what nonsense Layla was about to spout.
“You will bear witness,” Layla said, glancing at Flynn before addressing the crowd in the private room. Her tone was cold and commanding.
“The business war in Niarak is over. The grievances between both sides are now settled.”
“As for Sharp’s Group’s attempts to expand into Slatin, I have no comment.”
“I only hope you’ll inform your family heads not to deliberately target Sharp’s Group because of what happened in Niarak.”
She was aware that Rose had faced numerous obstacles since coming to Slatin. Many enterprises, eager to curry favor with Layla, had outright refused to work with Rose, citing her past offenses against Layla.
Layla was furious.
That business war had cost her ten billion dollars. Only a few days ago, she returned the enterprises that rightfully belonged to Sharp’s Group to bring the matter to a close.
While she still disliked Rose, Layla knew that Slatin’s rejection of her would make her seem petty and vindictive.
She didn’t want this feud to drag on endlessly.
Though she didn’t fear Rose, she didn’t want to deal with the annoyance of Rose potentially lashing out in desperation.
From now on, Layla wanted to focus entirely on advancing her skills and becoming stronger.
This wasn’t a retreat-Rose wasn’t worthy of being her opponent.
She simply didn’t want to waste any more time on her. Becoming better in her craft was her true goal.