Just as Cathy reached for her wallet to settle the bill, Rosemary’s hand shot out, stopping her dead in her tracks as her eyes locked onto Roo.
Cathy was taken aback, Rose was expecting Roo to foot the bill?
"Isn’t Cathy treating us to dinner?" Roo asked with a devilish grin, seemingly plotting to tease Cathy a bit.
"Cathy’s treat was for , but now that you’re here, you’re the eldest; shouldn’t you be picking up the tab?"
Roo hadn’t actually planned to let Cathy pay. Seeing his fiancée so protective of her, he smiled, and quickly took care of the bill.
Cathy didn’t expect Rosemary to save her over a thousand bucks just like that. She whispered into Rosemary’s ear gratefully, "Thank you, Rosemary. Next ti, when Roo’s not around, I’ll treat you to dinner."
"I heard that." Roo helped Rosemary into her coat, "Next ti, I’ll take her abroad with ; we’ll work together. If you want to treat, treat us both, or don’t bother."
Cathy was left speechless. Roo was true to his businessman roots, playing a "buy one, get one free" ga with her.
At the Earwood family residence, Harriet stord ho, fuming, only to find her father Addison on a call. Unable to contain her agitation, she whined, "Dad."
Addison had no ti to spare for her. He was answering a super important call at the mont; he signaled with his hand for her to keep quiet.
Harriet, with frustration brewing inside her, noticed an elegant invitation on the coffee table. It was for a New Year’s gala hosted by a children’s charity foundation, inviting the Earwood family to attend.
This gala was known to invite many high-profile individuals, including the Collins family!
"Alright, alright, no problem. See you tomorrow night." Addison wrapped up his call, his face beaming with excitent. He turned to his daughter, "Now, who’s got my little girl all riled up? What happened to
your face?"
"Dad, I’ve been bullied! Look, even my neck were squeezed!"
Upon closer inspection, the slap mark on her face was evident, and the bruises on her neck were alarmingly clear.
"Who did this??" Addison’s anger flared, "I’m going to make them pay!"
Just as Harriet was about to na the perpetrator, she had a better idea. She tapped the invitation on the table, "That person will be at the gala tomorrow."
The invitation included a list of guests, partly to showcase the organizer’s network and ability to draw such a high-class crowd at once, and partly to lure more attendees. So wealthy individuals would otherwise snub such an event, but if they saw soone they wanted to network with on the guest list,they’d gladly attend.
"Who is it? I’ll take care of that person today! Attend the gala?! Not a chance."
Outside the police station, a swarm of reporters had gathered. Martin erged from inside, the epito of still poise and grace.
A barrage of flickering lights went off as all the reporters sward him, clamoring for a statent.
Exiting alongside Martin was his attorney, Lawyer Archibald, who addressed the reporters, "Mr. Cooper has provided audio recordings that prove he was unaware of his subordinates’ actions. They were
coerced by soone else to take the fall. As for who that individual is, the police will reveal it once the investigation is complete. Please make so room."
Martin’s driver pulled up the car, and his bodyguards began to clear a path through the crowd.
"Mr. Cooper, could you shed so light on what you discussed with your two associates before their demise?"
"Mr. Cooper, are you allies or adversaries with the Collins family?"
"There’s a rumor on the internet that you’re dating Serena Lott. Is there any truth to this?"
At the ntion of Serena, Martin’s stride halted. The press, sensing a juicy story, unleashed a barrage of queries.
"Do you mind Serena Lott’s past?"
"Do the Cooper family approve of your relationship with her?"
"She’s reportedly done so unsavory things to the Collins family. Is that true, or is she being frad?"
"Are you planning to marry her?"
"Are you and Serena Lott living together?"
Martin’s gaze settled on the reporter before him, "I’ve seen the online gossip. Yes, Serena and I are in a relationship, and we’re planning to get engaged soon."
"Engaged???"
All the reporters were stunned. Despite the poor reputation the girl had, Martin still intended to propose? Was that for real??
"Mr. Cooper, is this true love, or are you using the engagent to deflect from the current scandal?"
"Are you trying to distract us from the investigation into your associates’ deaths?"
"Do you think Serena Lott is a good girl?"
"Do your parents support this marriage?"
"I love her deeply, and we’ll announce the engagent date in a couple of days," Martin stretched out and signaled that he was done with the interview and then got into his car.
"Mr. Cooper, please, don’t go. Mr. Cooper."
The reporters chased after the car, hungry for more details.
At Forena Villa.
This led to the public digging into the wealth of the Cooper family and Martin’s prowess.
Serena’s lips curled into a smug smile; she couldn’t be pleased more, "These losers wouldn’t dare make a peep if actually threatened with legal action."
She took a bit of an apple joyously as she continued scanning the comnts.
Her social dia was flooded with more than one ssage from the netizens asking for a tutorial on how to win over a wealthy heir and to have him proudly declare an engagent.
The words hit Serena like a dagger to the heart. It had to be soone she knew! How could she let Martin see such a comnt?!
Serena deleted the ssage without hesitation. But that only seed to fuel the comnter’s fire, who began to relentlessly paste the sa ssage over and over, flooding her comnt section with hundreds of copies, each followed by a taunting challenge. [Go on, keep deleting.]
Serena was fuming.
"Serena."
Just then, Martin returned. In a panic, Serena logged off and locked her screen before wheeling towards him with open arms.
Martin wrapped her in a warm embrace.
"I’m just so relieved you’re back safe." Serena hugged him as tears brimd in her eyes, "It’s all good as long as you’re okay. I know soone’s been saring your na. They’re so cruel. Why did they
have to pick on you? If only I could get my hands on them, I’d tear them limb from limb."
Martin chuckled and stroked her back, "Don’t worry. I had a recording of a call with one of my guys at the ti, and although another guy only managed to send a text before he died, previous call records can prove my innocence."
"As long as you’re okay." Serena released him and flashed a bright smile, though concern quickly creased her brow, "You announced our engagent so quickly. What if your parents see?"
"The reporters were already asking about us; I had to clarify things and give you a proper status."
Martin said, gently patting her head, "Don’t worry about my parents; I’ll continue working on them. I heard from Dora that you didn’t eat a bite of dinner after I left."
"I was worried about you." In truth, once the servants were out of sight, Serena had indulged in a fair amount of snacks. With the abundance at ho, a few missing packages would go unnoticed for a while.
At that mont, Dora knocked and brought in the dinner freshly prepared in the kitchen. Martin had asked her to bring it up.
"I’ll feed you," Martin told the girl in the wheelchair tenderly.
"You haven’t eaten either. We can eat together. Don’t worry about my hand, I can still manage a spoon."
Martin was amused by her again, "If you’re worried about , I’ll eat while feeding you."
Serena feigned to blush at that.
Dora set the al on the coffee table in the room, smiling knowingly, "Well, I’ll leave you two alone then."
She exited to give them privacy.
Standing under the shade of the trees, Cathy was sharing amusing stories with Rose when suddenly,the lights of the restaurant dimd, and all the street lamps and illuminations went dark.
"What’s up with the power outage?" Cathy’s words were cut short as Rosemary yanked her back.
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