Christopher had been sound asleep, but the sound of the phone ringing brought him back to consciousness.
He heard the caretaker call out "Miss Garcia" and his mind instantly cleared.
"Pass the phone," he announced. Naturally, the caretaker obliged and quickly inford the other side before switching the call to speakerphone.
Alia softly asked, "Did I wake you?"
"No... I’ve been asleep for a while, was about to wake up anyway."
The caretaker glanced at him—jeez, what a liar.
He had just fallen asleep after the doctor had co to change his dressing and check his wounds, which had been painful enough to cause him to sweat profusely and turn pale.
But how he chose to act was his business, and thankfully, he didn’t fly into a rage about it.
Alia didn’t know if he was lying or not. After a pause, she returned to the matter, "Well... Lucas told that your father knows the businessman who sponsors Olivia Williams?"
"Uh-huh."
"You’re going to ask your father for help?"
"What happened?"
"Let’s forget about it, it’s not worth it. Now that I know about Olivia Williams’ identity, I can probably think of other solutions."
"But your brand’s launch event is coming up. If this isn’t resolved in ti, you’ll end up being labeled as the plagiarist."
He spoke calmly, which took Alia by surprise.
"How do you know all these details?"
These were things she hadn’t even discussed with Lucas King.
She had only ntioned finding Olivia Williams.
Asking that, she realized she was making a bigger deal of it than necessary.
Who was Christopher, after all?
Even if he was now blind, paralyzed, and with a missing mory, he was still alive.
Is there anything in this city he couldn’t find out?
"You should focus on recovering right now, don’t worry about other things."
"But your matters are my matters, I can’t just ignore them."
Alia remained silent, but her heart fluttered warmly.
After the accident, Christopher still possessed his domineering and volatile nature, even seemingly more irritable and capricious than before. But sotis, he seed like a completely different person.
He wouldn’t have spoken so calmly and earnestly before, making one’s heart race and face flush.
His personality had beco sowhat childlike.
Whatever ca to his mind, he would speak, with no scheming at all.
"Let my father reach out to that businessman, maybe then she will co to you on her own," Christopher continued, unaware of the ripples his words caused in her heart.
"Alia?"
"Ah, yes, I’m here," Alia responded, jolted back to reality, "I’m just worried about you and your father arguing again."
"It’s fine, don’t worry... I know how to behave when asking for favors."
Uh—
"That doesn’t sound like you at all, Christopher."
Understanding her teasing, his voice lifted slightly, "Really?"
"Mhm."
Silence fell again on both ends, embarrassnt and undertones of flirtation silently passing between them.
As Alia was about to suggest hanging up since there was nothing else, he spoke up from his side, "When are you free? I’d like to try the soup you make."
Montarily skipping a heartbeat, she regained her composure before responding, "How about tomorrow morning? Aren’t you undergoing surgery the day after tomorrow? You’ll need to fast starting tomorrow afternoon, right?"
"That’s right."
"Okay, then I’ll co over tomorrow morning."
After hanging up the phone, Alia realized her cheeks were flushed, and she instinctively covered them with her hand.
What was that about?
This guy had been pestering her with even cheesier lines months ago, and all she felt was disgust, wishing she could sew his mouth shut.
But now, a re casual sentence had her feeling thankful.
However, if this issue could be resolved, whether for her personally or for Venus, it would be a significant accomplishnt.
Kane had said he would co to the office today, but by ten o’clock, he had not shown up.
Thinking she needed to discuss sothing with him, she took the initiative to call.
Unfortunately, after a long wait, there was no answer.
Just as she was about to hang up, Kane spoke hurriedly and unsteadily from the other end, "Cl... "
Alia had not yet spoken when she heard noisy background sounds, as if many people were talking.
"Kane... are you busy with sothing?"
Kane glanced back at his family, his voice still low, "Yes, I’ll call you back later."
"Oh, okay..."
After hanging up, Alia frowned.
Kane didn’t have many relatives or friends on this side. If sothing was holding him up, it must still be Betty.
Rembering how the girl had gotten drunk a few days ago and required Benny Palr to look after her for the night, she couldn’t help but shake her head and sigh.
It seed that Kane had to be sent back to Zurich sooner than expected.
Even though he said he only considered her a friend, that friendship could no longer withstand the strain.
What Alia had not anticipated was that before she could even discuss these matters with Kane, soone had already sought her out.
When she was invited into a stretch Lincoln, Alia thought she was being summoned by a national leader.
Throughout the ride, she repeatedly asked where they were going, who they were going to et—yet the neatly dressed, white-gloved, middle-aged man resembling a butler remained silent.
His gaze and deanor conveyed a certain disdain towards her.
Alia had an inkling—could it be that an elder from the Kane Family had co in person to fetch her?
Upon arriving at the city’s most luxurious seven-star hotel, Alia was politely yet distantly ushered out of the car, into the lobby, and straight into the elevator heading for the penthouse.
This seven-star hotel’s penthouse was generally not open to the public; ordinary wealthy people couldn’t stay there even with money, as it was mainly used to host foreign dignitaries or mbers of the Royal Palace.
Seeing this, it was clear that Kane’s sister, the Countess, had personally co.
Her fingers unconsciously clenched tight, she slowly inhaled, pondering how to respond shortly.
Her stance had always been clear, she just feared that so words might hurt Kane if he were present.
The presidential suite on the penthouse floor offered a broad view. When Alia was invited in, several people were already sitting securely on a luxurious leather sofa set in front of the expansive, brightly lit floor-to-ceiling windows.
—The scene appeared as though they were just waiting for her arrival to pronounce judgnt.
Upon seeing her, Kane imdiately stood up, "Al..."
"Kane, sit down!" As soon as he rose, the foreign woman seated at the center of the sofa sternly ordered, silencing the room.
But Kane disregarded her, still walking over to Alia.
"Kane, go sit down, it’s okay..." Alia knew what he was worried about and softly persuaded him, signaling with her eyes that he need not worry.
After Kane stepped back, Alia discreetly surveyed the current situation.
The woman who had sharply stopped Kane was sitting gracefully in the center of the sofa, her blonde hair neatly arranged behind her head, a rose-pink hat pinned askew on the top.
The hat’s color matched exactly with her suit.
Her features bore so resemblance to Kane’s, though she appeared more delicately feminine whereas Kane was more rugged.
Thus, she was indeed Kane’s sister, the Countess who had married into the Royal Palace.
Alia, while working in Zurich owing to her design style that was greatly favored by the Royal Palace, had attended several significant occasions and t many so-called royal relatives.
However, back then, as an invited guest, those noble royals treated her with courtesy.
But today, her status was awkward, akin to a convict awaiting punishnt, hence it was obvious that these dignitaries regarded her with disdain and scorn.
Naturally, they weren’t very polite.
Betty was also sitting within that group.
Upon seeing Alia, she discourteously rolled her eyes and turned her face away.
Having thoroughly assessed the situation, Alia slightly sighed with relief inwardly, but maintained a calm exterior: "I presu you are Countess Wimborne, welco to China."
She spoke in English, fluently and pleasantly with a pure accent.
The Countess, staring at her, did not expect Alia to speak first.
She seed surprised, "You know who I am?"
"I guessed."
"Since you know who I am, then surely you understand why I am looking for you."
Alia smiled faintly, "Of course. However, my relationship with Kane is rely that of friends and business partners. There’s no need for such concern."
"Good, since you are aware, then let be clear. A fiancée for Kane has already been chosen by us, yet his heart lingers on you, refusing to accept our arrangent. I understand your situation; you do not like Kane, but his presence undeniably provides you many conveniences, so..."
Alia’s calm face slightly shifted at this.
Did this an she did not like Kane but was using him for benefits?
Apparently, self-righteousness knows no borders or ethnicity.
Indeed, before the Countess could finish, Kane interrupted, "She’s not that kind of person, I chose to stay myself."
The Countess ignored her brother’s defense and continued to Alia, "My father is getting old, and the family business needs Kane’s help. However, the Venus brand has been holding him back—"
"So, my second purpose today is to hope that you can buy all of Kane’s shares. Then, Venus will be yours alone. Of course, if you are unwilling, you can sell Venus, and both parties can simply split the money."
Alia was startled, her expression slightly surprised.
This proposal, or rather demand, was indeed unexpected.
Buying Venus and becoming the sole owner wasn’t out of the question—only she didn’t have that much money right now, and even considering financing or loans would take considerable ti and effort.
Selling Venus was out of the question.
She had invested all her efforts into this brand, and its reputation had just begun to blossom. Creating a successful brand is harder than reaching the heavens; there was no way she could just talk about selling it so casually.
After weighing her options internally, Alia’s gaze turned to Kane, not accusingly, but asking calmly, "Do you agree with this?"
Kane stared at her intently, his eyes full of remorse and sadness.
"As long as you agree, I have no objections; I can buy all your shares. However, I currently don’t have enough money and need so ti."
Betty loudly interjected, "Mr. Hart sure has plenty of money!"
"That’s his money, it has nothing to do with ."
"Tsk." Betty disdainfully snorted and turned her head away.
Watching this young lady’s petulant behavior, Alia genuinely felt worried for Kane.
Even if families must be well-matched and form powerful alliances, this heiress was indeed too immature for Kane.
Yet she had no position to voice these concerns.
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