"Mr. Sebastian, here's your schedule for today," Ethan, Sebastian's assistant, walked into the CEO's penthouse bedroom early in the morning, as usual.
Seeing Sebastian pinching his nose and rubbing his eyes, he asked with concern, "Is your eye condition acting up again?"
As Sebastian's long-time assistant, Ethan was well aware of the CEO's health issues.
"No, it's fine. Do we have any special arrangements today?" Sebastian inquired.
"You have George's engagement party tonight," the assistant emphasized.
"Wasn't the engagement party yesterday?" Sebastian asked, puzzled.
"It didn't happen yesterday; they said they rescheduled it for today, the former CEO, your father wants you to attend" Ethan replied truthfully.
Meanwhile, Charlotte had just returned home.
"Daddy, sister went to the nightclub yesterday without telling anyone; George searched for her for a long time," Charlotte's stepsister, Eva, was already stirring up trouble.
Charlotte recalled the photos Eva had shown her, and she felt furious. Eva, dressed in a seductive nightgown, seducing George, was now pretending to be an innocent girl.
"Sister, you're back," Eva said, noticing Charlotte turning the corner.
"Charlotte, you must attend today's engagement party. Our family has business ties with George's family, and many future projects depend on their cooperation," Charlotte's father, Quan, said sternly, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Dad, Eva seems to really like George. Why don't you let her go?" Charlotte spoke frankly.
Hearing Charlotte's words, Eva's heart skipped a beat, hoping her father would agree.
Quan looked at Eva calmly. "Charlotte, your engagement to George was arranged by both families long ago. George's grandfather is very fond of you. He specifically requested you as his granddaughter-in-law." Quan didn't want to joke about the future of the family's business. Their family's fortunes depended on George's grandfather's favour.
"Go freshen up. The butler has scheduled a styling appointment for you. You must attend today, and I'll consider giving you the art gallery your mother left behind," Quan stated bluntly.
Charlotte's lifelong wish was to inherit the art gallery left by her mother, and now it was controlled by Eva's mother, her stepmother.
Charlotte clenched her fists. She couldn't compromise easily now. At this point, she had to go through the motions; George wouldn't do anything to her anyway.
Meanwhile, on George's side, his father, Rodriguez, was lecturing him.
"I don't care about your past behaviour. Today, you must appear at your engagement ceremony; your grandfather has ordered it. And today, your little uncle will also attend. Your little uncle, my brother, now holds the largest company in our family. Your grandfather wants to save face for him. Whether our family can get more business in the future depends on your grandfather's opinion. If you dare to lose face in front of your little uncle today, I'll break your legs."
Rodriguez exerted his authority as the superior.
George had no choice. He feared his grandfather the most; his father was easier to deal with, but if his grandfather got angry, it would be disastrous. Besides, his little uncle, Sebastian, had always lived in his little uncle's shadow since childhood.
His little uncle, Sebastian, was an outstanding person, skipped grades in school, intellectually surpassed everyone else, and had been groomed as the future successor of the conglomerate since childhood. He was calm and decisive in his actions, making the elders in the family obedient. After all, the high profits generated every year were not easily created.
In the blink of an eye, the engagement ceremony arrived.
Charlotte, dressed in a gorgeous gown, attracted the attention of the crowd. George, in a suit, looked at the beauty in front of him. In his heart, he regretted a bit. He didn't resist Eva's seduction. Charlotte was much more beautiful than Eva, and she had a unique charm.
George was in conversation with his grandfather. "Grandpa, I will marry Charlotte," he asserted, knowing well his grandfather's fondness for her, thinking Eva could just be a fling.Charlotte paid no heed to his scheming. She wasn't one to fall for his two-timing ways.There was a commotion in the crowd, and Charlotte looked up to see a tall, lean figure surrounded by admirers."Have you heard? That's Sebastian from the Titan Group, and he's still single," the whispers circulated among the onlookers."I never realized he was this young. I thought he was around the same age as Rodrigo. Turns out, he's closer to Rodrigo's son.""You know what? He's a late bloomer, but they say he's remarkable."Charlotte was curious about her supposed fiancé's uncle.Was it him?The male model she had spent the night with at the rooftop nightclub. Wasn't he supposed to be in a different line of work? And he's George's uncle?Charlotte felt a tad embarrassed but then found the situation increasingly intr
Charlotte felt a wave of discomfort at his condescending tone, but she refused to show it.Instead, she met his gaze head-on, her expression devoid of any emotion.Ignoring his sarcasm, she spoke coldly, "Do you have something to say to me?"Sebastian's expression remained cold and emotionless as he looked at her. Despite Charlotte's outward composure, he could still feel the tension simmering between them.The air in the restroom seemed to grow heavier with their silent standoff, each waiting for the other to make a move.Finally, Sebastian spoke, his voice low and devoid of warmth. "I believe you left something for me earlier."Charlotte felt a blush creep up her cheeks as she remembered the money, she had left for him."Yes, I did. Consider it a token of gratitude," she replied.A faint smile tugged at the corner of Sebastian's lips, his eyes twinkling with amusement."And what exactly are you grateful for?" he asked.A surge of defiance rose within Charlotte as she retorted, "For
Sebastian's words rang in Charlotte's ears, and she felt her heartbeat faster. Her cheeks felt slightly hot, but she tried to stay calm."Kiss you?" Charlotte's voice was filled with disdain. She didn't want to give in to his request easily.Sebastian did not flinch, his eyes flashed with a hint of provocation and curiosity."Yes, kiss me," he repeated firmly, "and I'll tell you."Charlotte was silent for a moment, pondering the offer. She knew she couldn't be easily defeated by him, but at the same time she was curious about what he wanted to tell her.Finally, she decided to take the plunge. She raised her head, moved closer to Sebastian, and closed her eyes.Just as their lips were about to touch, a voice suddenly came from outside the door."Charlotte? Are you okay?"The sound caused both Sebastian and Charlotte to stop. They looked at each other with a hint of disappointment in their eyes."I'll come out now." Charlotte replied, feeling a little helpless but also a little relieve
"You despicable woman!" George's mother, Marian, turned around and slapped Eva across the face. "You dare to seduce your sister-in-law."As soon as Marian saw the screen, she knew her son's image in his grandfather's eyes was doomed. The only way to salvage the situation was to shift all the blame onto Charlotte's sister, Eva, and clear her son's name.Originally, Marian didn't approve of Charlotte. If it weren't for George's grandfather liking her, she wouldn't have wanted George to marry Charlotte. A girl studying art wasn't suitable to stand by her son's side as the future successor of the Goliath Group. But Eva, she looked down on even more. However, now that George's grandfather had handed over the reins to George's younger uncle, Sebastian, she had no choice but to compromise. After all, if it didn't matter whom her son married, it had to be someone the grandfather liked."Charlotte, George must have been drunk. He's always had you on his mind. You know about your sister's jeal
Charlotte stepped down from the stage, her heart filled with complexity and contradiction. She felt a sense of relief yet also harboured anxiety and uncertainty. But now, she decided to move forward bravely and face the challenges ahead.Now, she had the ability to support herself. Her artworks, exhibited anonymously at various major exhibitions recently, had received acclaim, and some had even sold for high prices.Currently, she is placing her works on consignment in other studios. She could hold an exhibition in her name once she regained control of her mother's art gallery. By then, her reputation and artwork would become even more popular.Sebastian observed Charlotte from the audience, impressed by her confident smile. Her decisiveness and determination made him reassess her, and he became increasingly interested in her.George stood still, momentarily at a loss. He hadn't expected Charlotte to make such a decision, and his plans and expectations were all thrown into disarray.
As the guests departed from the cancelled engagement ceremony, the news of the Goliath Group's young master's engagement being called off spread like wildfire across social media platforms.In the study room of the Goliath mansion, Rodrigo, George's father, confronted him with two options laid bare. "George, I'll give you two options now: either you secure Charlotte or your grandfather," Rodrigo declared bluntly. "I've just explained to your grandfather. Your feelings for Charlotte are genuine. As long as your grandfather still values Charlotte, it would help if you married her. You can handle the affairs outside as you please after marriage."Having come into the family through marriage, Rodrigo based his son's marital prospects solely on the benefits it could bring. "I know, father," George responded with resignation."There's also your uncle's matter. He just returned and has accepted a significant role in the Goliath Group. I heard from some board members that your grandfather int
When George and Charlotte stand face to face in a sleek, modern art gallery, the atmosphere becomes tense.George, wearing a well-tailored suit, leaned casually against a polished marble column, while Charlotte stood a few feet away, her enthusiasm barely concealed beneath her calm exterior, her gaze firm and firm."You didn't come here today because of the cancellation of the engagement ceremony."Charlotte spoke."No, of course not. I want to talk to you today about your art works. You know that I have always cared about your career. Although we have canceled our engagement, we can still be friends." George wanted to find another way to talk about your career. Get started with what Charlotte cares about most."I've been thinking, Charlotte," George began, his voice steady but with a hint of urgency, "about your artistic career. There's no doubt it's booming, but I believe there's still something untapped potential, opportunities we have yet to explore.Charlotte raised an eyebrow, a
"Charlotte, Mr. Edwin wants to see you at his place," the assistant to the Goliath Group's big boss interrupted, catching Charlotte and George off guard as they exited the exhibition hall."Is everything alright?" Charlotte asked, her curiosity piqued."Yeah, he mentioned something about discussing the future of your studio," the assistant explained.Charlotte's interest was immediately piqued. "Alright, lead the way."As they approached Edwin's house, Charlotte couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension. What could Edwin possibly want to discuss with her?Upon arrival, they found Edwin engrossed in conversation with Sebastian."Dad, I've been planning this business venture for a while now. It's crucial for me," Sebastian insisted, his tone firm.Edwin listened intently before responding, "I understand your enthusiasm, but it's essential to explore all options before making a decision."Just then, Charlotte's presence caught their attention.Sebastian's eyes lit u