As Rose retired to her room and Miles stepped away to answer a call, Harriette was left alone. Miles hadn't even spared her a glance, almost as if from beginning to end, only Rose and Miles existed, and she was invisible.
Even Eleanor, who seemed intent on troubling Rose, hadn't directed any of her pent-up frustration from waiting outside the Young Estate all day toward anyone.
A bitter chuckle escaped Harriette's lips, her outward smile starkly contrasting the churning fury within. Silently cursing Eleanor, she then recalled the invitation for Rose to visit Finch Manor in ten days to examine the evening gown.
The real purpose of the visit was crystal clear. Eleanor wanted to flatter and curry favor with Rose.
Rose's newfound status as the heiress of Young Group and daughter of the former head of Lerain Group had elevated her to such heights that even someone as proud as Eleanor was compelled to step down from her pedestal and seek her favor.
Jealousy surged within Harriette, filling her with a suffocating frustration. Witnessing Rose's success was nothing short of revolting, and she knew she had to do something to change this.
"Ms. Harriette, why are you alone here? Where are Mr. Miles and Ms. Rose?" Patrick asked as he returned from escorting Eleanor out. He noticed something unsettling about Harriette's expression.
However, in an instant, her face lit up with a bright smile, causing him to doubt his initial observation.
"It must have been my imagination. Ms. Harriette is sweet and kind. She would never wear such a frightening expression," he thought.
"Rosie was tired and went to rest. As for Miles, he just went to take a call," Harriette explained. "Anyway, I'm feeling a little tired too, so I'll head to my room now, Patrick."
Beneath her bright smile, even the raspiness of her voice seemed less grating. With a final wish of a good night, she made her way upstairs. However, the moment she turned her back on Patrick, her smile evaporated.
She couldn't maintain the facade for even a second longer, her mind awash with thoughts of Rose's success.
Unbeknownst to Harriette, Miles, who appeared to be fully engrossed in his phone call, had been observing her with keen interest. Through one of the many mirrors adorning Young Estate's lavish decor, he watched Harriette's retreating figure.
Her lack of familiarity with Young Estate had become her undoing. Had she known better, she would have realized that in that brief moment when she turned away from Patrick and her smile faded, the mirror's reflection might have revealed her true emotions.
Miles' gaze turned contemplative. Just then, Jonathan's voice came through the line. "Did Rose agree?"
Despite being aware of Eleanor's visit to the Young Estate, he hadn't intervened. He knew that with Miles present, Rose would be safe from any mistreatment.
Moreover, Eleanor's long wait outside the estate didn't seem to be aimed at causing trouble for Rose. Just as Jonathan had anticipated, Miles confirmed that Eleanor had invited Rose to Finch Manor ten days later.
A frown crossed Jonathan's brow as he considered the implications of the invitation.
"Ten days later… What's so special about that day?" Miles asked, aware that Eleanor wouldn't have chosen the date randomly.
"It's Lizzie's birthday," Jonathan replied.
Miles' brows knitted together as he pondered Eleanor's motive. Clearly, her invitation wasn't solely about mending the evening gown. As for Lizzie's birthday celebration, he reckoned it would likely draw a significant number of guests.
"It seems her birthday will be quite an extravagant affair this time." Jonathan sighed. Without further discussion, the two ended their conversation.
The following morning, Rose came downstairs to find the coffee table in the living room covered with a plethora of invitations.
Patrick was struggling to keep up with all the invitations when he noticed Rose descending the stairs, followed closely by Miles.
"Ms. Rose, Mr. Miles, look at this..." he said, gesturing toward the mountain of envelopes on the table.
He continued, "Everything was still calm and peaceful yesterday, but today… This one is from Mrs. Flamel of Centuria Group, inviting you to her daughter's coming-of-age ceremony, and this one is from Mrs. Loche, inviting you to celebrate the anniversary of her eldest son and his wife."
His eyes were filled with overwhelming affection, his every movement fueled by a devotion that knew no bounds.
At this moment, there was no trace of the commanding CEO of Lerain Group—only a devoted brother, eager to dote on his sister.
Without hesitation, he reached for Rose's hand, gently holding it as if it were second nature. Miles frowned but chose not to separate the two.
He merely interjected in a low voice, "Rosie has to go to the office today."
"Office? Which office? Rosie doesn't need to work..." Clover brushed off the notion with a wave of his hand, disregarding the matter entirely.
"Clover…"
"Clover…"
Two voices spoke simultaneously. One was Miles' steady tone, followed by another deeper voice from behind.
Clover spun around to face the source just as the door of yet another luxury car swung open to reveal Elijah stepping out.
Clover's expression fell in an instant. Had he anticipated this, he would never have arranged for his uncle to have a car—or better yet, never have allowed him to set foot in Regalia in the first place. Now, there was another person eager to capture Rose's attention, and the frustration bubbled within him.
Nonetheless, he kept these thoughts hidden. Facing his uncle, his expression morphed into a polite smile.
"Uncle Elijah, what brings you here?" he asked, well aware of the answer.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Honey, You're a Billionaire?