Chapter 7

Early the next morning, Eugenie felt refreshed and energized.

She'd dreamed beautifully all night—visions of successfully connecting with the Whitaker family, using that partnership to establish her position, and leading the Williams family to prosperity and prominence.

Even as she got out of bed, Eugenie was smiling, her entire being radiating vitality.

She had dreamed of shaking hands with Nicholas! Looking every bit the successful businesswoman, her net worth was crushing Bernard's.

Dreaming about deep collaboration with the Whitaker family's power player was an incredible omen, and Eugenie's mood couldn't be better.

Little did she know how deeply this scene wounded Bernard's eyes.

He'd barely slept all night, and when Eugenie showed no signs of regret by morning, he simply scoffed and stormed off angrily.

Without even eating breakfast.

Zane Davis, the butler, followed him worriedly for a few steps, "Mr. Grayson, let me pack your breakfast to go."

"Leave him be. If he doesn't want to eat, that's his problem."

Mason, clearly annoyed with Bernard, ignored him completely and called to Zane instead, "Go to the kitchen and get the honey cake we made specially for Eugenie. Young ladies need something sweet to keep their spirits up."

Eugenie thanked him with a smile, also ignoring Bernard, "Thank you for remembering what I like. You should eat well too, to keep your health strong."

The two chatted while they ate, and when Eugenie said goodbye, she reminded Mason to take care of himself, even sharing several nutritional supplement recipes with him.

These recipes were ones she had collected for Mason in her previous life.

Since she definitely wouldn't be marrying into the family now, giving them to Mason early didn't matter.

Fortunately, in her previous life, Mason had always maintained good health, staying robust and living a long life—at least he was still doing well when she died.

After leaving the Grayson Manor, Eugenie didn't go home but headed straight to her company.

She secretly summoned several trusted subordinates she had gathered over this period.

One of them, standing before Eugenie now, was named Nolan Young.

Being relatively new to the Williams family, Eugenie didn't have a comprehensive grasp of many matters, and it was largely thanks to Nolan, her secretary, that she could establish her footing securely.

"I need a favor," she said.

Unconsciously tapping the desk as she thought, recalling Nicholas's whereabouts from her previous life, she continued, "I've heard the Whitaker family has an investment event at Silver Oak Hall recently. Discreetly find out if Nicholas will be attending in person."

"Remember, don't alert anyone."

Nolan was puzzled, as they had never collaborated with the Whitaker family before.

But he was tactful enough not to ask questions, and extremely efficient in his work.

Just half a day later, he secretly sent her an email containing the invitation list for Silver Oak Hall.

Nicholas was indeed among the special guests, his name enjoying unique treatment—printed in gold lettering at the very top of the list.

Eugenie breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness she hadn't remembered incorrectly. If she could seize this opportunity to connect with Nicholas, future collaboration would become much more possible.

She didn't expect any special treatment from the Whitaker family's leader.

Simply being able to maintain a normal business relationship with the Whitaker family would be an enormous help to Eugenie in her current situation.

That day, Eugenie appeared punctually outside Silver Oak Hall.

With an invitation in hand, she nodded politely to the security guards and walked in with natural confidence.

Nolan still felt a bit nervous, a flash of unease crossing his typically serious expression as he whispered to Eugenie, "Aren't you afraid of being caught?"

"What's there to be afraid of?" Eugenie countered matter-of-factly. "Is the invitation fake?"

Nolan had no response.

The invitation wasn't fake, of course, but it wasn't Eugenie's either—they had paid a private investigator handsomely for it.

Yet Eugenie carried herself as if entering her own living room, which Nolan couldn't help but admire.

Suddenly, Eugenie stopped in her tracks and pulled Nolan behind a pillar.

Taking a deep breath, she patted Nolan's shoulder and said, "Even if we're not officially invited guests, since we're already here, please start working. Try to secure as many investments as possible for us."

As for Eugenie herself?

After adjusting her smile, she stepped out from behind the pillar with perfect timing, nearly bumping into a man who was just passing by.

Eugenie let out a soft gasp, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Whitaker!"

Looking up, she found herself face to face with Nicholas.

Tall with long legs, he possessed an unmatched, elegant bearing—cold and dignified. When his cool gaze swept over her, it made her heart skip a beat.

Even though Eugenie was mentally prepared, she was still momentarily stunned by his presence.

Quickly recovering, she stepped back and smiled confidently, "What a coincidence. I've heard so much about you, Mr. Whitaker. I never expected to run into you here."

She extended her hand, intending to introduce herself, "I'm—"

"I know who you are."

Nicholas spoke calmly, his thin lips cool, but surprisingly, beneath his sharp, icy demeanor, his tone was almost gentle, "Ms. Eugenie Medici of the Williams family. What a coincidence indeed."

Eugenie froze, her outstretched hand suspended in mid-air.

She had thought that in her previous life, she hadn't met Nicholas until her wedding reception with Bernard, after they had completed their marriage ceremony.

His subtle acts of kindness afterward were perhaps due to her connection to the Grayson family.

Eugenie suddenly paused, her previously confident plan to network now thrown into disarray.

Nicholas's time was literally money, with his net worth increasing every second. Yet seeing Eugenie's dumbfounded expression, rather than showing impatience, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

He nodded to Eugenie, making a move to leave, "Until next time, Ms. Medici."

"Wait!"

Eugenie snapped back to reality and, in her panic, instinctively grabbed Nicholas's sleeve, "Mr. Whitaker, would you be interested in a proposition?"

"What?"

He turned, his cold gaze sweeping over Eugenie's hand.

As if burned, she withdrew her hand and silently resumed her perfect, polite smile, "Give me five minutes, Mr. Whitaker. I won't disappoint you."

Even if just to repay Nicholas for the several times he had helped her in her previous life.

Eugenie felt she should warn him—his car accident in her previous life had seemed suspiciously orchestrated.

But before Nicholas could agree, the ballroom doors opened again, and this time Bernard walked in.

With her back to the entrance, Eugenie was unaware of what was happening behind her, but Bernard could clearly see everything, frowning as he noticed Eugenie's hand extended toward Nicholas.

Nicholas looked at the smiling Eugenie before him, his previously gentle gaze turning cold.

He certainly knew about Eugenie's recent engagement to Bernard, and likewise knew they seemed to have had a falling out.

Now it appeared she was playing childish games, using just anyone to make her fiancé jealous?

Concealing a flash of contempt in his eyes, he nodded to Eugenie and coldly departed, "Goodbye."

Eugenie was completely bewildered.

She turned around in confusion, immediately rolling her eyes when she saw Bernard, and asked irritably, "What are you doing here?"

"That's what I should be asking you," Bernard said with inner disdain.

Having witnessed the previous scene, he coldly remarked, "I never expected you'd set your sights on a new target so quickly. But unfortunately, Mr. Whitaker barely gave you a second glance. You went through all this trouble to sneak in for nothing."

"But let me tell you," Bernard suddenly lowered his voice, saying darkly, "If you think you can settle for me as a second choice, forget it. Until you publicly apologize to my satisfaction, don't even dream of entering the Grayson family."