Bang!A priceless museum-tier vase shattered into pieces as it hit the floor.From the window of her private room on the third floor, Eleanor—dressed in a black evening gown with a gemstone-laden necklace around her throat—could no longer contain her fury when she saw that even at six in the evening, not a single guest had arrived at the tables set up in the mansion’s courtyard below.“The Mercers are utterly shameless!”Christmas Eve was the highest symbol of recognition the wealthy circles of Havenport could offer.When people came to your home, it showed exactly where you stood.The more who came, the higher your standing.Looking out at the empty courtyard felt like a hard slap across Eleanor’s face.The matriarch was forced to confront where her position truly was now.“Mother, what happened?”Elizabeth—wearing a gown of almost the same color but a different cut—quickly rushed toward Eleanor.“Oh my god! Your hand is bleeding. Let me wrap it.”“No need!”Eleanor jerked her hand a

“Good evening, everyone—and Merry Christmas.”Elizabeth raised the glass in her hand, speaking on behalf of her mother.In a subtle way, it also showed that the eldest daughter was the one expected to succeed the matriarch.The long table in the living room had ten chairs on each side.There was an old arrangement that had become tradition:The right side was for the women of the family, the left side for the men.And at the very end was the seat reserved for Eleanor.Elizabeth sat immediately to her right, and across from her was a slightly bald, heavyset man who looked completely uninterested.Sebastian Holt.He rarely spoke to anyone, not even on occasions like this.Beside Elizabeth sat Lydia and Barbara, then Catherine, and finally Quinn.With this arrangement, men and women sat facing each other.As she had done for the past three years, Elizabeth greeted each person politely until her gaze reached the opposite end of the table.There, a young woman in a shimmering silver dress

“Please choose whichever feels most comfortable for you.”Richard flashed a wide smile.And in that moment—when he saw Henry abruptly stop laughing—he became absolutely certain he had succeeded in shutting all of them up."I may be stupid enough to throw this much money away right now," he thought. "But I refuse to lose. I’ll take over every single one of your assets, one by one."“Mother, he said he’ll transfer the money,” Henry said, gesturing casually toward Richard.“Hurry and tell him which one you’ll choose.”His face looked unusually serious. It seemed he truly was beginning to take Richard’s offer seriously.At the same time, Ethan’s smile grew even wider. Staring at Quinn across from him, his heart screamed in triumph."Quinn… finally, I’ll have you! I’ve secured the pearl of Havenport!"Just like his father, Ethan never imagined this day would come—where not only would the Hayes family treat him with such honor, but he would even obtain one of their own.Three years ago, th

The living room, once filled with laughter, suddenly fell silent and tense.Every gaze shifted toward Martin.This man actually dared to speak like that to Mrs. Henry?The servants—who had been amused watching Henry humiliate him—suddenly had no idea what they were looking at or why this was happening.This young man was a nobody, and he clearly knew who he was talking to.So where did that courage come from?Not only the servants—Catherine, Jonathan, and Lucas were thinking the same thing.“What? He dared defy him?”Even Jonathan, Catherine’s husband, had never once dared say no to Henry, let alone oppose him.The same went for their son.And yet Martin?How could he do that?“I’m not interested in coming to this house. Never was.So finish whatever you need to finish and let me go.”In the silence of a living room almost as large as a basketball court, Martin’s voice echoed again.Calm, yet firm and unwavering.Three years ago, he might have stayed quiet or walked away.Today, that

“Read it and review it for me.”Eleanor ordered Sebastian, who was still standing beside her.Without saying a word, Elizabeth’s husband nodded and took the folder.As a senior accountant, reading the document’s general outline was effortless for him.Leaning close to the matriarch’s ear, he whispered,“They want sixty percent of our total profit for the next six years.”What?That amount was absolutely unreasonable—unless Cassandra was investing three to four times the value.“You think I’ll give in just like that!? Cassandra, you’re truly naive if you think so!”Eleanor’s voice rose sharply. She would never hand over her business so easily.“Very well. Do as you please. I won’t force you.”Cassandra rose from her seat and signaled her assistant to take the folder back.“But you should know—I hate being disappointed.”She then walked toward Lucas, who was seated two chairs away.Pointing her gun at Catherine’s youngest son, she spoke coldly:“As a replacement… he will take one of my