Chapter 4

"Mrs. Caldwell."

He nodded, his voice unhurried—the kind of composure cultivated by decades of being respected.

"Pardon the intrusion. I'm Richard Smith."

"Mr. Smith, please sit."

He sat down, looking up at me.

"Mrs. Caldwell, I'm here today about the children."

He paused and smiled.

"Rayna is my granddaughter. She's been spoiled since childhood, but she's not bad-hearted. If the young people get along, we elders should help them if we can."

He set down his thermos and interlaced his fingers over his knee.

"I know Mrs. Caldwell fought her way up on her own. Not easy. No family wealth, no backing—getting where you are today alone is truly admirable."

"But precisely because it wasn't easy, you should understand better—some opportunities, once missed, are gone forever."

He pulled out a document from his briefcase and pushed it across the table.

"This is a three-year strategic cooperation framework between the Smith and Caldwell families. As long as the children's matter is settled, we can sign this cooperation tomorrow."

He looked at me with a certain confidence in his eyes.

The confidence of someone who's been respected all their life and assumes their requests should be granted.

I didn't move.

"Mrs. Caldwell." His tone remained unhurried.

"You're still young. Though the Caldwell family is the wealthiest, their foundation isn't deep enough. With Smith family support, your position in the Caldwell family will be more secure."

He was coaching me.

He was telling me that as a woman who married into the Caldwell family halfway through, with no background or backing, I needed Smith family support to secure my position.

He didn't know.

The woman sitting before him was his daughter whom he'd never met.

Forty years ago, he personally drove my mother out of New York.

Forty years later, he sat here, looking down at me, asking me to give his granddaughter a chance to marry into the Caldwell family.

"Mr. Smith," I looked up into his eyes, "my son's affairs don't need interference from outsiders."

His brow furrowed slightly.

"Outsiders?"

His expression darkened.

"Mrs. Caldwell, aren't you taking yourself too seriously?"

"I came here personally as a courtesy. In New York, people I'd personally visit can be counted on one hand."

He looked at me, his gaze turning cold.

"But since you're being ungrateful..."

"Remember this—today you rejected me. Whatever consequences follow, don't say I didn't warn you!"

After Richard Smith left, New York's elite circles were full of gossip about me.

"Mrs. Caldwell won't agree to her son marrying the Smith family granddaughter? Who does she think she is?"

"I heard she's from out of town, no roots or foundation, got her position years ago by her looks."

"Richard Smith personally visited and she still played hard to get? She really doesn't know her place."

I sat at home, reading messages on my phone one by one.

Someone sent me anonymous texts: "Who do you think you are? Without the Caldwell family, you're nothing."

Someone left comments on Caldwell Corporation's page: "Mr. Caldwell, control your wife. Don't let her ruin the Smith-Caldwell cooperation."

Others dug up photos from my youth, saying I'd had plastic surgery, that I'd climbed up by escorting clients.

Each comment had hundreds of people agreeing.

I didn't delete them.

Didn't respond either.

A week later.

New York's largest charity auction gala.

The Smith family was one of the hosts.

In the banquet hall, Rayna Smith held Richard Smith's arm, smiling radiantly.

When Rayna saw Adrian, her smile froze momentarily.

She hurried over and grabbed Adrian's hand. "Adrian, why haven't you answered my messages these past few days?"

Adrian glanced at me and pulled his hand away.

"Rayna, until my mother approves of us being together, we should keep our distance."

Rayna's face paled.

She turned to look at me, her eyes filled with tangible hatred.

"Mrs. Caldwell, are you satisfied now?"

I ignored her.

The gala began with Richard Smith taking the stage for opening remarks.

"Distinguished guests, thank you all for your years of support." He stood on stage, smiling broadly. "Today, besides the charity auction, I have happy news to announce."

The audience quieted.

"My granddaughter Rayna Smith and Mr. Adrian Caldwell of the Caldwell family are in love and will soon be married. The Smith and Caldwell families will become in-laws."

Applause erupted.

He looked at me with triumphant confidence in his eyes.

As if the Caldwell family was already in the Smith family's pocket.

I stood up.

"Mr. Smith."

The applause stopped.

Everyone looked at me.

I walked onto the stage and stood before him.

"Mr. Smith, who told you the two families were becoming in-laws?"

His smile froze momentarily.

"The young people are in love, we elders—"

"I don't agree!"

The room erupted.

Richard Smith's face darkened.

"Mrs. Caldwell, whatever you want to say, we can discuss privately. With so many people here today—"

I turned to face the hundreds of eyes below.

"Richard Smith, do you know what you're doing?! You're having your biological granddaughter and biological grandson get engaged—do you want the world to laugh at you?!"