Jeff Sterling had already driven out of the underground parking lot of Horizon Group's CBD building, but he could still seem to hear Emily Harper's sobbing voice echoing in his mind.
Emily had always been proud. How could she stand being slapped in public?
As Jeff drove, he said to Victoria Lang, "From now on, you're not allowed to hit Emily Harper again without my orders."
Victoria Lang could tell that Jeff still felt sorry for his ex-wife!
Jeff still loved her!
Victoria Lang said, "Yes, Chairman Sterling. But after how she treated you, don't you hate her?"
Jeff laughed softly and said, "Hate is just the other side of love. Hating her is the same as loving her. What's the difference?"
Hearing Jeff's philosophical words, Victoria Lang no longer treated him like a little boy.
The sons of prominent families should not be underestimated—whether in terms of knowledge, intellect, or emotional depth.
Jeff was handsome, rich, and had a detached mind. He was also generous and loving toward women.
Victoria Lang had begun to like him.
I must win this man's heart, Victoria Lang thought to herself.
Several tens of minutes later, Jeff and Victoria Lang drove to a place called Crimson Ridge Estates.
Nestled against the mountains and beside the water, this location boasted beautiful scenery and resembled a luxury resort. Next to it stood a half-built museum.
After getting out of the car, Jeff looked around and said, "The Harpers are planning to build a 'first-class private residence' here, aren't they?"
The "First-Class Private Residence" was the project the Harpers had sought seventy-million-dollar financing from Horizon Group for. The so-called "first-class private residence" referred to exclusive homes designed for elite families.
According to the Harpers' plan, this area would eventually consist of more than a dozen townhouses, blending Chinese and Western architectural styles.
Specifically, the interiors would feature slatted pine wood, floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows, tatami flooring, and Western-style beds, while bringing in the outdoor scenery through windows and corridors.
The goal was to create the most distinctive and beautiful private residences in Riverforge.
Victoria Lang nodded. "This is the place. It has the most gardens in Riverforge, as well as a mountain of red maple leaves. After staying here, residents can picnic in the maple forest. It also has the only natural hot spring in Riverforge."
"I'm sure all the wealthy people in Riverforge will want to live here. But Chairman Sterling, are you really planning to fund them? The Harpers have gone too far with you!"
Jeff smiled and said, "Actually, this project was my idea."
"What? Could it be that the Harpers stole your concept?" Victoria Lang was taken aback.
Jeff shook his head. "You can't say they stole it. I could see that the Harpers always wanted to become a first-tier family in Riverforge, but Emily's grandfather is dead, and Michael and Robert are both useless—they've been fighting over the family's small inheritance."
"So, I came up with this project for the Harpers. It allows them to control a first-tier family without actually increasing the family's strength—that is, by designing private residences specifically for elite families."
"I told Emily about my idea, and Emily told Old Madam Harper. Old Madam Harper accepted it, but she gave the project to Michael."
Victoria Lang said, "The Harpers do favor Michael's family. In the end, it's still about valuing sons over daughters. They feel Emily isn't qualified to inherit the Harper business. I still sympathize with Emily for that."
Jeff nodded. "Yes, Emily has always been looked down upon by her family, and her parents have always put pressure on her. To make matters worse, her family arranged a live-in son-in-law..."
"Hmph, even so, that's no excuse for her cheating!" Victoria Lang said.
A maple leaf drifted down and landed in Victoria Lang's hair. Jeff plucked the leaf from her head and said, "Victoria, have a drink with me."
...
"Drink! Drink with me!"
In the Riverfront Residences, Emily Harper held a wine glass, with her best friend, Sophia Grant, sitting beside her.
Sophia snatched Emily's wine glass and asked, "Emily, what's wrong with you today? Drinking in broad daylight—who bullied you? Tell me, I'll go teach them a lesson!"
Emily said bitterly, "It's that bitch Victoria Lang! She actually slapped me! I didn't provoke her at all—I was just scolding my good-for-nothing ex-husband. Why did she hit me? Who is she to Jeff!"
Sophia laughed and said, "Haven't you heard—you have to consider the owner before you beat a dog? Now that your ex-husband is Victoria Lang's dog, of course she can't let you insult him."
Emily snatched the wine glass back, downed a glass of red wine in one gulp, and said angrily:
"Jeff is so heartless. I only cheated once. These days, which beautiful woman hasn't cheated? Sophia, you've cheated twice!"
Sophia felt a little embarrassed and poured herself a glass of wine. "Why bring me up? My husband didn't catch me in the act."
Emily said, "He's just a live-in son-in-law. Even if he found out, why couldn't he just put up with it?" Emily sighed.
"Sophia, do you know why? I asked him to kneel down before me, and he refused. But then he turned around and knelt down to apologize to Victoria Lang, willing to be her bodyguard. Why do you think that is? I could have given him money too!"
Sophia swirled her wine glass and smiled. "Based on my understanding of Jeff, he has loved you deeply these past three years and won't easily fall for someone else."
"The reason he refused to be Victoria Lang's bodyguard was because he wanted you to respect him!"
"Huh?" Emily was much more awake now, but she was still confused by what Sophia said.
Sophia explained, "Think about it—if he uses your money, he will still feel like he's living off a woman. But the money he earns from others will make him stand tall in front of you."
"I bet Jeff wants to make a name for himself in the outside world, to be worthy of you, and then propose to you!"
Emily thought for a moment, and a smile gradually appeared on her face. "Hmph, I knew that good-for-nothing still loves me. But I won't wait for him. Anyway, I'm divorced now, so I can find someone who is a good match. Ryan Caldwell's family is well-off, but he's too much of a womanizer and not as good at taking care of people as Jeff."
Sophia said, "You can marry Ryan first, and if it doesn't work out, you can get a divorce. Then Jeff can take over. An honest man like him will definitely be willing."
Emily nodded. "That's a good idea."
Seeing that Emily was in a much better mood, Sophia clinked glasses with her and casually asked, "Hey, by the way, wasn't Jeff always a stay-at-home husband? How come he suddenly started delivering food these past six months?"
Emily took a sip of wine and wiped her lips. "It seems like it was about half a year ago when our whole family went on a trip to Switzerland. He got some kind of illness and needed money, but he couldn't find us, so he decided to earn the money himself."
"Oh." Sophia didn't ask any further questions and continued drinking with Emily.
The next morning at eight o'clock.
Emily, still half-asleep, answered a phone call.
All she heard on the other end was, "Emily, come to Grandma right now! We've found evidence that Jeff is selling the watch!"