Honey, You're a Billionaire?

Eleanor's question echoed the thoughts of everyone present in the room. Their attention was glued to the corner as they awaited a response. The silence in the air was eerily palpable. Rose's body felt weak, and had it not been for Jonathan supporting her, she would have collapsed. Even without the drug's influence, the shock of the situation was enough to make her legs buckle. Earlier, her mind had been consumed with the desire to taste those tempting lips before her. However, the intrusion of the others had snapped her back to reality.

She heard Harriette's concerned voice calling out, "Rosie," and someone else's unfinished accusation.

"Ezra, you..."

"Ezra? That's right! Ezra was also affected by the drug," Rose thought.

However, the person supporting her right now, the one with an arm around her waist, shielding her weakened body and disheveled appearance, wasn't Ezra.

It was Jonathan. And it was Jonathan who had been on the receiving end of her unintended advances.

Realizing her previous impropriety, Rose felt her face grow hot with embarrassment. She couldn't even bring herself to respond to Eleanor's question. Instead, she felt an overwhelming need to explain herself to Jonathan, whose body was still pressed against hers. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I..." she stammered, her guilt-laden words tumbling out hastily.

It wasn't intentional. She had been drugged and unable to control her actions.

A tender look crossed Jonathan's eyes. Seeing her trying to move away, he frowned and tightened his hold around her.

"Don't move," he whispered, their proximity allowing for little more than a murmur.

Though the others couldn't hear the exchange, they could sense the intimate atmosphere surrounding the couple.

As the silence stretched on, impatience grew among the onlookers. Was the woman really Rose?

"Ezra?" Eleanor called again, hoping for some response from the other party.

Still, no one replied.

The figures in the corner remained frozen in their positions. It was clear that the man was doing everything he could to shield the woman from the prying eyes of the crowd.

Eleanor's understanding of the situation finally clicked. Exposure was not an option, but perhaps an opportunity was disguised within this delicate predicament.

Things hadn't turned out the way she had initially planned. She had been thinking that since Jonathan clearly liked Rose, she would continue encouraging her grandson to pursue her. Eleanor was even willing to create opportunities to bring them together if needed. However, the current situation was different. It was not Jonathan, but rather Ezra, who was entangled in an intimate moment with Rose in the corner.

Ezra was her grandson as well, and though this development was unexpected, a connection between Ezra and Rose would still secure the Finch family's alliance with both the Young family and the Xanth family of the Lerain Group.

With a deep sigh, Eleanor knew she couldn't prioritize Jonathan at this moment despite believing that Rose would have been a better match for him. Eleanor needed to set aside her regrets and act.

"Mom, what should we do?" Lizzie's voice suddenly sounded from behind, pulling Eleanor out of her thoughts.

Wasting no time, Eleanor immediately strategized her next move. She had considered dispersing everyone, but she knew some events required witnesses. So, she walked straight over to Elijah.

"Mr. Xanth, it seems those youngsters have developed feelings for each other. Perhaps we should consider making their relationship official," she said softly, her tone kind and gentle.

Her intentions were clear. Eleanor aimed to formalize the relationship between Rose and Ezra, even pushing for marriage.

However, the onlookers couldn't help

but wonder who this Ezra was. What was his relationship with the Finch family that could compel someone like Eleanor to make such a decisive move? Weren't these matters usually handled by the elders of the families involved?

It didn't take long for the gathered crowd to get their answer.

Noticing the deepening furrows on Elijah's forehead, Eleanor realized he might not know who Ezra was. She quickly clarified, "Mr. Xanth, there are some things you are not aware of. Ezra is part of the Finch family. He is Jonathan's younger brother and

shares the same mother

"Due to certain circumstances back then, Ezra took his mother's surname and never changed it. Ezra is a simple and considerate young man.

"When he reached adulthood, he

wanted to make it in the

entertainment industry on his own without relying on the Finch family name. That's why the public doesn't know about his connection to the Finch family. But in reality, he's a member of the Finch family."

A member of the Finch family? The revelation took everyone by surprise.

They had all heard whispers of a mysterious member of the Finch family, yet no one could have expected that Ezra was that very person. It turned out that he and Jonathan were indeed brothers, sharing the same mother.

As this new information circulated amongst the crowd, the similarities between the two became increasingly apparent. Many were overcome with a profound sense of realization, swiftly followed by tinges of regret.

If they had figured it out sooner, they could have seized the opportunity to invest in Ezra's burgeoning career. Alas, the chance was now lost, leaving only a chorus of wistful sighs.

Eleanor continued, "Mr. Xanth, rest assured. I can vouch for Ezra's character. He has kept his reputation clean despite the complexities of the entertainment industry for all these years. He's never been involved in any scandals." However, as Elijah's frown deepened further, Eleanor felt a growing sense of unease.

"Mr. Xanth, I assure you that Ezra will make an excellent husband and provide Rose with a lifetime of happiness.

"And if you don't want Ezra to stay in the entertainment industry, I can arrange for him to join the Finch Group," she earnestly expressed, eager to lay all her sincerity before Elijah to secure his agreement for the marriage between Rose and Ezra.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Everything seemed to be progressing in the direction Lizzie desired. She observed Eleanor's passionate efforts with deep satisfaction, a subtle smile gracing her lips as she eyed the couple in the corner.

"How would Jonathan react if Rose were to marry Ezra?" she wondered.

She was brimming with anticipation for Jonathan's reaction, anticipating that the Finch family would be thrown into disarray, with at least a rift forming between the brothers.

Lizzie wasn't the only one thinking of Jonathan at that moment. Harriette's sense of unease grew as she wondered where Jonathan was.

"Something feels off. This is too important a moment for him to be conveniently absent..." she thought.

"Miles, where is Mr. Jonathan?" Harriette asked, using her concern for Rose to ask about Jonathan's whereabouts.

Miles furrowed his brow. "Jonathan..."

His gaze drifted toward the figure protecting Rose, and a fleeting smile played at the corners of his lips before disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.

Before he had a chance to answer where Jonathan had gone, a voice suddenly cut through the crowd from behind.

"I will not be joining Finch Group."

The voice was cool, steady, and surprisingly captivating.

A hush fell over the crowd for a brief moment before they collectively turned their heads. The people on the outer edge of the crowd were the first to set eyes on the speaker. Their minds went momentarily blank upon seeing him, and unconsciously, they stepped aside, creating a path for him to pass through.