Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 1271-1280

Queenie appeared to have dressed up specifically for tonight’s event. Could she possibly have known that her father would attend the banquet with Bonnie? That had to be the case and Queenie was here to embarrass her intentionally. How evil of her!

Meanwhile, Lina took advantage of the chance to approach Nigel and greeted him, “Hi, Nigel, it’s nice to see you again.”

Nigel responded with a slight nod before turning his head to search for Queenie. At that moment, two young men stood next to her, and they were Brandon’s friends’ sons. While they were going around greeting the various guests, they happened to notice Queenie. They didn’t miss the opportunity to chat with her, and she couldn’t be impolite to them because her father was friends with their parents.

Nigel happened to catch sight of that scene and an instantaneous surge of possessive desire swept through his chest. Contrarily, Lina attempted to buy him a drink by calling the waiter and preparing to pass him a glass of wine.

However, just as she took the wineglass in her hand, Nigel was nowhere to be found.

“Nigel, let’s have a—” She looked down at her red wine glass in shame as she watched him leave without saying anything. A flame of resentment flared in her eyes as she caught sight of the girl whom he was approaching. It turned out that the girl he was walking toward was Queenie, and the moment he was close enough to her, the first thing he did was give her a warm embrace around the waist.

“Your friends, Queenie?” Nigel inquired naturally.

Queenie was slightly embarrassed by his affectionate embrace. Then, she introduced him to the two men but barely knew their last names.

“My girlfriend and I have to greet a few elders now. Please excuse us.” Nigel excused himself from the two young men and walked away with her in his arms.

“My dad is over there. Do you want to say hello?” she asked him.

He already knew Brandon was here, so he nodded. “Of course.”

Brandon was conversing with his friends when he suddenly noticed Nigel and beamed with excitement. “You’re here, Nigel,” he exclaimed.

Nigel greeted, “Hello, Mr. Silverstein.”

Since Nigel had rarely socialized with Brandon’s group of friends, many of them were unfamiliar with him. In addition, he maintained a low profile, and no one appeared to have heard of him.

“Who is this young boy, Brandon?”

“He’s my daughter’s boyfriend.”

“What a good-looking boy. Which family is he from?” One of them was curious when he noticed the plutocratic aura Nigel exuded.

Brandon replied boastfully, “This hotel belongs to Nigel’s family.”

The hotel was managed by the Manson Group, so could the young man before them be the next in line to succeed as the group’s heir apparent?

“What a lucky man you are, Brandon! I can’t believe your daughter is seeing such an outstanding man. That makes me envious!”

Soon, Brandon’s group of friends started expressing their envy for him. After having such a beautiful daughter, he was able to attract a wealthy son-in-law! What a blessing!

Brandon let out a hearty laugh, and Queenie could feel her father’s happiness as she sneakily glanced at Nigel. She was thrilled that he could make her father proud.

“Please continue with your conversation and have fun. We’ll be heading off to greet other guests,” Nigel said. “We’ll be back in a bit, Mr. Silverstein.”

“Go on!” Brandon nodded.

Bonnie, who stood nearby, almost crushed the wineglass that she was holding. She was no longer in the mood to head out tonight in search of a wealthy, eligible bachelor because Queenie had ruined her mood entirely.

Meanwhile, Lina rejoined her group of friends. They had all witnessed her futile attempt to initiate a conversation with Nigel, so they began muttering.

“What’s so good about Queenie? She’s not as beautiful as Lina.”

“Exactly! You can tell she’s an escort by looking at her sister.”

“Bonnie is still useful to me. Don’t say that in front of her,” Lina warned her friends. She could tell at a glance that Bonnie had a significant setback. Although they shared a family tree, it was clear that she was more like a leaf than her sister, Queenie, who was more like a flower in full bloom.

Therefore, it was understandable that Bonnie was upset.

Bonnie’s demeanor was gloomy as she walked out onto the balcony. Shortly after she had settled in for some peace, a man’s voice asked her tentatively from behind, “Nina? Are you Nina?”

The mere mention of that name sent shudders through her entire body. Instantaneously, she covered her face with her hands and huffed, “You have the wrong person. I’m not Nina.”

“I’m sorry, Miss. You resemble someone whom I know, and I may have mistaken you for her.” His words were followed by an awkward pause during which he appeared to collect his thoughts. Then, he sipped the glass of wine he was holding before he walked away.

Bonnie waited until the man had left before she lowered her hands. There was frantic worry written all over her face. How could this be? Given that I have undergone such drastic changes to look like her, how can anyone possibly recognize me?

It dawned on her that it wouldn’t be sensible to stay, so she opened the door from the opposite side, took the elevator to the hall, and then called her father.

“Dad, I have something up, so I’ll be leaving first,” she informed him.

Brandon didn’t say much to her and allowed her to head home. Meanwhile, she was in a cab with her hands tightly clasped due to her anxiety. She felt as though her deepest secret had been disclosed. Although that person didn’t recognize her, it was a sign that her disguise would be uncovered sooner or later.

The only person who knew about Bonnie’s past was herself, and she vowed never again to bring up the traumatic memories.

“No. I’m Bonnie Silverstein. I’m Bonnie Silverstein—” she muttered to herself nervously.

The driver was startled by her utterance as he turned to ask her, “Miss, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” she answered him, albeit a little fiercely.

She bit her lower lip to suppress her panic and fear. The past was no longer relevant; from now on, she would be known as Bonnie Silverstein, the Silversteins’ second daughter.

At the banquet hall, Queenie was introduced to Nigel’s group of close friends and acquaintances. Some of them eyed him with envy, wondering where he had gotten his hands on such a beautiful woman. When she was introduced to the group, one of the men couldn’t help but stare at her. He was known for being a playboy, and she had piqued his interest tonight. When Nigel gets tired of her, I’m going to have her all to myself.

She sensed the man’s presumptuous gaze and that made her extremely uncomfortable. Then, she reached out, grabbed Nigel’s arm, and urged him to leave.

Unbeknownst to her, Nigel was also staring at the man. He had done so ever since the man started to give Queenie the eye.

Nigel gave a ferocious glare. Then, he gently pried open her hand while commanding her, “Stand here and don’t move.”

Before she could respond, he violently raised his fist and landed a punch in the face of that presumptuous man. There was no time for the man to react before he was knocked to the ground. He tipped over a table before he was soaked in wine and made a general mess.

“What are you doing, Nigel Manson?” the man roared as he was helped to his feet by his friend.

Queenie was taken aback when she saw that. She covered her mouth as she stared at Nigel, who emanated an aura of menace. Then, she found out he’d gotten into an argument with another man over her.

“Do you want to lose your sight? How dare you stare at my woman!” Nigel’s handsome features were veiled in a stern expression and his dark orbs glowed with a piercing and frigid radiance.

The man’s sense of guilt made him holler, “You must be sick, Nigel! What’s wrong with me staring at her? Is that against the law?”

Nigel clenched his teeth and growled, “I dare you to stare at her again with those beastly eyes!”

The uproar startled everyone in the banquet hall, and when they saw the two parties fighting, it dawned on them that both came from wealthy families. They did not risk offending or trying to persuade them, so instead, they chose to observe the heated show from the sidelines.

Brandon pushed his way through the crowd and inquired anxiously, “What happened, Queenie?”

Queenie reached out to grab Nigel’s arm and urged him, “Let’s go, Nigel!”

Instantaneously, Nigel transformed into a tamed werewolf. After ensuring her safety, he reached over and stroked the back of her head while he assured her, “Don’t be afraid.”

As the commotion unfolded, Lina watched from a distance. She did not anticipate Nigel, who had maintained a low profile, to fight for Queenie! In addition, he had thrashed another wealthy heir from a well-known company in Averna.

Was it worthwhile to stand up for Queenie?

The man who had been beaten was called Steve Nolan. He came from a wealthy family and was a member of the same social circle as Nigel. In addition, his vile personality was well-known among his peers. It was rumored that he had a penchant for hooking up with women and that he sought only attractive women.

As a result, Nigel’s anger surfaced almost immediately when Steve looked at Queenie earlier. Even if he had continued staring at Queenie for another two seconds, it would be regarded as insulting her.

“Just you wait, Nigel Manson. We’re not done yet.” After leaving those words, Steve walked away while he was aided by his friend.

“Are you alright, Nigel?” Lina seized the opportunity, approached him, and asked in a concerned tone.

“I’m fine,” he replied and took Queenie’s hand. “Let’s go.”

Lina turned around and exhibited an evident expression of disappointment upon seeing their backs. At that moment, she was feeling quite envious of Queenie. She admired Nigel’s manliness but knew she could not claim him as her own.

Nigel and Queenie approached Brandon, who was delighted with how Nigel protected his daughter.

“Nigel, showing your dominance over these unruly people is the right thing to do. You did well.”

“I’ll send Queenie back home now, Mr. Silverstein. Feel free to have some more drinks,” Nigel said.

“Okay. I’ll leave her with you, then.” Brandon nodded, relieved that Nigel was with Queenie.

As soon as they stepped into the elevator, she reached out to examine his fist. “Does it hurt?”

“Why should I feel pain? I regret not kicking him, too.” Nigel’s anger was still raging uncontrollably. How dare Steve try to hit on his woman? As such, he deserved to be beaten.

She was relieved that he was protecting her, but she also felt distressed! If the man fought back, Nigel could get hurt.

“Did I scare you?” After noticing that her pretty little face was still tense, he concluded she was terrified. How could she not be? It was the first time in her life that she had witnessed a fight and her boyfriend’s involvement made it even more shocking.

“Nah, I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt to be stared at—” Queenie appeared indifferent to the situation.

However, the man beside her did not share her sentiment and was not magnanimous. He wrapped his arm around her waist, drew her into his embrace, and stared at her with dark orbs. “Who said so?

You’re my soon-to-be wife. No one else besides me is allowed to look at you. If anyone tries to hit on you, I will make them go blind!”

In response to Nigel’s shocking declaration, Queenie reached out a hand to cover his mouth. “D-Don’t break the law because of me! I don’t want you to be imprisoned before I marry you! What would I do if that happened?”

Nigel was speechless at her remark, after which he gave a low chuckle before he finally burst into laughter. Queenie, who was also amused, covered her mouth with her hands as she giggled.

The two of them laughed all the way to the elevator, and when they arrived, several guests were waiting outside the door to enter. When they saw a handsome man and a beautiful woman laughing at each other, the guests couldn’t contain their laughter!

“Stop laughing. This is a serious matter. You must listen to me.” Queenie glared at him.

Nigel suppressed his laughter and nodded. “Okay, I’m going to stop laughing now. I will never do anything illegal for your sake. I will keep my promise and marry you. Moreover, I won’t let you spend the night alone in the room on our wedding night.”

Queenie couldn’t help but roll her eyes bashfully at him. “What’re you talking about? You honestly think I don’t want you to break the law because we can’t be together? That’s not what I mean! All I ask is that you always be by my side.”

After making that statement, her face flushed as she continued walking forward. A black car failed to notice her and nearly collided with her, but Nigel quickly pulled her back to safety. She was so startled that she clung tightly to him.

“Let’s get something to eat before I send you home,” he suggested as he held her hand and led her to his car.

Meanwhile, Bonnie dashed home and sat on a park bench near the Silverstein Residence. She frantically reached for her phone, tapped a few numbers, and anxiously asked, “I’m scared. When I arrived at the banquet earlier today, someone unexpectedly called my actual name. Do you think they recognized me?”

“Don’t worry. You’re now the Silverstein Family’s second daughter. Nobody will doubt you. Do you remember that they looked at the report of your DNA test with their very own eyes?” Someone on the other end of the line had a soft, female voice.

“What if they request a retest? Then, what am I going to do?” Bonnie’s hands trembled as she clutched the phone in her fearful grip.

“No, they won’t because they’ve been looking for you for years, and I know they’ll shower you with double the amount of affection to make up for the lost time. So, from now on, avoid overcrowded banquets. All that is required of you is to continue acting as though you are the second daughter in the Silverstein Family to eventually obtain half of their assets. You’ll feel like a winner when you finally achieve your goals.”

“Do you think I can get five billion?”

“Even if you don’t have five billion, three billion is enough to make a fortune. This is a corporation owned by the Silverstein Family that has been around for a century, and while I am unsure of their precise value in today’s market, the Silverstein Family has promised that they will leave you half of any inheritance. Just be patient and wait for the right moment!”

“Are you positive that the Silverstein Family’s second daughter is no longer alive? What if that girl eventually returns home and reveals her true identity? I will be charged with a crime if my identity is revealed.”

“Don’t worry. The Silverstein Family’s second daughter was only three years old when she went missing. How could a three-year-old child remember who they were? It’s likely that she’s still living in an orphanage. Furthermore, she is now a common person excluded from high-society circles. No matter how hard she tries, she will never know who she really is.” The woman on the other end of the line calmly reassured Bonnie. “However, you must assure me that you will share the inheritance equally with me once you receive it. Remember that I invested a lot of time and resources to help you.”

“Sure, I know what you’re talking about, and I get it. Your generosity to me is something I will never forget. You are like a second parent because you provided me with everything I have right now.” Bonnie addressed the person on the other end of the line respectfully.

“Okay. Get a firm grasp on who you are as the Silversteins’ second daughter. Don’t try to pull any fast ones, and don’t forget who you were before this! How can you possibly compare your life as the second daughter of the Silversteins to someone responsible for entertaining guests? Stop behaving like that if you don’t want to return to that terrible life.” The other woman sounded resentful, suggesting that she was aware of Bonnie’s recent behavior.

“I-I didn’t do anything!”

“You didn’t do anything? Didn’t you chase that maid, Courtney, out of the house? You accused her of stealing. What did that maid do to offend you?”

“I only wanted to earn my parents’ approval, that’s all!”

“You have already been showered with more love and affection than Queenie. Just be grateful for what you have! Don’t make things difficult for me and do your best to be Bonnie Silverstein.”

“I got it, Aunt Lisbeth.” Bonnie addressed the woman by her name.

“Don’t forget to transfer me the living expenses for this month.”

“Alright,” Bonnie replied in a hurry.

Lisbeth Camdon was a childhood friend of Brandon’s wife, Maggie Elmhurst. In the past, Lisbeth’s life was picture perfect; she married into a wealthy family, and her husband was successful. However, after his death, her son was arrested for gambling debts, and her life went downhill rapidly. She had fallen from her former status as a wealthy wife and was now running a restaurant as her sole source of income.

She relied on Bonnie’s monthly transfer of fifty thousand to cover her living expenses. It was impossible to tell the good and bad of the people one might meet. Unfortunately for Maggie, she made friends with an ambitious and cold, calculative person.

Lisbeth was familiar with the Elmhurst Family and their lives from a young age. When she went to a nightclub to pay off her son’s debts, she met a girl dancing on stage and was completely blown away by that girl’s performance. She never expected to run into someone who looked so eerily similar to someone whom she already knew. There was a striking resemblance between the girl on stage and Queenie Silverstein, the eldest daughter of the Silverstein Family, by at least 70 percent, and the two even shared a similar voice.

Lisbeth was so fed up with her life’s shambles that she suddenly had a bold idea. She wanted the girl to pretend to be the Silverstein Family’s missing twin daughter. After conversing with that girl, Lisbeth sent her to Hogland, which was well-known for its plastic surgery, and had that girl’s face reconstructed to look like Queenie’s.

Following her recovery from the operation, the girl resembled Queenie by ninety percent.

Consequently, Lisbeth fabricated a story for the girl’s adoptive parents and took Maggie and her husband to a DNA research facility. Then, she cut a strand of the girl’s hair in front of everyone to send off for analysis.

The Silverstein couple had no idea Lisbeth had paid bribes to the DNA testing center staff to switch the girl’s hair with Queenie’s hair she had collected, which resulted in Maggie and Brandon receiving a complete DNA test report. In addition, the girl had the same birthmark on her back shoulder; it made them so happy that they cried tears of joy.

They made the snap judgment that she was their long-lost second daughter and embraced her with tears streaming down their faces. Hence, she was known as Bonnie Silverstein.

From a nightclub dancer to the second daughter of a century-old family, Bonnie went from being submissive to gradually showing her true colors when she returned to the Silverstein Family. She tried to outdo the real Silverstein daughter in the family’s affection and eventually planned to force her out.

Her initial plan was successful, but she was startled out of her dream this evening when she unexpectedly heard a former patron calling her name. She was shaken to her core by it.

Bonnie was worried that if her identity was revealed, everything she currently possessed would be taken away, and she would be forced to return to clubs to earn a living and entertain customers. She transferred funds to Lisbeth, leaving her with approximately one million in her account. Moreover, Bonnie could have had more money if she’d asked for it, but she began to feel that the total amount was less significant. However, she had to maintain her stance as the second Silverstein daughter above all else.

Afterward, she wiped away her tears before grabbing her bag and returning to Silverstein Residence. As soon as she opened the door and stepped inside, she saw Maggie conversing with a maid in the hallway, and she couldn’t help but feel apprehensive.

“Bonnie, why are you returning so soon? Where’s your dad?” Maggie inquired out of curiosity.

“Dad is still at the banquet. I was bored, so I came home right away. Mom, I don’t like these banquets because they are too boring. I don’t wish to attend these events anymore.” Bonnie spoke up on

purpose to make it more convenient for her to politely decline their invitation to attend a subsequent banquet.

“That’s true. That kind of banquet is no fun at all. How about this? I invited some friends to an island over the weekend. You can come with me!”

“Will there be a lot of people?”

“Of course! We’re going for two weeks! There will be a show, a jewelry exhibition, and dinner on a cruise.” Maggie couldn’t wait to bring her second daughter on that trip.

However, Bonnie had been traumatized by crowded places, so she quickly waved her hands and declared, “I don’t think I’m coming. I get seasick, so I don’t want to go on the cruise. You should go ahead, though!”

“But I’ve already signed up for you! If you get seasick, we can also take a helicopter,” Maggie persuaded.

“Let’s talk about it later! I’m quite exhausted now. I’m going back to my room.” The only option Bonnie had was to agree for the time being and pretend she couldn’t go when the time came.

Maggie likewise found nothing wrong with her daughter. On the contrary, she was looking forward to the opportunity to introduce her daughter to her friends while they were on the trip!

Bonnie stood in front of the mirror in the room. After a moment of scanning both directions, she began to regain her composure. The operation that she had undergone turned out to be very successful. Initially, she had about a sixty percent similar appearance to Queenie, and there weren’t many obvious signs that she had undergone extensive plastic surgery, even when she moved her face slightly.

If she were to consistently apply her makeup daily, no one would be able to notice how drastically different she appeared when she did not have any makeup on. In addition, her makeup application skills were exceptional, and she has a firm grasp of every facial feature of Queenie.

“This persona is mine to keep for the rest of time. I am Bonnie Silverstein. Bonnie Silverstein is my name.” A pair of determined eyes could be seen in the mirror’s reflection.

At around 9.30PM, Queenie returned home in Nigel’s sports car. She had chosen to wear a stunning evening dress in a rose color that, combined with her natural beauty, was enough to make anyone’s heart skip a beat.

“I’m getting off now.” Queenie was hesitant to leave as she looked at the man seated behind the wheel.

“Wait for a second. I’ve got something to tell you.” Nigel stopped Queenie from leaving.

She was startled and began to wonder, He said nothing along the way, so what does he want to say now?

“What?” she inquired while blinking.

“Come closer.”

Queenie lowered her upper body in a submissive stance toward him and Nigel did the same to close the distance between them. When their faces were so close to one another that they could feel each other’s breath, she blinked her long lashes in bewilderment.

At that moment, he reached out and rested his palm on the back of her head before leaning in to seal a dominant yet tender kiss on her lips. Her lips curled up as she allowed him to kiss her, and she returned the affection, albeit bashfully.

Then, in hushed tones, he said, “I like you.”

Did he deliberately kiss me to convey this message? So, if we don’t kiss, he won’t say it?

“I know, and I like you as well,” she confessed finally. It was a statement that she had the intention to tell him for some time.

“Don’t forget to think about how much you will miss me tonight,” Nigel reminded her.

“Okay, I will.” Thrilled, Queenie stepped out of the car.

She stood at the door for a while before realizing that Nigel was waving at her from the car, signaling her to enter before he left. However, she waited until he had driven off before entering. She went through the gate reluctantly but was relieved to see him turning around to drive away. It was only then that she entered the house with a smile.

Meanwhile, someone on the third-floor balcony saw the whole scene unfold. The person had noticed their intimate behavior in the car as well as their passionate kiss and reluctance to part ways.

Bonnie feared that Queenie would marry Nigel as she viewed him as intimidating. Even though she had met numerous men before this, she had never encountered someone like him. He had a knack for reading her mind and took great pleasure in mocking her, which left her feeling trapped and threatened. So, she had to prevent Queenie from marrying him if she wanted to keep using Bonnie’s identity indefinitely.

After taking a shower in the evening, Queenie changed into her pajamas and went downstairs to get water.

At that moment, Bonnie walked up and said, “Queenie, I’m sorry for any mistakes I’ve made in the past or offense I might have caused you. I wanted to be loved and acknowledged in this family, which is why I am always picking on you. I had no intention of doing so. Will you forgive me?”

Standing there with the cup in her hand, Queenie was taken aback by her words. She had been mistreated by Bonnie on so many occasions that she could not determine whether or not Bonnie was honest with her. It didn’t matter how Bonnie approached her because she always felt like Bonnie was setting up some elaborate conspiracy trap.

As Queenie brushed past her, she remarked, “If you have nothing to do, you should get to bed early!”

Then, she ascended the stairs, leaving Bonnie staring with an expression that shifted from regret to resentment. Earlier, while in her room, Bonnie had racked her brain for a way to make amends with her sister and avoid any future confrontations. She tried to engage Queenie in polite conversation, but Queenie’s apathy led her to abandon the idea.

After a moment’s reflection, she realized that she could use her identity as Bonnie Silverstein to do whatever she pleased. Anyway, only Lisbeth knew the truth about her identity.

Early in the morning at Manson Residence, Brenda couldn’t help but be shocked when she received a message from a friend informing her that her son had beaten someone. How could her son have assaulted someone? She realized it had been several days since their last conversation because she avoided calling him out of respect for his work. At this very moment, she did not hesitate before grabbing her phone and tapping her son’s number.

“Hi, Mom.” A groggy voice sounded.

“Nigel, why did you beat someone up last night?” Brenda asked anxiously.

“Oh, nothing. I just didn’t like him. Why? Did he come to our house?” Nigel asked his mother.

“We’re not sure if he’ll come to our house, but you shouldn’t have beaten up someone last night. Stay away from him, even if you don’t like him. Why did you have to hit him?” Brenda lightly reprimanded him.

“Mom, I’ll explain why I was beating him later. Tell him to look for me if he comes to our home.” Nigel whimpered slightly. “I’m so tired and need to get some extra shut-eye.”

Brenda let out a sigh as she hung up the phone. My son has been experiencing a lot of stress lately due to his work, so I should give him some space.

Suddenly, her phone rang again, and after glancing briefly at the display, she answered the call with a gleeful expression. “Hey, Jovane!”

“Brenda! I was able to ask the girl whose information you requested. She is currently single and has no boyfriend. Maybe you could set up a blind date for Nigel so they can get to know each other.”

“Wonderful! I’m quite pleased with this girl, and I’ve noticed she has a pleasant personality since meeting her at the jewelry exhibition last time and having a little chat with her.”

“Exactly! She comes from three generations of scholars, is beautiful in the classical sense, and has a stellar personality. There is utterly zero ground for any criticism.”

“Whenever I set Nigel up on blind dates, he reacts as though I’m pleading for his life. I’m worried he’ll turn me down.”

“Oh, Brenda! Simply invite him to join you for dinner, but don’t tell him that this is a blind date. Maybe he’ll reconsider once he sees the girl at the table!”

Brenda’s eyes brightened when she realized that her friend had a fantastic idea, and she knew she ought to give it a shot, so she responded, “Okay. Let’s do that. This Friday, we’ll all go out for dinner together, and you can ask that girl out while I ask my son out.”

“Sure, no problem.”

“It’s decided, then.” Brenda’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she ended the call. It would be wonderful if her son would get married this year so that she could have grandchildren in the coming year.

…

While having breakfast at the Silverstein Residence with his two daughters, Brandon’s gaze briefly strayed in their direction. He turned to Queenie and asked, “Queenie, are you available at noon? Come join me at a meeting.”

“What sort of meeting, Dad?”

“I’d like you to come along and sit in on a company meeting,” he replied.

When Bonnie heard his words, she complained, “Why can’t I come, Dad?”

“Bonnie, stay at home with your mother and listen to me,” he persuaded.

“What’s the reason that Queenie gets to go and I don’t?” A growing sense of resentment caused Bonnie to slam her spoon on the table.

“Bonnie, your dad is getting older and is hoping to find someone to manage the company’s affairs on his behalf. Queenie attended business school, so she is more qualified than you to join the company and oversee operations,” Maggie consoled her.

Bonnie’s frustration was amplified by that remark. Does this imply that my father intends to hand over the company to her rather than me?

“Dad, I may not have the same credentials as Queenie, but I can run the business just as well, so please let me come along,” she insisted.

Maggie and Brandon exchanged glances before she said, “Alright! You can join them!”

Bonnie finally picked up her cutlery and resumed her meal with contentment, but she soon discovered that her appetite was gone, even though the meal was delectable. It turned out that her parents had decided long ago to hand over the business to Queenie. Were they prejudiced against her because of her lack of education?

“Okay, we’ll leave after breakfast.”

At the Silverstein Family company headquarters, a summary meeting was taking place to conduct a semi-annual stocktaking. Since both Bonnie and Queenie came to the meeting merely as observers, they were given seats at the end. After taking a seat, Bonnie saw that Queenie was perusing the report on their performance that had been sent in.

After picking up the report, Bonnie flipped through a few pages and was astounded to see that, aside from the handful of words written in the local language at the introduction, the rest of the report was written in a foreign language. She had no idea what the numbers on the pages meant, but it was like reading a Bible verse.

Frustrated, she looked furtively at Queenie, who was reading the pages intently as if she understood them. It brought out an intense feeling of jealousy and anxiety in Bonnie’s heart. If Queenie was as good as she claimed to be, how could she beat Queenie for the company’s management position?

“Queenie, do you understand the number in this report?” Bonnie asked in a hushed tone.

Queenie shifted her gaze to her. “Don’t you understand?”

“O-Of course, I can.” Immediately, Bonnie pretended to be confident.

Instead of trying to blow Bonnie’s cover, Queenie started paying attention in the summary meeting and taking note of which sectors were profitable and which were not as well as methods to strike a good balance between income and expenses.

On the other hand, Bonnie was remarkably uninterested, and she couldn’t make heads or tails of what was being discussed by the managers or the material on the presentation decks.

The meeting lasted more than two hours, and when it concluded, Bonnie was about to leave when Brandon called the two sisters into his office. When Bonnie saw him sitting on the couch and looking as authoritative as the head of a major corporation, her heart raced.

She was taken aback by how distant and unapproachable her father appeared, especially considering how friendly he seemed around the house.

“Queenie, Bonnie, I’m interested in hearing your thoughts and opinions regarding this meeting.”

Bonnie wisely suggested, “Queenie, let’s start with you!”

After giving the topic some thought, Queenie offered her thoughts on personnel transfers and financial gains.

Bonnie sat next to Queenie and listened with a blank expression on her face. When she noticed Brandon looking in her direction, she muttered, “I-I agree with Queenie.”

He was no fool and agreed with his eldest daughter’s perspective. However, when he saw how distressed and pretentious his younger daughter appeared, he felt sorry for her. It was their fault that she was never given a chance to learn how to run a business as her sister had done.

“Alright. You can head home now!” Brandon stood up from his seat, but he suddenly felt lightheaded, so he plopped back down again.

“Dad! Dad… What’s wrong?” Queenie hurriedly rushed to his aid and Bonnie followed suit, coming as quickly as possible to offer her support.

He supported himself on the couch and continued, “I’m feeling lightheaded due to hypertension. This is why I asked you to attend today’s meeting. There will come a time when I have to turn over the reins of the business to you both.”

“Dad, let’s get a checkup at the hospital!” Queenie suggested.

“Yeah! You can’t afford to get sick, Dad.” Bonnie was adamant because she didn’t want Queenie to take over the company so quickly.

“I’m fine. I just have to rest for a while.”

“Dad, it has been a while since you and Mom took a vacation. Let me tag along to the office with you this week, and after you’ve taught me the ropes of running the business, I’ll take care of everything while you and Mom take a vacation,” Queenie suggested.

After hearing that, Bonnie quickly agreed. “Yes, Dad. Leave the management of the company up to us. You should take a break.”

Brandon responded with a smile. “It would be disastrous if I let two people have the final say over the company’s direction. How about this? I should probably get some rest anyway, so I’ll let Queenie take over my responsibilities for the time being. Bonnie, why don’t you stay behind and accompany your mother and me on vacation?”

Although Bonnie was dissatisfied, she held back from voicing her displeasure. So, she nodded and complied. “Okay. I know I’m not as good as Queenie.”

These words broke his heart, and he reached out to comfort her by patting her head. “In my eyes, you are both equally talented children.”

Suddenly, Queenie felt a tremendous pressure bearing down on her. She used to believe that her parents were still young and that she would be able to enjoy a carefree and joyful life under their protection, but she now realized that her parents had aged significantly.

Willful defiance was no longer an option for her, and it was time for her to take responsibility so that her father could get some much-needed rest.

Brandon insisted that they return home afterward.

When they exited the building, Bonnie and Queenie walked in tandem. As they approached Queenie’s car, Bonnie mocked her from behind, “Queenie Silverstein! You should be proud of yourself. Do you have a sense of superiority now?”

The moment Queenie reached for the car door, she paused to turn around and shot an icy stare at Bonnie. “Please stop making such ridiculous statements. Dad isn’t feeling well, and as his daughters, we should bear some of his burdens.”

“Then, why are you the one taking over the company instead of me? Have you secretly won over Dad’s affection and proven your worth to him without my knowledge?” Bonnie sneered.

“Personally, I don’t even bother with that sort of thing. It’s completely up to Dad, and all we can do is respect his decision, seeing that taking over the company doesn’t really change anything. Don’t take it personally because I don’t feel confident in assuming company leadership either.”

It was hard to fathom how Queenie could have failed to notice Bonnie’s jealousy.

“There is a possibility that I am superior to you in another respect.” Bonnie cocked an eyebrow, wondering how she could speedily assume this responsibility. How likely she could take control of the business was something to think about down the road.

Queenie had no doubts about Bonnie’s abilities; instead, she had witnessed Bonnie struggle to understand the report earlier in the meeting.

“Bonnie, if you are concerned about our parents, please refrain from being self-willed in this circumstance. We are a family, and no matter who runs the company, we will not mistreat you.” Queenie calmly explained.

Nonetheless, the tension in Bonnie’s eyes did not soften and she snorted softly. “I know what you’re up to. You’re just bullying me because you plan to take over the company soon for financial gain, and you think I’m naive and uneducated.”

“Our family’s wealth is sufficient for me to live a prosperous life. Why would I need that much money?” Queenie frowned.

When she heard what Bonnie said, she was completely taken aback because she had never met someone with this particular mindset before.

“Hmph! I will learn to manage the business and refuse to give up or admit defeat without a fight.” After making that statement, Bonnie walked over to her red Ferrari, opened the door, and drove off arrogantly.

Queenie turned around and sighed as her father’s health was the only thing on her mind at the time, for which she sincerely wished for a speedy recovery. Then, she glanced at her watch and realized it was lunchtime, which prompted her to call Nigel.

“Missed me?” His gentle voice lingered languidly.

“I’d like to have lunch with you. Are you available now?” Queenie’s heart swelled with affection.

“Of course. Do you want me to pick you up?”

“Nah. I’ll drive over. Are you at the headquarters? I’m leaving right now.”

Then, she ended the call.

Nigel called an internal line from his office and instructed, “Prepare a bouquet for me.”

“Red roses?” Cecily Wentworth, his assistant, enquired.

“Yes.”

“Alright. I’ll order them right away.”

It was the afternoon rush hour and Nigel had arrived at the lobby entrance to greet Queenie. Cecily had already made her way upstairs with a bouquet in her arms when she noticed he wasn’t in the office, so she hurriedly called his phone.

“Mr. Manson, I have the bouquet. Where are you?”

“I’m at the lobby entrance. Please deliver the bouquet!” Nigel instructed.

“Okay. I will send it to you immediately.” Cecily had no choice but to dash to the elevator with a bouquet. She thought, The recipient of this bouquet must be the female guest in his home on that day, and she must be his girlfriend! I have no idea what his girlfriend looks like, but hopefully, I’ll get to meet her in the future.

Nigel spotted a familiar Ferrari approaching the entrance from a distance. As he awaited her arrival, he couldn’t help but smile broadly.

At that moment, Cecily had arrived at the hall. She dashed over with a bouquet and handed it to him. “Mr. Manson, your bouquet of flowers.”

He accepted the bouquet while the red Ferrari pulled to a stop elegantly in front of him. She intentionally stood there, eager to get a glimpse of his girlfriend.

When the door to the driver’s seat was opened, a woman exited the vehicle as her hair fluttered and hid part of her face in the breeze. Cecily’s eyes widened in shock as the woman brushed her hair gracefully out of the way to reveal her face.

Cecily stared at the woman in complete bewilderment. How could it possibly be Queenie Silverstein?

The flowers had already been given to Queenie by the man standing next to her. “You’re finally here. Here you are.”

Queenie accepted the flowers with a grin and looked up to see Cecily standing next to her; consequently, she smiled and greeted, “Cecily, long time no see.”

“Y-You’re Mr. Manson’s girlfriend?” Cecily inquired boldly.

“Yes. That’s me. I was present when you last delivered the clothes to his home. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness.” Queenie expressed her gratitude.

Cecily couldn’t help but shudder. When she thought about how she had teased Queenie in the past, Cecily became so anxious that she nearly passed out. “Don’t mention it, Miss Silverstein. I have to get back to work.”

After making that statement, she quickly turned on her heels and headed to the hallway.

During their lunch at the hotel’s restaurant, Queenie informed Nigel about her father’s health, after which he agreed to let her manage the company while her father took a break.

“Although I have no experience, I will try my best.”

“Any time you have a question, feel free to ask me. Don’t be shy and ask me right away.” Nigel was worried that the pressure would be too much for her to bear.

“I’ll definitely do that!” She smiled.

Her anxiety hadn’t entirely subsided on the ride over, but she felt a lot more secure knowing that she had his support. It seemed as if he would always be there for her, regardless of her challenges.

“Why would you be shy around me? I certainly won’t be around you.” He arched his brow.

“W-What do you mean?!” Queenie lowered her head bashfully.

Nigel gazed menacingly at her. “As you know well, I will soon turn twenty-eight, and a man my age has the stamina of a beast. Consider that a friendly reminder.”

As soon as she heard that, her ears flushed.

“So, don’t be shy around me, okay?” He smirked and stopped making fun of her.

Summoning her courage, Queenie bravely replied, “Got it. I’m not going to be shy around you.”

The sight of her being provoked amused him. To Nigel, it was endearing when she could trust him and cause him any trouble without feeling bad about it. It was the only way for him to gain any significance in her life.

After the meal, Queenie decided to purchase some work attire at a nearby store. Since she was expected to maintain a professional appearance, she could not wear dresses to work every day.

“Let’s go! I’ll come with you.”

“Don’t you have a meeting in the afternoon?” she queried while tossing her bag in his direction.

“Why? Could the meeting be more important than spending time with you?”

After hearing his words, Queenie almost melted into a puddle because Nigel was even sweeter than the dessert she had just eaten. She submissively hugged his waist and replied, “Okay, then! Kindly assist me in making a clothing selection that reflects your taste, Mr. Manson.”

When she touched his muscular and firm waist, she felt compelled to pinch it as if to verify that it was buff. In addition, Nigel also appreciated the intimacy that she shared with him. As soon as they stepped outside the restaurant, they were greeted by a group of hotel staff in uniform.

Queenie’s daring gestures suddenly halted, and she quickly withdrew her hand. At that moment, Nigel placed his arm around her shoulder to pull her close as they walked past a group of staff.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Manson.” In unison, the group of people greeted him while concurrently having a curious gaze on the woman in his arms. They speculated that she had to be his future wife! Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Good afternoon,” Nigel responded while directing her to the elevator.

While they were in the elevator, Queenie’s hand rested on his waist once more. She complimented him as she raised her head, “Mr. Manson, you’ve been working out frequently.”

“Of course. I can’t disappoint my future wife, can I?” He stared intently at her.

Those were the words that he was speaking for her to hear. She nodded without the slightest sign of being shy. “Well, I’m quite pleased.”

Nigel snorted as she drew into his embrace.

Queenie’s delicate face was pressed against his chest, and her lips had almost kissed him through his clothes. His eyes briefly darkened before he leaned down to kiss her passionately on her red lips.