"Clearly that person was targeting us," Venice added coldly, her eyes filled with malice as she stared directly at Yeri. "We rarely go out together as a family, yet the moment we do, we get attacked."

Yeri frowned slightly but remained silent.

Waving a hand dismissively, Nolan continued, "The police found the vehicle abandoned several miles away. It was a stolen car. Surveillance footage only showed a tall man in a hoodie getting out before disappearing into an alley."

Venice snorted. "Whoever he was, someone must’ve paid him to do it. Just like someone malicious enough to hide a recording device in my hospital ward that played the eerie sound of a crying baby, hoping to drive me crazy."

The moment she said that, Linda and Nolan both turned to stare at Yeri.

However, Yeri didn’t flinch or show the slightest trace of guilt. Instead, she asked curiously, "What recording device?"

Linda and Nolan exchanged glances, both suddenly looking uncertain whether it had really been Yeri after all.

But Venice seemed further provoked. She sneered, "Yeri, I know I’ve done mean things to you over the years, but I think you’re even more vicious than me, striking when I’m mentally vulnerable."

Yeri: ???

Madam Zhi had finally had enough and stood up. "Venice, considering you’re my husband’s niece, I’ve been magnanimous toward you again and again despite knowing about all your schemes over the years. But the audacity of you blaming my daughter every time something doesn’t go your way. Did it ever occur to you that, with your personality, countless people out there could hold grudges against you?"

"How dare you scold my daughter! Are you bullying us now just because Yeri latched onto Shin Keir?" Linda immediately ranted, turning her wheelchair around dramatically like a battle tank entering phase two.

Madam Zhi’s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn’t believe these people viewed her daughter that way.

Yeri gently patted her mother’s hand, calming her down before coldly looking at Venice.

"Since you suspect it was me, go ahead and call the police. Or take me to court, whatever you want. Don’t just run your mouth and point fingers. It’s pathetic."

Venice gritted her teeth as she glared at Yeri.

"But have you ever thought about who would benefit the most if you actually went insane?" Yeri continued calmly. "It seems you’ve already forgotten what I told you about Hadi Keir’s previous women. If you’re still involved with him, then you’d better not let your guard down."

"What about Hadi Keir?" Nolan frowned.

Yeri said nothing. She merely looked at Venice’s now ashen, terrified face before gesturing for her mother to leave.

Nolan hurriedly stopped the two, smiling ingratiatingly as though there had never been any conflict between the families, nor any attempt on his part to usurp the CEO position from Yeri’s father.

Yeri knew exactly what he was thinking.

With Venice’s unstable or rather sinking relationship with Hadi, Nolan didn’t dare ruin ties with a niece engaged to Shin Keir. At the very least, he could still flaunt the status of being the uncle of Shin’s fiancée.

After Yeri and her mother finally left, with Nolan nearly exhausting all his fake smiles and flowery words trying to appease them, he returned wearing a gloomy expression and pointed furiously at Venice.

"Are you insane? Didn’t I tell you to get along with Yeri?"

"That wasn’t your stance back then when you didn’t know she was engaged to Shin Keir," Linda muttered bitterly.

If they both hadn’t been injured, Nolan would’ve already slapped her awake from her stupidity.

How had he gotten entangled with two utterly useless burdens?

In situations like this, one had to know when to bend and when to break. Even in the business world, such a mindset was basic survival instinct.

Already exhausted before the argument had even begun, Nolan let out a long, frustrated sigh before marching toward his study room.

Linda noticed Venice’s dazed and fearful expression and immediately asked worriedly whether her injuries were hurting again, but Venice remained out of it, staring blankly ahead like her soul had temporarily left the building.

It was only when Linda shook her arm that Venice finally snapped back to reality.

"Is this about what that dead girl said? I told you not to listen to her. She just wanted to scare you."

Venice bit her lip.

After a long moment of hesitation, she finally told her mother what Yeri had said at the hospital.

This time, it was Linda’s turn to be shocked.

However, compared to the possibility of Hadi’s hidden women lurking in the shadows, Linda was far more alarmed by the revelation that there was apparently no divorce in the Keir clan.

"That bastard actually lied to you!" Linda slammed the armrest of her wheelchair furiously before her eyes suddenly lit up with calculation. "Do you have any chat records of him reassuring you he’d marry you? Anything related to this matter? Screenshot every conversation no matter how trivial. Quickly!"

"I already did," Venice replied gloomily. "But Mom... what if, apart from Jade, there are really more women competing with me? I don’t want to constantly watch my back and deal with them."

Linda patted her hand reassuringly. "Listen to your mother. I know exactly how to deal with those vixens. For now, tell me about Hadi’s attitude toward you. Have the two of you made up? No matter how many women a man has outside, as long as you’re the one who understands him best, you’ll remain his favorite. And naturally, he’ll protect you."

Venice thought for a moment before slowly nodding.

---

Three days later, Calin’s engagement banquet finally took place, instantly dominating social media headlines and entertainment news.

What made the event controversial was that it was held at the exact same luxury hotel venue as Yeri and Shin’s engagement banquet, supposedly because it was "the best hotel available."

However, unlike Yeri and Shin’s tightly controlled engagement where the media had been forced to wait outside, Calin’s engagement was publicized to the extreme.

Media reporters swarmed the venue. A professional livestream production team captured every glittering detail, from the guests and designer gowns to the extravagant floral arrangements that probably cost more than a small apartment.

"Calin is so considerate toward her fans for letting us witness the happiest day of her life. I’m dying to see her gown!" one netizen commented excitedly.

"You don’t understand, I literally fought for leave at work today just to watch this engagement livestream. I already prepared snacks and everything. I’m seated like it’s the season finale of a drama."

"Will Shin and Yeri attend? This is practically a celebrity awards night at this point. The guest list is insane."

As the netizens expected, many attendees indeed came from the entertainment industry and elite social circles.

Rather than an engagement banquet, the event resembled a glamorous red carpet ceremony, with guests strutting through the venue posing for cameras and flaunting designer outfits worth terrifying amounts of money.

"How many people are watching now?" Calin asked while makeup artists worked meticulously on her face.

"Around five hundred thousand viewers," one staff member reported carefully.

Calin rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction and waved him away dismissively. "Has Yeri arrived yet?"

The people around her instantly became busy for absolutely no reason, avoiding eye contact like frightened office workers.

Just as Calin was about to snap, one of the assistants hurried inside nervously.

"Young Master Gate’s secretary called to say his flight was delayed. He may not arrive for another hour... possibly two."

Calin blinked, then her expression twisted violently.

She abruptly stood up, sending the makeup artist’s brush flying.

"Bastard!" Calin exploded. "Does he want to humiliate me? How could he be late to his own engagement banquet?! Phone! Phone! Give me my fucking phone right now!"

Her hand stretched out impatiently as she ordered everyone to leave the room for the time being.

However, it was useless. No matter how many times she called, Bryce wouldn’t answer.

Either his phone was on airplane mode, or he was deliberately ignoring her.

Just then, the head planner walked in enthusiastically with a tablet in hand.

"Calin, are you ready? According to the schedule, we should begin the entrance in ten minu..."

He abruptly stopped mid-sentence under Calin’s murderous glare.

"My fiancé isn’t here yet," Calin said coldly. "I don’t care about the schedule. Do something about it."

"For... how long exactly?" the planner asked cautiously.

"Two hours at most."

The person froze speechless.

Almost all the guests had already arrived. Some were celebrities, investors, socialites, and business moguls whose schedules were tighter than military operations. Making them wait for two hours was practically social suicide.

Sensing his hesitation, Calin spoke again.

"Aren’t you supposed to be good at your job? Then handle it. I’m not going out there without my fiancé."

"Calin, we can probably stall for an hour," the planner explained carefully, sweat nearly forming at his temples. "But if it becomes two hours, people will definitely notice something’s wrong..."

"Then what exactly do you want me to do?!" Calin shrieked.

Madam Ricci, already dressed elegantly for the banquet, hurried over after hearing the commotion.

The moment Calin saw her mother, she exploded into furious complaints.

Madam Ricci was equally displeased with Bryce’s behavior, but there was little she could do in this situation.

"We could rearrange the schedule," the planner suggested quickly. "Move later activities earlier. For example, guests giving congratulatory speeches, photo opportunities, interviews, and recorded well wishes..." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Well wishes without us there to hear them?" Calin snapped. "Do you want me to offend the guests? And photos without me? Are you an idiot?"

The planner’s expression darkened briefly.

If not for years of professionalism and the threat of destroying his company’s reputation, he would’ve walked out on the spot.

He had dealt with countless difficult clients over the years, from diva actresses to drunken heirs who treated planners like disposable servants. Yet the so-called nation’s goddess, Calin Ricci, had officially climbed to the very top of his nightmare rankings.

There was also Bryce Gate, who didn’t seem to care much about the engagement at all.

During the entire planning process, the planner had only met him twice.

Even during those meetings, Bryce was usually glued to his phone and whenever the two argued, he would simply leave abruptly.

--

Meanwhile, in the banquet hall, guests continued arriving one after another, chatting elegantly while waiters circulated with champagne.

Sergei arrived escorting Marianne as his date, the two instantly attracting attention from nearby guests.

While casually conversing with a group of businessmen, Sergei suddenly caught sight of someone familiar.

Saeki Jie and beside him stood a woman.

Natalia?

Sergei’s heart lurched violently.