Chapter 284 Jealousy
"Dashiell has no interest in business, you should know that. Otherwise, it would be Dashiell sitting in your position at Everhart Bank," Penelope said bluntly. "So, once I'm with Dashiell, we won't meddle in business matters. And Dominic is moving into the noble family, but he still needs a right-hand man in business. That person will be you."
Sebastian looked at Penelope in silence.
He was tempted but still cautious, considering his options.
Penelope's offer was undeniably enticing.
Not only would he gain control of Everhart Bank, but he would also have a powerful ally.
It'd been said that Dominic was doing well in the noble family, and it was likely he would continue to rise.
He said, "Alright. I agree to work with you."
Sebastian had given in.
He couldn't resist such a tempting offer.
Penelope smiled smugly, "Sebastian, as long as you follow the Kingsley family, you'll enjoy wealth and status beyond your wildest dreams."
"Thanks for the good wishes," Sebastian nodded slightly.
He didn't show much emotion despite the promising future Penelope painted for him.
He asked, "What do we do now?"
"It's simple," Penelope said directly. "Seraphina likes you; anyone can see that. She's only marrying Dashiell because she has no choice. So, if you pursue her and insist on being with her, she'll be with you. Once you're together, Seraphina and Dashiell's marriage will naturally fall apart. Of course, the divorce will take time, but during that period, I'll comfort and win over Dashiell. This way, we'll successfully break up Seraphina and Dashiell and end up with our respective partners."
Sebastian shook his head.
Penelope was oversimplifying things.
He said, "It's not that easy. Dashiell has put a lot of effort into being with Seraphina; he won't let go easily. Even if I pursue Seraphina, there's no guarantee I'll win her back. Dashiell might kill me halfway through. To be blunt, Dashiell could easily deal with me now. The only reason he hasn't is that he's afraid Seraphina will hate him."
Penelope's face darkened slightly.
"We need to think this through," Sebastian seemed to realize that Penelope didn't have a solid plan. "Let's confirm our partnership first and then figure out how to face this together."
"Alright," Penelope agreed readily.
After all, rushing things wouldn't help.
"The fewer people know about our partnership, the better," Sebastian reminded.
"Don't worry, only Dominic will know." Sebastian nodded.
He glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to them.
Only then did he turn slightly and leave.
Penelope watched Sebastian's back and then headed towards the garden.
At that moment, the hall was bustling with people.
Cecilia stood by Theodore, greeting the guests.
Tonight's Lockhart Group anniversary celebration was grand.
Many business moguls were invited, as well as numerous noble family officials stationed in Serenovia City, making up a significant portion of the upper class.
"Alaric, now that you're moving into the noble family, let me introduce you to some of my old contacts in the government," Theodore said, leading Alaric away.
For wealthy families, even if they weren't directly involved with the noble family, they still maintained close ties with local noble family officials.
Theodore's network was quite extensive, which was normal.
Cecilia watched them leave, feeling a bit annoyed.
She thought, 'Who is Theodore's real child? Just taking Alaric away and leaving me here is awkward!'
"Cecilia," Genevieve called out to her.
Cecilia turned around.
"Ophelia caused trouble again yesterday," Genevieve said.
Speaking of Ophelia, it was clear that neither one of them was in a good mood.
Cecilia replied, "Don't worry, I know how to handle her."
"Vincent's in prison now, and I hear all his assets have been seized. If Ophelia runs out of money, she'll definitely cause more trouble," Genevieve said, her tone confident.
"No matter how much she rages, it won't change a thing. The media is firmly on our side now. Even if Ophelia tries to complain to them, no one will cover her story. She's not going to make any waves," Cecilia assured.
Genevieve, as always, trusted Cecilia's judgment. She was increasingly impressed with her daughter's abilities.
"By the way, Mom," Cecilia suddenly remembered something.
Genevieve looked up, curious. "What is it?"
"I think Ophelia might come to you after her run-ins with Dad and me. Don't let your guard down," Cecilia advised. "We need to make an example of her. Otherwise, she might think she's untouchable."
"Understood. I won't play the fool," Genevieve said firmly.
Cecilia smiled slightly, pleased with the change in her mother. In their previous life, their family had always been cautious and endured too much, which had led to their downfall. This time, she was determined to prevent history from repeating itself.
Her gaze shifted, and she noticed Juliana and Andrew walking in. She hadn't expected them to show up, especially given their awkwardness with Vincent's situation.
"Are Andrew and Juliana causing trouble at the company?" Genevieve asked, having spotted them too.
"Not causing trouble, but they're no match for me, so they're not a concern," Cecilia replied.
"Don't be complacent," Genevieve warned.
"I know," Cecilia said, nodding.
"I have some friends who just arrived. I'll go greet them," Genevieve said, glancing towards the group.
Since Genevieve's 50th birthday party, she had solidified her position in high society, and her social circle had grown significantly. Naturally, she had attracted a number of people eager to be in her good graces.
For Octavia, this shift was hard to swallow. Once the center of attention among the elite, she now found herself overshadowed by Genevieve. Octavia had made a special effort to impress today, but Genevieve's elegant lavender gown had completely stolen the spotlight.
In comparison, Octavia felt mundane and petty next to Genevieve's grace and poise.
Frustrated, Octavia turned to Dominic and said, "You need to find a way to bring down the Lockhart family. I want them to feel so small they can't even look us in the eye!"
Dominic's attention was drawn to Cecilia, who was mingling with guests in a seemingly simple outfit but still managed to captivate everyone. He had noticed her the moment he walked into the event, her presence commanding immediate attention.