Maddie stopped trying to run the shops after failing to manage them well, so she simply rented them out, earning a living from rentals.
Either way, she did not need the money. Kaden would give her a monthly allowance for household expenses, which was enough. She was also able to withdraw a considerable amount every month from the family trust fund, and her daughter would give her some money from time to time too.
Even if she closed down the small companies and lived off the money Kaden and Everly gave her, she would still be able to maintain a luxurious lifestyle.
Her in-laws were well-off, and her daughter was their only scion. In the future, all of it would be her daughter's. Everly might not listen to her, but she would not abandon Maddie and would definitely take care of her mother in her old age.
That was why Maddie could not be bothered to mess around with a business. After all, it was said that the fastest road to ruin was starting a business. She did not want to be the madam that ruined their family.
"Everly's back."
Maddie got up to greet them and was stunned for a moment when she saw Sonny, before her smile grew wider.
As expected, her father-in-law's eye for people was pretty good.
This young man called Sonny was the most handsome man she had ever seen, and he had an extraordinary air about him.
People raised by prestigious families simply were different.
Sonny was not born into an affluent family, but his aunt married into a true upper- class family, and she saw him like her own son. Meanwhile, his biological mother succeeded in setting up her own business before taking over management of her grandparents' business, so he became a wealthy heir himself.
The nurturing of the Fisher, York, and Lewis families came together to culminate in Sonny's excellence.
Sonny was young and accomplished. He had great personal wealth and had an upright character. If he got together with Everly, they did not have to worry he would scheme against their family to swallow their assets.
If the Flemming family ran into trouble, he would only help and would not kick them when they were down or take advantage of it.
"Mr. Brown, this is my mother." Everly hurriedly introduced them.
Sonny greeted her with a polite smile, "Hello, Mrs. Flemming."
"Hello, hello,” Maddie replied to Sonny with enthusiasm.
Sonny then greeted Kaden when he spotted the old man. Kaden warmly got up and offered Sonny a seat.
Maddie personally poured Sonny a glass of water before sitting down opposite him with Everly. She appraised Sonny with a wide smile, liking him more the more she looked at him.
Realizing her mother was staring at Sonny, Everly surreptitiously nudged her, and she whispered, “Mom, stop that. You're scaring Mr. Brown. Don't be like Grandpa.”
There really was nothing going on between her and Sonny. They simply got along and conversation flowed.
Sonny only gave in and agreed to accompany her to the banquet tonight because her grandfather begged him repeatedly.
At the thought of this, even Everly felt embarrassed. Luckily, Sonny was magnanimous. If it were anyone else, who knew what they would think.
Maddie covertly patted her daughter's arm in return, signalling to her that this young
man was a pretty good one and reminding her not to miss out.
The two of them were single and not dating anyone. They could confidently pursue a romance without worry.
"Everly's very pretty tonight."
Maddie suddenly said, "Everly, you should wear dresses more often. Stop wearing
suits all the time. It's formal wear and makes you look too stern.
"I've bought so many dresses for you, and they're all suitable. You don't have to wear them to work, but you could wear them during the weekends, on your days off. You are a woman, after all."
Maddie felt that when Everly dressed up, she was not a single bit inferior to the granddaughter of the family next door who was widely, recognized as a beautiful heiress in Clearfield.