Leading the group was a middle-aged man in a sharp suit, exuding a composed and imposing aura.
Beside him was a tall, stern-faced young man, whose usually severe eyes were now crinkled in a rare, polite smile. He was slightly inclined toward the middle-aged man, saying, "Well then, I hope we have a successful partnership, Mr. Taylor."
"For the Wynn Group, the opportunity you've given us is a lifeline. We will treasure it and give it our all, so as not to disappoint your trust in us."
Mr. Taylor smiled with satisfaction, his tone tinged with a condescending air of charity. "Mr. Wynn, I'm only giving the Wynn Group this chance because of your past capabilities and reputation. I hope... you won't let me down."
"Of course, of course..." The young man... was none other than the Wynn family's eldest son, Benedict Wynn.
Bitterness filled his heart, but he could only force a smile.
There was a time when others would bow and scrape before him, begging for his cooperation.
Now, it was his turn... to humble himself.
Only he knew the depth of the frustration coiling in his gut.
But for the sake of the Wynn family.
He had no choice but to swallow his pride.
Mr. Taylor raised a hand and patted Benedict's shoulder. "Young man, work hard. The Wynn family is lucky to have you..."
Before he could finish, a sharp, piercing voice cut through their conversation.
"You people at the Obsidian Palace are just bullying your customers! Is there no decency left?!"
The group's attention was drawn to the source of the noise. They saw a middle- aged woman in a form-fitting dress being shoved by security guards.
Her hair was a mess, and she was shouting profanities.
She looked... like a madwoman.
Mr. Taylor frowned in disgust. "How can a place like the Obsidian Palace have such a classless shrew? I wonder which family she belongs to. What an absolute embarrassment."
"Yes, yes, how could this place..." Benedict quickly agreed, looking over toward the commotion.
When his gaze landed on the screaming woman, the color drained from his face. An outsider might not have recognized her.
But he did, in an instant. The disheveled woman screaming with a menacing look on her face was his mother, Marianne!
Benedict's face turned livid.
Why was his mother here at the Obsidian Palace, getting into a shoving match with the security guards?
Had she no shame?! If Mr. Taylor were to recognize her...
Benedict quickly put on a smile and raised a hand, trying to guide Mr. Taylor away from the scene.
But in the next second.
A guard gave Marianne a hard shove.
She stumbled and fell to the ground.
Her disheveled hair parted, reveale
her exquisitely made-up yet hombly contorted face.
"Mom!"
"Honey!"
Patrick and Logan rushed forward to help her up.
And as they did, the faces of the Wynns were revealed for all to see.
Mr. Taylor, of course, recognized Patrick at once.
He looked astonished, as if he couldn't believe his eyes, and stared at the Wynns for a long moment.
Then he turned back to Benedict, his
eyes
with amusement and
unc mockery. "The Wynn family's upbringing is certainly unique."
Benedict was mortified.
When had he ever been so humiliated?
He was about to offer some sort of explanation.
Nearby, Hailey, who was so ashamed she wished the ground would swallow her whole, suddenly spotted Benedict.
As if seeing her savior, her eyes lit up, and she called out to him, "Benedict! You're
at the Obsidian Palace, too?!"
Hearing Hailey's cry.
Patrick and Marianne immediately looked over.
When they saw Benedict, they completely ignored his dark, livid expression. Their eyes lit up as they shouted at the lobby manager, "See that? That's my son! He's a premium member of the Obsidian Palace, a valued guest! You still dare to stop us?"