Hailey bit her lower lip, desperately trying to control her jealousy-contorted face, and tugged on a still-dazed Logan beside her.
"Logan... D-did I do something wrong?"
Her tearful, pitiful look softened Logan's heart.
He glanced at Serena, then remembered that the Wynn family had now forged a connection with the Lancaster family, which gave them a bit of standing in front of Nicholas.
Logan took a deep breath and, forcing a stiff, fawning smile, said to Nicholas, "Mr... Blackwood... you may not know this, but this... Serena, was once my sister. This is really just a small private matter of ours."
"I heard you have close ties with the Lancaster family of Vaelion City. And since the Lancaster family has taken the initiative to partner with us, it's not impossible that we might work with you in the future, Mr. Blackwood. We're all friends here. There's no need to ruin the harmony between our families over such a trivial matter, don't you think?"
He deliberately emphasized "the Lancaster family."
He was also trying to boost his own importance by mentioning that the Lancasters had approached the Wynns for a partnership.
Nicholas looked as if he'd just heard a fascinating joke. He let out a soft scoff, his lazy, devilish eyes flicking toward Logan.
His thin lips curved into a cold, humorless smile. "Oh? Are you... using the Lancaster family to threaten me?"
It was just a detached, cool glance, but it made Logan feel as if he'd been plunged into an ice cellar. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Logan's heart nearly stopped. His throat felt constricted, and he couldn't utter another word.
"Hah."
A sudden, sharp scoff cut through the tense atmosphere.
Everyone followed the sound.
They saw the strikingly beautiful girl holding her phone, her slender white fingers tapping casually on the screen.
Her expression was nonchalant, and a frigid smirk played on her lips. "Trying to climb the ladder using the Lancaster family?"
Her lips curled as she spoke in a calm, indifferent tone.
Then she raised her hand and held up five fingers.
"Five seconds."
Her voice was crisp and cold. "The partnership between the Wynn family and the Lancaster family is hereby terminated."
Five seconds?
Logan, who had been trembling in fear of Nicholas, couldn't help but burst out laughing at Serena's words.
Even Adrian's cronies in the room started to chuckle.
The heavy silence in the room was broken.
"Serena, are you insane? Do you have any idea what you're saying?" Logan was desperate to recover
from his embarrassing display imet
front of Nicholas, and his tone was more mocking than ever. "Five seconds to make the Lancaster family cancel their partnership with the Wynn family? Who do you think you are?"
He scoffed. "You think just because you have the Lancaster name now, you're suddenly the esteemed heiress? Let me tell you, it doesn't change what you are!"
"That's right, sis-I mean, Miss
Serena. I know you're upset, but you can't say something like that in front of Mr Blackwood. The Lancaster family's status isnt something that Hailey said, feigning concern to try and get Nicholas's attention.
But she hadn't even finished her sentence.
Logan's phone suddenly rang, the sound echoing through the room.
Everyone's eyes snapped to Logan.
Five seconds!
It had been exactly five seconds!
A strange, deathly silence fell over the room.
Logan's heart sank, and a sense of foreboding washed over him.
His hand trembled as he reached for his phone.
"Answer it," Serena said, crossing her arms and looking at him with a half-smile.
Her posture was filled with contempt.
Logan swallowed hard, then shot at
glare at Serena's beautiful face,
which was now filled with mockery.
He gritted his teeth. "Fine. I'll answer
it refuse to believe you have that kind of power!"
He swiped to answer and even put the call on speaker.
The moment the call connected, a voice came through the phone...