CHAPTER 496: CHAPTER 496: THE JASMINE FESTIVAL

Rhonda Sullivan received a call from L before departure, and the meeting place was at the beach of Blythe. Blythe is near Ariston, but it takes more than an hour to drive there, so Rhonda couldn’t understand why he chose such a place. She wanted to refuse, but the other party didn’t answer the phone. She didn’t dare not to go without saying anything, so she had to reschedule her flight.

When she arrived, L was blowing in the wind in a yet undeveloped sea area, below him was a two-meter high rock. He sat motionless on the deck chair, wearing sunglasses, making it unclear if he was asleep or awake.

She took off her high heels and walked across the sand, "Why did you want to see me?"

"After The Jasmine Festival ends, The Lawson Group will formally propose to terminate all cooperation with The Sullivan Group." L didn’t move at all, only his long brows slightly gathered toward the center.

Rhonda Sullivan was stunned, "This is a breach of contract!"

"Yes, it is a breach of contract, and I won’t give you any breach penalty." L spoke slowly as if he was reciting words straight from a contract.

Rhonda Sullivan took a long time to react, still thinking she might have heard wrong, she sneered, "And what if I don’t agree?"

"You’ve thought too much, I’m just notifying you." L paused and continued: "Actually, this is not important. What is important is that you better not create trouble for Wenny anymore, otherwise the matter won’t be just about terminating the contract."

"Oh, what else can you do? Kill me?" Rhonda Sullivan suddenly felt a little scared but tried to act indifferent.

L did not answer but instead smiled.

This ambiguous smile made every hair on Rhonda Sullivan’s body stand on end.

She wanted to end the meeting and leave but found her legs wouldn’t move; it seemed unless L let go, she wouldn’t dare leave.

She is a person no longer afraid of death, why be afraid of this?

"You will gain no benefit from ending the contract with The Sullivan Group." She wanted to say something to relieve the pressure.

"There are certainly benefits." L squinted, "I might as well tell you, that girl Wenny is a friend of T."

After the incident exploded, every morning he woke up to find a turtle on his face, drawn with a permanent marker that took great effort to wash off, requiring him to apply a deep-clean mask and use concealer, utterly destroying his mentality.

"T?" Rhonda Sullivan thought for a long time, someone worthy of L mentioning; could it be... she was utterly frozen.

*

Ethan Sterling received a report from Old Black immediately after arriving in Bellaza that Rhonda Sullivan had canceled her flight to Nissa.

"Do you know why?"

"The first time she rescheduled, afterwards she directly canceled the ticket."

"Keep tracking Rhonda Sullivan’s movements, call me immediately if there’s any issue."

At this moment, Ruby Sullivan had already arrived in Nissa, due to their prior pleasant collaboration, Ruby Sullivan engaged Anna as her local guide again, and like good friends, they first discussed where to have a big meal after leaving the airport.

On the second day, Ruby Sullivan slept in her hotel to adjust the time zones, and early on the third day she rode with Anna to Nissa as usual.

But her mood this time was much more relaxed.

The company had gotten back on track, its global reputation gradually rising with the hot-selling products in Bellaza, and if Paris markets were conquered this year and the Gallian people won over, Ruby Sullivan wouldn’t need to work herself to the bone for new products anymore.

Every year, The Jasmine Festival and Rose Festival are the busiest times in Veridia Town, not only with grand parades showcasing various floral varieties but also many new fragrances offered for free testing—a real event for the fragrance world.

Besides giving a speech, Ruby Sullivan also serves as a judge for some entertaining activities; although her schedule isn’t full, every day has something, not quite leisurely.

Two days before the event’s end, Ethan Sterling told Ruby Sullivan via video call he couldn’t make it because matters in Bellaza were complex. Ruby Sullivan laughed cheerfully and told him to take care of his health, also mentioning she didn’t see L at the event. Due to her special relationship with L and the scandal, she couldn’t inquire, but heard coincidentally that the organizers had originally invited L but were rejected.

After hanging up the video, Ruby Sullivan felt somewhat disappointed.

On the final day of the event, there was a celebratory evening, and the organizers required all guests to bring a dance partner for the round table dance; although the organizer would arrange partners for those without, Ruby Sullivan still hoped Ethan Sterling could accompany her.

Ruby Sullivan set down her phone and stood up, posing as if with a dance partner, thinking of the steps taught by her teacher, humming a cheerful tune as she spun around the room.

So you see, even workaholics can have moments of utter hatred for work.

No work in the afternoon, she casually wandered with Anna, unexpectedly encountering T in a milk tea shop!

T sported a crew cut, wearing a hoodie, sipping milk tea, and eating waffles, creating a visually shocking image in the shop.

T was made somewhat uneasy by her shocked expression, "Well... the milk tea at this shop is incredibly good, and... this jasmine limited edition is only available during the festival." Whenever he had time, he stopped by to enjoy it.

"Hmm, then I must buy a cup to try it."

Anna couldn’t avert her gaze from T’s handsome visage, following Ruby Sullivan excitedly, "What does your friend do? How old is he? Could he be too handsome?"

Ruby Sullivan understood her longing to find a partner but felt T wasn’t someone who’d appreciate being introduced to a girlfriend, helplessly telling the excited girl, "Anna, T is not suitable for you."

Anna blushed, got her milk tea, and persisted, "Is he your ex-boyfriend?"

"No."

"Then surely you can introduce me?" Ruby Sullivan inserted the straw into her tea and handed it to her, "Sure, no problem, I’ll introduce you right away."

When they approached, T was still there drinking milk tea.

Ruby Sullivan stood facing him, "Mind?"

"Of course not."

The two sat down, Ruby Sullivan immediately fulfilled Anna’s wish, "This is Anna, my young friend in Nissa."

"Hello, I’m T, also a friend of Wenny’s." T nodded, his cold face barely crumpling into a semblance of a smile!

Anna squinted and smiled, "I work as a local guide in Nissa, feel free to find me next time you’re here."

"Okay." T nodded.

They drank milk tea quietly for a while, T looked at Ruby Sullivan and asked, "I heard you’re going to dance the round table dance tomorrow night, have you found a partner yet?"

Though he usually visited Veridia during The Jasmine Festival, this was his first time staying for such a long duration, spending every day in the milk tea shop, hoping for a chance encounter.

Such a famous milk tea shop, unless Ruby Sullivan didn’t drink milk tea, she would surely visit.

His good demeanor towards Anna arose purely because she was Ruby Sullivan’s friend—affection through association.