Rachel had only just begun to feel a little better these past two days, and now Howard had to show up and stir everything up again.

    Gerald hesitated, weighing his options. The Lloyd family was already at odds with the Ziegler family because of Rachel–if he turned Howard away at the door now, that would make the feud irreparable. Finally, he sighed and told the maid, “Let him in.”

    Then, ncing at Rachel, he asked, “Do you want to step out for this?”

    The maid chimed in cautiously, “Yes, Ms. Lloyd. Maybe it’s best you step aside for now. Mr. Howard isn’t someone you want to provoke.”

    But Rachel never even considered leaving. Running away just wasn’t in her nature. She shook her head firmly.

    “No need. If he wants toe in, let him.”

    Soon, Howard was ushered inside. The moment his eyesnded on Rachel, his lips curled into that wicked, mocking smile. The malice in his gaze sent an involuntary chill down her spine.

    Her instincts screamed he was here for her.

    Howard, however, acted as though nothing had ever happened between them. He even had the audacity to greet her casually.

    “Rachel, it’s been such a long time.”

    Rachel didn’t even look at him. Instead, she turned to Gerald and said coolly, “Since everything’s been settledb, /bI’ll be leaving now.”

    She started toward the door with Jerry. Sasha, bitter and unwilling, could do nothing to stop her.

    But just as Rachel and Jerry reached the door, Howard’s voice cut through the air.

    “Wait!”

    Rachel wasn’t surprised. A man like Howard never showed up anywhere without an agenda. She narrowed her eyes at him.

    “What is it you want, Mr. Howard?”

    Howard didn’t answer her. Instead, he strode straight toward Sasha and asked point–nk, right in front of Rachel, “Do you want to beat her?”

    “Huh?b” /b

    For a moment, Sasha didn’t follow.

    Howard repeated himself, slower this time. “You want to fight Rachel for the Lloyd fortune, don’t you? I’m asking–do you want to win?”

    Now Sasha understood. Her eyes lit up. “Y–You can help me?”

    Howard nodded. “Yes. I can help you–if you want it.”

    Sasha didn’t even think twice. “Of course I want it!”

    But then, suspicion crept in.

    “Wait. But why would you help me?”

    Howard made himselffortable in an armchair, like he owned the ce, lounging with that spoiled, entitled air of his.

    “Simple. I just want to go against her.”

    He tilted his chin smugly in Rachel’s direction.

    Rachel pursed her lips, muttering under her breath, “You’re insane.”

    Sasha, though, couldn’t care less. As long as someone was willing to back her, that was all that mattered.

    “Perfect. That’s exactly what I need. If you’re really willing to help me, then it couldn’t be better.”

    Rachel and Jerry exchanged a nce. Both of them were stunned. The situation was absurd.

    Howard really had lost his mind.

    Soon, Howard made a call.

    “Bring him in.”