+23

“This bisn’t /bjust some random gossip! I went to confront Samuel myself. bHe’s /bnever been able to lie, not since we were kids. With how he acted, you could tell he bwas /bhiding something. This bisn’t /bjust some baseless rumor!b” /b

“That’s enough!” David snapped. “We have guests here. Do you think this is how you should act?”

Millie relectuantly gave in under her father’s stern gaze, her head hanging low. “Alright,” she sighed.

David’s tone softened as he reassured, “I’ll talk to the vige chief about bthis /bwhen I get a chance.”

That reassurance finally made Millie feel a little less upset.

However, she didn’t feel like eating at all. ncing at the dishes on the table, she stated, “I’ve no appetite so bI’ll /bjust go upstairsb.” /b

For once, David didn’t reprimand her for her mannersb, /band he told Jillian to bring some food up to her room.

“Sorry you had to witness our family drama. I only have bthese /btwo kids, and they’re not exactly making me proud. I guess bI /bjust have to worry them a bit more,” David bsaid/b.

The meal bwasn’t /bexactly rxing.

When it was time to bleave/b, David personally walked them out. He stated, I’ll treat you all to another meal after bwe /bfinalize the fruit business.

“My apologies for not being a better host today.”

Aubree smiled in responseb, /b“You’re too polite. Jillian’s cooking is wonderful and we really enjoyed the meal.

“It’s not our ce toment on your family mattersb, /bbut I hope everything works out for your family.”

David just moved his lips, sighed, and left it at that.

After leaving Ridgehaven Town, they headed straight back to the hotel.

Bowen reflected, “From what we learned today, it seems the vige chiefmands a lot of respect around here.”

Aubree nodded in agreement, adding, “Not only that, but thest failed demolition had a lot to do with the vige chief bas /bwell.”

“So, should we go meet the vige chief?b” /bVincent couldn’t hide his excitement and asked.

‘bIf /bwe can just deal with the vige chief, doesn’t that mean the project would be in the bag?‘ Vincent thought.

Aubree nced at Bowen and shook her head, stating, “No.

“If we go to the vige chief, we’ll blow our cover.

about

“We’re not even sure we bcan /btalk him into it, and if we get found out, we’ll end up just like the Wilson Group and the Diamonde Group—the same ones you wereughing at earlier today.”

Thinking about what they’d heard today about what happened to the people from the Diamonde Group and Wilson Group, Vincent couldn’t help but shiver. ‘Man, that was seriously messed up,‘ he thought.

“So, we’re really going to buy fruit tomorrow?” Vincent asked, sounding a bit defeated.

He thought, ‘It’s not like we can’t afford it, but man, it just feels like we’re throwing money away for nothing.

‘And if bwe /bactually go through with the deal and buy the fruit, doesn’t that mean we’ll have no excuse to stick around anymore?‘

“Come on, it’s business. Stalling is part of the game, isn’t it?” Aubree joked.

“We can’t do much about the vige chief for now, but we can start by visiting those holdouts and scoping out the vige. Once wend the project, we’ll have to figure out how to develop thend anyway, so we might as well put that on our agenda,” Aubree said, her eyes gleaming with a look that said she was in it to win it.

Vincent was a bit stunned. b‘/bbAre /bbwe /breally nning for the future before we’ve even secured thend?‘ he thought. However, seeing Aubree’s confidence fired him up. They bwere /balready ahead of everyone else, and it felt as if they had essentially secured the project.

Bowen tapped the table and added, “This project has been on the table bfor /ba few byears /bnow. The reason they couldn’t use any hardline btactics /bbefore is because there are descendants of martyrs living on thatndb, /band the higher–bups /bdon’t want to bget /brough with them.

“There’s just this one old man left, and he’s stubborn as a mule. There’s no way bhe’ll /bmoveb, /bno matter what you bsay/b.

b2:41 /bPM

“The guy’s pretty old now. If you go bother him too much, he’ll start swinging his cane at you. No one dares fight back bas /beveryone’s scared something might bgo /bwrong.”

“That’s another headache for usb. /b

‘Even if Aubree manages to win over the vige chiefb, /bthis is still a problem we can’t just ignore,‘ he thought.

With that, Bowen chimed in with his thoughtsb, /b“We should keep tabs on those rumors about the vige chief’s son and Josephine. Let’s see if bwe /bcan find a chance to get an inside scoop. For now, let’s figure out what to do about that old guy.”