Chapter 14

At 8:00 pm, Sebastian arrived at the banquet hall with Regina, Melanie, and Mia, all of whom had received a personal invitation from Jason. Mia, especially, was eager to befriend Jason's younger sister. For once, Regina's usually sharp and stern face wore a rare smile. She turned to Sebastian and said, "I heard Jason is bringing his sister to tonight's banquet. Make sure you leave a lasting impression on the Lockhart heiress." Her words caused Melanie's expression to shift subtly, and even Sebastian frowned. "Grandma, I'm already married," he reminded her. But Regina waved a hand dismissively. "So what? You'll be divorced in three months at most, won't you? Use this time to build a connection with the Lockhart heiress. Once you and Vivienne are divorced, you'll marry her." She spoke with the absolute certainty of someone used to shaping reality to her will. Mia, already aware of Regina's plan, stole a cautious glance at Melanie. Sebastian replied calmly, "Even if I divorce Vivienne, I have no intention of marrying the Lockhart heiress." "Nonsense!" Regina scolded. "Do you know what kind of family the Lockharts are? They're at the very top of the elite! I know you're capable and prideful, but consider this—every man needs a stage to showcase his talent. "If you marry into the Lockharts, their backing could elevate the Holts into the ranks of the world's top families within five years. Do you know how many years of hardship that would save you? "And besides, it's obvious that the Lockhart heiress is interested in you. You need to seize this opportunity." At that, a trace of helplessness flickered across Sebastian's refined features. "Grandma, you're mistaken. I've never even met Ms. Lockhart, and any idea that she's interested in me is pure speculation." Regina countered, "Just because you haven't met her doesn't mean she hasn't met you. Think about our recent collaboration with the Lockhart Group. Do you really believe they gave us such generous terms for no reason?" Sebastian's brow twitched. The terms offered by the Lockharts were unusually favorable. On paper, it was a partnership, but it felt more like they were handing over benefits for free. Before this, neither he nor the Holts had any connection to the Lockharts. Regina pressed on, "Sebastian, I heard from a reliable source that Jason personally admitted he only offered those terms because of his sister. Do you still think she's not interested in you?" At this point, Melanie, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "Mrs. Holt Senior, lately, Vivienne has been trying hard to get Sebastian's attention. I'm afraid she may not agree to the divorce so easily." The mention of Vivienne made Regina's face darken again. She snorted coldly. "She just wants money, doesn't she? When the time comes, we'll give her a little extra and be done with it. But if she dares to interfere with Sebastian's marriage prospects again…" A cold gleam flashed in her eyes. "I'll make sure she pays dearly for it." She hadn't forgotten how Vivienne had recently driven her into the hospital. The more she thought about it, the more her loathing grew. Vivienne might have been barren, but she certainly knew how to stir up trouble. If it weren't for her, Sebastian never would've fired the two longtime household staff members who had served Regina faithfully for years. As the four entered the banquet hall, murmurs from the surrounding crowd reached their ears. "I heard the Lockhart Group parachuted in a new manager to run the branch office. Jason plans to hand over all of their Zerbanian operations to this person." "Really? Even securing an entry-level position at the Lockhart Group is incredibly challenging. You'd have to be a graduate of a world-class university. A management role like this involves a brutal selection process—it's harder than passing the SAT." "Tonight's banquet is a meet-and-greet for the new manager. Looks like Jason values them a lot." "That's not all. The banquet is officially for the manager's introduction, but the real reason is to introduce Jason's younger sister to everyone." "Jason's younger sister? The mysterious heiress of the Lockharts? I don't think she's ever appeared in public before." "Exactly. They've never even released her name." "That makes me so curious now." Hearing the whispers, Regina's face glowed with satisfaction. "Sebastian, didn't I say so? If Jason is willing to bring out his never-before-seen sister, it must be to introduce her to you." She was just about to offer more instructions when one of Sebastian's business associates approached to chat, temporarily distracting him. Regina turned to Melanie instead. "Melanie, I know your heart belongs to Sebastian, but you have to understand—a man has to put his career before romance." She patted Melanie's hand gently. "I'm not against you continuing your relationship with Sebastian. If you give us a child someday…" Regina paused, then added meaningfully, "Even illegitimate children are entitled to inheritance. Mia, you're close to Melanie. Make sure you keep encouraging her." Melanie's face stiffened slightly, while Mia subtly tugged her arm. She could only nod with apparent docility. "I understand, Mrs. Holt Senior." Three years ago, she had worked so hard to win Regina's approval just to marry into the Holts—only to be beaten to the altar by Vivienne. Now that she had waited patiently for this divorce, another obstacle appeared—the Lockhart family's heiress. Lowering her gaze slightly, Melanie hid the cold gleam in her eyes. The position of Mrs. Holt would be hers, no matter what. … Vivienne, dressed in an elegant gown, entered the banquet hall arm-in-arm with Jason. The moment the two appeared at the entrance, those eager to build ties with Jason swarmed toward them enthusiastically. They quickly surrounded them as if it were a press conference. Flattering compliments poured in from all directions. "Mr. Lockhart, is this your girlfriend? She's stunning. You two are a perfect match!" "Don't talk nonsense," someone quickly interrupted, clearly having inside information. "This must be your sister, right?" "His sister? Is she really Mr. Lockhart's sister?" "Wasn't she the one who's never made a public appearance before?" Hearing the commotion, Regina immediately called out to Sebastian, "Sebastian, Jason just arrived with his sister. Come, let's go over and greet them." As business partners—and with such a major project signed between their companies—it was only proper to go over and say hello. Sebastian nodded and strode toward the crowd. Through the shifting gaps between people, he caught glimpses of a woman in a sleek black gown. Her graceful figure and elegant demeanor stood out in the crowd, though her face remained partially obscured.