Chapter 7 The Imposing Return Of The Elder

In the ward of the Fletcher family's private hospital, Vivian was sitting off to the side, her beautiful face etched with deep worry. Christopher was lying in the hospital bed, his left leg hoisted high. His broken leg was the least of his worries. The most alarming sight was his face and head, swathed in thick gauze, with blood still seeping through. It was a heart-wrenching scene. The thought of the attending physician stating that his face had been disfigured was unbearably heartbreaking for Vivian. Christopher was the man she had meticulously chosen from thousands, a man of both reputable family background and striking good looks. Now, the sudden news of his disfigurement left her in shock. How was she supposed to face him, to look into his marred face in the future? She was apprehensive about her wedding night, fearing she wouldn't be able to bear the sight of his unrecognizable face. “Vivian...” Christopher struggled to open his eyes, but the swelling was too severe, leaving only a small slit. He gently reassured her, “Don't be afraid. It's just a disfigurement. With the advancement in medical technology today, a simple surgery will do.” Vivian's eyes welled up with tears as she took his hand. “I'm not just concerned about your face. I'm upset for you. How did you end up falling into a ditch? I've been worried sick all night.” Christopher's heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, he recalled that last night, Ariel had publicly declared he was destined for a bloody disaster. In the middle of the night, I had a car accident and ended up in a ditch, my face disfigured from shards of glass. There's no way such a coincidence could happen in this world... Perhaps it was Ariel's bad luck that rubbed off on me, causing me to have a car accident. That d*mn coffin child! Christopher grimaced in pain. Suddenly, his phone rang incessantly. Vivian considerately pressed the answer button for him, placing the phone by his ear. “You good-for-nothing! What the hell were you thinking? You actually had the audacity to transfer a billion from the company's account!” Jared Fletcher's furious roar was so intense it seemed like it could burst out of the phone. The volume was so loud that it made Vivian's delicate body tremble with fear. Christopher furrowed his brows. “Dad, what are you talking about? A billion?” Although one billion wasn't a huge amount, the sudden withdrawal of one billion from the company's account would cause an immediate shortage of liquid assets, delaying many collaborative projects. Jared bellowed, “You dare question me? You reckless fool, you actually gave that coffin child one billion! Wait for me. I'm on my way to the hospital right now to break your legs!” Vivian took in a sharp breath, her eyes brimming with frustration and resentment. A whopping one billion! The entire wealth of the White family doesn't even amount to a billion! Christopher has actually been so generous, giving Ariel such a large sum of money. Is that country bumpkin worth a billion? Considering her lowly status, ten thousand is more than generous. “That check.” Christopher's eyes were filled with a dark gloom. He was so angry that he was aching all over. “That d*mned brat is so greedy, taking away one billion. She may have the life to take it, but she won't have the life to spend it.” In Summit Residences, the Lovell residence, Skylar was examining the information on his iPad. “Ariel is practically your mirror image,” he said. “She's a coffin child, and you're a harbinger of doom. Haha, but she's had it much worse than you. She has a home she can't return to, a father she can't acknowledge. She's been living in the backwoods since she was a child, never even been to school. Tsk, tsk, her pitiful and destitute situation almost makes me feel sympathy for the poor girl.” Poor girl? Samson recalled how she had bitten him the previous night, her teeth stained with blood as she gave him a chillingly enchanting smile. He felt an indescribable discomfort envelop his entire body. It was as if he had just kicked one addiction, only to pick up another, even more intoxicating and dangerously addictive one. “Have you found her?” Skylar shook his head. “She took one billion from the Fletcher family and has since disappeared without a trace. Fletcher Corporation is now in complete chaos, but the check was given to her by that fool Christopher as a gift. Jared can only bear this loss in silence. Currently, all we can find is that one billion entered her account and three hundred million was spent. As for where the expenditure went, it's a bit peculiar. We can't trace it yet.” Samson's eyes gradually narrowed as he realized that the situation was not as straightforward as it seemed. A small-town girl asking for a billion was already shocking enough, let alone her single-handedly making a transaction of three hundred million. It inevitably raised doubts, making people wonder if she was sent by Fletcher Corporation's opponent to stir up trouble. “Find out which company received the money.” This girl is incredibly brave, quite interesting indeed. Skylar asked, “So, are you still looking for her?” “Yes, and look into her past.” “This is the first time in the decade I've known you that you've shown interest in a woman. This is truly remarkable,” Skylar joked. Samson pursed his lips, his eyes filled with seriousness. He didn't know why he felt compelled to seek her out, but he simply yearned to see her again. It seemed that only in her presence could the discomfort enveloping him dissipate. “I'll keep looking into her whereabouts. I won't disturb your afternoon rest now,” said Skylar, preparing to leave. Just then, the rumbling of a large truck echoed from outside the window, followed by the sound of cargo being moved around. “Why would anyone move house in the middle of the day?” With an expressionless face, Samson instructed the driver, “Head to the branch office.” The two of them could have never imagined that the person they had been tirelessly searching for was actually right next door, in the midst of moving house. Ariel had spent three hundred million to purchase one of the twin towers of Summit Residences. At that moment, she was standing on the balcony, gazing down at the beautiful view of Summit Residences. The area was picturesque with pristine mountains and crystal-clear waters, constructed alongside a lake. It was arguably the place with the most spiritual energy within the city's walls. She spent an entire morning gathering all her necessities, preparing for her upcoming seclusion. She realized that this body was simply too frail. Her primordial spirit was powerful. Even though she had sealed off ninety-nine percent of it, her physical body remained fragile. If she didn't strengthen her body, it would self-destruct. Adding to that, the host's knowledge was truly lacking. The world had undergone vast changes, and she needed to fully understand what it had ultimately become. Everything was all set. Ariel sat cross-legged before the grand floor-to-ceiling window, facing a serene azure lake, as she began strengthening her physical form. Gradually, the host's physical form began to undergo earth-shattering changes. A captivatingly alluring and wildly beautiful face gradually appeared in the large glass window. The transformation was profound. From the inside out, from head to toe, she had become an entirely different person. A year later, at a five-star hotel in Yannopolis, Christopher and Vivian arrived early at the banquet hall, holding glasses of red wine and greeting guests with warm smiles. Today marked their second engagement celebration. Upon witnessing the two individuals seemingly courting the approval of various celebrities and wealthy merchants, someone sighed from a corner. “Last year's engagement party was such a grand affair, yet it ended up being a joke for the Fletcher family. They even lost a billion in funds for nothing.” “Who in Yannopolis doesn't know about this? Mr. Fletcher really went all out, spending a billion to get rid of the coffin child.” “He's famously carefree, yet he almost led Fletcher Corporation to a financial crisis they nearly didn't survive!” “Well, I heard that this time, Old Mr. Fletcher spared no expense to invite a renowned master. She was specifically brought in to change the fortune of Fletcher Corporation. I believe she's expected to arrive today.” “What master?” “People on the streets only refer to her as the elder, Her Excellency,” said the man, pointing mysteriously and gossipingly at a handsome, mature man in a suit opposite him. “You know about Xuereb Corporation that went bankrupt three years ago, right? They were framed, fell into debt, and went bankrupt. The father jumped off a building, committing suicide, and his son, Harvey Xuereb, ended up behind bars. Three years later, it was Her Excellency who lent a helping hand to Harvey, enabling the Xuereb family to rise from the ashes within a short span of a year. The family business swiftly climbed the ranks, entering the top ten in Yannopolis. Look, that's Harvey.” Onlookers sighed in awe, their anticipation growing for the arrival of this legendary master. They couldn't help but wonder about her true identity. Over here, Jared pulled his son into a corner, solemnly instructing him, “Her Excellency will be here soon. Remember, you must bring Vivian with you and bow to her in front of everyone as soon as possible. Respectfully request her to take the main seat.” Christopher had also heard of the elder's reputation. In just a span of one year, her reputation soared in Yannopolis. Countless companies teetering on the brink of bankruptcy were revived solely by her words, flourishing once more. There was a legend that still circulated today. Her Excellency's words were worth their weight in gold, each sentence valued at a hundred million. “Dad, don't worry. I've spoken with Vivian. She'll do as instructed.” Over the course of the past year, the Fletcher family had nearly faced bankruptcy. To weather the crisis, he had steeled himself and visited all his relatives and various banks, yet not one had dared to lend him money. He had felt the cold sting of the world's disdain, enduring countless humiliations. Now, Christopher had come to understand. If the elder could restore Fletcher Corporation to its former glory at the top of Yannopolis' rankings, he would be more than willing to lick her shoes if he were asked to, let alone bow to her. Anyone addressed with the respectful title of “Her Excellency” must be quite old, probably a sweet, white-haired grandmother, right? Bowing in public to elders isn't embarrassing; consider it a form of respect. The engagement party that day was, on the surface, a celebration of his commitment to Vivian. However, in reality, it was a strategic move to leverage the prestige of the elder in Yannopolis to reestablish the influence of Fletcher Corporation. Once the elder spoke, Fletcher Corporation would regain its top position in Yannopolis. Their rise to power was imminent. He wouldn't let any of those who had once humiliated him for money off the hook. Christopher's eyes narrowed slightly, a fleeting glint of malice flashing in them. “Her Excellency has arrived!” someone shouted. Everyone's gaze, filled with respect and anticipation, shifted toward the entrance of the banquet hall.