Chapter 6 Cindy Riley

"Cindy has grown up so fast. The last time I saw you, you were just in your teens," Axel said with some nostalgia. Thomas's granddaughter was named Cindy Riley. "Are you Joel?" Cindy suddenly turned to Joel. "Yes, yes, that's me," Joel replied, feeling both nervous and excited. "You don't seem all that impressive. Grandpa said you were cunning, ruthless, and capable of achieving great things," Cindy scoffed. At her words, Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon all looked slightly taken aback, while Logan seemed especially uncomfortable. Joel's face turned red. The Kanes were ruthless and treacherous back then. Taking advantage of the Fyres' rage, they seized the opportunity to crush the Howells during their time of crisis, even going so far as to have several of the Howells killed. Everyone in the upper circles of Fregend knew about this. However, no one dared to bring it up or intentionally provoke the Kanes, especially not in a situation like this. "Hahaha ... Let's go inside. Come on, let's go," Logan muttered, seething with anger but not daring to lash out. He quickly gestured for Axel, Thomas, and the others to enter the hotel. Thomas walked alongside his granddaughter, Cindy. "Cindy, what's going on...?" Others might not fully grasp how outstanding Cindy was, but Thomas, as her grandfather, knew her better than anyone. He wouldn't believe for a moment that she would speak out of turn without a reason. There had to be something behind her words. "I just can't stand the Kanes. They betrayed their master, and no matter how high they climb, they're nothing but opportunistic traitors," Cindy said calmly, not bothering to lower her voice. Logan and Joel, who were leading the way, both flinched slightly, but pretended they didn't hear. "You!" Thomas chuckled, shaking his head. No wonder his granddaughter insisted on coming today—it was all so she could confront them directly. His granddaughter was still too young, caught up in the concepts of right and wrong, good and evil. When she became truly mature, she would realize that in this world, it's often a matter of power, not morality. "What others say doesn't matter. What matters is the result," Axel said, offering a comforting word to Logan, who was leading the way. "Of course." Logan quickly nodded. Logan couldn't help but sense Axel's unexpected goodwill toward the Kanes. He found it strange, but more than that, he felt excited. No matter the reason, if the Solomons had a positive view of the Kanes, it could only be beneficial. An idea suddenly crossed Logan's mind. After hesitating for a moment, he quietly said, "Mr. Solomon, the Kanes bought several old houses in the eastern part of the city. I heard you're a fan of collecting antiques and old properties, maybe ... " Axel was taken aback, then a wider smile appeared on his slightly weathered face. "In three months, I'll be celebrating my 80th birthday. Logan, you and Joel are both welcome to join." Logan's breath trembled with excitement at those words. Indeed, he's after those old houses. He had long heard that Axel was interested in the properties the Kanes had purchased, so just now, he tentatively mentioned it. Hahaha ... Logan almost burst out laughing! After all his scheming to get close to the Solomons or the Rileys, he never imagined it would come so easily. Before long, guided by Logan and Joel, Thomas, Cindy, Axel and his wife, and the others entered the wedding hall. The hall was extravagant, entirely decorated with red crystal, creating a stunning effect. Vibrant roses formed a sea of flowers, and a hundred tables were spread throughout the floral display. At the front of the hall, on either side, were Celestia's famous singer Jessica Layn and one of the top five pianists in Celestia, Wendy Wane, performing a cheerful, festive song. As Axel and Thomas entered, the entire hall immediately stood in unison. Even the music played by Jessica and Wendy came to a sudden stop. "Mr. Riley, good to see you." "Mr. Solomon, it's a pleasure. I'm ... " ... The hall was filled with respectful, eager, and cautious greetings, a clear reflection of the Solomons' and the Rileys' status in Fregend. This was a level of influence the Kanes could never hope to achieve. Logan and Joel walked with their heads held high, brimming with pride. After all, who else could host a wedding and have the heads of both the Rileys and the Solomons in attendance? This kind of honor was something that would be remembered for years to come. Amidst the greetings, there were also countless admiring glances directed at Cindy. Cindy's beauty was striking, standing out even among the many heiress and socialites from Fregend gathered in the hall. "Grandpa, you go ahead and sit at the main table. I'll find a place in the corner," Cindy said, clearly uneasy about being the focus of so many lingering gazes. Given her dislike for the Kanes, she wasn't willing to join her grandfather at the main table. "Alright." Thomas was fond of Cindy and agreed without hesitation. "Mr. Kane, my apologies. She's a bit spoiled and can be willful," Thomas said with a smile. "Ms. Riley is straightforward," Logan was frustrated and tempted to snap at Cindy, but he kept his composure. He maintained his appearance and said, "Shall we head to the main table?"