Chapter 73
Nellie couldn’t help but chuckle. “Once I’ve sorted everything out, I’ll be there.”
Nathan was thrilled. “I’ll be waiting.”
The banquet went off without a hitch. In the past, the Rowland family’s gatherings mostly involved business folks. But this time, it was a whole different vibe, with political and cultural icons making an appearance. These were the big shots you didn’t usually see mingling with the business crowd, yet they held the purse strings to the industry’s economy. It was like a perfect blend of highbrow and lowbrow, cleansing the usual hustle and bustle with a touch of class.
The business tycoons were bending over backward to get on good terms with them. Meanwhile, the friends Benjamin had invited seemed to switch sides, cozying up to Nathan one by one. Benjamin and Paige were left out in the cold, fuming.
In one corner, Mason and Nathan’s father Andrew stood amidst the crowd. Andrew looked none too pleased.
Mason grinned, “Benjamin went all out to give Nathan a hard time but didn’t count on him having such strong allies. His plans have backfired. Maybe he’ll think twice next time.”
Andrew scoffed, “Nathan’s not just a Rowland kid; he’s also from the McCoy family. He’s got way more resources than Benjamin. But if you’re talking talent, he might give Nathan a run for his money. Let’s see how the talent show goes; he might just pull off a comeback.”
“Let’s see,” Mason replied.
During the talent show, Benjamin gave a stunning piano performance and nailed it, but Nathan didn’t even bother to step on stage. Feeling let down and annoyed, Benjamin cornered Nathan, asking, “Why didn’t you perform?”
Nathan, with an air of superiority, retorted, “Why should I? To be a circus monkey for everyone’s entertainment, like you? You might enjoy playing the monkey, but that’s not my style.”
It was like Nathan stomped all over Benjamin’s pride, leaving him utterly humiliated. At the end of the day, whether it was strategy or poise, Nathan outshone Benjamin in every possible way.
As the birthday bash wrapped up, the three generations of the Rowland family men stood at the door, seeing the guests off. Everyone had nothing but praise for Nathan. “Mr. Rowland, your grandson is calm and composed, not cocky or reckless. He’s got a bright future ahead.”
“Even at his young age, Mr. Nathan managed to bring in such bigwigs from the cultural sphere. He’s definitely one to watch.” “Mr. Rowland, with Nathan in the family, you can finally kick back and relax,” Mason’s friends said enviously.
Mason laughed, “I’ll start handing over my work to Nathan now. He’s going to step into the business world, and I hope you all can give him your support.”
It was obvious Mason was laying the groundwork for Nathan, which left Andrew feeling a bit sour and Benjamin looking even more disgruntled.
Meanwhile, Nellie had handed Cameron the divorce papers days ago. But Cameron hadn’t reacted at all, which made Nellie uneasy. She had a hunch he wouldn’t just agree to the divorce.
Lizzy, puzzled, said, “Maybe he won’t divorce you because he still has some feelings for you?”
Nellie replied, “It’s not about feelings; he just doesn’t respect me. To him, I’m nothing more than a charity case. He thinks giving me a roof over my head and a chance to study was already a huge favor, and I should be grateful beyond measure. He believes everything I do is expected, and I don’t have the right to leave him.”
Lizzy scoffed, “Typical businessman. Even his kindness comes with strings attached. If we knew he was like this, you wouldn’t even care for the crumbs he’s offering.”
