Chapter 18

In the next few days, the city grew increasingly excited about the Swallow Central investment conference. The legate and his wife became a hot topic. There was then further news that Battle Warrior Lucas was back in Swallowston and Swallow Central was locked down in preparation for the conference. This sent ripples throughout Swallowston. *** The day of the conference finally arrived. All the invited corporations and families went to Swallow Central to attend the conference. Every one of them was excited to see the legate and his wife. Samantha did not go to the office that morning but was instead spacing out at home. No one knew what was on her mind. Adrian, on the other hand, had left home early in the morning. Even Samantha had no idea where he had gone. “What’s on your mind, Sam?” Rue saw her spacing out on the couch and asked. Samantha looked at Rue and replied, “Mother, something feels off today. I feel as if something big is going to happen. My eyelid keeps twitching.” Rue smiled. “Isn’t it the day of the investment conference? I saw a lot of people heading toward Swallow Central. Aren’t you going to the office today?” “We have a holiday today because too many people wish to see the legate,” Samanta replied. “Well, since you aren’t going to work, just take a good rest.” Samantha nodded. Adaline walked over and asked, “Sam, do you know where my brother went so early in the morning?” Samantha shook her head. “No idea. He’s been like that for the past few days. I don’t know where he goes.” Adaline was tired. She remembered that Adrian said he would get Samantha an invitation to the conference, but it seemed like he had been lying. At that moment, Samantha’s phone rang, and it was a call that she did not want to pick up. It was Clara. “Hello, Clara. What do you want?” she asked after begrudgingly answering it. “Haha! Samantha, I just want to tell you that our family is heading to the conference. Didn’t Adrian say he was going to get you an invitation? Where is it?” Clara taunted Samantha through the phone. The Cowells next to her giggled. Samantha ignored them and hung up. She wanted to attend the conference too. If she did, the House of Bailar would have a chance to secure a spot at Swallow Central. She could then immediately turn the company around. At last, she had not received an invitation. *** Suddenly, there was the sound of a car door closing. The three women looked outside. A middle-aged man in uniform walked in with a few soldiers. The man had a one-star insignia on his shoulder. When the three women saw the insignia, they were shocked. They could tell that this man was important. “Sorry, you are?” “Greetings, my ladies, I am Derek Woods. I work for the legate. He had instructed us to come here and give you a ride to the investment conference,” the man named Derek said politely to the three women. Samantha was stunned, Adaline was surprised, and Rue was shocked. Samantha said, “General Woods, did I hear you correctly? You’re here to take us to the conference?” Derek nodded. The legate had arranged for this. He replied, “Affirmative. We should get going now.” Derek stretched out his arm to gesture toward the car. The three women were still stunned. Adaline said, “Sam, what’s happening? Why is the legate inviting us?” Samantha shook her head. She had no idea what was going on either. “General, may I know what exactly is going on here?” Samantha asked. “Ms. Samantha, I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to speak about that. You’ll find out when you get there,” he replied. “All right.” Samantha ceased her questioning and got into the car. The three of them got in and they drove toward Swallow Central. Throughout the entire journey, they looked confused as they had no idea what was happening. *** Soon after, Derek led the trio to the conference venue. It was being held on the rooftop garden of a building. Derek said, “This way please.” The trio walked toward the building, still looking confused. When they got to the door, they saw Clara and the others who were queueing up to enter. “Samantha, what are you doing here without an invitation?” Clara said when she saw Samantha. “Are you trying to follow us? No way. You’ll humiliate us.” Nathan said angrily when he thought Samantha was trying to get in with them. Hugo hurriedly said to Violet, “Mother, we can’t let her enter with us or our reputation will be tarnished.” Samantha was a nobody and the Cowells were proud people. Violet was shocked. If Samantha entered with them, everyone would laugh at them. Her temper rose. “Get out of here, Samantha. Have you not brought enough shame to the family?” Samantha felt terrible. Adaline did not care who Violet was and yelled back at her, “Why are you making so much noise, you old woman? Who says we’re going in with you?” “What did you just call me?” Violet glared at Adaline. “Rue, you need to discipline your daughter. She has no respect for the elderly,” Violet complained to Rue. Rue immediately apologized because she was just a lowly housewife. Violet scoffed and said, “The Cowells are now part of the affluent families. You need to actually be capable to be part of us. Now, get as far away from us as possible!” She pointed at somewhere far away and everyone there jeered. Clara added, “This woman will do anything to get what she wants.” Samantha felt as if she had been stabbed in the gut after hearing what her family said, but she did not retort. She simply left with Rue and Adaline. However, what the Cowells did not see was that the trio went in through the VIP entrance along with Derek. “Mother, we should be careful of Samantha. We can’t let her pretend to be part of the family to get in.” Nathan was still worried.