Chapter 7

Osbert assumed that Warren had taken a liking to Zelda. In order to ingratiate him, he naturally agreed, "Of course, whatever you say." Seeing Osbert's respectful manner toward Warren, Edric's face instantly lit up with a smile. If a man of Warren's stature took an interest in Zelda, it could resolve the Cantrell family's pressing issues. Warren finally understood why Damian had insisted he come to find Osbert. It turned out it was all for Zelda. His curiosity grew even stronger. Back when Damian was in Daprein, he had countless women pursuing him, numbering in the thousands. But he was as indifferent as a log, showing no interest in any of them. Yet now, he was letting Warren take action because of a woman. Once they entered the private room, Osbert quickly spoke up with flattery, "Mr. Frazier, do you know when Munoz Group is hosting their banquet? Will we have a chance to attend?" Warren lazily lifted his eyelids. This time, he was here under the name of Munoz Group. In truth, the company was planning a project in Phoypolis and needed a partner. Propping his chin up with his hand, he replied, "The banquet is probably in two weeks. You'll likely hear the announcement soon. As Phoypolis' top dog, you'll definitely have a spot, Mr. Ferguson." Osbert's eyes nearly disappeared from how wide he smiled. Laughing heartily, he continued, "It would be my great fortune to work with Munoz Group. I'd be grateful if you could put in a good word for me, Mr. Frazier. Whatever you need, just let me know." Munoz Group was the leading business conglomerate in Daprein. If Osbert could establish a connection with them, his business prospects would expand significantly. Success was almost guaranteed. The word had already leaked about the Munoz family coming to Phoypolis. However, no official representative had shown up until now, with Warren finally stepping forward to reveal his identity. Every president in Phoypolis had been scrambling to meet with him. "The head of Munoz Group has personally come to Phoypolis. I'm not the one making the decisions here." Warren's tone remained nonchalant, though his gaze briefly lingered on Zelda. However, he quickly shifted his attention back and continued, "But I'll give you a tip—Mr. Munoz just got married and dotes on his wife. If you want to win him over, you might be wise to start by winning over Mrs. Munoz." Osbert was somewhat surprised. Logically, the marriage of Munoz Group's head would be a big deal, and he should have received some information about it. So, he asked, "I heard he's been single for years. When did he get married?" "Not long ago. Haven't you heard? Mr. Munoz had never had any women around him before. So if he married someone this quickly, it must mean he's head over heels for her. You'll get more done by winning her favor," Warren said with a knowing smile. "Do you know the woman's name, Mr. Frazier?" Osbert asked eagerly. "I wouldn't know. That depends on your judgment," Warren said, trailing off halfway through his response. Then, he changed the topic. "Alright, let's eat. I've heard the food at the Crescent Hotel is excellent." Zelda sat in the farthest corner, keeping her head down without touching her cutlery. As everyone began to eat, Edric gave her a nudge and whispered in her ear, "Go offer Mr. Ferguson a toast." She didn't move. Seeing this, Edric's expression hardened. He threatened in a low voice, "Zelda, don't forget your grandfather's situation." Suddenly, Zelda stood up from her seat. The people in the private room turned their attention to her. She lowered her gaze and mumbled, "I… I need to go to the restroom." Without waiting for a reply, she quickly left the private room. Edric was furious, but with the private room filled with prominent figures, he couldn't let his temper show. As Zelda stepped out, she finally felt like she could breathe again. The atmosphere inside had been suffocating. She felt like nothing more than a bargaining chip at the men's table, ready to be traded at any moment. She splashed cold water on her face and stared at her pale reflection in the mirror. Her grandfather was still in the hospital, and she had already arranged for his transfer. The earliest anything could be done was in a week. Until then, she had to stay in the Cantrell residence and keep Edric pacified. "What's wrong? You look a bit pale." A low, familiar voice suddenly came from behind her. Zelda froze for a moment, then turned around to see Damian standing there. She hadn't even noticed when he had appeared behind her. Zelda quickly composed herself and asked with a hint of curiosity, "What are you doing here?" The Crescent Hotel was the most expensive in Phoypolis and operated on an exclusive VIP system. Only the wealthy and powerful could enter. She wondered how Damian had gotten in. Damian's lips curled into a slight smile as he countered with, "How do you think I got in?" Zelda glanced at him. Today, Damian was dressed casually—a black long-sleeved shirt paired with matching pants. Even with such simple attire, he still exuded an undeniable air of elegance and wealth. Given his profession, Zelda could make a guess. She asked softly, "Are you here accompanying a sugar mommy—ahem, a client?" After hearing Zelda's response, Damian's smile deepened. He decided not to explain further and simply nodded in agreement. "Yes." "Wow, I didn't realize your job involved this kind of… companionship. You must be exhausted," Zelda remarked with a touch of sympathy. Damian relaxed his brows and said casually, "It is. This time, the client is a woman who weighs over 200 pounds." Zelda choked on her breath at the mention of "200 pounds". She coughed, her eyes welling up with tears. She opened her mouth. After a long pause, she finally managed to stammer out a few words, "The money you're earning… must be hard-earned." Seeing Zelda's flustered reaction, Damian's mood improved significantly. He lowered his gaze and chuckled softly. "Well, now that I have a family, I need to work hard to make money." Zelda rubbed her nose with embarrassment. She assumed Damian was working hard to help her and said earnestly, "I… I might not understand your industry, but you should take care of your health and not overwork yourself. "Also, you don't need to worry about my family matter. I've contacted other hospitals, and they should arrive within a week." "Are you worried about me?" Damian's tall figure suddenly bent down as he whispered near her ear in a deep, magnetic voice. Zelda finched like a startled rabbit, jumping away instantly. "Well, you are my legal husband now, and I don't want anything to happen to you." Damian straightened up, no longer teasing her. "The day after tomorrow, my grandma will be coming to Phoypolis. She wants to meet you. Do you have time?" "When exactly?" Zelda steadied herself. She and Damian's marriage was a mutual arrangement. As long as the request wasn't too unreasonable, she would agree. "The day after tomorrow evening. Come to my place for dinner with my grandma," Damian said. "Alright, I'll make sure to come." Zelda nodded. "Good, I'll prepare a gift for you to give my grandma. Just show up," Damian said. Zelda nodded quickly. As soon as Damian finished speaking, she hurried out without looking back.