Katelyn had been so focused on retrieving the kite from the tree for the kids that she completely missed the commotion below.

Only Annie’s scream drew her attention, prompting her to hurry over and witness the entire scene unfold. Had Annie made advances toward Vincent, only to be rejected?

Struggling to her feet and clutching her chest, Annie’s eyes still burned with a mix of defiance and resolve.

“You may reject me now,” Annie said, “but once you’ve had a taste, you’ll never want to stop or push me away again.”

Despite the rejection, Annie’s confidence remained unshaken.

Vincent’s expression was cold and sharp as he warned, “If you value your ability to speak, I suggest you shut up and leave now.”

Otherwise, even he couldn’t guarantee what he might do next.

For the first time, genuine fear flickered in Annie’s demeanor.

Vincent had no qualms about being rough with her, despite her perfect appearance. But what about Katelyn, who had nothing?

Yet, he always treated Katelyn with such tenderness. Why was his behavior so different with Annie?

Seething with jealousy and resentment, Annie stormed off, casting a poisonous glance at Katelyn.

Had it not been for that woman, Vincent would never have declined her invitation.

However, Annie was determined not to let this man slip away. Securing a relationship with Vincent would dramatically elevate her status in Yata and alter her life forever.

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Katelyn observed Annie’s retreating figure with a mixture of emotions, noticing the shoe print left on Annie’s chest.

Turning her attention to Vincent, she carefully chose her words. “So, Annie was trying to charm you just now? But I thought she knew you were engaged to her cousin.”

“Just ignore her,” Vincent replied, drawing a blanket over his legs.

His pleasant demeanor had vanished, replaced by the unsettling memory of Annie’s advances.

At that moment, all Vincent wanted was to retreat to his room for a hot shower, hoping to wash away the misfortune of the day.

Sensing his sour mood, Katelyn refrained from any further conversation.

They lingered briefly in the garden before she wheeled Vincent back to his hospital room.

However, their short respite was soon interrupted by another unwanted guest at the door.

This time, it was Selina.

She had renegotiated the terms with her boss in private, and the stipulation was clear: the collaboration would proceed only if Katelyn was introduced to the royal family.

Compelled by the potential gains, Selina found herself once again approaching Katelyn, eager to persuade her.

As Selina entered the room, she wore a polite smile, masking her true intentions.

“I heard about Mr. Adams’ hospitalization and thought I’d bring some health supplements as a token of my concern,” she said.

Katelyn regarded Selina with a wary expression. Was she here for her again?

Placing the items on the table, Selina waited. Vincent watched her with a sharp, discerning gaze and asked, “Miss Hathaway, what’s the real reason for your visit today? It seems unlikely it’s just out of concern.” ? ?s? ?s FindN0vel.net

With a slight smile, Selina responded, “You’re perceptive, Mr. Adams. I’m here to propose a more advantageous agreement. I’m sure a man as sharp as you will appreciate the benefits.”

Vincent leaned back, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

He remembered Katelyn mentioning a previous encounter with Selina, though he hadn’t asked for details.

This meeting was likely related to that unresolved issue.

“Mr. Adams, you recall our earlier agreement, don’t you? With the exhibition just two months away, I understand the challenge of surrendering the castle. So, I’ve revised our agreement,” Selina said, casting a discreet glance at Katelyn.

Years in the fashion industry had sharpened her observational skills.

While the connection between Vincent and Katelyn seemed strictly professional, Selina could still sense an undercurrent of ambiguous tension.

Convincing Katelyn had been challenging, but perhaps persuading Vincent would be easier.

Vincent’s expression hardened slightly as he asked, “Revise how?”

“My only condition now is to introduce Katelyn to the royal family. It’s simple. Secure this, and I’ll sign the contract immediately, granting you exclusive access to all overseas resources,” Selina replied slowly, placing emphasis on her words to make their significance clear.

She sensed that more persuasion was needed, so she added, “Don’t worry, this arrangement won’t harm Miss Bailey at all. The person she’ll meet is…” Selina paused, carefully gauging their reaction.

“Who?” Vincent pressed.

“The king himself,” Selina said, her voice firm and confident.

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