At Spencer and Peggy's home
Peggy was sitting on the sofa, nursing her swollen face and glaring furiously at Spencer. She gritted
her teeth as she said, "Why did you do this to me, Spencer Mu? How could you side with Ashley and
slap me in front of so many people? You are supposed to stand up for me!"
Peggy's sharp, dramatic voice brought a frown to Spencer's face and he lost his patience. "Do you
have any idea what you're talking about?" he barked. "Do you know who the man standing next to
Ashley was? He has enough money to finish our family in the blink of an eye! How dare you act against
him! You'd be happy to see our family go to dust, wouldn't you?"
Peggy couldn't believe her ears. "But Ashley shouldn't be able to know someone like that!" she said
petulantly. "Just be honest and tell me whether you've been wanting to hit me for a while and used this
as the perfect occasion to shame me. Are you tired of me?" Peggy kept up with her questions. She was
now making a scene, which further irritated Spencer.
He pointed at Peggy and roared, "Why can't you just understand? Why do you have to be so
annoying? I have explained clearly that we can't afford to be that man's enemy. You were there and you
saw how much he cared for Ashley. Did you stop to even think of what disastrous consequences would
have awaited us if you had continued treating Ashley like you did? There would be no room in J City for
our family if the man had truly become enraged!
Even Clyde spoke deferentially to that man. Or didn't you notice that? You are way too insensitive, and
you only care about how you can squander money every day with your rich lady friends. And you don't
even think of trying and getting to know more about the circle!"
Peggy sneered. "Hah, Spencer Mu, you are now becoming dissatisfied with me, aren't you? You dislike
me for using your money. And you hate me for never earning any back. You've started to loathe me
because of the money, haven't you?
But guess what? I have so many appointments with those rich ladies—just for you! I keep trying to
break into their circle and know more about them, but it looks like you think of me as just another
woman addicted to vanity!"
Spencer frowned again as he looked at the woman he had been married to for more than twenty years.
He sighed and tried to mollify her. "I didn't mean it like that. Don't take it seriously."
"Mom? Dad? What are you doing? Mom, are you okay? Why are you sitting on the floor?" Lena's voice
sounded from the door of the parlor. Surprised at the scene in front of her, she hurried in to help her
mother up.
As Raymond's fiancee, Lena had to entertain the guests at the party with him. She didn't leave the Luo
family until all the guests had left.
Spencer, on the other hand, had taken Peggy home early to avoid more embarrassment, considering
that Peggy was already in such a mood.
When Lena saw her mother's swollen face, her voice was laced with worry as she said, "Mom, your
face must hurt. Let me call a doctor to get it treated."
Peggy jerked her head away as she looked at Spencer accusingly. "You know who did this to me."
Lena turned to look at her father. "Dad, I know that Mom made a mistake, but you didn't have to fly into
such a temper and hit her so hard," she said, clearly unhappy with her father's behavior.
Spencer opened his mouth to defend himself, but Lena threw him a look that silenced him. She turned
around to comfort her mother. "Mom, let's go upstairs and get some rest."
After making sure that her mother had settled into bed upstairs, Lena walked down and saw her father
sitting on the sofa, smoking. She frowned and said, concerned, "Dad, perhaps you should cut down on
your smoking. You know it's not good for health."
Hearing his daughter's concern, Spencer smiled slightly and put his cigarette away. Spencer was fond
of Lena. He appreciated her perfect manner and her excellent school record. And now, she was
Raymond's fiancee, something that could improve the connections between the two families.
"How is Peggy?" he asked.
Lena sat down next to her father and responded, "You know what Mom is like when she works up a
temper. You slapped her in front of everyone at the party, so it's natural for her to get upset and angry
right now."
"If I hadn't hit her, our family would have been at the risk of collapsing," Spencer said, sighing.
Lena rolled her eyes. But she brightened as thought struck her. She asked, "Dad, is the man really so
powerful? Is he truly the CEO of the Lu Group?" Lena gazed at her father in curiosity and confusion.
Spencer nodded and said, "It's true. Although I didn't see for myself to confirm his identity, Clyde said
he was and treated him with so much respect. How could this be false?"
Lena grew more confident of her idea and asked Spencer, "Dad, what do you think I'm really like?"
Spencer looked at Lena, confused at where she was going with this. She had been given the best of
everything in her life so far. She was cultured and educated, and had grown into an elegant lady.
Everything that he and Peggy did well, Lena excelled in. There was no doubt in his mind that she was
an amazing woman.
He smiled and said confidently, "My daughter is the best in this world."
She heard her father loud and clear, following which she asked a question that was surprising and
shocking. "Then if a man has to choose between me and Ashley, who do you think he will pick?"
Spencer frowned. "Lena, what are you planning?" he asked worriedly. "I need to warn you that this man
cannot be played with. A tiny mistake can put the whole family at risk. The fate of this family is at that
man's mercy. Don't underestimate him. Besides, you are now Raymond's fiancee."
Lena became upset about her father's last sentence. She thought, 'Fiancee? That's not a big deal. I'm
not yet married to Raymond. Anything is possible even now and if Raymond falls for Ashley, I can give
them an opportunity to make their marriage happen while I have my Andrew.'
Lena became excited at the mere thought of that man. She regretted not knowing about this man who
was from J City's most prominent family, one that could bring her fame and money.
She plotted her next moves. 'Ashley is but an orphan whose life depended on my kind family. Were it
not for us, she would never have gotten a chance to meet that man.
If I could steal Raymond from Ashley, then I can make Andrew love me better than he loves Ashley as
well. After all, I am superior to her in all aspects!'
Flames of ambition burned like fire and danced in Lena's eyes as she made up her mind to win Andrew
from Ashley.
"Thank you for your advice, Dad. I know what I'm doing. I will never do anything to harm the Mu Group.
Just wait and watch, Dad. I will make our family prosper and flourish, and make it stronger than every
family in the city!" Lena said determinedly.
Spencer gazed at his daughter with fondness and pride. He knew that she would never stray from the
right path. He didn't say anything in response but he could feel his concerns disappear. His Lena
always got things done and never disappointed him.
"Alright, Dad. It's late. I need to go to sleep now. You should get some rest too," Lena said, waved at
her father, and went upstairs. The prospect of owning that man exhilarated her. She must now add
flesh to the bones of her plan to approach the man and let him fall in love with her. She had to make
sure that that plan was perfect.
Lena went back to her bedroom, sank comfortable into her big-sized bed, and immersed herself in
thoughts of Andrew's gorgeous and extremely attractive face, which made her heartbeat quicken.
She never felt like this with Raymond. She thought, 'I guess this is natural. Raymond is nothing but a
second-hand man that I got from Ashley. Andrew's charm dwarfs Raymond!'
A memory shot through her mind that caused her to jump out of her bed.
She vaguely remembered Peggy threatening to get Ashley married off to some other man so that
Ashley could break up with Raymond. The man that Ashley had been forced to marry was
Andrew!
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