Chapter 668

Evelyn was deep in thought.

Crunch.

The sharp sound of cracking seeds abruptly shattered the silence.

Eleanor Vance and Fiona Vance turned at the noise.

Seeing Alexander Vance, Eleanor quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her face breaking into a smile. "You rascal, you brought my granddaughter-in-law home!"

Alexander clenched his fists.

He stepped forward, his voice low and firm. "Grandmother, don't worry. I won't move against the main branch. The Vance family... let them have it."

"Nonsense!"

Eleanor immediately scolded him.

Her tone was resolute. "The Vance family is the fortune I built penny by penny. Vance Group was founded by my own hands. If you don't want it, how long do you think those people from the main branch can hold on? Vance Group will inevitably be ruined by them. I only trust you."

Alexander was taken aback.

Eleanor patted his hand. "What I said earlier was just the ramblings of an old woman. Don't take it to heart. Alexander, your grandmother is old and soft-hearted now. If it were my younger years, I would have long kicked the main branch out and never put you in such a difficult position... I just hope you don't resent me for it."

"How could I?"

Alexander supported her arm. "You will always be my dearest person."

"How could I be your dearest?" Eleanor glanced at Evelyn, smiling as she took Evelyn's hand and placed it in Alexander's palm. "From now on, she is your dearest person!"

Evelyn and Alexander looked at each other.

They shared a smile.

Natalie Castillo circled the group once.

She clicked her tongue. "Tsk tsk, looks quite harmonious on the surface. Pity it's only surface-level."

She turned to Eleanor. "Old lady, indecision invites disaster. For a great family to grow, you must prune the obstructive branches. Only then can it grow tall and go far. With your soft heart, all you're leaving for Alexander is a mess."

Everyone fell silent simultaneously.

Eleanor's expression stiffened.

Alexander sharply rebuked, "Natalie Castillo, shut your mouth!"

Natalie wanted to retort.

But Evelyn had already spoken coldly. "Shut up."

Her voice was lower than Alexander's.

Yet Natalie inexplicably shuddered and reluctantly closed her mouth.

Eleanor sighed. "It was my foolishness..."

Alexander immediately said, "Grandmother, let me help you inside first."

Eleanor nodded.

After Alexander helped the old lady inside, Evelyn finally looked at Natalie.

She narrowed her eyes. "You talk too much."

Natalie pouted. "I'm doing this for your own good too. If Vance Group were completely under Alexander's control, it would become your greatest asset. After all, you've set your heart on him..."

She spat out a seed shell. "You should understand that to win the heir competition, you must gather all available forces. Vance Group is currently developing rapidly, its momentum rivaling the Five Great Families. If you control it, you gain the support of another major family, which is more beneficial for your future development. You..."

Evelyn lowered her gaze. "Do you think Alexander and I don't understand these things?"

Natalie pouted. "I'm just afraid Alexander might be swayed by the old lady, promising her that even after she passes, he won't touch the main branch, leaving Vance Group in this ambiguous state forever!"

Evelyn looked at her coldly. "How do you think Alexander got to where he is today? Indecisiveness has never been his character."

Just like Sophia Watson back then.

His savior in name.

But the moment Alexander learned the truth, Sophia Watson was completely discarded by him.

Alexander has always been decisive and ruthless.

Natalie was stunned. "What do you mean?"

Evelyn stated directly, "The reason the old lady dares not let go of her last breath is her worry about the main branch's situation after she's gone. If she knew that whether she dies early or late, the outcome for the main branch would be the same, what do you think she would do?"

Natalie suddenly understood. "So Alexander never intended to spare the main branch? He's just using them to keep the old lady alive?"

Evelyn frowned. "Finally, you understand."

Natalie pouted. "Then I really don't get it. She already has the appearance of certain death. Why drag it out?"

Evelyn's jaw tightened. "Because that's what family is like."

Natalie was stunned. "What?"

Evelyn's voice was low. "That's what family is like. You wish them a long life, hoping to have them by your side for one more day."

Natalie lowered her head and said nothing more.

Evelyn warned, "If you want to follow me, fine. But from now on, think carefully about what should be said and what shouldn't before you speak. Understand?"

Natalie pouted in grievance. "Got it."

...

That night, Evelyn and Alexander stayed at the Vance residence.

Their room was right next to Eleanor's.

Alexander had a bedroom prepared here.

Natalie stayed in a guest room nearby.

Early the next morning.

Robert Vance arrived with Richard Evans and Julian Evans.

Robert spoke directly to the old lady. "Mother, Julian is getting married again. The last wedding was quite a spectacle. This time, we wanted to discuss if we could give Julian some capital to make the wedding more splendid."

Eleanor's hair was white.

She looked up and asked, "Getting married again? Who is it this time? I hope it's not another Isabella Ashcroft."

"No, no."

Richard quickly said. "This time, it's definitely a socialite from New York. Cecilia helped find her. We met yesterday. The girl's name is Victoria Lawrence. She's a well-known socialite in New York and also the head of a charity organization."

Eleanor frowned. "Does Julian agree?"

Everyone looked at Julian simultaneously.

Evelyn was having breakfast with the old lady and also glanced over.

At this glance, she was slightly taken aback.

The current Julian was completely different from before.

He seemed to have lost his soul,整个人颓丧萎靡, indifferent to everything around him.

Even when the old lady mentioned him, he only lifted his eyes briefly before lowering his head again, immersed in his own world.

Richard gave him a push. "He agrees. Julian is very satisfied with Victoria."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes.

Very satisfied? He certainly doesn't look it.

She raised an eyebrow, already having a guess in her heart.

Robert spoke up. "Mother, you might not know yet. The reputation of this Miss Ross by your side is already ruined. Any group associated with her is now facing backlash from shareholders. Ashcroft Group's stock price plummeted ten percent today. Under Vance Group's official social media posts, it's all骂声, everyone urging Alexander to break off the engagement with her."

Eleanor stated firmly, "We cannot do that. No matter what Evelyn has done, we cannot kick someone when they're down."

Robert choked, coughing twice. "You're right. So we've thought of a way: have Julian marry Victoria. There's a saying in New York: Victoria represents a good reputation. Whoever marries her gains a good reputation in New York's social circles!"

Richard immediately附和, "Exactly, Grandmother. So we must give Victoria a sufficient dowry to show our sincerity. What do you think about giving five percent of Vance Group shares? That would truly show our诚意."

Five percent.

Previously, Eleanor had already transferred some shares to Alexander.

If she gave them another five percent, their influence in Vance Group would significantly increase.

Giving them shares would mean creating trouble for Alexander.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Evelyn's lips.