Chapter 49

Hector couldn't deny his feelings for Leyla, and knowing she had acted with him in mind, he found it hard to be harsh with her.

However, since his family was all angry with her now, he leaned in close to murmur, "Go on home," before turning his back to rejoin them.

Left standing alone, Leyla refused to let the Murrays see even a flicker of defeat in her. Her chin lifted, her grievances swallowed, and she strode away without looking back.

In her mind, it wasn't only her dignity that had been bruised-she was certain the Murray family had been equally shamed.

After all, they had thrown an extravagant welcome-home banquet, complete with a towering champagne display, yet the turnout had been pitiful.

Soon enough, she was convinced, the high society would be snickering at the Murrays behind closed doors.

Part of her wanted to linger by the entrance, clinging to the hope of running into Sean.

Instead, Jordy's voice cut through her thoughts. "Aren't you leaving?"

She shot him a sharp glare. "Whether I go or stay is none of your business-you're just a servant. Know your place!"

His face didn't so much as twitch as he responded, "You're right. I'm just a servant. But you seem to have forgotten-you're no longer part of the Murray family. That gives me the right to show you the door."

"You-" The word snapped from her lips, but the thought of creating more trouble for herself, especially with the Clarke family inside, kept her from saying more. She stalked off with a glare instead.

Back inside the hall, Miguel made his way to Stella and Eliana, bowing low in gratitude.

Stella quickly reached out to steady him. "Mr. Clarke, please, there's no need for such formality." Miguel shook his head. "There is every need. Without your daughter,I'd already be nothing more than ashes in an urn."

The words made Tristan's gaze snap sharply toward Eliana.

Recognition hit him instantly-she was Stella's daughter.

The questions that had clouded his mind-why she would risk her life storming into the Fist Guild gym for Sean,how she had known about his engagement to Miss Murray-were answered all at once.

He understood now that her goal was for him to be the one to end their engagement on her behalf.

Feeling the weight of Tristan's stare, Eliana shifted slightly, avoiding his eyes. "Mr. Clarke, there's no need for such formality..," she said softly.

Stella, oblivious to Eliana's unease, turned her attention to their guest. With visitors arriving, joy lit her expression. "How are you feeling these days, Mr. Clarke?" she asked warmly.

"I'm doing much better. Not long ago, I couldn't even manage daily tasks, but now I'm attending a banquet,"Miguel replied with a faint smile.

"We're honored you came in person. Please, have a seat," Stella said with genuine sincerity.

"Of course," Miguel nodded and settled into a chair.

Turning next to Tristan, Stella added, "Mr. Pearson, please sit as well."

Tristan's nod came with a look toward Eliana-brief, pointed, and unreadable-before he moved past her to sit.

The two guests who had been on the verge of leaving quickly reconsidered. Seeing such influential figures seated at the table, they hurried to join them.

Sharing a table with such influential company sent a thrill through them, erasing any trace of earlier disappointment.

It didn't take long for word to spread-both the Clarke and Pearson families had shown up at the Murray banquet.

Within an hour, the once nearly empty banquet hall had swelled with people, many of whom hadn't even been invited.

The commotion reached the White family soon enough.

Addie's brow furrowed. "The Clarke family? Weren't they always on bad terms with the Murray family? Why would they show up now-especially when the Murrays have fallen?"

Zach's eyes narrowed. "Forget the Clarke family. The real question is-why is Tristan there?"

That was the point worth worrying over-how Tristan truly viewed the Murrays

In Qidence, his name alone carried enough weight to shift the balance in any circle.

Silence hung between them until Zach's eyes drifted toward Brenda, who sat quietly on the sofa. "Brenda."

Her head lifted in mild surprise.

"I want you to take two gifts and pay the Murray family a visit," Zach said evenly.

Brenda's eyes went wide."Dad, have you lost it? I'm about to get engaged to Cullen, and you want me walking into the Murrays' place now?"

With a frown, Zach said, "This isn't about doing favors forthe Murray family. It's about Tristan. The Pearson Group's expansion this year is centered in Qidence, and we can't afford not to establish a link with him."

Earlier in the year, Zach had spent months shuttling between Qidence and Eighvale, searching for a way into the Pearson family's circle.

At one point, he had even put himself on the line, stepping in to help a woman against the Onyx Syndicate,hoping she would open the door to Tristan.

All that effort had gone nowhere-the woman still hadn't introduced them-and in the end, he'd returned to Qidence empty-handed.

Now, to his irritation, the Murrays-whom they had deliberately kept at arm's length-were already in

Tristan's orbit.

Fixing Brenda with a steady look, he added, "When you're there, make sure Tristan notices you.If you can't manage that, at least figure out exactly where he stands with the Murrays."

Brenda let out a sharp laugh. "So if Tristan's close to the Murray family, you expect me to what? Dump Cullen and run back to that cripple? Forget it! That's never happening. I couldn't stand Darnon even before-dense as a stone, that one. You shoved me into that relationship, and now that he's stuck in a wheelchair,I wouldn't go near him if my life depended on it."

Zach's expression darkened instantly. "Who said anything about you getting back with him? I'm telling you to gather information and get Tristan to notice you. What nonsense are you spouting? And is that any way to speak to me?"

Turning her,head sharply, Brenda snapped,"I'm not going. If you want to play matchmaker, you do it yourself."

She knew exactly what the Murray family thought of her.

Walking into their banquet would be like stepping straight into a wall of mockery.

Brenda wasn't the kind to swallow her pride, and she had no intenion of subjecting herself to that humiliation.

Zach's voice dropped to a cold threat. "Not going? Okay. From today on, you won't be leaving this house.Forget about your engagement banquet with Cullen too."

Truthfully, Cullen had never been his ideal choice.

The only reason Zach had allowed the engagement was to prevent the Murray family from pushing Damon onto her.

Brenda's eyes widened, disbelief written all over her face. "You're threatening me now?"

"I-" Zach started to retort.

Before tempers could flare any further, Addie stepped in, taking Zach by the arm. "Honey, don't work yourself up. You know what the doctor said about your blood pressure."

Turning to Brenda, Addie said firmly, "Brenda, say sorry to your father."

Neither Zach nor Brenda budged, both turning their heads away in silent defiance.

A thought suddenly lit inAddie's mind, and she spoke again. "Honey, maybe this isn't the right time for Brenda to show her face at the Murray family's banquet. Why don't we send Barry instead?"

Zach's brows pulled together. "Barry? Why are you bringing him into this?"

Leaning in close,Addie murmured something in Zach's ear. Slowly, the tension in his face eased.

"So you're thinking we set Barry up with that Murray daughter who just came back from the countryside?"

Addie said with a faint smile, "That's exactly it. If the Murrays really are tight with the Pearsons, we can't keep avoiding them. But if Barry marries their daughter, the whole situation flips in our favor."

Zach rubbed his chin, his voice losing some of its bite. "What if she's not interested in him?"

Barry's name had been dragged through the mud more than once.

Addie replied, "She's just a girl from the countryside. She probably doesn't know better. And with the Murrays losing influence, Barry's still a solid prospect for her. When I spoke with her the other day, she struck me as the type who'd jump at the chance to marry into money-naive and eager."