Such blatant declarations of love caused a stir, with more and more people waiting to see Lily make a fool of herself and more and more people sympathizing with Edmond.
Look how terrifying it is to be entangled by this little princess.
Edmond's attitude towards the giant LED screen outside was one of indifference and disregard.
He didn't care and didn't respond. When asked, he would just say that she had saved his life, so he couldn't be too harsh on her. Let her be.
Alistair asked him privately if he was excited to be confessed to so passionately by a young girl. Of course, of course, he was excited.
Every night when the screen lit up, he would sit by the floor-to-ceiling window in his office. His office had a full view of that LED screen. He recorded it on his phone from start to finish, for as long as it was displayed.
Even though he knew it was just an act, he was very happy.
He considered it his New Year's gift from her. It was the best birthday gift he had ever received.
… On New Year's Eve, Lily went back to the old house for the celebration.
This was the first time since she was eighteen that she had spent New Year's Eve at the Jian family house.
For the past five years, she hadn't come back, and last year she went home with Aria for the New Year.
On New Year's Eve, the whole city was decorated with lanterns and streamers, festive and joyous, except for the Jian family house, which was cold and quiet, with a heavy atmosphere.
Lily entered at half past six.
The table was already set with dishes, but no one was seated.
Brooks and Leopold were smoking on the sofa, Layla and Zoya were sitting together, chatting and watching TV, and the maid was tidying up in the kitchen.
Lily changed into slippers and walked over, glancing at the dining room.
"Wow, all the dishes are ready. Why isn't anyone at the table? Waiting for me?"
Zoya, who had been having trouble sleeping lately and needed coffee to stay awake, had a half-finished cup of her favorite coffee.
Seeing Lily, the coffee instantly lost its flavor for her. Although she wanted to tear Lily's mind apart and remove Edmond from it, now was not the time to tear off the mask.
She had to maintain her amiable facade.
Zoya put down her cup and smiled, "Yes, we were waiting for you."
She then took Layla's arm and pretended to be stern, saying to Lily, "Mom has been thinking about you a lot lately, missing you.
She called you, but you didn't answer. She asked you to come back early, but you didn't. Mom is very sad. You should apologize to her first."
Layla snorted.
In the past, she would have been happy if her younger daughter came home for the New Year.
After all, she was her own flesh and blood, and having a falling out would just make them a laughingstock.
But now, she couldn't be happy.
Lately, her younger daughter had been causing too much trouble.
First, the Zhou family broke off the engagement, then she hurt her head and forgot Royce, clinging to Edmond.
Recently, she even made a big scene confessing to Edmond...
One thing after another, making them a laughingstock.
As family, they were dragged down and embarrassed.
Lately, she couldn't lift her head in the circle of wealthy wives.
When Layla called her, not only did she not come back, but she also blocked her, even blocking the whole family.
This girl was getting more and more rebellious.
Lily's gaze fell on Zoya's face, smiling, "Why I didn't come back, you don't know? It was because of you."
Zoya frowned, "What does it have to do with me?"
Lily replied, "Of course, it has everything to do with you. I'm pursuing Edmond now, which must make you uncomfortable. You like Edmond too, and you want to marry him. We're rivals in love."
The room fell silent at Lily's words. Zoya's brow furrowed deeper as she glanced at Leopold, then quickly denied it.
"Lily, stop talking nonsense!"
Lily glanced at Leopold, taking note of his expression.
"Who's talking nonsense? I heard it from Octavian. Octavian said you always use work as an excuse to secretly flirt with his boss. He also said Edmond finds you incredibly annoying."
Octavian was Edmond's assistant. Lily wasn't lying; she did hear this from Octavian.
Leopold looked at Zoya, and Brooks did the same. Layla, holding Zoya's hand, asked in shock, "Zoya, do you really like Edmond? Why didn't you ever mention it?"
No wonder she had turned down countless suitors over the years.
Caught off guard by Lily's revelation, Zoya hesitated, trying to figure out what to say next. But Lily spoke up first.
"Of course, she wouldn't dare admit it. Edmond warned her that if she continued to pester him, he'd swallow the entire L&S Group!"
Lily's final words were directed at Brooks. Sure enough, Brooks shot up from his seat, pointing at Zoya.
"Zoya, stop this nonsense! This isn't a game. Don't provoke Edmond any further!"
God, can he ever catch a break?
Dealing with one troublesome daughter was enough, but now even Zoya was entangled with Edmond?
Brooks felt his luck was terrible this year. He made a mental note to consult a feng shui master after the new year.
The L&S Group was busiest around the year-end and the start of the new year.
Although Brooks knew about his younger daughter's antics, he hadn't had time to deal with them. Busy with company matters and frequent business trips, he returned just in time for the new year.
Initially, he didn't believe the news that Royce was going to marry Nadia.
It seemed impossible. For one thing, Malika would never agree to her son marrying a woman of such humble origins.
Having known Malika since they were classmates, he knew she despised poor people, always looking down her nose at them.
He was shocked when he received the wedding invitation from the Zhou family on the eve of the lunar new year.