Aspen smirked. "Not much, just a little over 30 grand." Andrew let out a cold chuckle. "You sure know how to burn through my money like it grows on trees. But it's fine—if you ever drain me dry, I'll just sell you off to cover the losses." That wiped the smug look right off Aspen's face, leaving her gritting her teeth. Andrew had absolute control over her now. If he did sell her, she would have no one to complain to—not even a court that would listen. She huffed, "The ones draining you dry are Lauren and Francesca. I haven't even touched a penny…" Her heart shrank a little, but her mouth still refused to back down. … After finishing the company tour, Andrew barely took a breath before heading to the charity event hosted by the local government. Aspen's competence clearly was not just for show. All the way there, she gave Andrew a crash course on the capital's complicated business networks and behind-the-scenes power plays. She said, "In a bit, Governor Derek McCormick
"Aspen, long time no see." Christina was the first to speak, smiling as she broke the awkward silence. Aspen's expression turned icy. "You don't need to call me. I don't recognize you as family. Your family is in Jayrodale, and mine's in Bridgefields. We were never close, and we never will be." Christina kept her smile steady. "It's been so long, and you're still holding a grudge? But don't forget—when the main family fell apart, and you ended up as Andrew's servant, that was mostly your own doing." Aspen let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, I'll admit it. Everything back then was my own fault. But Christina, do you dare say you didn't stir the pot from behind the scenes with that sweet, scheming smile of yours? I know it was you who lured the main Stevens family to Jayrodale, just to use them against Andrew." Christina did not even try to deny it. "You're absolutely right. I brought them there. But I only did it to help you—to settle the score on your behalf. Things just didn't go h
In truth, Christina was jealous and furious. Andrew had accepted Aspen, yet refused to give her a second chance. Was Aspen really better than her? That could not be right. In looks, status, and ability, she was never inferior to Aspen. She believed there could only be one explanation—Andrew still had feelings for her, but was using Aspen to replace her. The moment that thought clicked, Christina suddenly felt clear-headed. Otherwise, why would Andrew treat Aspen so well now? The two had once been bitter enemies. Moreover, Aspen's family had even provoked him, and they had nearly gone to war. "Obsessed with Stevens family women? Please, Christina, you're hilarious," Andrew said with an amused smile. "But you did get one thing right—I am willing to treat Aspen well. Because, whether you like it or not, she's mine now." Christina's jaw clenched. "I reached out to you, and you turned me away. But Aspen? You welcomed her with open arms. Can I ask why?" Andrew answered without
Christina had not expected the two of them to be that close already. "Andrew, you're going to regret what you've done!" she snapped coldly before looping her arm around Quinton's and striking a deliberately intimate pose. Quinton smirked. He knew Christina was using him, but he did not care. For someone like him, the thrill was in the chase. When the thrill was gone, he would have no problem tossing her aside or forcing things if it amused him. Quinton said with a smile, "Ms. Aspen, Christie's mentioned you before. But sticking with Andrew will only bring you down. Why not join me? Serve under the Wrights, and I promise you a spot among the capital's elite socialites." It was a tempting offer, made with a wolfish grin. If he could really win Aspen over, having both Stevens beauties serve him would be a fantasy come true. Especially since Aspen had a figure that made him burn with desire. Hell, she was playing housemaid for Andrew—that was practically a crime in Quinton's boo
Aspen's ears and neck turned bright red as she glared at him. She snapped, "I-I'll never sleep with you, Andrew! You can make me do anything else, but not that. My body is off-limits!" She blurted, nearly shouting, "I'm still a virgin! I made a vow years ago—I'll only give myself to my future husband!" Andrew stared at her like she had just grown wings. After all, she had to be in her late 20s. With how long she had been in the game, always networking, always flirting with powerful men—he never would have guessed. But now? Turned out this wildcat had never been touched. It was like walking into a chicken coop and finding a hidden phoenix—ridiculous, but rare as hell. Aspen noticed the way he was looking at her and instantly blew up. "The hell's that look for? I'm telling the truth, you bastard!" Aspen snapped, misreading his stunned silence. Andrew leaned in and whispered by her ear, voice full of mischief. "All the better. Every man wants to be the first, you know that, ri
Not long after Andrew and Aspen arrived, a middle-aged man in a formal robe stepped onto the stage and addressed the room. "Thank you all for coming to the capital's official charity event. As always, I'm Derek McCormick. No long speeches—everyone, just show your sincerity. I hope we can all give something back and help those struggling in the poorer regions of Gabo Creek Province." He did not say much—just brief sentences—before setting down the mic and stepping off. And yet, no one had a single complaint. On the contrary, the room erupted into applause, with waves of praise echoing throughout the hall. The reason was simple: the man was Derek McCormick, Governor of Gabo Creek—one of the highest-ranking officials in the province. He was a true regional powerhouse. Andrew nodded with interest. "You can tell. The guy actually seems like a good leader." Aspen rolled her eyes with a half-laugh. "Can you not act like that? Mr. McCormick is way above your league, and you talk like
Aspen said, "But you're the CEO. So, what do you think? Should we just make a casual gesture and write a check for a million? Or should we step it up a notch, maybe throw in roughly eight million to try and make a name for our company?" Andrew shook his head and said, "Eight million? That's not enough. It lacks impact." Aspen was stunned. "That's still not enough? Come on, this is just a regular charity event. Even those filthy rich legacy families only drop five million tops, just to show some goodwill. And you think even eight million isn't enough? "If we go too high, we'll end up at the top of the donor list and stand out way too much. That kind of attention might actually backfire." She clearly disagreed with Andrew's idea. However, Andrew waved it off. "Don't overthink it. Just spend the money. I'll deal with the consequences. Screw it, let's just go with 50 million." Aspen froze, completely in disbelief. "50 million? Are you out of your mind? If we go that high, ther
After all the moguls, elites, and legacy families finished flexing their generosity at the charity event, the venue transitioned into a lavish buffet-style dinner. With her stunning looks and classy aura, Aspen turned heads everywhere she went. She held a glass of red wine and chatted gracefully with several older men, most balding and sporting sizable beer bellies. Meanwhile, Andrew looked utterly bored. He had filled a plate with food and was sitting alone, eating away like he had not had a proper meal in days. Aspen caught a glimpse of him across the room and nearly lost it. She was working her tail off trying to network and promote Supreme Capital Group, while this so-called CEO was sitting on the sidelines, stuffing his face and acting like none of it mattered. She could not help but wonder what he was even thinking. Ignoring Andrew's protests, she marched over, grabbed his arm, and dragged him across the room to introduce him to a balding man named Harry Dunham. "Mr. Du