Chapter 42
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“Alex? That name sounds a bit familiar.” Javier furrowed his brows slightly.
@
“No way! Don’t you know the CEO of Herrera Group?” Maliyah looked at him with a disdainful expression.
“Of course, I know him. Graduated from university at 21, took over Herrera Group at 24 after earning his doctorate, and at 30, transformed it into the nation’s leading enterprise.
“But this guy has always been low–profile, with hardly any photos of him on the internet. Rumor has it that he has an unforgettable, stunningly beautiful face. To describe a man as ‘beautiful… I want to see for myself what he looks like,” Javier replied.
Maliyah smiled. “Don’t worry. He’ll be our cousin–in–law from now on, so there will definitely be chances to see him.”
“Cousin–in–law?” Javier stood still in shock as if his soul had left his body, his dark, bright eyes filled with astonishment. “Laurel, you… you got married to Austin’s uncle?”
I nodded, all composed.
Taking a deep breath, Javier asked carefully and solemnly once more, “So does that mean Austin has to call you aunt from now on?”
I nibbled my lip and nodded tacitly.
Javier suddenly burst into laughter, clutching his stomach, his excitement unusually high, to the unknowing, it might seem he either overindulged or overdrugged.
“Javier, what’s gotten into you?” Maliyah slapped the endlessly laughing Javier.
Javier hurriedly waved his hands, explaining, “I just imagined the expression on Austin’s face when he’s calling Laurel aunt. Moreover, doesn’t it mean our status should also upgrade?”
Maliyah was stunned for a second but nodded approvingly.
Glancing at the time, I found it was still early, so I decided to drop them off at home first, then head back myself to pick up some clean clothes, and return to handle Maliyah’s matters later.
As we stepped downstairs, a sleek black Maybach pulled up in front of us.
Just when I was contemplating whether to go around the car, the window slid down.
Sitting in the backseat was Alex, his angular features carrying a faint smile that didn’t seem quite sincere, a cunning yet aloof aura palpable.
He gave a casual glance at Javier beside me, his eyes revealing an imperceptible trace of displeasure, his brows slightly furrowed as he calmly spoke. “Get in the car.”
Before I could even react, the driver had already opened the door for me.
“I drove here and need to send them back first,” I explained.
Alex nodded, his eyes filled with doubt as he raised them to glance once more at the two motionless figures standing aside.
“Hi, Alex, so you are our cousin… cousin–in–law,” Javier addressed him respectfully.
“Cousin–in–law.” My lips twitched involuntarily, and I raised my hand to rub my throbbing temples, feeling somewhat at a loss.
Alex raised an eyebrow and gave a gentle smile, his sexy eyes filled with warm mirth. His already beautiful face seemed even more vibrant at this
moment.
“Mhmm.” He nodded, a lazy and playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Meanwhile, my heart was pounding uncontrollably.
“I’ll have the driver take you guys back first. Laurel and I need to talk about some personal matters.” With that, he opened the car door and walked
in front of me.
By the time I snapped out of it, Maliyah and Javier were already in the car, speeding away.
I instinctively turned around and saw Alex’s face. Under the sunlight, his deep eyes sparkled like stars, and the corners of his lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. He raised an eyebrow and stretched out his hand.
My heart skipped a beat, and before I knew it, I reached out.
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Chapter 42
“Car keys.”
I hesitated and quickly withdrew my hand, awkwardly, lowering my head to fish out the car keys from my crossbody bag and hand them over.
He was truly a cunning fox, making me lose my senses easily.
I had always been someone with strong self–control. How could I end up doing something so out of character?
“Let’s go,” he said softly.
I lifted my head and glanced at him secretly–a smile curling at the corner of his lips. He was clearly mocking me.
After I got into the car, Alex took me straight back to the hotel.
Once the car was parked, the hotel doorman approached and opened the door for him.
I frowned slightly, wondering to myself why I didn’t receive such treatment when entering the hotel.
Alex handed the car key to the doorman, instructing him to return it to Angela. However, he made no mention of what I should do.
I felt inexplicably tense, but I dared not speak up and could only lower my head and follow closely behind him. After all, I had no power to refuse
him.
And where is he planning to take me? To his room or mine?
Entering the elevator, Alex pressed the top floor, and the elevator ascended.
I noticed his prominent knuckles. Not only was he good–looking and in great shape, but even his hands were beautiful.
Most importantly, apart from enough wealth, he had a wily mind.
The presidential suite on the top floor of the hotel, as Angela mentioned, was contracted long–term by Alex–truly indulgent for the rich.
After opening the door, Alex directed me to the living room while he promptly headed for his study and closed the door.
At that moment, I silently breathed a sigh of relief.
Shortly after, room service brought coffee and a variety of desserts and snacks. I only took a cup of coffee lest I should fall asleep by accident. At that moment, my phone buzzed–it was a message from Javier asking for my bank card number.
I replied: [No need. Take it as an investment.]
After quite a while, Javier finally responded with: [Laurel, you’re my boss.]
Soon after came another message: [Alex is a hundred times better than that rascal Austin.]
I chuckled awkwardly, wondering what was so good about him. He’s just an old cunning fox.
About half an hour later, Alex finally emerged from the study, looking a bit tired.
An inexplicable fear washed over me, yet I still pretended to be calm as I gazed at the man in front of me.
“What do you want? A birthday gift?” he asked.
I was taken aback–he was clearly not answering the question. “What is your purpose in marrying me? Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to me?” I pursued.
Alex raised an eyebrow, his gaze calm as he looked at me as if I was nothing more than his prey. Nodding slightly, he replied, “If I say I’ve taken a liking to you, would you believe me?”
I gave a cold laugh and cleared my throat. “A yearly 1.5 million dollars is already quite an appreciation of me. No worries. I’ll cooperate with whatever you want me to do. No matter what you were to announce tomorrow, I’ll comply obediently.”
Alex nodded. “There’s no need to be afraid; my grandpa won’t be present tomorrow. However, the Parks family will be arriving.”
My grip on my bag tightened instinctively at his words, and I looked at him with a confused expression, pretending not to understand. “The Parks family?”
