Faye Vaughn was fuming and refused to speak to Finn Hawthorne anymore.
She hitched a ride with someone else to leave Cloudcrest Mountain.
When she returned to the Hawthorne Residence, it was empty. None of the three young masters of the Hawthorne family were home.
Only a few maids were gossiping in the break room.
"Did you guys see the trending topics? The Eldest Miss Windsor posted the engagement gift she got from the Eldest Young Master on Weibo."
"Looks like the marriage alliance between the Hawthorne and Windsor families is a done deal!"
"Then, what about Miss Vaughn...?"
"Pfft, she's just a plaything. They can get rid of her whenever they want."
Faye Vaughn stood at the entrance to the break room, one eyebrow raised.
She took out her phone and opened Weibo.
Eldest Miss Windsor, Vivian Windsor, was a famous and popular young actress in the entertainment industry.
She cultivated an image of a "goddess of wealth and beauty," often posting about her mansion, designer bags, trips to Atheria, and ocean cruises—a lifestyle far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Her fans ate it up, praising her, "Our Vivian is a fairy who's descended to the mortal realm to experience life!"
Vivian Windsor's latest post was a picture of a diamond ring.
The caption read: You have great taste, hehe.
At the end, she tagged the President of the Hawthorne Group, Wyatt Hawthorne.
The comment section exploded, with everyone calling Wyatt Hawthorne "brother-in-law."
Faye Vaughn slowly put her phone away and turned to go back upstairs.
According to what Wyatt Hawthorne had implied before, he had no intention of kicking her out even if he got married.
But that was too passive.
'I don't like this.'
A glint appeared in Faye Vaughn's luminous eyes as an idea formed in her mind.
She continued to sell off the things Wyatt Hawthorne had given her.
Bags, jewelry, even limited-edition shoes—she sold them all.
She wasn't secretive about it, and news quickly reached Wyatt Hawthorne.
"Am I not feeding you?"
The man's deep voice carried a hint of displeasure.
Faye Vaughn was in the walk-in closet, rummaging around for anything else of value.
She peeked her head out and answered him, "No, that's not it. I just need some money to take care of a few things."
"What things do you need to take care of?"
Wyatt Hawthorne had just returned from the office. Dressed in a perfectly tailored bespoke suit, he was tall, long-legged, handsome, and exuded an air of nobility.
An unlit cigarette hung from his thin lips as he gave her a cool, detached glance, waiting to see what kind of trouble she was trying to stir up.
"I want to get into the entertainment industry."
Faye Vaughn put down the clothes in her hands, turned her slender waist, and met the man's deep gaze.
She said softly, "You're getting married soon. I have to plan for my own future."
Wyatt Hawthorne's eyes narrowed.
'It's still about this.'
'She's never going to let this go.'
Faye Vaughn saw the impatience on his face, but instead of immediately softening her stance, she said in a low voice, "I can survive without you."
"Are you threatening me with this?"
Wyatt Hawthorne scoffed. "Faye Vaughn, cut it out with your ridiculous ploys."
Faye Vaughn pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Wyatt Hawthorne gave her a cold look, then turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.
Faye Vaughn didn't try to stop him.
A slight smile traced her red lips.
...
Wyatt Hawthorne gave her the cold shoulder for several days.
Even when he stayed the night at the Hawthorne Residence, he didn't come to her room.
His meaning was clear—if the canary in the cage was disobedient, you just had to ignore it for a while.
Faye Vaughn endured the sympathetic glances from the household staff and the gloating sneers of Third Young Master Finn Hawthorne, but she made no move to reconcile with Wyatt Hawthorne.
Over the weekend, she put on beautiful makeup, slipped into a sexy cocktail dress, and wrapped a long overcoat around herself before heading out.
She didn't take one of the Hawthorne family's cars, instead taking a taxi to the most luxurious, high-end club in the city.
"Faye, you're here!"
A capable-looking woman with short hair was waiting for her at the club's entrance.
"Talia."
Faye Vaughn called out obediently.
This was the agent she had found for herself, Talia Kensington.
Tonight, there was a gathering inside the club, and all the attendees were major financial backers.
"Once you go in, just sit there quietly. You don't need to do anything on purpose."
Talia Kensington was very experienced. She instructed Faye Vaughn, "For a pure-looking college girl like you, not actively trying to seduce someone is the greatest seduction of all."
Faye Vaughn nodded obediently and slipped off her heavy overcoat.
Underneath, she wore a white, strapless cocktail dress that revealed her beautiful collarbones. The soft, proud curve of her chest, combined with her incredibly slender waist, evoked a cruel desire to grasp and break it.
Talia Kensington smiled with satisfaction.
'What major backer wouldn't love a newcomer like this?'
Faye Vaughn followed Talia Kensington into the exclusive, members-only club.
The largest private room on the top floor was a lively scene of fragrant perfumes and clinking glasses, filled with glamorous figures.
Faye Vaughn discreetly scanned the room.
In the innermost booth, there was a card table.
The silhouette of the man with his back to her was very familiar. A cigarette was nestled between his long fingers, and on his wrist was a globally rare, limited-edition Patek Philippe watch.
Wyatt Hawthorne.
"Him? Don't even think about it."
Talia Kensington whispered in Faye Vaughn's ear, "There are more starlets trying to climb into his bed than you can shake a stick at, and not a single one has succeeded."
Faye Vaughn pursed her pink lips and smiled. "I'm not here for him."
'I have other plans today.'
Talia Kensington pointed toward the bar. "See that man drinking red wine? That's Julian Grant, the second young master of the Grant Family. He's very generous. If you can catch his eye, getting him to drop ten or twenty million to launch your career will be no problem."
Faye Vaughn nodded nonchalantly.
That Julian Grant noticed her, and his gaze paused.
A flash of amazement crossed his eyes. He set down his wine glass and walked toward her.
"A new face. Aren't you going to introduce us, Talia?"
A roguish smile played on Julian Grant's lips as his eyes swept over Faye Vaughn.
'A little stunner.'
'The absolute pinnacle of pure and sultry.'
"Young Master Yates, this is Faye Vaughn. She's a media studies student at Alston University. I brought her out to see the world a bit."
Talia Kensington gave Faye Vaughn a gentle push. "Go have a drink with Young Master Yates."
Faye Vaughn's long eyelashes trembled, revealing a trace of panic.
As if mustering all her courage, she spoke, "Hello, Young Master Yates."
Julian Grant felt as if a feather had tickled his heart, leaving him itching for more.
"Hello, hello. Come, let's have a drink."
He poured a drink for Faye Vaughn himself.
Faye Vaughn couldn't hold her liquor well. After just a couple of drinks, her cheeks were flushed with a tipsy blush.
The tipsy beauty was even more alluring. Her fair skin glowed with a tempting pink hue, inviting one to touch.
Julian Grant's heart itched fiercely.
"Miss Vaughn, you've had too much to drink. Let me take you outside for some fresh air."
Faye Vaughn put on a charmingly drunk pout. "I haven't had that much..."
Though she acted charmingly drunk, she kept an eye on the card table in the booth out of the corner of her eye.
'Wyatt Hawthorne has spotted me.'
The corners of Faye Vaughn's lips curled up slightly. Holding her glass, she swayed unsteadily.
Beside her, Julian Grant reached out to steady her.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his wrist.
Someone had seized it in a powerful grip.
"What the fu—"
He was about to curse, but when he saw clearly who it was, he swallowed the rest of his words.
The head of the Hawthorne Group, Wyatt Hawthorne.
In all of Keston, who didn't know that the head of the Hawthorne Family was ruthless, cruel, and had connections in both legitimate and illegitimate circles?
"President Hawthorne, you... you're into this type too?"
Julian Grant grimaced in pain and backed down. "In that case, you can take her."
Wyatt Hawthorne's face was expressionless as he coldly released his grip.
He said to Faye Vaughn, "You. Come with me."
His tone was non-negotiable, laced with a surging undercurrent of anger.
Faye Vaughn lowered her eyes, hiding the cunning glint within them, and obediently followed behind Wyatt Hawthorne.