?<strong>Chapter 469:</strong>


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    Ken barely reacted, letting out a slight chuckle as he continued shuffling through documents.


    “Funny,” he replied without looking up, “after years of ignoring me, the family suddenly cares now?”


    His words hit Carole harder than she expected, leaving her momentarily silent.


    The previous evening, she had texted him with a forced invitation to dinner with her family. But Ken hadn’t bothered to respond, let alone show up. She could hardly me him, but with her family’spany desperately needing his support, she had no choice but to try warming up to him now, even if he remained as indifferent as ever.


    Carole forced a smile, steeling herself.


    “It’s because I do care about you,” she said softly, as if those words could hold any real weight after all this time. With a quick, calcted sigh, she pulled a slim folder from her bag and ced it on the desk in front of him. “I actually came to discuss some business.”


    Ken still showed no sign of interest, but Carole pressed on.


    She moved around the desk, sliding the folder directly under his gaze. “Could you take a look and see if this proposal has any merit?”


    As she leaned forward, a stray lock of hair slipped artfully behind her ear, deliberately revealing her slender neck.


    “My father wants me to gain some experience, and I’m eager to help him. But since I’ve just returned from overseas, I don’t have a solid grasp of things yet. That’s why I need your guidance.”


    A faint floral perfume drifted his way—deliberate, understated, yet mildly invasive. It made Ken turn his head and frown, clearly displeased.


    But Carole remained seemingly oblivious, focused on her pitch.


    “Our Greenfield Company is hoping to partner with Charisma Company for an uing event,” she exined smoothly. “If the coboration goes well, it could open doors for a long-term partnership.”


    After outlining her n, she looked up at him expectantly, searching for any sign of interest.


    “So, what do you think?”


    She couldn’t help but linger, noting the hardened edge in his once-familiar face—a face she remembered well. She seemed fascinated by the change.


    But that fascination quickly morphed into regret.


    She had long regretted the day she had agreed to break off their engagement when Ken was disabled. Back then, he was the man her family had discarded.


    But now? He had recoveredpletely and was a towering figure in Ontdale’s business world, a meteoric sess others could only dream of. And here she was, stuck in a downward spiral. With Greenfield teetering on the edge of a financial crisis, she had no choice. Ken was herst hope.


    Finally, Ken let out a breath, his voice cold and measured. “I’ll help you.”


    The words came like a lifeline tossed into stormy waters. Carole blinked, caught off guard, but quickly her lips curved into a smile. “Thank you, Ken! I knew you cared about me!”


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