?Chapter 148:


    His expression darkened momentarily, but he quickly masked it with a smile as he refilled his ss.


    “So, Alexander, I hear your business is flourishing.


    You’re in the renovation industry, correct?”


    Wyatt, who also owned a small renovationpany, made a modest living with orders just in the hundreds of thousands annually.


    “Should you have any uing projects, consider involving me.” He pped the young man sitting next to him on the shoulder.


    “This is my son. He’s green but eager. It would mean a great deal if he could shadow you and learn from the best. What do you think?”


    Wyatt had done his homework before the dinner, aware of Alexander’s significant status in the industry. Securing a position for his son under Alexander could potentially elevate their family’s standing in the fiercelypetitive local business environment.


    Alexander stayed silent during Wyatt’s proposal, prompting Katrina to intervene.


    “Let’s focus on the meal, everyone. Alexander, don’t worry about drinking. Make yourself at home, rx, and enjoy the food.” Despite Wyatt’s attempts to steer the conversation back to business, Katrina smoothly redirected each time.


    Finally, Wyatt mmed his ss onto the table, chuckling scornfully. He realized that while Dani, not being Katrina’s biological daughter, could be subjected to familial pressures without much concern from Katrina, Alexander was a different story.


    Alexander represented a direct benefit to Katrina, and she would not allow any encroachments on what she considered her personal asset.


    Wyatt rolled his eyes at this.


    Fresh updates avable at galnoνe?s?c?m


    Katrina remained unfazed. In her view, only she was entitled to reap benefits from her daughter or her prospective son-inw. As the meal progressed, a te of steamed fish was served.


    The fish, cooked to perfection without a drop of water, was tender and vorful, a dish Joyce always relished.


    Katrina slid the dish towards Joyce with a warm smile, then turned to engage Richard.


    “Richard, when we first met, we were both in our early thirties. Now here we are, our children grown, time slipping by. It’s remarkable how fast the years go, isn’t it?”


    Richard recognized Katrina’s tactic immediately.


    Everyone at the table understood.


    Katrina was subtly setting the stage to steer the conversation towards Joyce and Alexander’s impending union.


    Richard offered a polite smile in return.


    “Yes, indeed, time does fly.” Earlier, en route to the dinner, Richard had discussed the situation with Alexander. He viewed Dani as a coveted match, currently beyond reach. For the moment, maintaining stability with Joyce was prudent.


    By neither epting nor dismissing the proposal outright, he could dy decisions until Dani’s intentions became clearer.


    Should she show signs of a change of heart, a reunion might still be feasible. If not, Joyce would serve as an adequate alternative.


    Feeling it was the right moment, Katrina began to extol Joyce’s virtues enthusiastically.


    “Joyce is a wonderful girl. She’s charming and unlike some young women who flounder at the sight of a suitor. No, Joyce has always shown exemry discipline. She embodies the grace of a genuinedy, groomed to be the ideal spouse for a distinguished family. The man who marries her will indeed be fortunate. And you—”


    “Urgh!” Joyce interrupted with a sudden gag, cutting Katrina off midsentence.


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