Chapter 20

ESTELLE

“I’m glad you could make it, honey.” My father kissed me on the cheek before he went to my mother. Of course, I didn’t come alone. I needed someone I trusted as my plus one for tonight’s dinner.

Gustav Bladwyn, the Chairman of Connect Technology and E-commerce Company, or CTEC, to everyone who had a fortune of three billion dollars as of tonight. He was always dressed to impress. Even women as younger as my age fell for him.

“Cut the formality, Dad. I know exactly what this dinner is all about.” I went to the chair to his right. Then I realized he was alone. I expected to see Klayton and Tyrion, but it looked like they were fashionably late, or this was supposed to be a family affair.

“Am I missing something?” Mom sat across the table and asked Dad. “Don’t tell me our guests are late?”

“No guest. It’s just us, as a family,” my father replied as he placed the table napkin on his lap.

“We are not together. Are we really calling this family w