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Selene expresses frustration about spoiled rich boys who can’t accept rejection, explaining that many come from broken families and have entitled attitudes. She reveals her own troubled family background, including being unregistered at birth due to her parents’ fear of exceeding their child quota, and how she has distanced herself from them by transferring her ID to another household. Despite their demands for money and attempts to involve her during the New Year, she refuses to return home and prefers to spend the holiday with her boyfriend from Javerton.

Estella sympathizes with Selene’s difficult family situation and offers her a quiet place to stay for New Year’s, but Selene declines, confident she has company. Meanwhile, Isabelle checks in with Kevin about his pursuit of Estella. Kevin is determined to prove his worth by starting a business in Javerton and making a million dollars in a month without relying on his family’s wealth. Isabelle doubts his plan and suggests he use a medical report from an incident with Estella to threaten her into submission, but Kevin refuses, wanting to earn Estella’s respect on his own merits.

Isabelle is frustrated with Kevin’s stubbornness and reminds him of a promise to secure a resort project for her family’s company. Kevin insists the project must go through proper channels and that Nathaniel, an assistant sent by his father, will compete fairly for it. Isabelle is upset, feeling betrayed because she had already promised Nathaniel the project, but Kevin dismisses the idea that their personal relationship involved any deal-making. The chapter ends with tension between their conflicting goals and Kevin’s determination to prove himself independently.

r 214 A Bet and a Threat

Selene finally relaxed, though she still looked uneasy. “But I don’t think he’s going to let this go. Do all these spoiled rich boys have some kind of mental illness? Is it really that h to accept being rejected? Why do they always have to keep pestering?”

them

Estella shook her head. “It’s just because their families spoiled them rotten. Every single one of them thinks they’re some crown prince who should have whatever they want.”

lene nodded. “The rich ones aren’t even the worst. It’s the crown princes from broke families you’ve got to worry about… you don’t know, I’ve got two of those in my family. That’s why I don’t want to go back home for the New Year.”

Estella asked, “Your family’s asking you for money again?”

Selene nodded. “Before, I told them I only made five thousand a month, so I could only send them two thousand. Later, I don’t know where they heard I was starting a business, but then they demanded ten thousand a month, and wanted me to buy my brother a house and pay his mortgage. I just blocked them.

“They even tried to come to my place and make a scene, so I called the cops right away.”

“Something like that, the police can’t really do much though, can they?” Estella was worried for

her.

Selene grinned. “Don’t worry. My ID isn’t even under my family’s household. Who can prove I’m my parents‘ daughter?”

Estella blinked in surprise. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Selene gave a cold laugh. “Back then you weren’t allowed to have too many kids, right? When I was born, my parents were afraid I’d take up their quota, so they never registered me. Then when my two younger brothers were born, they were given IDs right away.

“As for me, not until I was eight and had to start elementary school did my dad finally get me an ID–but he stuck me under a cousin’s household. After I graduated college, that cousin tried to cause trouble, worried I’d take part of their demolition payout.

“So I just transferred my ID to Javerton. Ha! Back then, I used to be so upset about it. Now? I’m glad. It means I’m free of them.”

Estella sighed. “Every family has its own mess.”

Selene ground her teeth. “They keep nagging me to go back for New Year, demanding money exchanges. I can’t stand them. I’m not going.”

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Chapter 214 A Bet and a Threat

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place? It’s

Estella suggested, “If you’re not going back, why don’t you spend New Year’s at just me and my mom, it’s always quiet. Having you there would make it more avely?

Selene laughed. “No need. My boyfriend’s from Javerton. I’ve got company. You, though–you and your mom and Mr. Bennett should enjoy yourselves. I won’t crash your lit three, ha!”

Estella saw she was keeping a good attitude about it and didn’t press her further.

ily of

Isabelle called Kevin to check on his progress.

“Well? Did you get Estella yet?”

She was about to be married herself and didn’t want Estella staying single, stirring things up for her.

Kevin said, “What’s the rush? I’m planning to start my own business here in Javerton. I’m going to earn a million in a month to prove to Estella I don’t need my family’s money.”

Isabelle was stunned. “Are you insane? You’re Mr. Chunk–what do you need to prove? Without that name, how could you possibly make a million? Where’s your startup capital even coming from?”

Kevin bristled. “We’ve shared a bed, and you don’t believe in me? I’ll get financing from the bank. That’s capital right there.”

Isabelle scoffed. “The bank isn’t stupid. They’ll throw money at you because you’re Mr. Chunk. Without that, why would they even bother with you?”

“I don’t buy it. I’m going to try.”

Isabelle thought he’d completely lost it. Chasing a woman had driven him to start a business?

“Stop wasting your time. Didn’t you say Estella beat you up? Didn’t you get a medical report? Use it to threaten her. Force her to give in. Why complicate things when it’s that simple?”

“That’s my trump card. I’m not wasting it,” Kevin said sourly. “Besides, I want to prove I’m attractive enough on my own. I don’t need money to get a woman.”

Now, more than Estella’s body, what he wanted was to prove to her that he was an outstanding man, that he was worthy of her.

Isabelle found him impossible to reason with.

“You’re ridiculous. I’m done talking about this. And don’t forget–you promised me that resort

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Chapter 214 A Ret sng & Theat

project would go to Hartwell Group, right?”

Kevin sounded impatient. “That project isn’t so easy to hand off. My dad serit an assistant here to keep an eye on me. The cooperation has to go through the proper process

thaniel to bid. If his proposal is the best, then he’ll get it.”

“What?” Isabelle snapped. “But I already promised Nathaniel I’d secure that project for him. Don’t tell me you’re going to pretend our deal never happened”

in laughed. “We slept together because we both wanted to. You never said you were trading arself for a project.”

1.5K

This chapter delicately unveils the complex emotional struggles beneath the surface of Selene and Estella’s lives, highlighting the weight of family expectations and the scars they leave. Selene’s resilience in the face of her family’s demands and her desire to break free from their control resonate deeply, painting a poignant picture of personal freedom and the courage it takes to claim it. Meanwhile, the tension between Kevin and Isabelle introduces a contrasting dynamic of ambition and pride, where love and power collide in a battle of wills.

Ultimately, the chapter encapsulates the theme of self-worth and the pursuit of identity beyond inherited status or external validation. Each character grapples with their own battles—whether it’s Selene’s fight for autonomy or Kevin’s determination to prove himself on his own merits—reminding us that true strength often lies in the quiet defiance against the expectations imposed by others. The emotional currents running through their interactions set the stage for growth, conflict, and the hope of finding genuine connection amidst the turmoil.

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of personal ambitions and strained relationships. Selene’s determination to break free from her oppressive family ties will likely face new challenges, especially as the New Year approaches and the pressures from her past threaten to resurface. Meanwhile, the simmering tension between Kevin and Estella is set to escalate, with Kevin’s bold decision to prove himself through business ventures adding a fresh layer of complexity to their already fraught dynamic.

As alliances and rivalries intertwine, expect emotions to run high and loyalties to be tested. Kevin’s resolve to succeed on his own terms, despite skepticism from those around him, hints at a journey filled with both setbacks and surprising breakthroughs. The next chapter will explore how these characters navigate their desires and the consequences of their choices, keeping readers on edge as the stakes continue to rise.

Cedella

Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.