Chapter 730

Briony took out her phone and dialed Xenia Cooper's number. She answered almost immediately.

"I see you." A light was on in a second-floor room, and a figure moved to the window. The window slid open, and Xenia stood there, waving down at them. "Ms. Kensington, you're quite safety-conscious. You even brought a bodyguard."

Briony stared up at the figure. “Xenia, this place is deserted, and it's pouring rain. It's hard not to suspect you have ulterior motives for asking me to meet here."

"I'm not going to do anything to you," Xenia's voice came through the phone. "Stewart already threatened me with Vernon Cooper for your sake. And while I may not be a model mother, I did carry Vernon for ten months. The Cooper family is waiting for him to be its heir, after all."

Since they were already there, arguing was pointless. "Come in," Xenia said. "If you're worried, you can bring your person with you. I don't mind."

The rain was relentless. The moment they opened the car doors, they were soaked, even with an umbrella. Briony and Crystal hurried into the villa.

Once inside, they were stunned. Despite its dilapidated exterior, the interior was bright and luxurious. It was fully furnished with modern appliances, and every corner exuded the warmth of a lived-in space. It was clearly well-maintained by someone on a regular basis. Even the flowers in a vase were fresh.

Outside, the storm raged, punctuated by the low rumble of thunder. The sound of footsteps came from the staircase.

Briony turned to see Xenia descending the stairs. She was dressed in a wine-red nightgown with a light robe draped over her shoulders. She wore no makeup, save for a slash of her signature fiery red lipstick.

"I come here to stay for a few days every month." Xenia walked to the living room and sat down on the sofa, crossing her long legs. She gestured toward the seat opposite her. “Have a seat. This place is professionally cleaned the day before I arrive each time, so it won't be beneath your standards, Ms. Kensington."

Briony's expression was cold. “Let's skip the pleasantries. If you want to negotiate, Ms. Cooper, let's get straight to it."

“So cold,” Xenia said with a small laugh. She lit a cigarette, took a long drag, and slowly exhaled a plume of smoke. "You don't need to be so hostile, Ms. Kensington. I actually invited you here today to give you a great gift. But before I do, I'd like you to sit down and listen to a story."

Briony frowned at her. For some reason, there was an air of melancholy about Xenia in that moment. A gift? A story? Briony said nothing, but she moved to the sofa across from Xenia and sat down. Crystal stood discreetly to the side.

Xenia, unbothered by Crystal's presence, took a few more drags from her cigarette before finally looking at Briony.

"Eight years ago, my fiancé, Naylor, and my older brother were in a car accident. Naylor died, and my brother was left in a vegetative state."

Briony was taken aback. She hadn't expected Xenia to volunteer this information.

“After Naylor's funeral, I bought a bottle of sleeping pills. I was going to end my life here, in this house. But on the way, I got into an accident. I was injured and unconscious, and a kind stranger took me to the hospital. When I woke up, the doctor told me I was pregnant."

Xenia lowered her gaze, staring at the cigarette between her fingers.

"That same day, our old

housekeeper told me she'd

accidentally overheard a

conversation between my eldest and third uncles. The car crash wasn't an accident. They had hired someone to do it. Their target was my brother; Naylor just happened to be in the car with him. hated them, but I had no proof. I knew that the word of an old housekeeper was not enough to win."

"The Xenia Cooper of eight years ago was just a naive young lady of the Cooper family. With the brother who had loved and protected me lying responsive in a

self preservation. Spitalbed,

my only choice was

used the

excuse of studying abroad to leave

the country, and I gave birth to

Vernon in secret."

"For three years, I seized every opportunity to study finance, investment, and resource

management. But I still needed one more thing to fall into place: my uncles had to turn on each other. So

I began to plot, creating a schism

within Neonova Syndicate. When the company was divided into two factions, I returned. I walked into a shareholders meeting with my brother's will, replaced my uncle as the acting CEO, and took my seat as the head of Neonova Syndicate. What followed was four years of open and secret battles. I fought alone, with no path for retreat. I knew that as long as my uncles

remained, Vernon's existence could never be revealed."

Xenia paused, her eyes once again meeting Briony's. “Hearing all this, you probably

think I was desperately in love with Naylor, don't you?"