Female Novel
Chapter 216
Victoria pursed her lips, then uttered through clenched teeth, “Fashionista.”
Bailey was stunned.
Fashionista... If my memory serves me right, it's a media company owned by LG Corporation. In otherwords... novelbin
Instantly, the look in her eyes reflected her mixed emotions.
That's right. How could I have forgotten the grudge between the Gezmond family and the Saundersfamily?
“What did Fashionista say?”
Victoria bit her lip and answered in a voice choked with tears, “It was all a setup to make my brother fallinto their trap. Fashionista's true owner is actually Lionel. If he insists on suing Victor, my brother willend up in prison. Bay, what should I do?”
Bailey held Victoria's trembling body tightly. Taking a deep breath, the former replied in a low voice, “I'llmeet with Lionel and see if I can persuade him to show mercy.”
“It's no use. Lionel plotted this entire thing in the first place, and no one will be able to persuade himotherwise. His return this time is to take revenge on my family. Hence, I doubt he'll listen to anyone onthis matter,” Victoria replied, shaking her head while smiling bitterly.
Bailey sighed inwardly.
How could I not know how dire the situation is? It's just that I don't want to stand idly by. Whatever it is,I've got to do what I can.
“What about the person who abetted your brother into manipulating Fashionista? Did the police catchhim?”
“No. Since the whole thing is a setup, how could he have left my brother a way out?” Victoria hissedthrough clenched teeth.
“You have a point. Don't worry, Vicky. There's always a solution for everything. I'll send you back first.Both of us have to calm down. We can only come up with a plan when we're calm.”
“Okay.”
The following day, the City Hall's person in charge arrived at the Luther residence with a few staff intow.
Artemis summoned the person in charge to the study, where they talked for half an hour.
No one knew what they talked about, but the person in charge wore a strange expression after comingout of the room.
Meanwhile, Rhonda was too caught up in her own happiness to notice anything. After filling in the formand signing her name as per the procedures, she asked the female staff who was sorting through thedocuments, “There should be a photo of the couple on the marriage certificate, right?”
The woman was a little taken aback. She subconsciously glanced toward the person in charge, whosmiled and said, “Yes. However, it wouldn't be suitable to take a photo now since it's still the earlystages of your pregnancy, and the baby's condition isn't stable. We'll digitally merge two photos of bothof you. What do you think?”
Rhonda's expression darkened at once. In an icy voice, she replied, “How can you even suggest that?We have to take a photo now. If you don't have a camera with you, I'll have someone prepare one.”
“This...”
The person in charge from City Hall felt caught in a dilemma. Turning and seeing Artemis returningfrom using the bathroom, he hurriedly asked the latter, “Ms. Rhonda would like to have a photo taken ofthe both of you. Would you be okay with that?”
Straightening his shirt as he strode toward the pavilion, Artemis answered flatly, “Don't you know thatshe's in the early stages of pregnancy? The baby's condition isn't stable yet, and I don't want anyphotos. Are you capable of bearing responsibility if something should happen to the baby?”
“Artemis, taking a photo for the marriage certificate is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. How can we possiblyuse a photo of us created on a computer?” Rhonda asked in a wheedling tone.
He shot her a frosty glance, then responded calmly, “We'll take one another day after your pregnancy isstable. If you can't accept that, we'll wait and get the marriage certificate a few months later.”
“No!”
Rhonda instantly became anxious. I waited so long for him to agree to this, so how can I postpone it toa few months later? There's that b*tch, Bailey, and Zoey, the world-famous beauty from a wealthyfamily. Both of them covet the position of the Luther family's matriarch. If I let down my guard for even asecond, they'll take advantage of me, and I'll live to regret it.
“Let's go with your suggestion. We'll take a photo on another day.”
Artemis murmured an acknowledgment. Then, he turned to the City Hall's person in charge and saidcryptically, “You've helped me out big time today, and I owe you one. If you need my help in the future, Iwon't refuse.”
The man reached up to wipe the sweat from his brow. Smiling obsequiously, he replied, “It's my honorto serve you, and I dare not ask for anything in return. If there's nothing else, we'll take our leave first.We'll deliver the marriage certificate to you once it's ready.”
“Thank you.”
After sending off the others, Artemis arched an eyebrow at Rhonda and said with a half-smile, “Stayhome and rest. Just let the butler know if there's anything you want to eat. I still have some business toattend to at the office, so I'll be going now.”
With that, he headed straight for the garden's exit without waiting for her to respond.
“Arte...” Rhonda subconsciously called out to him. However, her voice trailed off as she watched himwalk away, looking cold and forbidding.
Take your time. Take it one step at a time. I still have my whole life ahead of me to build our
relationship.
The visit by the City Hall's person in charge and his staff to the Luther residence was not done insecret, nor did Artemis take any measures to keep it confidential.
Hence, it only took half a day for the news to spread like wildfire among the public, who thought itseemed both expected and somehow didn't expect it at the same time.
Why would the City Hall personnel go to the Luther residence? One doesn't even need to think to figurethat out. News of Ms. Rhonda's pregnancy just got out. Subsequently, the Luther family invites peoplefrom City Hall to their residence. What else could it be for than to register the marriage betweenArtemis Luther and Rhonda Jefferson? It looks like there'll be a grand wedding in Hallsbay soon.
Over at the CEO's office in Luther Group's headquarters, Artemis sat back on the couch as he spoke toDwayne, who stood in front of him. “Call Justin and tell him to come to the office. I need to speak to himurgently.”
Surprised, Dwayne furrowed his brows as he replied, “Justin went to the capital two days ago. Didn'tyou know?”
Artemis fell silent as he massaged the point between his brows. With a sigh, he said, “I've been sobusy these past couple of days that it slipped my mind. All right, then. I'll wait until he returns to speakto him. Have you looked into the matter I asked you to last night?”
“Yes, I have.”
Dwayne proceeded to explain the situation to Artemis, who narrowed his eyes and mused slowly, “That
means Victor got tricked.”
“Yeah, that's what happened. On top of that, the other party did so openly through Fashionista.”
Getting up from the couch, Artemis responded calmly, “I know you love Victoria, but the grudgebetween the Gezmonds and the Saunders runs too deep. It'd be better for you not to get involved.Where's Bailey? Is she in her office?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I'll go over and take a look. You can get back to your work.”
Dwayne grinned as he watched Artemis walk out and said, “Congratulations on your marriage.”
Artemis halted his footsteps abruptly, then turned to gaze at Dwayne. “I'm going to expand the businessto Alendor next month, and I'm transferring you there to be in charge of that division. Hand over yourwork and be prepared to stay there for ten years.”
“What the f*ck!” Dwayne stomped his foot angrily.
Artemis sneered, then strode out of his office.
Meanwhile, Bailey was busy going through a pile of documents in her office.
She subconsciously lifted her gaze at the sound of footsteps. When she saw Artemis, she raised hereyebrows and said, “Oh, it's you, Mr. Luther. Congratulations on your nuptials. Remember to treat meto dinner tonight.”
Placing one hand in his pants pocket, Artemis walked up to her desk with a graceful stride. Then, heleaned closer and murmured in his deep, magnetic voice, “I don't want to treat you to dinner. I want tohave you.”
She stared at him wordlessly.