My Unborn Baby Chose My Husband for Me novel Chapter 330

A suffocating tension blanketed the private study for several long seconds.

Howard slowly lowered his cup. His piercing gaze locked onto Landon, dissecting the younger man's audacity.

"And how exactly do you expect me to help you?"

"I don't need your capital, Mr. Monroe. I just need your name. With your endorsement, the corporate banks will loosen their restrictions, freeing up the liquidity I need to crush Lucian's bid."

Howard remained deathly silent.

He picked his cup back up, taking a slow, deliberate sip as the seconds ticked by.

"Landon, I have no personal grievances with you. Melody is enamored with you, and as her father, I have no intention of standing in the way of her happiness."

"But business is business, and romance is romance. I do not mix the two."

Landon didn't miss a beat. "Mr. Monroe, I understand completely. I am not asking you to risk the Monroe fortune to cover my liabilities. I am strictly asking for a credit guarantee. In exchange, I am fully prepared to offer you a highly lucrative equity stake in Paradox."

Howard stared at him, letting the gravity of the proposal hang heavily in the air.

"Let me think on it," he finally declared.

Landon's pulse spiked. It wasn't a rejection.

And in this world, hesitation was as good as a signature.

"Of course. I eagerly await your decision."

……

Before they knew it, it was the day before Hudson's Welcome Gala.

Seraphina was dragged out of bed at dawn by Susan for her final dress fitting.

"Mrs. Langford, Grandma Eleanor had this delivered by private courier. She insists you wear it tomorrow."

Susan was holding a breathtaking champagne silk evening gown. The fabric flowed like liquid gold, and the impeccable tailoring screamed haute couture.

Seraphina ran her fingers over the silk, marveling at the sheer luxury of the material.

"Isn't this... a bit too extravagant?"

"It's the grandest event of the year, and you are the star! Extravagance is the baseline," Susan insisted, practically shoving the dress into her arms.

"Grandma Eleanor has impeccable taste. This color will make your radiant complexion absolutely glow. You'll look spectacular!"

"You need to be on your absolute best behavior tomorrow. No fussing, no crying, and you're going to let your Great-Grandma hold you the entire time, deal?"

Little Bean yawned, his tiny face an absolute mask of unbothered arrogance.

'Cry? Me?'

'Do I look like some emotional wreck? I have a reputation to maintain.'

Seeing his ridiculously cocky expression, Seraphina burst out laughing.

"Susan, seriously, who does he get this attitude from?"

Susan leaned in, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "He is the spitting image of Mr. Langford. I swear, Master Lucian had that exact same brooding glare when he was a toddler. Grandma Eleanor used to say he was a grumpy old man trapped in a baby's body."

Seraphina tried to picture a tiny, brooding Lucian, and an overwhelming wave of warmth flooded her heart.

She held Little Bean closer, resting her chin softly against his head. "I'm so glad you're just like your dad."

Little Bean blinked, his lower lip jutting out indignantly.

'What's so great about being like that guy?'