She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 697

Melanie arched a brow.

She could easily tell that the Lockridge Group hadn't actually invited Everett to this exhibition.

Which made perfect sense.

Even with their lack of specialization, the Lockridge Group was old money.

The Hale family, by contrast, had only clawed their way into elite social circles by leeching off the Royce family.

But the Lockridge Group had been titans of capital long before the Royces or the Hales ever rose to prominence.

Because of that social hierarchy, Gavin Lockridge had always preferred running around with Dominic Hale, barely maintaining a passing acquaintance with Everett.

They might have run in the same broad circles, but there was a distinct line between inner-circle friends and mere acquaintances.

Now, Everett had been installed as a top executive at the Royce Group by her father. Anyone with eyes could see Nathaniel was simply repaying the life-saving debt he owed Everett's late father.

But a legacy empire like the Lockridge Group would never genuinely respect someone like Everett, who had no powerful backing of his own and relied entirely on the Royces' charity.

To much of high society, Everett was no different than nouveau riche.

Naturally, a prestigious jewelry exhibition wouldn't bother sending him a personal invite.

Clutching the invitation Nathaniel had handed him, Everett stepped closer to Melanie.

"Melanie, shall we head in?"

As he spoke, he subtly bent his elbow.

Melanie reflexively glanced at his arm.

His intention was crystal clear.

He wanted her to link her arm through his, effectively making him her official escort for the evening.

Melanie had originally thought Everett's request for personal leave meant he needed time to cool off and clear his head.

She had hoped the end result of that reflection would be him letting go of his feelings so they could just be normal friends.

But looking at him now...

He hadn't given up at all. If anything, he was pursuing her with far more aggression.

Melanie couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh.

Everett couldn't bear to let Nathaniel's investment go to waste.

And...

He started to believe that maybe, just maybe, he still had a fighting chance.

"That Preston Whitmore... he seems fine on paper, but we know nothing about his real background..."

That was what Nathaniel had told him in the privacy of the study.

"The more flawless a man appears, the less you can trust him... Melanie is young. She doesn't understand these things, but as her father, I've been around the block a few times."

"I'm sending you to further your education, and you have to seize this opportunity. When you return to her side, you'll be an even more exceptional man. You won't fall short of Preston in any regard... Have some faith in yourself!"

Everett firmly believed there was wisdom in Nathaniel's words.

Preston might seem flawless, looking like a perfect, power-couple match standing next to Melanie.

But he gave off a deeply unreadable, dangerous vibe.

It was as if he had drawn an impenetrable line between himself and the rest of the world.