Chapter 5 The Gilded Prince Seated at the head of the dining table, Madeline had been waiting for Vanessa and Nathan. To her right sat Nathan's parents, Clayton Powell and Casey Eaton. "Vanny, come here and sit next to me," Madeline beamed with affection the moment she saw Vanessa. "Good evening, Madeline," Vanessa smiled sweetly before greeting Clayton and Casey. The second she sat down, Madeline gripped her hand tightly, looking at her affectionately. Clayton's gaze on her and the gentle smile on Casey's face also indicated how satisfied they were with her. The dinner soon started amid a tranquil, harmonious atmosphere. She loved being part of this warm family. If only Nathan loved her, she would have been the happiest woman in the world. As usual, a meeting followed right after the dinner finished. Clayton turned to Nathan, his expression serious. "Nathan, how's the Brentford Project going?" Backed by the government, the Brentford Project was the flagship initiative in the entire Darvell Bay Commerce. Amid the economic downturn, winning this project held critical strategic value for the Powell Group. To put it blunt- ly, its success would determine whether the group could retain its crown as Brookford's wealthiest corporation in the next few years. Of course, Clayton paid great attention to it. "In fact, we've met our match." Nathan furrowed his brows deeply. "Who?" Clayton's expression darkened. "Evander Carroll, the CEO of the Carroll Group." Nathan's gaze deepened. "The Carroll Group?" Clayton was utterly surprised. "The one in Haverfield?" "That's right." Nathan nodded. "I heard he's made major progress." Hearing this, Clayton was slack-jawed. The Carroll family, deeply rooted in Haverfield, had extensive ties to both military and political circles. In compari- son, the Powell Group was just small fry. He didn't like the odds if the Carroll Group was also interested in the Brent- ford Project. But… Wait. Evander Carroll? Who was that? He had thought Terrence Carroll-the black sheep-was Leonard Carroll's only 0.0 % 15:36 Chapter 5 The Gilded Prince 11 288 Vouchers grandson. Noticing his confusion, Madeline explained slowly, looking grave, "Clayton, Evander is Leonard's eldest grandson. Due to his fragile health and certain family feuds, Leonard sent him abroad when he was young, and he's never made any public appearance domestically. This is his first business venture since returning to assume his position. I'm afraid the battle is gonna be tough this time." "I sec." Clayton couldn't help but gasp. He had been confident in winning the project, but not anymore. But, as a seasoned businessman, he adjusted his mood quickly. He said determinedly, "Nathan, not only those in Brookford-even conglomerates in Haverfield have their sights set on the Brentford Project. With profits this high, we shouldn't be surprised that the Carroll family wants it, too. Let's just keep our eyes on the prize. Losing isn't an option. We'll clear whoever stands in our way." "I hear you, Dad." A cold glint flickered in Nathan's eyes as he nodded solemnly. Evander? How capable could he possibly be? Rumors had it that he was an odd one-cold, distant, and never seen socializing with wealthy heirs or business ty- coons. In fact, no one in their circle had ever met him. Those whispers only piqued Nathan's interest in competing with him. Vanessa lounged on the sofa the entire time, scrolling on her phone. She knew nothing about business and wasn't ex- actly paying attention to their conversation. But the name Evander Carroll still reached her ears, leaving her sunned for a moment. It wasn't that she was impressed by his capabilities. In fact, this wasn't even the first time she had heard his name- Kathleen had already mentioned him multiple times. He was Kathleen's Prince Charming, the man she wanted to marry the most. She had asked around, and the socialites told her Evander would inherit the Carroll Group, which came with staggering wealth, and his striking features would make her scream. Nathan was already a business prodigy, yet Evander was said to surpass him? Vanessa was a bit surprised to learn such a formidable figure would catch Kathleen's attention. Now, she was curious. What exactly did Evander look like? 49.2% 15:36 Chapter 6 Her Freedom 1288 Vouchers In "CEO, That Intern is Actually Your Wife" by CrushReel, delve into a captivating romance where a billionaire CEO becomes contractually linked to an unexpected partner. When faced with the urgent need to fund her grandmother's critical surgery, our protagonist finds herself in a unique situation—entering a one-year contract marriage with a stranger. As the story unfolds, themes of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of modern relationships come to light. The novel offers a fresh take on the familiar billionaire romance genre by exploring the dynamics of office relationships and the intricacies of contract lovers. Discover this modern tale of unexpected connections and heartfelt emotions, available to read at CrushReel.