<b>Chapter </b><b>70 </b>
Cade’s mind was spinning. “But you gave it to me!”
He paused, then added, “You never said it was a family heirloom?”
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Raven’s voice was sharp with anger. “You’ve got some nerve! When did I ever say I was giving it to you?
“I just lent it to you to look at. Do you really think I would mistake my family’s heirloom?
“Even if I did give it to you, does that mean you can just hand it out to others to win favors?”
“That’s not what I meant, Raven. There’s been a misunderstanding<i>,” </i>Cade said, trying to calm her down.
“I don’t care what the misunderstanding is. Give it back, and we’re through,” she said firmly.
“No way!” Cade shot back immediately.
He had finally managed to find a new girlfriend who was better than Myrtle Morrison. There was no way he would let her go that easily.
Raven turned to the auction house staff. “This belongs to the Simon family. Cade had no right to put it up for auction.”
The staff lookedpletely lost. They never expected something like this to happen. The manager rushed off to report to his higher–ups.
Meanwhile<i>, </i>everyone who overheard their argument went wild.
Someone whispered, “Wait<b>, </b>the painting Cade just bid on was the one he donated? No wonder the host didn’t say much about where it came from.”
Another person chimed in, “The painting isn’t even his to begin with! Now the real owner showed up to im it. That’s just next–level embarrassing.”
“Seriously, what’s the point? He donates it and then buys it back?” someone else snickered.
Someone exined, “He got it for nothing, donated it to look good for charity, then bought it back cheap to score some brownie points.
“As long as nobody figures out what he donated, he gets to milk it both ways.”
“Wait, did none of you catch the real twist? Cade is actually dating Miss Simon!” someone piped up, eyes wide.
5:22 pm
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If it weren’t for today’s mess, they would’ve looked like a pretty decent couple, though Cade was definitely reaching way up.
The Turner family was top–tier, but Cade didn’t have much say in things.
The Simon family wasn’t quite on the Turner family’s level, but Raven was the one running the show in her family.
The investor Cade brought along was right at the eye of the storm. He was seriously regretting ever agreeing toe with Cade today.
He’d actually wanted to check out Cade’spany, hoping it might open the door to a legit partnership with Turner Group.
However, not only did his ns fall through, but he also ended up in a whole mess he never signed up for.
Right now, all he wanted was to bolt out of there.
Denton forced a smile as he looked at the two facing off. “Mr. Turner, Miss Simon, I just remembered something urgent I needed to handle. I will see you.”
With that, he slipped out of the private room as fast as he could.
Just then, Cheryl and Sasha took the opportunity toe in, both trying to persuade Raven.
“Raven, let’s talk about this in private. If Cade really did something wrong, I’ll scold him for you,” Cheryl said.
“Yeah, Raven, you can’t juste in and hit my brother like that. It’s so humiliating for him,” Sasha added, her voice full ofint.
Raven might be impressive, but the Turner family wasn’t any less. She couldn’t believe that Raven pulled this off in public.
But Raven paid them no mind, her gazending on the picture–perfect pair by the window.
“Mr. Turner, Miss rk <b>just </b>said you could make the call. So, what now?” she asked.
Alexei reached over and pulled Natasha up from where she’d been leaning against the window, chin in her hands, totally absorbed in the show.
He gently rubbed the spot on her elbow that had turned red from pressing against the ss.
Then, he said unhurriedly, “Since Cade messed up, the Simon family’s heirloom should be returned to its rightful owner.
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“As for the money he donated at the auction today, I’ll add five times that amount, and all the charity funds will be credited under Miss Simon’s name.
“Plus, the partnership Turner Group had with Sail Technology can be handed over to the Simon family.
“I’ll throw in another project aspensation. How does that sound?”
Sail Technology was Cade’s mainpany.
He founded it, but it only survived its cash flow crisis because it was riding on the Turner family’s coattails.
With just a few words, Alexei had basically cut off Cade’s lifeline and handed everything over to Raven. There was no way Cade would ever agree to that.
“No way! I won’t ept this,” Cade shot back.
Sasha stomped her foot in frustration. “Alexei, why are you siding with outsiders? Isn’t the painting still here? Just give it back to her!”
Natasha, nestled in Alexei’s arms, teased softly, “Cade, as a guy, you should admit when you’re wrong. Act like a gentleman.”
Alexei’s lips curled into a barely noticeable smile as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze secretly.
Then he shot a cold look at the furious Cade.
“Don’t embarrass the Turner family,” he said firmly.
Before Cade could protest further, Raven let out a heartyugh.
She said, “Deal! You really live up to your reputation, Mr. Turner. You are quite decisive.
“I’m very satisfied with this arrangement. Looking forward to our cooperation.”
With that, she took the boxed painting and, nked by her bodyguards, made a decisive exit.
She took a couple of steps, then turned back and shot Natasha a yful wink. “Thanks for speaking up for me today, Miss rk.
“I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”
With a beauty inviting her, Natasha didn’t y coy at all. She smiled and said, “My pleasure.”
<b>5:22 </b>pm
Raven burst outughing again.
She swept out just as fast as she stormed in.
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Even though the heirloom was given up for charity, it came back safely and helped her score big in the process.
The only one who was hurt was Cade.
His investor had bailed, his girlfriend was gone, and his head was buzzing.
In a family as big as the Turner family, different mistakes came with different consequences.
Acting like a spoiled rich kid or blowing an investment was nothing. But the mess Cade made today was the most pathetic kind of embarrassment.
Forget fighting for the top spot, he might not even be allowed to stick around in the Turner family after this.
Alexei’s public smackdown tonight sent years of Cade’s hard work straight down the drain.
His forehead veins bulged, his eyes nearly popping out. He felt that something was seriously
off.
Raven never said straight out that the painting was his, but the way she talked about it basically implied it was a gift.
He was dead certain that she had never told him that painting was so important.
If she had, no matter how broke he wastely, he never would’ve just given it up.
He felt that the whole thing was a trap.
Someone knew about his secret with Raven, managed to win her over. Alexei, who never showed up at these events, had suddenly made a grand entrance with Natasha.
Plus, he had made some moves with the Pena family just days ago.
All the pieces fit together perfectly.
Cade realized that Alexei was targeting him from the very start.
He thought in confusion, ‘Michelle hadn’t even managed to pull anything off. Was it really worth Alexei going this far just to get back at me?
‘And besides, what good did it do the Turner family for me to be humiliated?‘ <fn0e92> Original content can be found at find?novel</fn0e92>
5:22 pm &
But he forgot that everyone knew Alexei didn’t get along with his family.
In most people’s eyes, Alexei and the Turner family were cut off from each other.
Plus, Alexei’s response just now was pretty generous.
However, most of what he gave up was actually Cade’s profits.
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But it didn’t matter. He’d already shown his generosity and put his interests on the line. No one could say a thing against him.
Whatever happened to Cade didn’t affect Alexei in the slightest.
Natasha still remembered the time at the Turner family when Cade had called Alexei a romantic fool with that snarky tone.
Back then, he looked all suave and put–together, but now, he looked infuriated but hopeless.
“Why’s he losing it like this?” she asked.
Alexei poured her a cup of coffee. “He thinks I sabotaged hispany.”
Instead of trying to turn things around in his business, all Cade did was ying petty tricks with women, especially trying to use them against Natasha.
“Was that you?” Natasha asked.
Alexei took a sip of coffee and said coolly, “His turf isn’t even worth my attention.”
“So Raven was your move, right?” Her eyes were shining.
She shot him a thumbs–up. “Smart move.”
Alexei lowered his gaze<i>, </i>catching the unusually bright smile on her face. His tone was unreadable. “You like her?”
Natasha tilted her head and said with certainty, “She’s really got something special.”
Raven knew when to cut her losses and kept a clear head.
Natasha felt that Raven was way out of Cade’s league.
Honestly, Raven didn’t really care much for Cade.
Cade was good–looking, knew how to sweet–talk, came from a good family, and was reasonably capable.
5:22 pm
He’d be a pretty solid candidate for a marriage alliance.
But if the Simon family could work directly with Alexei, Raven would drop Cade immediately.
She felt that having actual benefits would trump having a boyfriend.
If this one was no good, she would just swap him out for the next.
Raven ought to thank Cade for being such an idiot. He just handed her the perfect opportunity on a silver tter.
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