The CEO's Mischievous Little Bride

On a scorching afternoon, everyone stayed inside to avoid the sun.

Vera enjoyed the AC, lounging on a chair with an eye mask, soaking up the sunlight.

Passersby slowed down, not wanting to disturb her.

But Vera wasn't asleep; her mind wandered between thoughts of Noah and Randall, while Molly's words and the sight of Emily that day lingered.

In a few days, it would be time for another prenatal checkup. If nothing unexpected happened, the Turner family might switch hospitals to avoid her. Vera placed her hand on her belly, gently patting it. "Should I find out which hospital they're going to?"

No response from her belly.

Vera murmured, "You agree, don't you?"

The baby felt the sunlight through her belly.

The Turner family Manor seemed untouched by the sweltering 100-degree heat.

The manor always felt cold inside, maybe due to the dim lighting, its orientation, or just the eerie vibe. Just stepping in gave one goosebumps. Yet Dennis loved living there.

Emily lived in a villa in the distant suburbs, and he stayed in a room there every day.

Jeffrey said, "Mr. Turner, we've found two companies on the brink of bankruptcy, but they're too small. Investing in them might draw scrutiny. However, I found a better target: Vertex Innovations Group, led by Alan from the Miller family." Dennis had never heard of the company. "What do they do?"

"They're in the fashion industry, and they're competitors of MS Group. The Miller family has long sought to form an alliance with the Chase family, hoping Timothy and Sebastian would become their supporters. However, Timothy and Sebastian hold a low opinion of the Millers and would never allow Molly to marry Alan."

Since the Chase family was out of reach, approaching the Miller family now might win them over.

Dennis asked, "What's the situation with the Miller family?"

Jeffrey explained the complexities of the Miller family. After listening, Dennis immediately refused, "Too complicated, not interested."

Jeffrey hesitated and then tried to persuade Dennis again, "Currently, Alan is the decision-maker. If he's manageable, Dawn and Jesse's situation shouldn't pose an issue. The Tooker family is beyond saving, and we urgently need a new puppet. Perhaps you could meet with the Millers first to gauge Alan before making a final decision, Mr. Turner."

Jeffrey's words made Dennis hesitant.

Dennis ordered, "Set up a private meeting with Alan for me."

"Okay, Mr. Turner!"

At the Olteran Group office, Patrick got a call from his subordinate. "Mr. Olteran, it's confirmed that Jeffrey has a leaf tattoo."

Patrick frowned slightly; it was indeed him.

Patrick said, "Keep monitoring him and report any unusual activity immediately."

"Yes, Mr. Olteran!"

After hanging up, Patrick called Ian.

"Ian, pull up everything on the Turner family from the past fifty years for me."

Ian asked, "Patrick, am I your assistant?"

Patrick explained, "This concerns the kidnapping case from sixteen years ago."

Ian replied, "What's that got to do with me?"

"Is your tailbone healed?"

Ian made his demand, "I want to be your son's godfather."

Ian couldn't help but relish the thought. Patrick's son was bound to be just like him, and the idea of a mini Patrick trailing behind him, constantly calling him "Godfather," was amusing. He could almost picture the scene-Patrick himself addressing him as "Godfather."

Of course, Ian didn't dare say it out loud; he still wanted to keep his tailbone.

Patrick instantly guessed Ian's thought.

He squinted and asked, "You want a son?"

Innocent Ian nodded. "Yes."

He didn't think much about why Patrick asked this question.

Patrick smiled slyly. "Alright."

When it came to scheming, Ian was still a bit naive.

Alan received an unusual invitation and thought long and hard before agreeing to it.

When he arrived for the meeting, he was searched at the entrance.

Alan bristled at the invasion of his privacy and wondered why Jeffrey, who had summoned him, needed to confiscate his phone and other electronic devices.

Jeffrey warned, "Mr. Miller, you're smart. You know why we invited you. For the sake of both parties, we hope you'll cooperate."

Alan hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

He handed over his phone and car keys and even took off his watch and handed it over.

Once Jeffrey had checked everything, he ushered Alan into an unremarkable vehicle.

Unbeknownst to them, this entire scene was being observed by someone tracking Jeffrey's movements.

"Mr. Olteran, there's a new development. Alan from Vertex Innovations Group met with Jeffrey. Alan handed over all his electronic devices, was searched, and then left in a white van." Patrick thought, 'That is a familiar name; wasn't this the person Vincent mentioned at the dinner table?'

Patrick instructed, "Get a new person to keep tracking them."

As Patrick calmed down, a timeline automatically formed in his mind. He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, as if trying to unravel all the mysteries.

The Wallace family, the Tooker family, and now Vertex Innovations Group, along with the Turner family.

If Dennis was the man behind the Tooker Group, which had now been renamed the Morales Group, he would naturally be looking for a new group to siphon money from.

The Wallace family had a closer relationship with Dennis back then. It was only after the Wallace Group went bankrupt that the Tooker family rose.

Victor had once worked under Mr. Kelly, who was Jerry's subordinate, and Jerry was promoted after Dennis stepped down.

All signs pointed to Dennis.

Meanwhile, Sebastian also received a photo.

It was the edited version of the picture he had submitted on his first day at work, altered according to his specifications.

Jeffrey, who had a distinctive mole at the corner of his eye, was causing them ongoing issues. Sebastian had requested that his colleagues remove the mole from the image to reveal how Jeffrey might look without it. As Sebastian stared at the photo in his office, the image of Jeffrey from the hospital flashed vividly in his mind-both faces seemed to merge into one!

Just then, a message from Patrick popped up on his phone: [Keep an eye on Vertex Innovations Group.]

Then, Patrick sent a photo of Alan meeting with Jeffrey to Sebastian.

Sebastian also sent the photo he had investigated to Patrick.

They were the same person!

As night fell, Patrick returned home early.

"Patrick, you're home early today. Are you sleeping in the study or the guest room tonight?" Vera strolled over, teasing Patrick, knowing he doted on her.

Patrick raised his hand to caress Vera's lips, his gaze ambiguous, his tone playful with a hint of a smile. "I kissed you too lightly this morning; you still don't know what pain is, huh?"

Vera opened her mouth, trying to bite him.

Patrick quickly withdrew his hand, returning to his serious demeanor, and asked, "Where's Shawn?"

Vera, pouting in defiance, huffed arrogantly, "My mouth hurts, I can't talk."

Patrick was speechless.