Honey, You're a Billionaire?

When Carl confessed his longing for her, Lizzie didn't doubt him for a moment. She knew the sincerity of his emotions and capitalized on his yearning to maintain a firm grip on him. She had transformed him into a devoted tool, an obedient dog that loyally carried out her commands from the shadows. With dogs, only occasional treats were necessary to ensure their unwavering loyalty. Had it not been for her need to utilize Carl that day, she wouldn't have bothered indulging this "dog". However, there was a task that required his assistance. So, when he said he missed her, Lizzie nestled softly into his embrace, her hands encircling his neck as she initiated a kiss.

Her sudden display of affection was akin to pouring fuel on a fire, and Carl could no longer restrain himself. Passion took over as he left a trail of fervent kisses across her skin, claiming her hungrily.

Half an hour later, the heated breaths in the warehouse finally calmed down. Carl meticulously wiped away any evidence of their encounter from Lizzie's body before carefully readjusting her disheveled dress.

Noticing the unhappiness lingering in her eyes, he asked with concern, "What's wrong? Is it Mr. Cyrus again?"

"No." Lizzie cut him off. "It's because of Rose."

The mention of Rose sparked recognition within Carl. He was well aware of her identity as Jonathan's beloved woman.

"Did she upset you?" His frown deepened.

Carl's instinctive reaction when Lizzie was upset was to find a way to punish the offender. However, when it came to Rose, he found himself hesitating, as his fear of Jonathan had only grown stronger after the incident with Jack. "It's not that she upset me. It's just..." Lizzie lowered her gaze, her eyes shadowed with thought.

"You know I've never liked Rose. Eleanor used to look down on Rose's background, but now that she's become the daughter of the Xanth family of Lerain Group and inherited the Young family, Eleanor's attitude has changed. She even gave that emerald necklace to Rose today."

Lizzie's gaze darkened as she mentioned the necklace.

Most people were unaware that the necklace represented more than just its monetary value. It was a gift Eleanor had once presented to Nancy. The necklace symbolizes the Finch family's approval of its leader's wife.

Back then, when Nancy and Cyrus' marriage began to unravel, Nancy returned the necklace to the Finch family before departing. Since then, it had remained in Eleanor's possession.

All these years, Eleanor hadn't given the necklace to her or Bella, but that day, she had presented it to Rose.

The injustice of it all burned within Lizzie. It baffled her that Eleanor would give the necklace to Rose, of all people.

She couldn't believe that Eleanor was rooting for Rose and Jonathan. If Lizzie didn't take action, she would be forced to witness Jonathan living happily ever after with the woman he loved-a future Lizzie deemed absolutely unacceptable.

"Carl, if Rose marries Jonathan, with her current status, she will undoubtedly become the most valued and prominent woman in the Finch family."

She lowered her gaze, a calculated plan forming beneath her somber expression. Upon seeing this, Carl's heart ached at the sight of her distress.

He gently pulled her into his arms. "What do you want me to do?"

The thought of eliminating Rose almost escaped Lizzie's lips, but she held her tongue at the last moment.

Instead, she said, "I don't necessarily oppose Rose marrying into the Finch family... But my standing within the family will be lost if she marries Jonathan. If she marries someone else from the family, it might be more acceptable." "Someone else from the Finch family..." Carl mused. As a core member of the Azure Clan, he was well aware of the Finch family's structure.

Liam had married Yara, and although they rarely saw each other after the wedding, they still held the title of husband and wife. Jack was currently detained within Azure Clan.

If Rose couldn't marry Jonathan, that left only one viable option-Ezra.

Seeking to confirm Lizzie's intentions, Carl asked, "You mean you want her to marry Mr. Ezra?"

Lizzie paused, mulling over the idea. "If she marries Ezra, the threat to me would be significantly smaller. But... she and Jonathan are deeply in love. Why would she choose Ezra?" Then, she frowned.

Carl couldn't bear to see the woman he loved furrowing her brows, nor did he want her status in the Finch family to be threatened.

So, disregarding the fact that Rose was the woman Jonathan cared for, he impulsively blurted out, "I... might have a solution."

"What solution?" Lizzie's eyes sparked with curiosity.

Clasping her hand tightly, Carl began to explain, "I saw Mr. Cyrus leave earlier. I heard he went to pick up Mr. Ezra. Since Mr. Ezra is supposed to return today, maybe I can..."

As he laid out his plan, Lizzie listened intently, satisfaction swelling within her. However, despite feeling pleased, she couldn't help but worry.

"Rose is a member of the Xanth family and is currently the head of the Young Group. Not to mention, there's Jonathan by her side... If this plan fails and they find out..."

"Don't worry," Carl reassured her, his voice unwavering. "Even if it fails and they find out, they'll only trace it back to me. It won't affect you."

Seeing the genuine worry on Lizzie's face only strengthened his resolve. He would do anything for the woman he loved and remove any obstacles that stood in her way. Drawing her into his arms, Carl sought to comfort her. "It's going to be fine."

A cold smile crept up the corners of Lizzie's mouth as she leaned against his chest.

"It will be fine. And even if it weren't, it would only be Rose who suffers," she mused.

Lizzie couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as she regarded the man before her. Using nothing but her body as leverage, she had shaped him into her loyal and devoted dog. Whether he could successfully drive a permanent wedge between Rose and Jonathan hinged entirely on that night's events.

Suddenly, Lizzie found this game to be even more thrilling than her previous plan of having Kelly eliminate Rose.

While the two of them hid away in the warehouse, the atmosphere outside was getting livelier. Miles had arrived, accompanied by

Harriette. Cyrus had personal net

Orted Ezra back to the manor, though the latter remained out of sight.

There were two reasons behind Ezra's decision to stay hidden. For one, he had no interest in mingling with the crowd and participating in the social pretense. Secondly, although his face was widely recognized throughout Regalia, his identity as a member of the Finch family was a secret. He intended to keep it that way. His reasons for returning that day revolved primarily around seeing Rose and unraveling the mystery behind Jonathan's insistence on his presence.

Cyrus didn't force Ezra to participate

in the gathering. After all, Lizzie's main intention was for the family to have a private gathering, which they could de after the guests had departed. At that point, they could sit down together, share some cake, and enjoy a simple moment as a family.

"If you feel restless later and want to join, just wear a mask, and it'll be fine," Cyrus suggested before leaving.

Ezra's relationship with his father had always been one of indifference. Glancing at the masks on the table, he couldn't help but think of Rose. He longed to see her and couldn't wait any longer.

Setting aside his original plan to remain concealed, he selected a mask, put it on, and stepped out of his room.

Downstairs, the grand hall buzzed with anticipation as the banquet was about to commence. Meanwhile, Cyrus had been searching everywhere for his wife.

"Where's Lizzie?" he asked the helpers, but none had seen her.

Some of the guests seemed bewildered. Most of them were clustered around Rose, entirely

focused on her, as if they had

forgotten that that day's suppo

main character was Jonathan's stepmother, Lizzie.

Just as Cyrus was about to order a search, a voice piped up, saying, "I think I saw Mrs. Finch heading toward the medical building."