Chapter 7
Eugenie squeezed her eyes shut, clutching the phone to her chest, and sighed.
Her previous life had been rushed, but her biggest regret wasn't even about herself, but about this man who was practically heaven's chosen one.
He was also one of the few people who had shown her kindness.
If she remembered correctly, Nicholas was the leader of the Whitaker family, whose status surpassed even the Grayson family. Nicholas was handsome, mysterious, and wealthy.
In her previous life, Eugenie had been so focused on the Grayson family that she hadn't recognized Nicholas's kindness.
By the time she realized, Nicholas had already died in a car accident.
If in this life she could use this opportunity to connect with the Whitaker family, it would be easier to reclaim Delta's assets!
Eugenie felt secretly delighted, suddenly feeling less lost.
Meanwhile, on the bed, Bernard was also awake, repeatedly glancing darkly toward Eugenie's direction on the floor.
Finally, he couldn't resist, getting up to mock her, "If you beg me to let you on the bed, I might consider it."
Soft snores from the floor cut off Bernard's stiff tone.
Eugenie was sound asleep!
Early the next morning, Eugenie felt refreshed and energized.
She'd dreamed beautifully all night—visions of successfully connecting with the Whitaker family, using that partnership to establish her position, and leading the Williams family to prosperity and prominence.
Even as she got out of bed, Eugenie was smiling, her entire being radiating vitality.
Little did she know how deeply this scene wounded Bernard's eyes.
He'd barely slept all night, and when Eugenie showed no signs of regret by morning, he simply scoffed and stormed off angrily.
Without even eating breakfast.
After leaving the Grayson Manor, Eugenie didn't go home but headed straight to her company.
She secretly summoned several trusted subordinates she had gathered over this period.
One of them, standing before Eugenie now, was named Nolan Young.
Being relatively new to the Williams family, Eugenie didn't have a comprehensive grasp of many matters, and it was largely thanks to Nolan, her secretary, that she could establish her footing securely.
"I need a favor," she said.
Unconsciously tapping the desk as she thought, recalling Nicholas's whereabouts from her previous life, she continued, "I've heard the Whitaker family has an investment event at Silver Oak Hall recently. Discreetly find out if Nicholas will be attending in person."
"Remember, don't alert anyone."
Nolan was puzzled, as they had never collaborated with the Whitaker family before.
But he was tactful enough not to ask questions, and extremely efficient in his work.
Just half a day later, he secretly sent her an email containing the invitation list for Silver Oak Hall.
Nicholas was indeed among the special guests, his name enjoying unique treatment—printed in gold lettering at the very top of the list.
Eugenie breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness she hadn't remembered incorrectly. If she could seize this opportunity to connect with Nicholas, future collaboration would become much more possible.
She didn't expect any special treatment from the Whitaker family's leader.
Simply being able to maintain a normal business relationship with the Whitaker family would be an enormous help to Eugenie in her current situation.
That day, Eugenie arrived punctually outside Silver Oak Hall.
She held the invitation in her hand, thinking she would pass through without trouble, but the moment she reached the entrance, a guard abruptly blocked her path.
“Ma’am, please hold on.”
The guard frowned as he examined the card carefully. “This… doesn’t look quite right.”
Nolan’s stomach dropped. His expression stiffened instantly as he whispered to Eugenie, “Damn it—they noticed…”
Eugenie stayed perfectly calm, raising a brow. “The invitation isn’t real?”
Nolan had no words.
The invitation was real—but it had been purchased from a private investigator through a very expensive ‘special channel,’ and it didn’t work like the standard ones. The guard couldn’t recognize it at a glance, so of course he became suspicious.
Seeing the guard about to escort them out, Nolan’s palms were already sweating.
Eugenie simply exhaled softly and was about to explain when suddenly—
“Hold on.”
A deep, steady voice came from behind them, cutting through the tense air like a blade.
The crowd instinctively shifted aside, opening a path.
A tall, impeccably composed man walked forward, dressed in a dark, understated suit that radiated quiet luxury. His stride was unhurried, his presence so controlled and elegant it was impossible to look away.
Eugenie lifted her eyes—and froze.
It was Nicholas Whitaker.
The guard immediately bowed his head. “Mr. Whitaker—sir—”
Nicholas stopped beside Eugenie, letting his cool gaze sweep over the card in her hand. The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
“So this is what’s troubling you?”
The guard hurried to explain. “The code on this card doesn’t match our system, so I suspect it might not be—”
“Of course it doesn’t match.”
Nicholas’s tone was cool and measured.
“That’s because this is a special internal invitation. It doesn’t go through the standard registry. Naturally, your scanner won’t pick it up.”
The guard blinked. “In–Internal…?”
Nicholas lifted his eyes, his voice carrying an inexplicable authority.
“Let them through.”
“Yes—yes, sir! Right away!”
The guard immediately released Eugenie’s arm and practically bowed as he stepped aside.
“Our mistake, ma’am. Please, go right in.”
The crisis dissolved in an instant.
Nolan stood frozen, stunned, and even Eugenie needed a moment to react.
Before she could thank him, Nicholas looked down at her, speaking in a low voice.
“Nervous?”
Eugenie looked up, truly meeting his eyes for the first time.
His presence was striking—cold elegance, sharp features, and eyes that carried a natural intensity. Yet when he looked at her, some of that sharpness softened unexpectedly. The warm lighting traced along his profile like sculpted lines.
For a heartbeat, Eugenie completely forgot what she meant to say.
Nicholas seemed to notice her dazed expression. A faint smile touched his eyes.
“It’s your first time at an event like this. Feeling nervous is normal. Helping you is no trouble.”
She snapped back to herself, stepping back a half-step before regaining her composure.
“Thank you, Mr. Whitaker. I’ve heard your name for years—I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
She reached out her hand politely.
“Eugenie—”
“I know who you are.”
Nicholas’s tone remained soft, his lips lifting slightly.
“Ms. Medici of the Williams family. A coincidence indeed.”
Eugenie froze, her outstretched hand stopping midair.
She had thought—
In her previous life, she didn’t meet Nicholas until after she married Bernard, when Nicholas appeared at the wedding banquet. Every quiet act of kindness afterward, she had assumed, was because of the Grayson family.
But now…
Even without an engagement banquet, he stepped in to help her.
Nicholas glanced at her dazed look again, amusement flickering in his eyes.
“I can see you have things to handle, Ms. Medici. Enjoy your evening.”
He began to turn away.
“Wait!”
Eugenie snapped awake. In her panic, she instinctively reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
“Mr. Whitaker, are you interested in making a deal?”
“Oh?”
He turned back, eyes drifting to her hand on his arm.
Realizing what she’d done, Eugenie retracted her hand as if burned, forcing a practiced smile.
“Give me five minutes. I promise I won’t waste your time.”
Even if only to repay Nicholas for stepping in earlier…
Eugenie felt she should warn him—about the car accident he’d had in her previous life, the one that had never felt accidental.
But Nicholas didn’t get the chance to answer.
The ballroom doors opened again, and Bernard walked in.
Eugenie had her back to the entrance and didn’t notice anything unusual. Bernard, however, saw everything at once—her hand reaching toward Nicholas, their close proximity.
Nicholas stepped aside almost instantly, his tone cooling.
“Something came up. Another time.”
Eugenie blinked in confusion.
She turned around—only to roll her eyes the moment she saw Bernard.
“What are you doing here?”
“That’s my line,” Bernard replied coldly.
He had witnessed the entire scene and sneered, voice dripping with contempt.
“Didn’t expect you to move on this fast. Too bad Mr. Whitaker didn’t spare you a second glance. Sneaking in won’t change that.”
He suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice to a menacing whisper.
“And let me make this clear—you think you can run back to me as a backup plan? Forget it. Until you apologize to me in public, you’re not stepping through the Grayson family’s doors ever again.”
Eugenie gave him an exaggerated eye roll.
