Chapter 314: Our Child?!

“Have you made up your mind?”

Alani drew a deep breath and nodded firmly.

“I have.”

She understood that joining a century-old family business like Hernandez Finances wouldn’t be easy. As an outsider, she would have to prove herself before earning the trust of the people already working there.

Being appointed the general agent responsible for North American operations was an even greater challenge.

Nevertheless, she accepted without hesitation.

For one thing, if she declined, someone else would eventually take the position. Given the distance between North America and the company’s headquarters in the UK, whoever occupied that role would enjoy considerable independence.

More importantly, Luca’s offer gave her an opportunity to rise much faster than she could have through her original plan.

If she truly wanted to overcome the humiliation she had suffered and one day return to the Stones Group as a woman her family could no longer control, she couldn’t afford to pass up such an opportunity.

Luca could see the determination in her eyes.

After giving it some thought, her ambition made perfect sense.

Alani had once been the pampered heiress of the Stones Group, raised with every advantage her family could provide. She had received an excellent education, developed a strong understanding of business, and established herself as a capable young woman.

By her early twenties, she already possessed the potential to become a formidable business leader.

Even if she wasn’t destined to inherit the Stones Group’s presidency, she certainly deserved better than being treated as a bargaining chip in her family’s marriage alliances.

Yet that was precisely what the Stones family had done.

Worse still, even after Maison Premier’s collapse, they hadn’t learned their lesson. Instead of reconsidering their behavior, they had resumed searching for new opportunities to arrange advantageous marriages.

Their greed was astonishing.

Under those circumstances, Alani’s determination to escape their control was entirely understandable.

“Very good.”

Luca nodded with a satisfied smile, then briefly rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“I’ll contact the people in the UK. Once I receive their response, I’ll arrange for you to spend some time there learning how the company operates.”

Although Alani possessed excellent business instincts and an impressive résumé, she wasn’t yet familiar with Hernandez Finances’ internal structure or operating procedures.

Before taking charge of such an important position, she needed to understand the company from the inside.

Alani naturally had no objections.

She was a little curious about why Luca wasn’t planning to teach her himself, considering he was the man behind the entire operation. Still, he hadn’t offered any further explanation, so she decided not to press him.

‘He probably has too much on his plate already.’

Luca managed several major companies, so it was reasonable to assume he rarely had time to spare.

After all, she had experienced firsthand how exhausting a management position could be, even within the Stones Group.

Someone responsible for several large companies must have even more work to deal with.

Of course, Alani had no idea how wrong that assumption was.

Luca had never even visited the UK, let alone spent time learning how Hernandez Finances operated.

If Phil hadn’t explained the company’s background and business structure to him beforehand, Luca’s understanding of the organization would have been limited to one simple fact.

It was very rich.

That was about the extent of his expertise.

His knowledge of its day-to-day operations was practically nonexistent.

Besides, Luca had more entertaining ways to spend his time than sitting in an office all day managing business affairs.

Unless circumstances absolutely required it, he had no intention of burying himself in paperwork.

Fortunately, Phil had given him enough information to maintain the illusion that he knew what he was doing.

For now, that would have to suffice.

—

While the two were talking, the plane finally touched down at San Fierro Airport.

“Hahaha! I’m finally home!”

The moment the cabin door opened, Trish appeared at the entrance with her hands on her hips. Looking down at the busy airport staff below, she burst into triumphant laughter as though she had just returned from conquering an entire country.

Luca covered his face with one hand.

He genuinely didn’t know what to say.

Rachel and Alani covered their mouths, trying to suppress their laughter. Whether they were amused by Trish’s antics or Luca’s helpless expression was difficult to tell.

Trish was tall and strikingly beautiful, with the kind of appearance that could easily make strangers assume she was an aloof, unapproachable goddess.

Unfortunately, the moment she opened her mouth, that image collapsed.

She was a complete goofball.

‘Is this what happens when a girl grows up?’

Back when Trish was still in high school, the expectations placed on her had at least forced her to maintain some semblance of decorum.

Now that she was preparing to enter university, it seemed she had finally decided to throw every restraint out the window.

Luca could only shake his head and walk out of the airport.

Fortunately, he quickly spotted a familiar car waiting nearby.

Vivienne was there.

His mood improved instantly, and his steps quickened.

Inside the vehicle, Vivienne had been reviewing some documents when her driver spoke.

“Chairwoman, Director Hale has arrived.”

She immediately looked up.

The weariness on her face disappeared as she put the documents aside and reached for the door.

By the time she stepped out, Luca was already standing beside the car.

“Vivienne, I’ve missed you so much.”

He instinctively reached for her waist, eager to pull her into his arms.

But Vivienne quickly placed a hand against his chest.

“Wait! Be careful. Don’t hurt our child.”

“Oh, okay…”

Luca nodded absently.

Then he froze.

“Our child?”

He stared at her for a moment, apparently struggling to process what she had just said.

Vivienne couldn’t help laughing at his expression.

“What an idiot.”

“Hehe, I…”

Luca began to respond, but the realization struck him before he could finish.

His eyes widened.

“Our child!”

Only then did he notice that Vivienne had been resting one hand against her lower abdomen.