Is this destiny?

Later that evening…

The party is approaching its final hour, but the atmosphere is lively.

There are food and drinks available, and everyone is whispering about the incident when Aileen accused Emma of cheating on Charlie, but instead, they found David with a maid. Some claimed that Aileen made an honest mistake, but the majority didn't believe it. How can she mistake a maid for Emma? Even if they look similar, there is no way that maid wore a gown which looks like Emma's red one.

Jeff and JoAnna excused themselves for the evening. They made an appearance to support Charlie and JoAnna even helped Emma. Now it's time to go back to their two angels.

Sarah and Aiden are dancing their night away. The commotion is over, Zula did a great job while Ron was stuck, but Ron got a good first exposure as young Mr. Heine so everyone wins.

Ron was not so happy to be stuck with random people who are sucking up to him. He would rather spend time with Zula, on a mission. Ron used an excuse of going to the restroom to leave people who were talking to him and he pulled Zula on the dancefloor.

"I hear that the mission went well. I'm sorry I missed it." Ron praised Zula.

Zula confirmed. "It went well."

Ron noticed the lack of Zula's enthusiasm. "But?"

"I need to study chemistry more." Zula said and explained: "Anna had a solution right away, and I'm not sure if I would come up with that even after a day of thinking."

"Don't be hard on yourself. You are studying with Anna for about a year, and she has a degree and hands-on experience. Besides, no matter how much you know, there is always room for improvement."

Zula smiled. "I will add more chemistry to my schedule. Maybe I can ask Anna to be her apprentice in the lab."

"That is a good idea. But that is tomorrow. Until then… let's dance."

Zula approved. "Emma and Charlie are set for tonight, and they said that we are free to enjoy the rest of the party so… let's dance."

Ron made Zula spin two times and pulled her close to him. "Three songs and then we go home."

Zula felt heat seeping into her cheeks. She can feel Ron's tight grip on her waist and his intense gaze is telling her what is on his mind.

"OK…", she breathed.

In the study…

Thomas, Caroline, and Aileen are sitting opposite from Charlie and Emma. Between them is a long coffee table with three folders on it.

Four of Charlie's personal bodyguards are in the room as well.

"You might be wondering why I called you here…" Charlie started.

"Is this related to David? He moved out." Thomas responded right away.

"It is related to the incident he was involved with, but this is about the three of you." Charlie said.

Aileen glanced at her parents fearfully and Thomas and Caroline had matching frowns.

Charlie took Emma's hand in his and looked at Caroline. "You called my future wife 'a lowly nurse' who is trampling on my image."

"That…" Caroline stuttered. "At that time, I thought that she is cheating on you."

"I am touched that my Aunt will come to protect my reputation with such zeal." Charlie said sarcastically.

Charlie's gaze moved to Thomas. "And you said that shameless people who are disrespecting the Smith family don't deserve to be a part of the same family."

Thomas nodded reluctantly, unsure where Charlie is going with this.

"And you, my dear Cousin…" Charlie's gaze moved to Aileen. "You insisted that I break up with Emma, and you echoed your father's words that shameless people should not have the right to associate themselves with the Smith family."

Aileen confirmed confidently. "Yes. And if she was the one in that bed, I would still insist that you break up with her."

Charlie's lips stretched into a smile. "Well, that makes things easier. We all agree that shameless people who are disrespecting family and causing trouble should be removed from the family."

Thomas narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Where are you going with this?"

"Patience, Uncle… patience." Charlie said and pushed one folder in front of Thomas. "Read this first."

Thomas reluctantly took the folder and his eyes flashed when he started reading. The more he read, the uglier his expression became. And there are photos as well! He frantically flipped through the papers before closing the folder with more force than necessary. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Are you surprised that I know about all that? Your mistresses, late-night partying. Oh, and a son. How old is he now, fifteen?"

Caroline's expression turned ugly. "You said that you got rid of him!"

"I have a half-brother?" Aileen asked in surprise. She knew that her father is fooling around, but she didn't know that he has kids outside marriage.

Thomas ignored his wife and daughter. The files have much more than cheating, and Charlie knows it.

"What do you want?"

Charlie nodded in approval. "Going straight to the point. I like that."

Charlie pushed the second folder in front of Thomas.

Thomas opened that folder impatiently and his eyes almost popped out. "You want me to transfer my stocks of Smithsonite corp. to you? That is NOT happening!"

Charlie raised his hand, indicating to Thomas to calm down, and then he pointed at Aileen "Tonight... We all know that if the lady who is accompanying young Mr. Heine didn't show up in that restroom, the evening would end up differently."

"How is that related to this?" Thomas hissed while shaking the folder which has the document for transfer of his shares.

Charlie narrowed his eyes at Aileen and continued talking to Thomas. "Aileen drugged Emma with a goal to get her into that room where David waited. The two of you were very eager that I banish from the family the people who were copulating in that room. I must wonder if you jumped halfway on the opportunity to break up my engagement with Emma or are you in it from the beginning?"

Caroline glanced at Aileen. "Drugged?"

"You have no proof!" Aileen hissed.

Emma smirked and from her purse got a plastic bag with a bottle of perfume. "Is this familiar to you? It seems that your fingerprints are still on it."

Aileen's expression turned ugly and she started flipping through the contents of her purse.

"You left your purse on the table." Emma explained. "How careless of you."

Thomas narrowed his eyes at Charlie. "This is not enough for you to force me to sign my stocks to you. Even if you use your influence, Aileen will end up in jail but whatever I did is not a crime."

"You will let me go to jail!?" Aileen screamed in outrage at her father.

Charlie chuckled and answered Aileen's question. "He just banished your brother from the family in order to save his position. His son. Firstborn. Do you really think that he would fight for you? But let's not talk about you." Charlie moved his attention to Thomas. "Do you think that you have the support of others? Think again. This family cares about two things, money, and image. That allows us to enjoy all the power. Tonight, you tarnished the image of the Smith family. People are making jokes about it. The things in that folder…" Charlie gestured toward the first folder. "Are showing that you don't care about the family. You only care about your pleasure. How unfitting of someone with a surname Smith. And then there is this…" Charlie pushed the third folder in front of Thomas.

"Open it!" Charlie commanded when he saw that Thomas is frozen.

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