Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 481

With Stella Hawthorne gone, the holidays felt entirely colorless to Julius Blackwood.

He just wanted the season to be over so Uncle Vincent could expedite negotiations with the border authorities and the operatives in North Myanor.

That was the only way Stella could return to him sooner.

On the second day of the new year, the traditional holiday visits began.

Word had somehow leaked that Stella was absent from the Blackwood Manor, and both the Hawthorne and Jeter families caught wind of it.

Both families saw an opportunity to get closer to Julius.

Ever since Yvonne Jeter’s disastrous stunt at the Autumn Gala, the relationship between the Jeters and the Blackwoods had gone ice-cold.

More accurately, the Blackwoods had completely shut them out, leaving the Jeters unable to ride on their coattails for conveniences anymore.

Byron Jeter found it much harder to secure bank loans, and the interest rates offered to him were no longer the absolute lowest.

Catherine and Yvonne had also lost their exclusive VIP discounts at the luxury malls owned by the Blackwood family.

And since the Blackwoods' malls catered to the high-end market—and the Jeter women looked down on anything mid-tier—it was a heavy blow.

As a result, the family of three desperately wanted to mend fences.

This was especially true for Yvonne. Back when she paraded around claiming to be Julius’s future fiancée, everyone flattered and catered to her.

Now that news of Julius’s marriage was out, those fair-weather friends had abandoned her, with some even openly mocking her. It was a reality she refused to accept.

Hearing that Stella wouldn't be at the Blackwood Manor for the holidays filled her with glee.

"Dad, Mom, we should use the holidays as an excuse to visit the Blackwoods and patch things up. It’s the festive season—they wouldn't kick us out, right?"

With that vixen Stella out of the picture, Yvonne figured she could spend more time talking to Julius without anyone getting in her way.

After all, she had grown up alongside the Blackwood brothers. Surely, they wouldn’t be completely heartless.

Frederick Hawthorne’s business had been thriving in the latter half of the year, mostly because he threw around his status as Julius’s father-in-law to secure investments and partnerships.

He wanted to use the holidays to pay a visit, solidify that connection, and pave the way for even more business perks.

He told his wife and daughter, "Get yourselves ready. Tomorrow, we’re going to the Blackwood Manor to pay our respects."

Chloe Hawthorne frowned. "Dad, they don't even like us. Aren't we just setting ourselves up for embarrassment?"

Miranda agreed. "Exactly. If they turn us away at the door during the holidays, it'll be humiliating."

Frederick shook his head, breaking it down for them. "You two don't understand anything. They won't turn us away exactly because it’s the holidays.

I heard Stella went to the countryside to visit her grandfather and isn't coming back for the new year. Plus, Julius's parents are in town. As their in-laws, it’s only right that we visit. It makes perfect sense.

Visiting family during the holidays is standard. Why would they lock us out? Or do you not want to be tied to the Blackwoods?"