The Ugly Wife’s Stunning Comeback (Felicia and Max) novel Chapter 1143

Yet, she could not see through him at all. Later, Jeremy accompanied Felicia for a leisurely stroll around the retreat grounds.

"Have you ever thought about getting a girlfriend, Jeremy?" Felicia asked suddenly as they walked.

Jeremy lifted his gaze toward the horizon. The morning light danced in his eyes, masking an indescribable melancholy. "Of course I have," he replied softly. "But I suppose we were just not meant to be."

Felicia studied him in confusion, trying to read the sorrow in his voice.

Pulling his gaze away from the distance, Jeremy turned to her with a gentle, resigned smile. "As long as she is happy and well, that is enough for me."

Hearing his quiet confession, an inexplicable wave of sadness washed over Felicia. She suddenly found herself at a loss for words, unsure of how to comfort the quiet heartache radiating from him.

"You mentioned before that you wanted to see the Northern Lights," Jeremy said, shifting the topic smoothly. "This month happens to be the best time to view them. Would you like to go?"

Snapped out of her thoughts, Felicia asked, "Can we actually leave now?"

"We certainly can," Jeremy assured her. "We are only staying here temporarily."

Meeting his reassuring eyes, Felicia found it impossible to refuse. "Then let’s go see them as soon as we leave this place," she agreed.

Jeremy smiled warmly. "Alright. It is a promise."

After completing their walk around the estate, Felicia began to feel the fatigue setting in.

Upon returning to the living room, they saw Ivy coming down the stairs.

Although Max had not made any official public announcements, he had covertly terminated all subsequent partnerships with Caleb. Word of this drastic move spread like wildfire through the elite networks, sending a crystal clear message about Max's stance. Previously, his complete lack of action had led many to believe he was quietly scheming to protect his own corporate interests. No one had anticipated that he would ultimately choose to sever ties with Caleb entirely.

Terminating such a massive strategic alliance was not merely a matter of verbal cancellation. It required him to absorb astronomical financial losses. Max was infamous for never making a deal that put him in the red. When it came to profit, he was ruthlessly cold blooded, a trait he displayed even toward his own cousin, Daniel.

If his personal interests were at stake, Max Hawthorne simply did not compromise. Even with Jeffrey coming at him aggressively, the Manning patriarch had not yet posed a fatal threat to BlueMarble Investments. Had Max maintained his usual ironclad resistance, Jeffrey might not have succeeded. Therefore, this sudden choice to willingly take a catastrophic financial hit left the entire business world utterly bewildered.

Had Max realized that fighting Jeffrey would cost him even more in the long run? Or did Jeffrey have some devastating leverage over him, forcing this unprecedented concession? Speculation ran rampant across the Capital. Max's unexpected capitulation left the other elite families scrambling, entirely unsure of how to navigate the shifting power dynamics.

Within BlueMarble Investments, quite a few senior executives harbored deep reservations about his decision. During the morning board meeting, one brave executive had cautiously raised the issue, though his voice had trembled with uncertainty. After all, absolutely no one dared to question a unilateral decree handed down by Max.

To everyone's shock, Max had actually offered an explanation this time. Jeffrey was now the undisputed head of the Manning family. The fact that he had systematically clawed back his rightful authority from a board of entrenched elders starting at the mere age of twenty was absolute proof of his terrifying competence. Even though the Manning branch families still controlled a significant portion of the family's wealth, they were facing a harsh reality. The world was rapidly evolving, and those elders were simply too old to keep up. While the branch families boasted numerous heirs, the vast majority were useless socialites content with squandering the glory and fortune built by their ancestors. Only a handful possessed any real talent, and those capable few were systematically ostracized by their own relatives.