Victoria pursed her lips, then uttered through clenched teeth, “Fashionista.”

Bailey was stunned.

Fashionista... If my memory serves me right, it's a media company owned by LG Corporation. In other words...

Instantly, the look in her eyes reflected her mixed emotions.

That's right. How could I have forgotten the grudge between the Gezmond family and the Saunders family?

“What did Fashionista say?”

Victoria bit her lip and answered in a voice choked with tears, “It was all a setup to make my brother fall into their trap. Fashionista's true owner is actually Lionel. If he insists on suing Victor, my brother will end up in prison. Bay, what should I do?”

Bailey held Victoria's trembling body tightly. Taking a deep breath, the former replied in a low voice, “I'll meet with Lionel and see if I can persuade him to show mercy.”

“It's no use. Lionel plotted this entire thing in the first place, and no one will be able to persuade him otherwise. His return this time is to take revenge on my family. Hence, I doubt he'll listen to anyone on this matter,” Victoria replied, shaking her head while smiling bitterly.

Bailey sighed inwardly.

How could I not know how dire the situation is? It's just that I don't want to stand idly by. Whatever it is, I've got to do what I can.

“What about the person who abetted your brother into manipulating Fashionista? Did the police catch him?”

“No. Since the whole thing is a setup, how could he have left my brother a way out?” Victoria hissed through clenched teeth.

“You have a point. Don't worry, Vicky. There's always a solution for everything. I'll send you back first. Both of us have to calm down. We can only come up with a plan when we're calm.”

“Okay.”

The following day, the City Hall's person in charge arrived at the Luther residence with a few staff in tow.

Artemis summoned the person in charge to the study, where they talked for half an hour.

No one knew what they talked about, but the person in charge wore a strange expression after coming out of the room.

Meanwhile, Rhonda was too caught up in her own happiness to notice anything. After filling in the form and signing her name as per the procedures, she asked the female staff who was sorting through the documents, “There should be a photo of the couple on the marriage certificate, right?”

The woman was a little taken aback. She subconsciously glanced toward the person in charge, who smiled and said, “Yes. However, it wouldn't be suitable to take a photo now since it's still the early stages of your pregnancy, and the baby's condition isn't stable. We'll digitally merge two photos of both of you. What do you think?”

Rhonda's expression darkened at once. In an icy voice, she replied, “How can you even suggest that? We have to take a photo now. If you don't have a camera with you, I'll have someone prepare one.”

“This...”

The person in charge from City Hall felt caught in a dilemma. Turning and seeing Artemis returning from using the bathroom, he hurriedly asked the latter, “Ms. Rhonda would like to have a photo taken of the both of you. Would you be okay with that?”

Straightening his shirt as he strode toward the pavilion, Artemis answered flatly, “Don't you know that she's in the early stages of pregnancy? The baby's condition isn't stable yet, and I don't want any photos. Are you capable of bearing responsibility if something should happen to the baby?”

“Artemis, taking a photo for the marriage certificate is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. How can we possibly use a photo of us created on a computer?” Rhonda asked in a wheedling tone.

He shot her a frosty glance, then responded calmly, “We'll take one another day after your pregnancy is stable. If you can't accept that, we'll wait and get the marriage certificate a few months later.”

“No!”

Rhonda instantly became anxious. I waited so long for him to agree to this, so how can I postpone it to a few months later? There's that b*tch, Bailey, and Zoey, the world-famous beauty from a wealthy family. Both of them covet the position of the Luther family's matriarch. If I let down my guard for even a second, they'll take advantage of me, and I'll live to regret it.

“Let's go with your suggestion. We'll take a photo on another day.”

Artemis murmured an acknowledgment. Then, he turned to the City Hall's person in charge and said cryptically, “You've helped me out big time today, and I owe you one. If you need my help in the future, I won't refuse.”

The man reached up to wipe the sweat from his brow. Smiling obsequiously, he replied, “It's my honor to serve you, and I dare not ask for anything in return. If there's nothing else, we'll take our leave first. We'll deliver the marriage certificate to you once it's ready.”

“Thank you.”

After sending off the others, Artemis arched an eyebrow at Rhonda and said with a half-smile, “Stay home and rest. Just let the butler know if there's anything you want to eat. I still have some business to attend to at the office, so I'll be going now.”

With that, he headed straight for the garden's exit without waiting for her to respond.

“Arte...” Rhonda subconsciously called out to him. However, her voice trailed off as she watched him walk away, looking cold and forbidding.

Take your time. Take it one step at a time. I still have my whole life ahead of me to build our relationship.

The visit by the City Hall's person in charge and his staff to the Luther residence was not done in secret, nor did Artemis take any measures to keep it confidential.

Hence, it only took half a day for the news to spread like wildfire among the public, who thought it seemed both expected and somehow didn't expect it at the same time.

Why would the City Hall personnel go to the Luther residence? One doesn't even need to think to figure that out. News of Ms. Rhonda's pregnancy just got out. Subsequently, the Luther family invites people from City Hall to their residence. What else could it be for than to register the marriage between Artemis Luther and Rhonda Jefferson? It looks like there'll be a grand wedding in Hallsbay soon.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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