Calm certainty anchored Ashley's tone, not a hint of hesitation slipping through.
Seeing that, Raymond finally nodded in satisfaction.
With his granddaughter's answer secured, impatience flickered in his eyes—he had no intention of delaying even a moment longer.
"Good. In two weeks, we'll host the matchmaking banquet at the family's Pearl Hotel."
His palm came down on the table with a sharp, echoing crack, authority ringing through his voice. "Every eligible young man in Sleridge worth a mention gets an invitation. I'll have your three brothers return as well. They'll be there in person to look every candidate over. Any man who wants to marry my granddaughter must have the right background, the right character, and the capability to match. Miss even one of those, and he's out—no exceptions."
A soft laugh slipped from Ashley's lips at the sight of her grandfather gearing up as if he meant to line up every so-called perfect bachelor in existence right in front of her.
"Grandpa, it's only a matchmaking banquet. You don't need to turn it into such a grand spectacle. This is a bit much."
"A bit much? Not even remotely." Grim resolve settled over Raymond's features, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "Your judgment was a complete disaster before. You let the wrong man fool you. This time, with your brothers and me standing right beside you, no one's going to let you get hurt again. We're not taking this lightly—this ends here, and that's final."
Noticing the quiet guilt and fierce protectiveness flickering in his eyes, a gentle warmth spread through Ashley's chest. She chose not to push back, simply lowering her lashes and giving a small, obedient nod.
...
Later that evening, inside Sleridge's most exclusive, dimly lit private bar, Dayna idly swirled the pale champagne in her slender flute, her laughter spilling out so freely that she nearly bent at the waist, shoulders shaking.
"You are really something, Ash. The second word spread that the Dunn family's heiress was picking a husband, Sleridge's entire elite circle lost its mind. All those smug rich heirs who usually act like no one is worth their time are practically tripping over each other just to land on your list."
Lowering her voice, she edged closer. "But there's one name on there that honestly caught me off guard. Ash, do you know Vincent Greene?"
"Vincent Greene?" Ashley's fingers stilled around the stem of her glass, and in that instant, a sharp, imposing face rose in her mind.
At the very peak of Sleridge's elite hierarchy stood Vincent Greene, the formidable head of the Greene family.
In her previous life, Ashley had crossed paths with him only once—at an exclusive, high-level business summit.
During that time, he had been the one rival Nicolas genuinely feared, the same man Nicolas had tried everything to approach yet could never quite reach.
Stories painted Vincent as cold-blooded and utterly inscrutable, a man no one could truly figure out.
Some rumors went even further, whispering that he suffered from a private condition and showed no interest in women whatsoever.
"Then why would someone like him appear on the list?" A faint crease formed between Ashley's brows. "This has to be some kind of mistake. Sure, the Greene family does business with the Dunn family, but someone at his level wouldn't need a matchmaking event to find a wife."
Letting out a soft huff, Dayna propped her chin on her hand, eyes narrowing with playful suspicion. "That's exactly what I thought. Unless… he's had his eye on you all along? You might've dressed low-key before, but let's be honest—your face alone could outshine anyone in Sleridge."
A quiet scoff slipped from Ashley as she shook her head, brushing the idea aside without hesitation. "Stop. That's ridiculous. There's no way."
A man like Vincent only cared about power and advantage.
If he truly meant to show up at that banquet, then there was almost certainly a business motive behind it—something no one else had figured out yet.
...
Elsewhere in a booth across the bar, Nicolas sat drinking with his old friend Cristian Barnett.
"You really went through with divorcing Ashley?" Cristian went still in open disbelief. Yet barely a second later, that shock gave way to obvious relief. "Honestly, this is better for you. Sure, Ashley is beautiful, but what else did she really have going for her? She was never on your level. You should've cut ties with her ages ago. Caroline's the one who actually belongs with you."
Nicolas slowly rolled the whiskey around in his glass, his expression dark and unreadable.
Ever since he had walked out of the hospital, an unshakable restlessness had been gnawing at him for reasons he could not name.
"Oh, and get this," Cristian added, leaning in with open excitement. "The Dunn family's missing heiress is back, and Raymond Dunn is hosting a matchmaking banquet just for her. Nicolas, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. If you managed to win the Dunn heiress over, Reed Group could crush Greene Group in one move."
At the thought of Vincent—the rival he despised more than anyone—a dark flicker passed through Nicolas's eyes.
Still, he only gave a frosty, dismissive laugh, arrogance dripping from every word. "I have no interest in that. I only agreed to the divorce to teach Ashley a lesson, to make her see that without the Reed family, she's nothing. For all her flaws, she did spend the last three years taking good care of me. Once she comes crawling back in a few days, crying and begging for another chance, I might think about forgiving her."
A note of admiration colored Cristian's voice as he said, "That's what I respect about you—you're still loyal, even now. Ashley's nothing but an orphan. Without you backing her, she won't survive out there for long. She's probably holed up somewhere, crying her eyes out as we speak…"
While Cristian talked on, Nicolas's attention wandered, his gaze drifting lazily toward the edge of the dance floor.
Not far off, two women sat together in the dim glow. One of them faced away from him, her slender back exposed, the sleek black dress hugging her body and tracing every elegant curve with effortless allure.
Almost as if she felt the weight of his stare, the woman paused, then turned her head with unhurried grace.
Beneath the shifting lights, her features came into focus—refined, composed, and stunning enough to steal the breath from his chest.
It was... Ashley?!
