Chapter 285
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When Joyce saw Marina sitting in the car with Daron, her hands at her sides clenched into tight fists.
Her face went stiff, and as she glared at Marina, her eyes burned with hatred.
Howard stood beside her, glanced down at her, and spoke in a low voice.
“Joyce, hasn’t Mom had the etiquette teacher come over lately?” Howard asked.
Joyce looked up at Howard, her brows furrowing.
Howard kept his gentle, breezy smile. “You really need to brush up on your poker face.”
Joyce’s hands at her sides clenched for a moment before she let them go slack. She forced a smile onto her lips.
Daron’s car rolled up right in front of them.
Joyce took her eyes off Howard and put on a smile as she looked at Daron and Marina.
“Hey Daron, Ms. Finley, you made it!” Joyce greeted them with a smile.
Daron didn’t even spare Joyce a glance. He just reached out and gave Howard a quick handshake.
“Congrats, Howard,” Daron said.
Howard kept his smile as he shook Daron’s hand. “Thanks. I just got back, and I’m still getting the hang of things here. I’ll be counting on your guidance when it comes to business.”
Daron pulled his hand back and said coolly, “You’re a quick learner. You’ll settle in before you know it.
“The Milner Family made you their heir for a reason. They clearly trust what you can do.”
Howard smiled with a humble look.
I’m still miles behind you,” he said.
As he spoke, his gaze landed on Marina behind Daron, and he asked in a calm voice, “Is this Marina Finley, Ms. Finley’s sister, the second daughter of the Finley family?”
Daron nodded.
Marina stepped up just as Ioward mentioned her, reaching out with a polite smile.
“Hello, Mr. Milner, she greeted,
Howard shook her hand, grinning as he spoke.
“I’ve heard a lot about the two amazing Finley sisters, and now that I’ve met you, I can see the rumors were true,” he said.
Marina’s smile was gentle and warın.
“You’re too kind, Mr. Milner. You’re truly one in a million,” Marina replied with a gentle smile.
‘Anyone who can beat out all those relatives from the side branches to become the Milner Family heir can’t possibly be as
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humble and mild as he pretends, Marina thought to herself.
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It was obvious Howard was shrewd and calculating, the kind of guy who always kept his true intentions hidden.
No wonder Joyce had been back with the Milner Family for years and still hadn’t managed to get anywhere near the real center of power.
Rumor had it, Howard had officially become the adopted son of the current Milner Family head.
Seeing that Daron was clearly ignoring her, Joyce bit her lip, jealousy simmering beneath her forced smile. She shifted her gaze to Marina and spoke in a soft, almost sweet voice.
“Marina, you really are lucky. Daron brought you along to such an exclusive gathering. Guess that’s what happens when you’re the childhood friend next door. Even after all those years away from Vrufield, you two are still as close as ever,” Joyce said.
She glanced at Howard. “Howard, you and Daron go talk business. Marina and I will go play some golf.”
Without waiting for a reply, Joyce reached out and took Marina by the wrist.
Howard simply nodded, his only comment a quiet reminder.
“Be careful,” he said.
He shot Joyce a warning look.
He just hoped Joyce wouldn’t act impulsively and do something reckless that might hurt Marina.
Since Daron had brought Marina along, it showed she was important to him.
Howard had only just taken over the Milner Family, so there was no way he’d risk offending Daron. If Joyce tried anything stupid, he’d make sure she paid for it.
Joyce wasn’t foolish enough to do anything reckless to Marina in a place like this.
The area was so open. If Daron even glanced their way, he’d immediately notice if she tried anything. She wasn’t about to take that risk.
But when it came to verbal jabs and subtle threats, Joyce definitely wouldn’t hold back.
Joyce grabbed Marina’s hand and tried to pull her toward another section of the course.
But Marina wouldn’t move. Joyce turned to see Daron, expressionless, holding onto Marina’s other hand.
A flash of jealousy shot through Joyce’s eyes, and she froze.
“Daron, you don’t trust me?” Joyce asked.
Daron didn’t even bother to answer her. Instead, he turned to Marina and asked coolly. Do you know how to play golf?
Marina shook her head and admitted it without hesitation.
“No, I don’t,” she replied.
Honestly, she’d never picked up a golf club before today.
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Even as the second daughter of the Finley family, this was her first time playing golf.
Joyce raised her brows in surprise, but quickly flashed a smile.
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“Marina, you can’t be serious, right? No matter how broke the Finley family is, it’s not like you can’t afford a round of golf. It barely costs anything,” Joyce said, her words laced with mockery.
As soon as Joyce said that, Howard shot her a warning look.
Joyce didn’t even bother to acknowledge him and just kept talking.
“It’s fine if you don’t know how. I can show you,” Joyce offered.
Her voice was dripping with arrogance, every word practically oozing contempt.
Howard frowned, clearly annoyed by Joyce’s words. ‘Daron’s no idiot. He can totally tell she’s just showing off, he thought.
Joyce had completely forgotten how clueless she was when she first showed up at the Milner Family’s door. She couldn’t even handle a fork and knife back then.
Now she was acting all high and mighty, throwing shade at Marina, the Finley family’s precious second daughter, who’d been pampered for seventeen years.
Daron’s brows knitted, and he was just about to say something when Marina jumped in before he could speak, flashing a polite smile.
“Alright, I’ll trouble you then, Ms. Milner,” Marina replied.
Joyce flashed a smile. “It’s no trouble at all. Don’t worry about it.”
With that, she took Marina by the hand and headed off toward another part of the course.
Howard was about to suggest they play right here, but then he caught Marina giving Daron a look that said ‘it’s okay!‘
Daron, who was ready to intervene, saw her signal, released her hand, and his face eased up.
Howard watched Marina with curiosity, noticing how she kept a gentle smile and followed Joyce’s lead, unhurried and composed.
Joyce’s smile disappeared as soon as she turned away, her real self showing through. She was still playing at a low level, only seeing what was right ahead and never watching her back.
‘No wonder Uncle dropped her after a while. She’s just not cu out for this,‘ Howard thought to himself.
Howard turned his attention from them to Daron, a friendly smile on his face.
“Daron, let’s play here. It seems Ms. Finley should be just fine, Joyce won’t give her any trouble,” Howard said.
“Actually, I came today because I wanted to discuss the Milner Family’s restructuring. There are a few decisions I haven’t been able to make, and I’d really like to hear your thoughts,” he added.
Those people in the Milner Family were all just waiting for him to mess up, hoping they’d get the chance to kick him out of the top spot.
Since he’d just gotten back to the country, the only person he could really rely on was Daron.
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He hadn’t actually planned to bring Joyce along today, but while he was abroad, he’d heard there were talks about the Milner and Zamora families tying the knot.
Thinking maybe Joyce and Daron had hit it off these past few years, he sent her with the contract to test the waters.
But the result was pretty different from what he’d imagined.
