Chapter 566

Andrew responded calmly, “Mrs. Rhodes, you’re quite funny. Guests like these don’t come just because of money!”

Tiana glanced around, taking in the notable faces. “Hmm, impressive. Dylan and Natasha, the two ruling powers of Jayrodale, are here. Cedric and Francesca showed up too. Even Mr. Thatcher made an appearance. Mr. Lloyd, you certainly have influence.”

Lauren beamed with pride and interjected, “Dr. Lloyd has a wide network. He once saved Mr. Thatcher’s life.”

Tiana’s smile quickly faded, and she sneered. “It’s all because of Marvin’s connections. They’re just here to keep up appearances. You might not see it, Lauren, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind to what’s really going on.”

Just then, a sleek Rolls-Royce quietly pulled up by the curb. An elderly man dressed in a distinguished robe stepped out, immediately drawing a stir from the crowd.

“Is that Mr. Yates? Wow! Even the wealthiest man in Jayrodale showed up to support Moonlit Apothecary.”

“Yeah, and Mrs. Rhodes from Rhodes Corporation is here too. This place has some serious backing!”

“Feels like a battle of titans… Too bad for the guy running this place. He’s just a doctor from Jayrodale General Hospital. The big shots might be here, but none truly care about him.”

The atmosphere shifted entirely as Marvin’s presence overshadowed Tiana’s earlier arrival.

Marvin strode toward Tiana, his voice warm and inviting. “Mrs. Rhodes! It’s been a while. You’re as stunning as ever.”

Tiana returned a cool smile. “And you, Mr. Yates, are clearly thriving. Congratulations on grooming such a remarkable… chess piece. He’d make a fine successor for Wealthroller Investments.”

Marvin blinked, caught off guard. “Chess piece? I’m not sure I follow, Mrs. Rhodes. What are you suggesting?”

Tiana’s gaze flicked toward Andrew with a knowing smirk. “Oh, come now, Mr. Yates. You can play dumb with Lauren, but not with me.”

Marvin glanced between her and Andrew, his face remaining neutral. “Mrs. Rhodes, you’re mistaken. I’m here today for the same reason as you—just to celebrate the opening of Moonlit Apothecary.”

Andrew sighed, visibly annoyed. “Marvin, please make sure Mrs. Rhodes is taken care of. Let’s keep things moving, yeah?”

His tone made it clear he was fed up. Tiana’s penchant for making baseless assumptions and attaching labels to him was starting to wear thin. If she were not Lauren’s mother, he might have already asked her to leave.

Marvin chuckled obediently. “Of course. Mrs. Rhodes, this way, please.”

Tiana’s eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion, as she felt something did not add up. She wondered if she was wrong about their relationship. After all, why was Andrew giving Marvin orders like that—and why was Marvin complying so easily?

‘Hmph. Marvin and Andrew. You think your little act can fool me?’ Tiana thought coldly as she followed Marvin to the VIP area. ‘They’re playing some twisted game, but I won’t let Lauren become a pawn in their schemes.’

She bit her lip in frustration, her thoughts racing. The high society families in Jayrodale had always been locked in subtle battles with Marvin, the outsider-turned-mogul. For her, this event was not just a ceremony but another move in that ongoing game of power and influence.

Nonetheless, Tiana was confident that the Rhodes family would not fall into Marvin’s hands, especially with her…