Filed To Story: Finding the Secret Daddy for My Baby Novel
“That’s true! I haven’t seen you in over ten years.” His demeanor was as if he were her junior, being very polite to her.
“Good day, Old Madam Presgrave. I am Naomi, Francis’ second wife. This is my daughter, Erica.” After her words, Naomi quickly made eye contact with Erica and said, “Erica, greet Old Madam Presgrave.”
Erica immediately greeted me in a sweet voice. “Hello, Old Madam Presgrave. I am Erica.”
“Nice to meet you all.” Harriet smilingly nodded.
“You look young, Old Madam Presgrave!” Naomi took the opportunity to praise her.
“Well, I’m getting old!” Harriet waved her hands with a smile on her face. At this point, Anna approached her and said, “Madam, you need to welcome the guests now.”
“That’s right. I’m leaving for the main banquet hall first. Have a great time here, and do come over earlier,” Harriet said to the Tillmans.
“Sure. Let me send you off.” Francis stood up, and Naomi immediately followed. Before she left, Harriet turned around and looked at Jared. “I’ll see you later, Jared.”
“Okay, Great-Grandma.” Jared obediently nodded his head.
Seeing that Francis was sending Harriet off, Anastasia pulled Jared to her. “Jared, return to your room first. I’ll call you later.”
“Okay.” After he ended his words, his bright eyes looked toward Erica. Seeing that, Erica guiltily lowered her head to look at her phone.
After Jared went upstairs, Francis and Naomi returned. “Where’s Jared?” Francis asked.
“He went upstairs to play.”
“Your gown looks stunning, Anastasia!” Naomi immediately said, as if she was trying to please Anastasia.
Anastasia, on the other hand, only gave her an indifferent reply. “Thanks.”
“Naomi and Erica rarely join such an occasion, Anastasia. Do take good care of them later.” It was Francis’ hope that the entire family could get along well.
“I don’t need that. Hayley will be here too; she’ll keep me company.” Erica spoke arrogantly before picking up the phone to call Hayley.
“I’m going to see Jared.” Francis missed his grandson, and he walked upstairs right after his words.
Naomi’s eyes welled up with resentment when she saw this. She wouldn’t have known Francis’ true intentions if she hadn’t eavesdropped on him in the hospital; he had already taken Jared as his heir to the company.
“Hello, Hayley, are you here?”
“Oh, you’re here! That’s great. I’ll go over,” Erica said eagerly.
With that, she immediately took her handbag and said, “Mom, Hayley is here. I’m going to look for her now.”
She left immediately after speaking. Anastasia did not want to be in the same room with Erica, so she went to the balcony with her phone. Naomi, on the other hand, sat on the sofa, munching on a handful of pistachios and contemplating her plans for the evening. First and foremost, she desired to gain Harriet’s favor. Next, she hoped to find a good catch for her daughter at the banquet tonight, and last but not least, she would seize any advantage that came her way.
It was six o’clock when all the guests gathered in the main hall. Ten minutes later, Anastasia received a call from Elliot.
“Dinner is beginning soon, Anastasia. Ask your family to come over.”
“Okay,” she replied.
“I might get busier tonight and won’t be able to care for Jared and you. You must both take care of yourselves.”
“I know that. Don’t worry about us.” She did not intend for him to look after them too.
Ten minutes later, Francis, holding Jared, together with Naomi and Anastasia, reached the main hall. That night, the banquet was divided into three different periods: six-thirty to eight for dinner, eight to nine for all guests to offer their birthday congratulations to Harriet, and nine to ten for the guests’ free time to walk around and enjoy the fireworks show.
As everyone invited to the banquet was Presgrave Group’s close affiliates and Harriet’s close friends, the number of guests was limited to around one hundred. Though it wasn’t a lot, the entire banquet appeared grand and luxurious.
Anastasia noticed Hayley, dressed to the nines, standing beside the fountain with Erica. They looked at each other, as if they were on opposing sides fighting each other. Anastasia’s hatred for them was burning in her heart.
Despite being the ones who committed wrongs, Hayley and Erica showed no remorse. Instead, they stood haughtily.
When Anastasia entered the main hall, all of the seats had names written on a gold plate. When she realized she hadn’t been assigned a seat with Francis, she approached an usher. “I’ll bring you to your seat, Miss Tillman,” the usher said.
Surprised, she followed the usher to the main area, where her name was written on one of the seats on the side. Elliot’s name was next to hers. Her heart pounded fast when she saw that. Jared’s seat was beside hers, and Nigel was the next. Clearly, Elliot had arranged for this.
But Anastasia did not want to be this high-profiled. There were many noble and reputable guests tonight, and it wasn’t appropriate for her to sit here.
She, therefore, called the manager over and informed him of her intention to move to the table where her father was seated. Hearing that her family was at the other table, the manager immediately arranged for her seat to be changed.
With that, she sat together with Francis, with Jared between them. Naomi was on the other side of Francis, whereas Erica wasn’t there at all. She had gone to sit with Hayley.
While sitting quietly in her seat, Anastasia raised her head and noticed a group of guests entering and speaking quietly to the man in front of them. Clearly, that man was Elliot. He looked elegant and charming in a black suit, and his demeanor was a polite one too.
Tonight, he appeared less dominant but more modest and sophisticated. No matter which side of him he revealed, the charm he exuded did not diminish. Her gaze was fixed on him as she was thinking, and as if he felt that, his deep eyes looked at her across all the guests. He furrowed his brows in displeasure when he noticed she had switched seats.
When their eyes met, her heart raced inexplicably. She was unsure what to do at that instant, and she reflexively took her teacup, pretending to be drinking tea.
Hayley, on the other side of the hall, took everything in. When Elliot walked in, her gaze was already fixed on him. As a result, she witnessed everything, including how he welcomed the guests and he flirted with Anastasia.
At the same time, a posh black car came to a halt beside the fountain outside the main hall. A slender leg stepped down as the door opened, followed by a lady dressed in a silver evening gown. The lights highlighted this twenty-five-year-old lady’s flawless makeup as well as her bright eyes.
She swayed her waist as she approached an elderly man who had gotten out of the car on the other side and grabbed his elbow. “Let’s go in.”
The old man gave her his intricate gaze and let her hold his arms as he walked up the stairs. Elliot, who had learned of his arrival, was already waiting for him at the main door.
“Hello, Lucas. I’m glad you’ve arrived. Please come in!” Elliot greeted the elderly gentleman politely. He was one of Elliot’s father’s few close friends when he was alive.
“Hello, Elliot! It’s been some time since I last saw you!” Lucas gave Elliot a pat on his shoulder. At this moment, a young lady’s sweet voice was heard saying, “Dad, do introduce me as well.”
Lucas’ smile stiffened slightly as he heard that, but he quickly responded, “Elliot, this is my daughter, Aliona.”

New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.