Betty covered her mouth, utterly shaken. Despite being promiscuous herself, she would at least make


    sure to maintain her modesty in public.


    Meanwhile, Zoe disyed no shame whatsoever. Not only was she openly enjoying herself with a man


    before her, but the sheer ecstasy on her face bordered on smugness!


    How could a bitch like Zoe even dare to entertain thoughts of marrying Jasper and bing the wife


    of Beckett Group''s president? She was far from qualified!


    Freddy was someone from a notable family. As such, he retained a sense of decorum despite his


    burning lust. The realization that they were being observed dampened his ardor.


    "Zoe, I can''t.."


    Zoe harrumphed. "Useless piece of shit!"


    In disdain, Zoe shoved Freddy into the water. She emerged from the waterpletely naked and


    retrieved a towel from a nearby chair. Then, she wrapped it around herself, covering only the essential


    parts, leaving little to the imagination.


    Freddy was panicking in the water. As Zoe''s ultimatepdog, his first instinct was to immediately


    appease her.


    However, Betty''s presence made him reluctant to get out of the water.


    "What''s with all the screaming? Everyone in Sna City knows you''re the most promiscuous, Ms.


    Betty. No need to act innocent and pure in front of me," Zoe remarked casually, retrieving a cigarette


    from her box and cing it between her lips. She lit it, taking a deep drag.


    Despite her anger, Betty couldn''t help but admire Zoe.


    Back in their school days, Freddy had been Zoe''s loyal follower. Betty couldn''t believe he was still


    fixated on her even after nearly a decade had passed.


    Although Harper Group was wealthy, it didn''t have a clean background. Hence, officials weren''t too


    keen on associating with them.


    If Zoe could establish a connection with the Hodgsons, the Harpers would gain a powerful political ally.


    This could open doors for them to expand into new sectors, and who knew how far their business


    empire could reach then?


    Betty clicked her tongue. "Don''t tell me you summoned me here in the dead of the night just to watch


    you two go at it." She couldn''t be bothered to put on a courteous front. She walked over angrily and sat


    down.


    Zoe blew a cloud of smoke in her direction, causing Betty to cough. "Has that idiotic sister of yours


    returned to Seaview Manor?"


    "Nope. Grandpa took her back with him."


    "What''s Mr. Beckett Senior''s take on this?"


    "I heard that he''s pissed off. I''m guessing that Landon marrying Lauren will be a tall order," Betty


    remarked with a coldugh, finding amusement in their predicament.


    "Lauren''s condition has been exposed, and her actions are being widely mocked online. None of the


    prominent families in Sna City would want such a woman in their midst.


    "Lauren''s a lost cause, and my father can''t bear the shame of having his daughter marry beneath her


    station and be aughingstock. Since she doesn''t meet the expectations of the rich, he will be


    stuck looking after that useless daughter of his for the rest of his life!"


    Bettyughed so hard that she teared up. She couldn''t help but be reminded of how Sophia had ced


    all her hopes on Lauren when she was alive.


    Would Sophia rest in peace if she knew Lauren could never have a happy marriage? Or perhaps


    enraged enough to be a vengeful spirit to haunt them?


    Betty dismissed the idea with a scoff. Sophia was never fit to be a mother; Betty and Lauren were just


    tools in the Beckett family.


    "Who says no one wants her? I''ve arranged a marriage for her," Zoe dered, shooting a pointed look


    at Freddy. "Be quick with it and make that wedding happen, Freddy."


    Betty''s eyes widened in astonishment. What did that mean? Freddy was going to marry Lauren?


    Freddy was a man with a sturdy family background. He even fancied Zoe that much. Even so, Zoe was


    willing to give him up to Lauren instead. It seemed like Zoe had lost her mind.


    "Zoe... I can''t bear to leave you," Freddy whined, approaching Zoe by the pool.


    Annoyed, Zoe kicked him on the shoulder. "Didn''t I tell you to discuss this with your parents? What did


    they say?"


    "They didn''t like that Lauren is a dumbo. They''re not keen about the marriage."


    "In that case, you need to convince them even more that she''s the one you must marry. Show them


    that a marriage alliance with the Becketts has more advantages than disadvantages."


    Regardless, Zoe was from a plutocrat family. Ever the strategist, she continued, "If you were to be


    Javier''s son-inw, things like securing campaign funds would be a breeze for Mr. Onder when he


    wants to advance his career.


    "And epting Lauren, despite her shorings, will demonstrate your family''s charity and open-


    mindedness, which will enhance both your and Mr. Onder''s image in the political world."


    "You''re truly brilliant, Zoe," Freddy said,pletely enamored with her. But then, he added reluctantly,


    "But... it''s you whom I truly love."


    "She''s just an idiot. You can leave her at home as a showpiece after you marry her. How could she


    ever get in your way?"


    Zoe then stooped to his level, pinching his chin yfully as she jeered, "In the future, you and I can do


    whatever we want and be together whenever we like."


    Freddy waspletely mesmerized by her. He no longer cared that he was still naked. He got to his


    feet and got out of the pool. He caught Zoe in an embrace, nting a wet kiss on her lips.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Betty felt uneasy as she watched the scene unfold before her.


    Nheless, understanding finally dawned on Betty—marrying Lauren off was the key to breaking


    Landon''s spirit. But not just any marriage—it had to be a prestigious one, a family like the Hodgsons


    that even the Harpers treated with deference.


    The cruelty of it all! No wonder Sophia always warned her about Zoe. She was nothing short of


    diabolical!


    Zoe, nestledfortably in Freddy''s arms, cast a knowing nce at Betty''s stricken face. "Betty, you


    also need to put in some effort with Mr. Javier when you get back. Remember, we''re in this together.


    Here''s to a fruitful partnership."


    The veiled threat hung heavy in the air. Betty bristled. "I don''t need you to remind me. I know what to


    do!"


    By orchestrating Lauren''s marriage to Freddy, she could exact revenge on Landon and thwart the


    Harper Group''s ambitions simultaneously. And she could prevent Zoe from bing even more


    insufferably smug.


    It was an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. So, why not take it?