On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 122: Wanna Make a Big Bet?

After a moment’s hesitation, Maya Jacobs finally said, "Chloe, I know you don’t like talking about Esther Sterling, but there’s something I have to tell you. Esther did really well at the piano competition this time. It’s very likely she’ll get first place, but of course, that’s not the main point.

The main point is... you know Tristan Sinclair, right? The man in charge of the Sinclair Group. He seems to really appreciate Esther, he’s been good to her, and he even defended her in front of a lot of people."

Chloe Sterling raised an eyebrow. "Tristan Sinclair defended Esther Sterling?"

"Yeah!" Maya Jacobs murmured. "Even though Esther plays that innocent, two-faced act, a lot of guys fall for it. She got ridiculously lucky this time, which is why I wanted to warn you. If she really manages to get in with President Sinclair, I’m afraid it could be bad for you."

Esther Sterling had been in such a miserable state a while ago, so for her to be working this hard now... she must be trying to make a comeback. If she really secured Tristan Sinclair as a powerful backer, she would definitely try to avenge her past humiliation and get back at Chloe Sterling.

This was also what Mrs. Jacobs had told her, instructing her to warn Chloe Sterling. Although the Jacobs Family couldn’t be considered a major tycoon family, they were a respectable, scholarly family with at least some connections to other prominent houses.

Mrs. Jacobs and Mrs. Sheffield, for instance, had known each other since they were children.

Chloe Sterling hadn’t interacted much with Tristan Sinclair and didn’t know what kind of woman he liked, but his appreciation for Esther Sterling was indeed a bit surprising.

But none of that had anything to do with her, and she didn’t particularly care.

Knowing Maya Jacobs meant well, Chloe Sterling simply replied, "Mm, I understand."

After a thought, Maya added, "But you don’t have to worry too much. The Rivers Family may not be as powerful as the Sinclair Family, but they’ve been allies for generations. If Esther Sterling really uses the Sinclairs to bully you, Young Master Rivers definitely won’t just sit by and do nothing."

Chloe Sterling suddenly let out a laugh. "You don’t need to worry about me. I don’t need Damian Rivers to stand up for me."

Maya Jacobs giggled. "I just don’t want anything to happen to you, so you can always stay at The Medical College."

Chloe Sterling’s expression turned serious. "I will always be here."

She hadn’t been to The Medical College much lately, and work had piled up. Over the next few days, Chloe Sterling was constantly busy with experiments at the college.

Jasper Lockwood had also been busy these past few days. As they entered the final quarter of the year, his workload gradually increased.

The two saw each other every day, ate their meals together, and would even talk, but the atmosphere was always a little strange.

To put it nicely, they treated each other with polite respect. To put it bluntly, it looked like they weren’t on good terms. Despite being newlyweds, they lacked the passionate intimacy of a new marriage.

That afternoon, an idea struck Chloe Sterling, and she went to the Orchid Labs research and development center.

She began researching a key ingredient for next year’s limited-edition product.

When Faith Morrison found out, she immediately grew excited and started working on the invitation list for the year-end new product launch event, occasionally sending messages to ask for Chloe Sterling’s opinion.

But Chloe Sterling had no opinions to offer. She wasn’t familiar with the people in the Imperial’s high-society circles and had no one in particular she wanted to invite.

After that, Faith Morrison stopped asking her.

After spending three days in the R&D lab, Chloe formulated the new product.

Faith Morrison rushed over as soon as she heard the news.

"Chloe, you’ve already formulated the new product?"

"It’s not the final version yet. Here, try this," Chloe Sterling said, handing her a scent testing strip.

Faith Morrison took the scent testing strip, brought it to her nose, and took a whiff. Her eyes instantly lit up, and she stared at Chloe Sterling in astonishment.

Chloe Sterling asked, "You... what’s with that expression? You don’t like it?"

"It’s not that I don’t like it," Faith Morrison explained. "It’s that it’s exceptionally good. It’s different from your usual cool fragrances. There’s a hint of sweetness in the cold notes, but it’s not cloying at all. Chloe, this sudden change in your style... have you fallen in love?"

Chloe Sterling: "..."

Faith Morrison didn’t know she was married to Jasper Lockwood, so she assumed Chloe must have fallen in love to be able to formulate a perfume with such sweet notes. She’d never done it before. Faith was both curious and shocked, wondering who could have possibly captured the heart of this cool-headed beauty.

"Is he from Crestfall? Do I know him?"

Chloe Sterling said calmly, "No. I just suddenly felt like a change of style."

Faith Morrison’s lips curved slightly. "But how come I can smell a hint of romance in this fragrance? It makes you feel inexplicably excited, your heart fluttering, just like when you’re falling in love."

Chloe Sterling said with a straight face, "That’s because this ingredient does, in fact, stimulate the secretion of dopamine. As a top-level pharmacist, achieving that isn’t difficult."

Faith Morrison: "..."

"If you’d like, I can increase the concentration to make you even more excited."

Faith Morrison replied, "On second thought, no. This is perfect as it is."

The corners of Chloe Sterling’s lips twitched up as she lowered her gaze to the lab bench. "I’ll refine it a little more. We can talk again once I’ve settled on the final version."

Faith Morrison nodded. "Alright. I’ll be waiting for the good news."

Chloe Sterling stayed in the lab until well after nine that evening, and it was already past ten by the time she returned to The Lockwood Residence.

Just as she entered the ground-floor living room, the butler came to greet her. "Madam, you’ve returned."

"Mm," Chloe Sterling acknowledged, then asked, "Has Second Master Lockwood returned?"

"Not yet. The Second Master has been quite busy these past few days."

Chloe Sterling said no more. Just as she was about to head upstairs, her phone suddenly buzzed with a message.

It was from Tristan Sinclair. They had met some time ago at the Lockwood Group and had exchanged contact information then.

She immediately tapped the message open.

[Chloe, Jasper and that guy Coldwell from Nocturne Group are at each other’s throats again. Want to come over?]

Chloe Sterling immediately replied: [Where are you guys?]

[The Zenith Club. Casino section, Room 8816.]

[Got it.]

Putting her phone away, Chloe Sterling immediately left for The Zenith Club.

「Meanwhile.」

Jasper Lockwood and Silas Coldwell were seated at a gambling table, facing off against each other. The air was thick with the smoke of battle.

Tristan Sinclair was sitting at another table with a friend, watching the two of them in confusion.

"What kind of beef does our Second Master Lockwood have with this guy from Nocturne Group? For them to be clashing so openly?"

"I don’t know." Tristan Sinclair shook his head. He knew Jasper Lockwood and Silas Coldwell had a feud over business matters, which was normal. Business competition was inherently about scheming against one another.

But lately, he really couldn’t figure them out. The two of them weren’t just competing over business anymore. ’Was it over that top-level pharmacist? That didn’t seem very likely, either.’

’Even if Jasper Lockwood valued talent, it wouldn’t be to this degree.’

’Besides, the methods Silas Coldwell had used against Jasper Lockwood at the reception were truly mind-boggling.’

’And Jasper Lockwood’s methods of retaliation were also a little... astonishing.’

The two had run into each other at the casino by chance tonight and were now locked in another contest. Although Jasper Lockwood currently had the upper hand, Silas Coldwell was a sinister and cunning man; one had to be on guard.

It wouldn’t be right for Jasper Lockwood to just win and walk away, so calling Chloe Sterling to come and get him was the best option.

After all, when his wife showed up, he’d have no choice but to leave.

Jasper Lockwood picked up his cards, his deep, almond-shaped eyes fixed on Silas Coldwell across from him. "How about we raise the stakes?" he suddenly asked.

Silas Coldwell stared right back at him. "How high?"

Jasper Lockwood said, "Loser shuts down their branch office, leaves Crestfall, and never shows their face here again."

Silas Coldwell’s eyes narrowed. "Fine. But if you lose, you have to give me the person I want. Do you dare, President Lockwood?"