On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 183: The Moon Surrounded by Stars

Hearing this, Damian Rivers’s brow furrowed. "Just a few days ago, you were pushing for a marriage alliance with the Morrison Family. Have you changed your mind already?"

Serena Lockwood said, "Of course not. I just said you could make Chloe Sterling your own; I never said you had to marry her. Besides, she’s been with Jasper Lockwood, so it’s impossible for you to marry her. Just keeping her by your side would be a good enough outcome."

Damian Rivers’s deep gaze settled on his mother. "So that’s what you’re thinking..."

The Head of the Rivers Family said, "Enough. We can discuss this later. Let’s head to the meeting. We have important matters to discuss today and can’t be late."

Damian Rivers said in a cold tone, "You two go. I’m not going."

Serena Lockwood frowned. "What’s wrong? Why not? Did you not hear a word I just said?"

Damian Rivers looked at them. "Mom, Dad, you’re underestimating Jasper Lockwood and overestimating yourselves. I suggest you pull back now, before it’s too late."

The Head of the Rivers Family’s expression darkened. "What kind of talk is that? No matter how capable Jasper Lockwood is, can he possibly fight against all our allied forces at once?"

Serena Lockwood said, "Stop talking him up and putting us down!"

After a moment of silence, Damian Rivers said, "Jasper Lockwood has been aware of your movements for a while now. Phoebe Sinclair has disappeared, and today... I was ambushed. Who do you think was behind it?"

"What? You were ambushed?" Serena Lockwood immediately looked him up and down. "Are you hurt?"

Damian Rivers said, "I’m fine."

The Head of the Rivers Family looked stunned. "Jasper Lockwood already knows? So he’s already making his move."

Serena Lockwood’s eyes narrowed. "In that case, we need to accelerate our plans."

Speechless, Damian Rivers turned and walked away.

Serena Lockwood shouted, "Damian! Where are you going? Come back!"

"Forget it. Don’t worry about him. He’ll have to get involved sooner or later," the Head of the Rivers Family said. "Let’s go."

The two of them left.

Damian Rivers stood on the upper floor, watching their retreating figures as he took out his phone and called Tristan Sinclair.

"There’s no stopping them now. Go ahead with your plan."

Tristan Sinclair’s voice was deep. "Alright."

「Friday morning.」

After breakfast, Jasper Lockwood set down his utensils and said, "Chloe, let’s go together."

Chloe Sterling looked at him. "Are you really going to Director Xavier’s speech?"

"I’m not going to watch the speech. I’m going to be formally thanked, and I might say a few words on stage."

Chloe Sterling raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

Jasper Lockwood replied, "I don’t know. I’ll just wing it, see how I feel."

Chloe Sterling smiled and put down her chopsticks. "Alright, let’s go."

"No rush. Finish eating first."

"I’m already full."

"Eat a little more. Last night... you expended quite a bit of energy."

Chloe Sterling replied, "...That was you, not me."

Jasper Lockwood said, "I wasn’t the one crying about how tired they were."

Chloe Sterling stood up. "I think I’ll go by myself."

Jasper Lockwood grabbed her hand, rising with her and holding it tightly as he led her out.

Chloe Sterling tried to pull her hand back, but when she couldn’t, she let him hold it.

After they entered the underground parking garage of The Medical College, Chloe Sterling checked that no one was around before quickly getting out of the car and putting some distance between herself and Jasper Lockwood.

Jasper Lockwood looked at her. "There’s no one here."

"But there won’t be for long," Chloe Sterling said.

Jasper Lockwood asked, "Would it be a problem if we just happened to bump into each other?"

Chloe Sterling was silent. "..."

’I guess he has a point.’

Henry Chamberlain smiled. "Ma’am, the chances of running into each other in a public place like this are pretty high. I doubt anyone would suspect anything."

So, the three of them walked toward the elevator together.

The speech was being held in the auditorium. On the way there, countless students cast looks of excitement, thrill, and admiration toward Jasper Lockwood, though no one dared to approach him.

Chloe Sterling had once again put some distance between them, walking beside him like a stranger.

Jasper Lockwood said no more. He stared straight ahead, his handsome face icy and his expression screaming, ’Stay away.’

They soon arrived at the auditorium entrance, where a group of people was waiting to greet Jasper Lockwood.

"President Lockwood, welcome. We’re honored to have you."

After an exchange of pleasantries, Jasper Lockwood was ushered into the auditorium, the clear center of attention. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Chloe Sterling slipped inside by herself, unnoticed.

"Chloe, over here!"

Maya Jacobs was in a front-row seat, waving to Chloe Sterling.

Chloe Sterling walked over to her.

"Here, sit here." Maya Jacobs patted the seat beside her. "It’s close to the stage."

Chloe Sterling sat down next to her. "Why are we so close?"

A smile played on Maya Jacobs’s lips. "To admire the beautiful scenery, of course."

"Beautiful scenery?"

Maya Jacobs pointed to a tall, slender figure not far away. "President Lockwood."

Chloe Sterling was speechless. "..."

A girl behind them scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "President Lockwood is already married. Certain people should stop wasting their time."

She had wanted to sit in the front row, but Maya Jacobs had beaten her to it.

Maya Jacobs laughed. "We’re just appreciating a handsome man. Only someone with a dirty mind would twist it into something else."

"Hmph!" The girl snorted. Noticing Esther Sterling, who had just entered, she immediately stood up and whispered, "Esther, over here."

Esther Sterling followed the sound and her gaze immediately fell upon Chloe Sterling in the front row. She frowned instantly, but instead of walking over, she looked away and headed in the other direction.

The girl, embarrassed for a moment, sat back down.

Jasper Lockwood didn’t give his speech right away. He was seated in the VIP section, in the middle of the front row.

He suddenly turned and glanced in Chloe Sterling’s direction, but her eyes were fixed on the stage ahead.

Maya Jacobs happened to be looking his way, and she jumped when he suddenly glanced over. She quickly snapped her head toward the stage. A moment later, she whispered, "Chloe, President Lockwood just looked over here. It startled me."

Hearing this, Chloe Sterling turned to look at Jasper Lockwood, but he had already turned back to watch Director Xavier, who was now speaking on stage.

"You must have seen wrong."

"I didn’t." Maya Jacobs followed her gaze. "He really did look this way. Huh? President Sterling is looking this way now, too. He must be looking at you, right?"

Charles Sterling glanced in their direction, his eyes meeting theirs. He gave Chloe Sterling a small smile and a nod.

Chloe Sterling nodded back in acknowledgment.

Maya Jacobs murmured, "This President Sterling is quite handsome, too. He doesn’t look like he’s in his forties at all. And..."

"And what?" Chloe Sterling asked.

Maya Jacobs smiled and whispered, "I feel like you two look a little alike, around the eyes."

Chloe Sterling was speechless. "..."

Esther Sterling also noticed Charles Sterling, a look of surprise on her face. ’Isn’t that the friend Mom mentioned? Why is he in the VIP section up front?’

She hadn’t been on campus much lately and didn’t know a lot of things, so she asked the girl next to her, "Who’s that man sitting next to President Lockwood?"

"That’s Charles Sterling, the president of Apex Group and one of the wealthiest men in Country A. You don’t know him? He’s a big deal. He recently donated a lot of money to The Medical College."

"The president of Country A’s Apex Group? How is that possible?" Esther Sterling’s face changed drastically. Her mother had clearly told her the man was just an ordinary person.

’How did he suddenly become a tycoon from Country A?’

’So why is he getting close to Chloe Sterling?’

The girl gave her a strange look. "What do you mean, how is that possible? He *is* the president of Apex Group."

Esther Sterling’s hands clenched into fists. She glanced sideways at Chloe Sterling. ’That bitch really won’t let any rich man go!’