Chapter 11 Gathering her spirits, Genevieve joked a bit more to cheer up Margaret visibly before she suggested leaving. As soon as she stepped out of the door, she saw Anthony standing by the door. His demeanor was icy, his lips pressed tightly together, and his face carried a gloomy frown. He had heard everything said inside clearly. ‘She cheered Grandma up because she couldn’t let go of me, right? It looks like she regretted the divorce and wants to return to my side! How could three years of affection vanish so suddenly?‘ Anthony thought. His expression eased slightly after he realized that. A peculiar feeling surged within him as he looked at Genevieve’s gentle smile. It was a blend of delight and guilt. He had not treated her well in those three years. He swore to make it up to her in the future. ‘She left the marriage with nothing. This indicated that she still liked me. Perhaps she is afraid that I might misunderstand that she married me for money!‘ he thought. That thought bolstered Anthony’s confidence a bit. “Genevieve, if you regret divorcing, it’s not too late,” Anthony said. He was sure she would face a lot of hardship outside without the title of Mrs. Hoffman. His gaze was probing, and his voice was cold, yet a trace of smugness fleetingly crossed his mind. His words were meant to give Genevieve a way out. Genevieve merely glanced at him after hearing his words. A touch of coldness swept her heart. She found his words rather absurd. Chapter 11 With a light chuckle, she turned and headed downstairs. She did not even want to exchange a single word with him. She thought, ‘It’s impossible for me to regret the divorce. ‘I’d never pretend those things never happened. ‘It’s just as impossible for me to continue covering up their sordid affairs.” Just the thought of doing those suffocated her.. O Anthony’s face darkened momentarily as he watched her leave without saying a word, and his expression stiffened. It felt like a piece was missing from his chest. It felt rather empty. An inexplicable sense of fear and anxiety surged within him. He loosened his collar and hurried downstairs, but Genevieve was already gone by then. Quincey went over and stopped him, looking flustered and exasperated. “This Genevieve has no manners! She truly has no gratitude. Back then, she took advantage of the situation to marry into our family. We were left with no choice but to accept her. We’ve supported her for three years, and now she repaid our kindness with enmity. Her recent antics online have brought disgrace upon the Hoffman family. I believe she needs to be taught a lesson. She’ll need to find a job after her divorce. Notify everyone in the industry and blacklist her. Let her come begging to us when she can’t afford a meal. It’s time she learns her lesson and realizes who holds the power here!” Quincey said. Anthony furrowed his brows. His expression turned cold, his eyes deep and unreadable. A heaviness settled in his chest. His aura was distant and detached as he briskly adjusted his sleeves. “Mom, there’s no need for you to concern yourself with outside matters. You should attend to the guests properly!” Anthony said coldly before walking out. Once outside, he made a call to Matthew. “Have you found out where Genevieve is staying?” 2/6 Chapter 11 He had been trying to locate Genevieve’s address for some time but with no success. She even blocked him on all forms of communication. He wondered if she was deliberately avoiding him by vanishing like that. Matthew paused and answered cautiously, “No, Mrs. Hoffman… After Ms. Lawrence left, there has been no news of her.” Anthony gritted his teeth, and his heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. It was extremely uncomfortable. He refused to believe Genevieve could slip through his fingers just like that. Three months later, a charity dinner spearheaded by Eagle Entertainment, the leading entertainment company, took place as scheduled in Acocester. All the attendees were elites from the upper echelons, rich and noble, making the gathering a grand affair. Eagle Entertainment held an unreachable position in the industry. There was even an open secret whereby whoever signed with Eagle Entertainment was virtually guaranteed to get the best actor and best actress awards.. This was because Eagle Entertainment was backed by Lawrence Group, a leading figure in the industry. However, the event was not open to the public, so the media could not capture any photos. In the evening, a luxurious and low–profile Bentley stopped at the entrance of Crest Hotel. At that moment, the aloof and refined Anthony and his companion, Rosalie, stepped out of the Bentley. Anthony had taken over Hoffman Group at a young age. Despite that, he had propelled the company to the top in just a few years. He was someone that both the good and bad sides of the industry dared not offend. The moment they appeared, Anthony and Rosalie attracted a considerable amount of 3/6 A Chapter 11 attention. After all, Anthony’s private life with the two women was circulated online and had caused an uproar previously. Hoffman Group’s stocks were also affected at that time. However, with Anthony’s skill and capabilities, he naturally turned the tables. Rosalie, dressed in an expensive, custom–made dress, stood by Anthony’s side, exuding a pitiable charm. In the past three months, she had occasionally experienced fearful interrogations at the police station and had even been detained for 15 days.. Anthony had remained quite indifferent throughout. Fortunately, Samson was still young. He had insisted on looking for Rosalie, so Anthony had helped resolve the matter completely. There was a trace of satisfaction in Rosalie’s heart. However, Anthony was actually planning to send her abroad. She had been delaying it, citing Samson’s poor health as the reason. No matter what, Genevieve’s child was gone, and she had been driven out of the family. Rosalie’s goal had been achieved. She was determined to obtain the position of Mrs. Hoffman. The banquet hall was aglow with lights. Anthony held a small stake in Eagle Entertainment. It was not a significant amount but more of a casual investment. However, his status was enough to make him a distinguished guest. The moment Anthony and Rosalie appeared, they were surrounded by people coming over to exchange pleasantries. “I heard Eagle Entertainment brought in a new director with an impressive background. Mr. Hoffman, have you heard about it?” someone asked. 4/6 Chapter 11 “I heard this banquet was specifically arranged for the new director,” another person chimed in. “This new director seems to have some connection with Samantha,” someone said. Rosalie tuned in keenly to their conversation, her heart stirring with anticipation as she looked expectantly at Anthony. Working tirelessly in the theater troupe was no match for starring in a play. She had longed to enter the entertainment industry. She just had not found the right moment to talk to Anthony. Anthony maintained a composed and dignified demeanor while exchanging pleasantries with people, keeping a slight distance and an air of detachment. As soon as they left, Rosalie said eagerly, “Anthony, I want to quit the theater troupe. Could you introduce me to this new director? I…” Anthony furrowed his brow slightly as he casually sipped his drink. His voice remained nonchalant as ever as he said, “Got it.” To him, it was a trivial matter that was nothing more than saying hello. He thought it would be great if it could help Rosalie to stand independently. Rosalie looked up at him and smiled. She knew he would not refuse any of her requests. Suddenly, there was an uproar in the banquet hall. Someone piped up, “Mr. Lawrence from Lawrence Group is here too. Why does his girlfriend look familiar?” Jeffrey exuded an air of nobility and aloofness. His every gesture displayed a calm and formidable presence. And the woman holding onto his arm was equally in the limelight. Genevieve possessed exquisitely beautiful features. Draped in a uniquely custom–made black gown, specially flown in for her, she looked stunning, commanding attention with an 5/6 A Chapter 11 air of bold elegance that emanated from within, rendering her aura remarkably sophisticated without being overly ostentatious. The moment she appeared, Anthony’s expression turned grim, and his pupils contracted slightly. Genevieve, who had vanished for three months, had suddenly reappeared in this manner.. She smiled and took Jeffrey’s arm affectionately. Their intimate posture revealed a connection beyond the ordinary. Genevieve knew Anthony would be there. In this circle, they were bound to meet sooner or later. When she was Mrs. Hoffman, she had only been handling company affairs and had hardly attended such events with Anthony before. She glanced at Rosalie, who was by Anthony’s side, with eyes devoid of any emotion. When disappointment accumulated too much, anger tended to fade away. In Anthony’s world, she had always been the unremarkable ex–wife. Now, seeing the jerk and the deceitful woman together, Genevieve thought they were truly a perfect match.