CHAPTER 7: CHAPTER 7: WHO IS THE MISTRESS?

"Why have you lost weight again recently? Is filming really exhausting?"

"If it’s too tiring, just quit and come home. What’s there that our family doesn’t have?"

The middle-aged man, decisive in business, was nagging yet gentle when facing his daughter.

Paige Sterling suddenly teared up. Even though her mother had passed away and her father remarried, he still loved her as he always had.

You could say, in Jared Sullivan’s heart, Yvette Hughes and her daughter together weren’t half as important as Paige.

As soon as Paige returned, all of Jared’s attention was on her. Yvette and Skylar Hughes exchanged a glance.

Yvette said with a smile, "Paige, your dad’s right. If it’s too hard outside, just come back."

Skylar Hughes couldn’t help but tighten her grip on her chopsticks.

"Mom, what are you talking about? Sister is working hard outside for her own dreams—to become a big star adored by many. Shooting just any movie or TV series makes millions; how could it be hard?"

She finished speaking and smiled at Paige.

"Sister, you haven’t been back for so long. I heard you’ve spent 20 million from the black card dad gave you. Is the money all gone?"

Paige picked up her chopsticks, eating the food Jared had put on her plate, and said, "This is my home. Can I only come back if I want money?"

Skylar was momentarily stunned. Outwardly cold, Paige had a fiery temperament ready to ignite at a moment’s notice.

Her words earlier were meant to provoke Paige into losing her temper.

Once Paige lost her temper, Jared would know who in this family was really wronged.

But now, Paige had easily countered her.

Skylar immediately toned down her expression, looking at Jared with concern, "Sister, I didn’t mean it that way. You might earn money easily in the entertainment circle, but dad works so hard. Every penny is hard-earned. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot from dad and wanted to help him, but I haven’t been able to contribute much..."

Her words suggested she was more filial and understanding than Paige, painting Paige as a spoiled daughter unaware of her parents’ hard work.

Jared frowned and glanced at Skylar, about to speak when Paige chimed in.

"You’re right, so I’m stepping back from the circle, deciding to return and help dad. You can finally relax, right?"

Skylar’s face froze.

Did Paige’s claim to leave the circle mean she’d really step back?

If Paige joined the VastReach Group, what place would that leave Skylar?

For years, she’d managed to have outsiders believe she was the real Sterling Family’s eldest daughter. Even if her surname remained a blemish, as long as Paige stayed out of sight, her place in the company was unshakeable.

But now...

Before she succeeded in changing her surname, was Paige really going back to VastReach?

However, Jared was thrilled, "The company is yours in the future. If you’re willing to come back, getting familiar with the environment in advance isn’t a bad thing."

Skylar’s smile was already reaching its limits.

Jared had never considered entrusting the company to her, no matter how much effort she put in. To Jared, she was just an outsider.

Seeing Jared happy, Yvette seized the opportunity to bring up changing Skylar’s surname.

As a result, Skylar’s face turned even uglier.

Bringing up changing her surname in front of Paige was clearly to spoil things.

Couldn’t her mother think a bit more carefully?

But Paige said nothing; she had no interest in whether Skylar changed her surname or not,

Jared, though, frowned.

"Why change the surname? Isn’t Skylar under her dad’s custody? How would her dad view our Sterling Family if she changed her surname?"

Skylar’s biological father was also named Hughes.

Skylar felt a chill in her heart, "Dad, your kindness to me over the years is like a mountain. I’ve long regarded you as my biological father. I truly want to show my filial piety..."

Jared could see through Skylar’s little schemes.

He just couldn’t be bothered to expose them, but now, in front of Paige, he had to make his stance clear. If his daughter got jealous, it wouldn’t be good.

"You wanting to show filial piety doesn’t require changing your surname."

Seeing Jared already displeased, Yvette quickly tugged at Skylar.

Skylar didn’t dare say anything further.

Jared asked Paige with a smile, "Beau, why haven’t I seen you wearing the clothes I picked for you?"

Jared, a typical doting father, loved buying clothes for his daughter and would send them over.

But Jared’s taste was somewhat questionable; the clothes were either all colorful or excessively pink, making Paige find them quite over-the-top.

Even though it came from a place of fatherly love, she didn’t have the courage to wear those eye-catching outfits out.

"I feel like those clothes aren’t quite suitable for me."

"How could that be? Those colors are so lovely; they’re just right for my beloved daughter."

Today, Paige was dressed in a cool outfit, exuding a commanding presence. But Jared felt his delicate daughter looked dull and unappealing dressed like this.

"Beau, tell dad, is someone picking on you out there? Have they been talking behind your back?"

"No, I’m really fine."

"You used to love showing off those little dresses dad bought you. You wore them out every day. Now you don’t wear them, so someone must be talking. Those people are just jealous of your natural beauty. Don’t mind them; live boldly and uniquely."

Paige, "...The clothes dad buys are more suited to gentle girls."

Jared, "Our Beau is a very gentle girl."

This rose-tinted view of Jared’s wasn’t coming off.

Paige found herself running out of words, so she threw back some compliments at Jared.

"My dad is also the best dad in the world, handsome and charming..." she rambled on,

Yvette and Skylar, sitting at the side, "..."

Here these two started their routine exchange of compliments again.

Early the next morning, after Jared went to the company, Paige returned to Silverstream Bay.

Having used VIP express shipping for the robot materials she ordered online, they arrived by noon. Paige secluded herself at home to study the robot.

Even though her phone was off, she knew Seth Shaw and Melody Mercer were dying to get to her.

In fact, it was just as Paige expected. She dropped such a bombshell in the entertainment circle and then became unreachable, driving both Seth and Melody mad.

Paige released so many intimate photos with Seth, and even her alternate account got discovered. Who would believe Seth had nothing to do with her?

Now she had chosen to quit the circle to be with Seth, affirming her deep romance persona.

If Seth continued to deny any connection with Paige, likely he’d be the one getting flamed online.

So with no contact with Paige, to prevent things from escalating further, Seth could only bite the bullet and step forward to admit to being in a relationship with Paige.

With both Seth and Paige acknowledging their relationship, Melody Mercer suddenly became the third party.