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Chapter 112
Finally, the day for selecting and announcing the chairman of the committee had arrived.
Since there were no other candidates, Killian naturally became the new chairman.
As everyone congratulated Killian, Matteo, the boss of the Juliano Organization, also approached him to greet him.
“Congratulations on becoming the chairman.”
Since it was revealed that he was the boss of the Juliano Organization, Matteo had stopped using formal speech even with the other three bosses.
Andymion looked at Matteo with displeasure.
“When are you planning to take off that annoying leather mask of yours?”
“Didn’t I say I’d reveal it when the time comes?”
Matteo no longer operated through his underboss, Nigel, but he still refused to show his face.
Messina raised one side of his mouth.
“I don’t know why we’re supposed to wait until your little performance is over. Should we even applaud your ‘masterful acting’ when it’s done?”
The sarcastic remark made the rest of the members, including Andymion, chuckle, but Matteo didn’t change his expression at all.
“Yeah, if possible, get me some flowers too. I’m actually more sensitive than I look.”
Killian tapped the table with his fingers as he listened to Matteo ramble.
“Yeah, I thought I’d heard that voice somewhere before.”
The image was so different that he hadn’t matched it at first, but now that he recalled the face and heard the voice again, it resembled that of Count Bluoa.
“What do you mean by that?”
As always, Matteo asked with a voice carrying laughter, but a sharp glint briefly flashed in his eyes.
It was fleeting, but Killian found even that look amusing.
“Nothing.”
Matteo’s face twisted in irritation at Killian’s words.
“What a bland kid.”
But at the same time, a creeping sense of unease began to rise.
‘He couldn’t have noticed, right?’
Yet he couldn’t let the other person sense his unease.
Matteo, pretending to be unfazed, calmly left the meeting room.
“Are you out?”
Nigel, who had been waiting outside, approached him.
“Tired. Let’s go home.”
“Yes, understood.”
The two got into a carriage and headed toward Roberts Street in District 6.
“Killian seemed to know about my identity.”
Nigel, taken aback by Matteo’s offhand comment, looked at him directly.
“If that’s true, wouldn’t that be a huge problem?”
“Yes. If Killian knows, then the other organization bosses probably know too.”
Matteo nervously bit his nails.
“At this point, we have no choice but to quickly find Killian’s weakness.”
“…We are investigating thoroughly, so please wait a little longer.”
Nigel observed Matteo’s expression carefully. Having already failed several attempts to eliminate Killian, Matteo’s nerves were on edge.
“Move faster. Once that guy becomes chairman, he’ll pressure me immediately.”
“Yes, understood.”
When the news of Killian becoming the committee chairman reached Emily, she decided to invite members of the Starr Organization for a small party that evening.
Of course, Marlene, who didn’t know the news, showed up at the Starr mansion, carrying plenty of gossip as usual.
“Ah, you’re here?”
The butler, Alvin, noticed her at the entrance.
“I didn’t know because it wasn’t mentioned, but it seems you’ve also invited Miss Wiper, your close friend.”
Marlene had intended to ask, ‘What invitation?’ but she clamped her mouth shut.
‘This brat is throwing a party and didn’t even invite me?’
If she denied it now, she would lose her status as Emily’s close friend.
“Yes, that’s right. Where is Emily?”
Marlene forced her voice to remain calm as she asked.
“Madam is busy checking the banquet decorations. She’s probably over there.”
“Ah, I see. I should go help then.”
“Yes, Miss Wiper’s assistance would be a great help.”
Alvin, seemingly busy sorting the wine list, briefly greeted her and quickly disappeared downstairs.
“Ha! Unbelievable.”
Marlene fanned her face with her hands repeatedly, trying to calm her anger.
“How could she throw a party and not even tell me? Were we ever really that close?”
She vented her frustration as if Emily were standing right in front of her.
“I’ve treated her so well, this awful girl!”
She gestured in the air, threatening to give Emily a piece of her mind, when suddenly—
“Ah!”
Startled by a sudden figure, Marlene let out a shriek and stumbled, but thankfully she didn’t fall backward.
“Are you okay?”
The man had grabbed her waist to steady her.
“Wh-Who are you?”
Even in surprise, Marlene quickly scanned the handsome man in front of her, taking in his eyes, nose, mouth, and jawline.
“I’ll help you stand first.”
The man lifted her effortlessly and gave a sheepish smile. Marlene blinked in awe at his killer smile.
‘My goodness… what is his body made of?’
She swallowed hard, thinking of the strong body that had just touched her.
“My name is Knox Clive.”
“Clive?”
A family she had never heard of.
Still, with such a handsome and imposing appearance, he must be a noble, right? But more importantly, she needed to clarify something first.
“Excuse me, may I ask why you’ve come to the Starr mansion?”
“Huh? That’s… hard to answer…”
Knox, appearing as an ordinary noble, couldn’t openly say he came for the party celebrating Killian becoming the mafia committee chairman.
When Knox couldn’t answer properly, Marlene gave him a suspicious look and asked again.
“Are you here to court Emily too?”
“Huh? Absolutely not!”
Knox jumped, worried that Killian might hear him.
“Have you been secretly in love with Emily?”
“What are you talking about? No!”
“Or have you ever been in a situation where you could have ended up as her lover?”
Knox, bewildered, couldn’t hold back his indignation, pounding his chest to assert his innocence.
“Absolutely not!”
“Then… you pass.”
A handsome man not involved with Emily perfectly matched Marlene’s taste.
“What do you mean by ‘pass’…”
Marlene cut him off and extended her hand.
“I’m Marlene Wiper. If you’re in society, you’d certainly know my name.”
“I think I’ve heard of it.”
Knox, though exasperated, remembered his manners and kissed her hand.
“Consider it an honor. Everyone would want to kiss my hand.”
Knox groaned softly and nodded.
She was certainly beautiful, but she seemed peculiar in personality.
“By the way, Mr. Clive, where are you rushing off to?”
Why was this lady asking such difficult questions? Knox wanted to vanish right then.
He had come to help Emily’s party under the boss’s orders, and he was supposed to retrieve the curtains she had left in the dressing room—how could he explain that?
Seeing Knox struggle to answer, Marlene asked another question.
“Were you invited to Emily’s party?”
‘Huh? So this lady knows about the committee chairman celebration party too?’
Knox nodded in relief.
“Yes, were you also invited today, Miss?”
‘She’s furious that someone she’s never heard of got invited, but I didn’t?’
Marlene cursed inwardly but forced a smile as she replied.
“Of course. I’m Emily’s closest friend, after all.”
“Ah, that’s a relief. Actually, I…”
At that moment, Emily was walking down the hall.
“Marlene?”
Emily’s eyes widened upon seeing her friend.
“Oh! Then I’ll be going now.”
Seeing Emily’s face reminded Knox of his errand, and he quickly turned the corner and disappeared.
Watching Knox vanish, Marlene glared at Emily with a frightening expression.
“Emily, perfect timing. I was on my way to find you.”
“Marlene… how did you get here?”
“Answer my question first. How could you throw a party today without inviting me?”
‘Who dared to talk nonsense in front of Marlene?’
Emily suspected Knox, who had been with her earlier.
“It’s more of a small dinner than a party. We invited business associates of the Starr family.”
Emily tried to phrase it delicately.
“Really? If you’d said so earlier, I wouldn’t have misunderstood.”
Fortunately, Marlene’s mood quickly lifted upon hearing that.
Emily asked cautiously again.
“And the gentleman you met earlier…?”
“I was going to ask anyway. He’s Knox Clive. Is he someone who does business with the Marquis?”
“Oh? Uh, yes.”
Emily nodded absentmindedly.
“You’ve already been introduced to Mr. Knox?”
“Yes! How could you not introduce me to such a handsome man around me?”
Marlene grumbled again and asked Emily bluntly.
“Is he a noble?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, is Mr. Knox Clive a noble?”
Emily tried to hide her unease and answered.
“Yes. He’s a Viscount.”
Marlene showed a hint of disappointment.
“Then we can just date.”
Emily asked hesitantly,
“With whom?”
“Who else? Viscount Knox Clive.”
Marlene continued talking without realizing Emily’s shocked expression.
“Unless he’s the heir of a huge family like the Howards, given my status and place in society, I can’t accept him as a husband. I’ll just enjoy dating him.”
Emily felt she needed to clarify before Marlene went any further.
“I told you earlier that Mr. Knox works with my husband, right? Actually…”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Marlene immediately cut her off.
“He fulfills all my ideal standards. I don’t want anything else.”
“But—”
“Shh! Don’t even try to persuade me. I’m in a good mood right now.”
Marlene shivered as she recalled Knox’s firm arm supporting her waist.
“Anyway, since it’s a dinner party hosted by the Marquis’ side, I’ll go there.”
“…Alright.”
Emily reluctantly greeted her.
‘I can tell her later, it’s fine.’
For now, she thought, she could leave it at that.
