Chapter 1050
Jasmine, trailing right behind her, let out a disdainful scoff.
It was a sound dripping with pure mockery.
A car pulled up to the main entrance.
It was Crystal’s parents, Raymond and Nancy Chelsea.
Crystal instantly plastered on a radiant smile and hurried over, greeting them sweetly. “Mom, Dad, what took you so long?”
“We hit a little traffic,” Raymond replied.
Nancy smiled and affectionately cupped Crystal’s cheek. “But we made it in time, didn’t we? Happy birthday, my darling.”
Crystal kissed her mother’s cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”
Nancy glanced over her daughter’s shoulder. “Where’s Dylan?”
Crystal’s smile faltered ever so slightly. “He’s still out of the country on a business trip.”
Nancy looked displeased. “Today is your birthday. How can he not show up?”
Even though the couple had finalized their divorce, Crystal’s parents still believed it was just a silly squabble between newlyweds.
Combined with Crystal’s recent lies over the phone claiming they had reconciled, Nancy’s reaction was entirely expected.
Crystal kept up the charade, defending Dylan. “Mom, haven’t you always told me a man should prioritize his career? Besides, he already gave me my present in advance.”
Seeing that Crystal wasn’t upset, her parents decided not to push the issue.
Nancy just sighed. “As long as you two are happy.”
“We’re perfectly fine,” Crystal insisted, affectionately linking her arm through her mother’s to guide her inside.
But before they even reached the doors, Raymond suddenly stopped in his tracks, calling out to Jude, who was hurrying inside. “VP Wilder! Hello, hello! I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
Surprised by the sudden greeting, Jude paused and turned to look at the older man.
“Mr. Chelsea?”
Seeing Raymond, Jude looked genuinely taken aback.
He had absolutely no idea the man was Crystal’s father.
Standing nearby, Crystal frowned in confusion.
How on earth did her dad know Jude?
And why was he respectfully calling him ‘VP Wilder’?
To her, Jude was the most irrelevant, marginalized member of the Wilder family.
A powerless, incompetent, trust-fund baby.
She had always despised him.
If he didn’t share the Wilder name and
wouldn’t have wasted a single net Dylan’s cousin, she
his existence,
By nature, she was only attracted to power and success.
Take Dylan, for instance.
The only reason she had fallen for him at first sight was because she had witnessed his füthless efficiency during a corporate
negotiation.
As for Jude, his ‘track record’ was so pathetic that she had never once taken him seriously.
Yet her father’s deferential attitude left her completely bewildered.
Raymond was treating Jude with outright reverence.
He even shook his hand using both hands, his face plastered with the kind of fawning smile reserved for top-tier clients.
“I’m just here for a friend’s birthday party,” Jude replied politely.
His gaze flickered between Raymond and Crystal, putting the pieces together.
Raymond chimed in, “Ah, so you know my daughter! What a coincidence.”
He then turned to Crystal. “Why didn’t you mention that you were acquainted with VP Wilder?”
Crystal looked completely mortified. “Dad, he’s Dylan’s cousin.”
The revelation caught Raymond off guard. “You’re Dylan’s cousin? Well then, I
suppose we’re practically family.”
So Raymond and Crystal were father and daughter.
Jude found it surprising, yet it made perfect sense.
He offered a polite nod of acknowledgment.
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Taking the opportunity, Raymond warmly invited him. “Since you’re here for my daughter’s birthday party why don’t we walk in together?”