Return of the Crowned Heiress (Felicia)

"And as for you and Felicia-forget it," Sebastian said firmly, his voice cutting like a blade. "She doesn't like you and never will. She definitely won't marry you. Stop using that 'fiancé' title to act self-important. If I hear it again, you'll regret it." Without waiting for a reply, Sebastian turned on his heel and strode into the venue.

Spotting Felicia already seated, he walked over and sat beside her.

Felicia blinked up at him, then glanced back toward the entrance. Sure enough, Arnold had entered the venue but hadn't left. She relaxed slightly.

For today, he was more than just an annoyance he was a radar. She couldn't afford to let him slip away.

The venture capital conference began on schedule.

Entrepreneurs and project creators took to the stage one by one, presenting their ideas with passion and vigor in hopes of securing investments. The atmosphere buzzed with energy and potential.

Felicia, however, had her eyes glued to Arnold. She watched his every move, trying to discern which project would catch his attention.

After a while, Arnold seemed to sense her gaze. His eyes flicked upward, meeting hers. His stern expression softened slightly, and his lips quirked upward into a faint smile.

"What's he thinking now?" Felicia thought, irritated.

She quickly averted her gaze, unwilling to fuel his imagination further.

Yet, to her surprise, the conference came and went without Arnold making a single move. He didn't invest in any of the projects or engage with any of the entrepreneurs. Frustrated, Felicia leaned toward Sebastian and asked in a low voice, "Which project stood out to you today?"

Sebastian tilted his head thoughtfully. "They all seemed solid."

"All of them?" She frowned.

"Yeah. Plenty of potential across the board, but who's to say which one will actually succeed? Investing is always a gamble," Sebastian replied matter-of-factly.

The conference concluded, and Sebastian ran into a few acquaintances as the crowd left. While he chatted with them, Felicia wandered off, bored.

She soon found herself in a small garden area outside the venue.

The flowers were in full bloom, their vibrant colors and light fragrance calming her. She strolled leisurely, admiring the scenery, when a faint voice behind a hedge caught her attention.

"My company is small. It is so small that there are only six of us,

including me. We scrape by, cutting costs wherever we can. Each of us has a workload of three people. This thinning hairline is proof of how much we've sacrificed..."

It sounded like someone rehearsing a pitch-but with an almost desperate edge.

Curious, Felicia stepped closer and peered past the hedge. She found herself face-to-face with a young man wearing thick glasses, clutching a crumpled script.

He froze, his nervousness evident as he stammered, "Y-You..."

Felicia glanced at her watch and said calmly, "It's 11:25 am."

The conference would officially end at 11:30 am.

Her meaning was clear-he'd miss his chance to pitch if he didn't hurry.Belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

The young man's eyes widened. "What?"

Realizing the time, he panicked. His glasses nearly slid off his nose as he scrambled to gather his things. "No one reminded me it was my turn!"

Clutching his wrinkled notes, he bolted toward the venue.

Inside, most of the investors had already left.

Desperate the young man began pleading with the remaining few. "Please, sir, just five minutes to look at my project. It's innovative- promise you'll be impressed!

One investor barely spared him a glance. "I've already committed eight million today. I'm not looking at anything else."

Undeterred, he approached another. "Please, just five minutes. Here's my project proposal. I—"

Before he could finish, the investor's assistant stepped in, brushing him aside.

He tried repeatedly, bowing deeply and repeating his plea. But every time, he was met with rejection or indifference. No one stopped to listen.