Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby
Chapter 76: The Young Masters

Chapter 76: The Young Masters

Recently, the Clifford family of Manchester formed a notable association with one of Birmingham’s wealthiest families... the Chen family. The Chens were known throughout the Kingdom for their vast influence in the media industry and their widespread involvement in various import businesses. Although they had immigrated from China a few generations ago, they had established a firm and influential foothold in the Kingdom.

The Clifford family had invested in several new ventures in partnership with the Chens. Many in the Manchester business circle believed the Cliffords were on the verge of ascending to new heights. The alliance between the two families was largely due to the growing friendship between Benjamin Chen, the CEO of Chen IT, and James Clifford, the fourth son of the Clifford family. They had initially become acquainted through a mutual friend, but after Benjamin relocated to Manchester to directly manage Chen IT’s operations, their friendship deepened. James had been instrumental in helping Benjamin gain entry into Manchester’s elite youth business circle.

Previously, James had lived in the shadow of the first son, Jacob Clifford, who had been managing the family business for years and was widely expected to succeed their father, Jonathan Clifford. However, in recent times, the family patriarch, Nicholas Clifford, had begun favouring James... largely because of the advantages that came from his connection with the Chen family. Many members of the Clifford family now believed James might ultimately become the successor, thanks to the old man’s backing.

As the CEO of Chen IT, Benjamin Chen naturally received an invitation to the prestigious GMITCC annual banquet. James accompanied him to meet prominent business leaders and forge new connections. They were casually chatting with a group of second-generation elites in a quiet corner of the venue when Eleanor entered the banquet hall with Edward Miller.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. As one of the most breathtakingly beautiful women they had ever seen walked into the room, the group’s casual conversation quickly devolved into stunned silence... followed by a flurry of hormone-fuelled commentary.

"Wow! She is hot!" one of the young men, who happened to be facing the entrance, blurted out.

"Where?" another asked, craning his neck. Without waiting for an answer, he followed the first man’s gaze.

"Damn! I’ve never seen a woman like that before..." he whispered, almost reverently.

"Mr. Chen, you should take a look," another said quickly, hoping to curry favour with Benjamin.

In moments, all eyes in the group turned to the entrance.

"Beautiful!"

"Fuck!"

"I’m willing to drop a million for just one night with her."

"Holy shit! Where did she come from? She’s definitely not from around here. Otherwise, I would’ve noticed her."

"This kind of beauty is out of your league," someone joked. "Among all of us, only Young Master Chen has the skills to get her into bed."

Benjamin remained composed, although he had indeed already imagined a few explicit scenes in his head. Unlike the others, however, he was careful. He mentally noted her appearance and planned to investigate her identity later. He had no intention of getting into trouble over a woman, no matter how beautiful she was.

Among the group, such discussions were common. They were all habitual womanizers... something they were well aware of, and had even been known to exchange women among themselves like commodities.

"Why is she walking beside Old Man Edward?" one of them asked, squinting toward the entrance.

"She could be his daughter or maybe a secretary."

"No way," another said confidently. "I know every member of the Miller family. I even went to a family function a few weeks ago. She wasn’t there. Also, all of Chairman Miller’s secretaries are men. He doesn’t like having women around him at work."

"Then maybe she’s his new girlfriend or..." someone paused dramatically, "his concubine?"

"Don’t talk like that. Everyone knows Edward Miller is a family man. He’s never had a scandal."

"Oh, shut up! All men are innocent... until they get caught," someone quipped, earning a round of laughter.

"Well said."

"Maybe the old man brought her to rub our noses in it."

"Damn, I hate him even more now!"

"Alright, alright. Calm down. Don’t lose your minds over one beauty. There are others here."

"Did you notice Heimdall’s two beauties?"

"Yes, that Teresa Li is insanely hot. The other one’s face isn’t as striking, but that body..." he trailed off with a smirk.

"Young Master Chen, what do you think about Miss Li? She’s Asian, like you. I’ve heard rumours she might actually be the CEO of Heimdall Technologies. Officially, she calls herself just a representative, but that’s clearly a cover. She’s made high-level decisions on the spot... something only a CEO or board member would be authorized to do. No one even knows who the real CEO is."

Trying again to gain favour with Benjamin, one of the men leaned closer. But Benjamin only chuckled.

"I can’t date another Asian," he said with a sigh. "If my family finds out, they’ll force me into marriage right away. That’d be the end of my freedom. Besides, with her status and the kind of moves Heimdall’s been making lately, she wouldn’t agree to anything casual."

"Don’t worry. I’ve spotted several other beauties here. Look at the far-right corner... what do you think of her?"

While the group continued with their discussion, one member remained notably silent... James Clifford. Normally, James would be among the loudest voices in such conversations, but today, he couldn’t get a word out.

No one in the group noticed his abnormal behaviour.

James was in the middle of a private storm. The moment Eleanor walked in, he had felt a strange pull... an intense familiarity that left him unsettled. It took a few seconds, but when he finally recognized her, his mind went blank.

"Eleanor Whitmore!"

She looked completely different from the last time he saw her. Her skin was now pale and glowing, her hair had transformed to a soft silver hue, and her once brown eyes had turned a sharp emerald green. Even her posture had changed... she had grown taller, more graceful, and infinitely more alluring. But more than her appearance, her aura had changed. She no longer looked like the meek, frightened girl he once knew. Instead, she moved with calm confidence, exchanging words with business tycoons in such grace as if she belonged among them.

Eleanor Whitmore. His first love.

Though that love had long since curdled into hate... and though he had convinced himself he was over her... James now found himself in emotional chaos. Watching her walk beside Edward Miller and laugh so freely with others pierced something deep inside him.

"Am I... jealous?" he wondered briefly, before immediately rejecting the idea.

Impossible. How could he be jealous of a woman he had dumped? A woman he had once wanted dead?

"Regret? No. Never."

But still, the sight of her, transformed, radiant, desirable beyond imagination... it hit him harder than he expected.

It was as if the caterpillar he had casually discarded had transformed into the most dazzling butterfly in the world.