Chapter 3839

The phone rang, resonating throughout the room. Liberty answered it. The secretary’s voice informed her that Kathryn had arrived. “Please show Miss Farrell in,” Liberty responded before setting the phone down. “Kathryn’s here,” she said to Duncan. Unfazed, Duncan replied, “Let her come in. We have nothing to hide; there’s no reason to avoid her.” Everyone in Wiltspoon and Jensburg knew that Duncan was Liberty’s fiancé. It was not unusual for Kathryn to visit him in Liberty’s office, given that Duncan was a shareholder in her company, even if he wasn’t involved in everyday operations. He trusted Liberty to manage it effectively.

Liberty smiled but remained silent as she headed to the tea room to brew some tea. It wasn’t long before Kathryn entered, accompanied by Pedro, who was carrying several large and small gift bags. Liberty emerged from the tea room just as they arrived. She raised an eyebrow at the sight and joked, “Kathryn, did you really need to bring all this?”

Kathryn greeted Duncan first and then gestured for Pedro to set down the bags. She took a seat on the couch, her eyes on Liberty. “Aren’t you heading back to Wiltspoon soon? I brought some New Year gifts for you, along with wedding gifts for you and Mr. Lewis. I might not make it to your wedding, so I wanted to give these to you in advance. You’ll receive your marriage certificate when you return, so now’s as good a time as any.”

Liberty poured tea for Kathryn and Pedro before moving Duncan’s chair to join her. She filled a cup for Duncan and took a seat beside him. “If it’s a wedding gift from an elder, I’ll accept it with gratitude,” Liberty said.

said warmly. Though Kathryn was technically younger, her status made her an elder in certain respects. “I’ve prepared some New Year gifts for you as well. I’ll have them sent over later,” Liberty added. Fair is fair. Their relationship was complicated—sometimes friends, sometimes rivals—but they were always connected by family ties.

Kathryn smiled, though a hint of sadness lingered in her expression. “You don’t have to go to the trouble.” The smile faded, and after a moment, she continued, “There won’t be any real New Year celebration for us this year.” Even if her mother’s fate was justified, Kathryn and her siblings were still grieving. It was difficult to feel festive after losing a parent.

Liberty regarded her with concern. “Are your brothers still arguing with you over the inheritance?” She knew that Kathryn’s brothers, including Marco, were still in conflict over their mother Clarissa’s estate. Everyone in Jensburg was aware of the rift within the Farrell family following Clarissa’s death. It had even ignited a power struggle among the family’s descendants, with many speculating whether Kathryn or Liberty would become the next head of the family. Most people were betting on Liberty, as her support was too strong to ignore.

Among the family’s descendants, there was speculation regarding who would become the next head: Kathryn or Liberty. Most people placed their bets on Liberty due to her strong backing. In contrast, while Kathryn possessed a deep understanding of the Farrell Group and the family’s matters, she lacked similar support. Her reputation had suffered—not due to a lack of capability, but because she was Clarissa’s daughter. The media scrutiny surrounding Clarissa’s actions had left a lasting impact, and it was evident that the family had not fully recovered.