After completing three bows, Harold felt tears welling up in his eyes, but he knew better than to act impulsively now. He was acutely aware of his grandma’s disappointment and agitation towards him, and he understood that he needed to avoid provoking her any further.

Lady Wilson breathed a sigh of relief upon witnessing Harold bow and concede defeat. Although she didn’t want her beloved grandson to lower himself before Charlie, whom she viewed as a loser, the bet they had made involved her. As a devoted Buddhist, she feared the repercussions and bad karma that might follow if Harold failed to uphold his promise; it would certainly disrupt her peace of mind.

With a serious tone, she addressed Harold, saying, “Consider these three bows as a lesson. Never gamble on something without absolute certainty. If you do decide to wager, keep your family out of it!”

Harold, with a sulky expression, replied, “Alright, Grandma, I get it now. I won’t make that mistake again…”

As he spoke, his gaze shot daggers at Charlie, seething internally, ‘You jerk! How dare you force me to kneel before you? You’ve embarrassed me today, and I swear I’ll make you pay for this!’

Lady Wilson then proclaimed, “Today is a joyous occasion since Claire has secured the contract. Everyone, let’s get moving and make the necessary preparations! We must seize this opportunity to forge a strong partnership with Emgrand Group!”

Charlie interjected, “Grandma, since Claire has successfully finalized the deal, shouldn’t you announce her appointment as the new director of the company, as you promised?”

Lady Wilson raised her eyebrows, her mind racing. While she had indeed stated that the winner of the contract would be appointed as the company’s director, Claire had never been her favorite. Moreover, her husband had always grated on her nerves, prompting her to reconsider. What if Claire became uncontrollable after gaining such a high position? In that moment, she felt the urge to retract her promise. After all, she hadn’t sworn an oath, so she wouldn’t feel guilty about taking it back.

However, openly retracting her promise right after Claire’s success would be unwise, so she suggested, “Here’s what we’ll do instead: Tomorrow evening, I’ll host a banquet, inviting all the prominent figures in Aurous Hill. At that event, I’ll officially announce our collaboration with Emgrand Group and Claire’s appointment as the new director.”

Charlie felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him at Lady Wilson’s words. Claire, too, smiled with relief. At last, the position of director was hers. She would no longer be sidelined, and her parents could finally hold their heads high with pride!

Turning to Claire, Lady Wilson said, “Claire, I need a favor from you.”

“Of course, Grandma, what do you need?” Claire replied.

“I want you to reach out to the chairman of Emgrand Group and invite him to our banquet tomorrow.”

After a brief pause, she added with eagerness, “If he attends, it will be a tremendous boost for our family, elevating our status and reputation!”

Claire hesitated, “But… I’ve only met Miss Young, the vice-chairman. I haven’t interacted with the chairman himself. Also, doesn’t it seem a bit too calculated to hold the banquet right after securing the contract?”

“So what? I want everyone in Aurous Hill to know that we’re now partnered with Emgrand Group. We’re on our way to success and prosperity!”

Lady Wilson continued, “Even if the chairman declines, you can still invite Doris Young. She’s the second in command at Emgrand Group and would be a valuable guest at our banquet.”

She felt a rush of excitement just thinking about it. The thought of those who had once looked down on the Wilson family now having to humble themselves filled her with anticipation. Under her guidance, the Wilson family would flourish and shine!

After a moment of contemplation, Claire replied hesitantly, “Okay, I’ll give it my best shot…”

“Not just a shot! You must do it!” Lady Wilson insisted.

Claire nodded reluctantly and then turned to Charlie, whispering, “What if the chairman doesn’t show up? What if Doris Young declines the invitation as well?”

Charlie chuckled and reassured her, “Just give it a try. You have Miss Young’s number, don’t you? She might agree as soon as you call her, who knows?”

The purpose of the banquet was not only to showcase the strength of the Wilson family but also to announce Claire’s promotion to director. As her husband, Charlie was excited to support his wife and celebrate her achievement.

At that moment, Claire was unaware that her husband was the chairman of Emgrand Group. She nervously fidgeted with her fingers and sighed, “I heard that the chairman of Emgrand is a young master from a highly affluent family in Eastcliff. A person like that must be incredibly busy. Surely, he wouldn’t have time to attend some trivial banquet…”

Charlie laughed and replied, “I doubt it. Maybe he’s someone who spends his days at home, cooking and doing laundry with his wife. Who knows?”

Claire rolled her eyes and teased, “Do you really think everyone is like you?”

Charlie nodded. “Yes, maybe the boss of Emgrand Group is just like me…”

Claire pursed her lips and snorted, “Come on! That’s impossible!”