Chapter 129: Visiting Eleanor

“Lemon knows what she’s doing,” Wendy said.

“Knowing is one thing,” Mandy replied. “But you two are her friends. Your advice is valuable. You have an outsider’s perspective, which often sees more clearly. Allies are crucial; you have to hold on to them tightly. Especially when it comes to Waylon.”

Mandy glanced at Chase. “Waylon doesn’t handle internal family affairs; he focuses on investigations. But no one has ever restricted his work or dared to interfere. Isn’t that because of the Fred family’s strong position?”

Everything was interconnected.

“You should remind Waylon—even when solving cases, he needs to be careful of the people in his own house.”

“I understand.”

After midnight, Wendy and Chase each found a coin in their dumplings and went to bed in high spirits. They changed into loungewear and curled up. Chase kissed Wendy on the forehead several times.

“It’s been years since I got money as a gift,” Chase said.

Wendy huffed. “Same here. We’ve been together for so many years… Have you ever seen Mom give us money as a gift before? Not allowances, but a gift—it holds a different meaning.”

The Fred family’s Christmas celebration was far livelier than the Quinn family’s. There were too many people, so many branches and relatives it was hard to keep count. Even those staying at the old house numbered in the dozens. Benny Fred was gone, but his wife, Eleanor Gomez, still lived there. Her personality was as strong as Mandy’s. She had stood beside Benny as they built the Fred family empire. Now older, her sharp eyes remained, still the guiding light of the family. No one dared act rashly in her presence.

On Christmas Day, Chase and Wendy visited. The housekeeper led them to Waylon and Lemon, who had stayed up all night gaming and were fueled by coffee.

“You’re here early. Have you eaten?” Waylon asked, rising.

Lemon put down her coffee and touched up her makeup. “Come on, let’s go see Grandma.”

Older folks tended to sleep early and wake early. When the Fred siblings knocked with their guests, the butler opened the door, momentarily surprised to see Wendy. “Ms. Quinn?”

Wendy smiled. “We came to visit Madam Eleanor.”

Lemon added, “Quinn Group and the Fred family are business partners.”

The butler understood and stepped aside. Returning to the room, he announced, “Madam, the Quinn family is here.”

Eleanor, watching television, muttered, “Is it that Mandy and her husband?”

Chase thought she meant them, but Wendy stepped forward. “Grandma, it’s me, Wendy. I’ve come to see you.”

Mandy had apparently maintained a warm relationship with the Fred family when active at Quinn Group. Eleanor remembering her spoke volumes.

Madam Eleanor looked at the couple and recognized Chase. Pointing at him, she said, “Weren’t you the boy from next door…”

Waylon chuckled. “Grandma, you still remember him. This is Chase, the little one next door Lemon used to call all the time.”

Chase squatted beside her. Madam Eleanor held his hand. “You’re Chase? You’ve grown so much! I haven’t seen you in years. Why are you here with the Quinn family?”

Chase pulled Wendy closer, introducing her. “Wendy and I got married. The ‘Mandy’ you mentioned is Mandy, my mother-in-law.”

“Oh! You two got married? That’s wonderful!” Eleanor turned to Wendy. “Why didn’t your parents come?”

Wendy paused. Lemon softly said, “Grandpa and Grandma were expanding the business overseas during those years. Maybe they didn’t know.”

Wendy hesitated. “My father passed away during Christmas, and my mother’s retired now.”

Eleanor was saddened by the news, but the younger ones eventually cheered her up.

“That’s how it should be. Your parents were friends. Now you should visit more often, too. Even if it’s not a business partnership, we’re still friends. And if there’s ever trouble, you can help each other.” She held Wendy’s hand warmly.

Lemon and Waylon sat across the room. Lemon scrolled through her phone, checking trending topics related to their company’s artists during the Christmas season, while Waylon leaned over and whispered to Chase. Even Wendy hadn’t heard this. She instinctively looked at Lemon.

Lemon looked up, met Wendy’s gaze, and nodded silently. She locked her screen, set the phone aside, leaned her head on her hand, and said, “It happened about a week before the holiday break. They stole files on a few of our artists, but nothing’s been leaked yet.”

“A week ago? We had dinner together then—why didn’t you say anything?”

“There wasn’t much to say. I’m just waiting for the bomb to drop. Once it does, I’ll handle the PR immediately. But I think the files weren’t stolen to be leaked. Whoever did it probably has other plans. I just have to wait and see.”