Chapter 68

After settling into a corner, Francesca whispered urgently, “Lauren, that sneaky Bernard is clearly trying to sow discord between Mr. Thatcher and your family.”

Lauren shrugged. “Let him try. He’s a nobody. If it weren’t for Mr. Thatcher, I would have slapped him for speaking about Andrew like that.”

Francesca turned to Andrew with disgust. “This is all because of you! Thanks to you, Mr. Thatcher probably thinks less of Lauren now!”

Andrew frowned. “Is Mr. Thatcher’s approval really that important?”

Francesca sneered. “Are you seriously this clueless, or are you just pretending? He’s the mayor of Jayrodale! Haven’t you noticed the people fawning over him, showering him with expensive gifts? His word can make or break fortunes in this town.”

Lauren intervened, “Fran, stop it. The Rhodes family won’t lose a connection over someone like Bernard.”

“If maintaining good relations with Mr. Thatcher is so important, I might have an idea,” Andrew offered.

Francesca scoffed, clearly skeptical. “What idea?”

Before Andrew could elaborate, Harvey and Christina’s group approached. “Mr. Thatcher, it’s been too long!”

Mark responded warmly, “Ah, Harvey, Jayrodale’s rising star! Now that you’re back, I trust you’re ready to contribute to our city’s growth.”

“Absolutely, Mr. Thatcher. I’m always ready to serve our community…”

Watching Harvey’s easy rapport with Mark, Francesca glanced at Andrew and saw a stark contrast. She decided she needed to have a serious conversation with Lauren about ending her relationship with Andrew.

The races climaxed as Mark’s favored horse, Number Three, entered the track. Those eager to curry favor placed large bets on Number Three, making Mark beam.

Lauren suggested enthusiastically, “Dr. Lloyd, Fran, let’s join the fun. Things will be more exciting with some bets.”

Caught up in Lauren’s enthusiasm, Andrew casually surveyed the ten horses and placed his bet on Number Seven.

Dexter mocked from nearby, “Look at this amateur trying to act like he knows something.”

Harvey chuckled condescendingly, “Andrew, Number Seven is a mixed breed. Can’t you tell that? Those horses are just fillers.”

Bernard chimed in with a smirk, “Mr. Weller, Mr. Combs, why waste time on this nobody? Mark my words—Mr. Thatcher’s pick, Number Three, will win!”

Everyone readily agreed, praising Mark’s judgment. Exclamations of agreement filled the air, highlighting Mark's perceived acumen. One person even boasted of betting thirty thousand dollars on Number Three. Mark’s smile widened.

Francesca nudged Lauren. “Come on, let’s bet on Number Three too!”

Lauren chuckled. “No way. I’m sticking with Dr. Lloyd and betting on Number Seven!”

As the gates opened, all ten horses bolted. Number Three took an early lead, seemingly confirming everyone’s predictions. However, in the second half, Number Seven surged from behind, overtaking Number Three and crossing the finish line first. The crowd fell silent in stunned disbelief as the underdog triumphed.

Andrew’s modest fifteen-thousand-dollar bet turned into over three hundred thousand dollars, resulting in an incredible win.

Chapter 69