Chapter 6 My Name Is Chris Howard

Renee thought for a moment, seemingly understanding Kimberly's intentions, and nodded. "I recall, your in-laws are the Walsh family, who have been doing quite well recently. Are they the ones proposing collaborations?"

As she spoke, she looked to Chris for confirmation.

Without raising his eyes from his phone, Chris casually mentioned, "The new energy project launched recently has been their main focus for the last two years."

He paused before adding, "The Walsh family has the capability to collaborate with us, but Declan tends to overreach. He always wants more than he can manage."

Then he went back to scrolling through his phone, treating it like just a simple business analysis.

Yet, Kimberly felt a subtle warning in his tone directed at her.

Renee held Kimberly's hand, her voice rich with genuine concern. "If you're really looking to assist your husband's family, I'm willing to consider your request. However, I've heard rumors about your husband in Javille these past two years. He may not be the best partner..."

"Mrs. Howard, there's been a misunderstanding," Kimberly interrupted, inhaling deeply. "I'm not here for the Walsh family. I'm seeking a collaboration for my aunt with the Howard family."

The room went quiet for a moment.

Chris, previously engrossed in his phone, now gave Kimberly his attention.

"Your aunt..." Renee sounded surprised. "Mabel Holden, the current leader of the Holden family?"

Kimberly nodded, her expression intense.

After the early deaths of her parents and her grandfather's illness, the Holden family had been left vulnerable. It was Mabel who had stepped in to manage the chaos and uphold the family.

In her past life, Mabel targeted the new energy project to restore the Holden family's glory, hoping to restore the family by partnering with the Howard family. However, the Walsh family took advantage of Kimberly's necklace to seize the opportunity first.

The Walsh family thrived from the collaboration, and in their effort to grow their business empire, they ruthlessly competed against and destroyed the company Mabel had worked so hard to build, resulting in the Holden family's eventual bankruptcy. Mabel was forced to leave the country.

Before she left, she had visited Kimberly, handed her a significant sum of money, and warned her she had trusted the wrong person. She assured Kimberly that if ever she needed shelter after a divorce, she would always be welcome to join her abroad.

At that time, completely in love, Kimberly had dismissed Mabel's concerns, a decision that led to profound regrets.

"I just want to give my aunt a chance to compete for the collaboration. If your Howard family thinks she's not up to it, you can decline at any time," she told Renee with determination in her gaze. "But I trust my aunt will prove her value to you."

Renee was silent for a moment, observing Kimberly, then burst into laughter.

Kimberly felt uneasy at the sudden laughter, unsure of what to say next, when Renee explained, "Do you know why I'm so determined to buy this necklace?"

Seeing Kimberly's confused look, she smiled softly. "It was a gift of love from my husband."

Her eyes lingered on the necklace, filled with reminiscence. "The Howard family faced hard times once. I pawned it for some relief. When our situation improved and I went to buy it back, it had already been sold."

Kimberly paused, momentarily speechless.

Renee appeared to remember a sad past as she gently touched the necklace around Kimberly's neck, her voice becoming softer. "This necklace once brought luck to my family and me. I hope it does the same for you." She then glanced towards her grandson. "I'm tired now. Please escort Mrs. Walsh out."

Kimberly was about to oppose when she noticed Chris already standing, moving gracefully to her side and signaling for her to follow.

She hesitated, biting her lip, then silently agreed and followed Chris out.

As the doors closed behind them, Kimberly's fingers brushed the necklace, her thoughts swirling with unease.

Chris, now beside her, glanced her way and spoke with ease. "Don't worry, my grandmother has accepted your proposal."

Kimberly looked up at Chris, taken aback.

Her eyes, wide and captivating, added an indescribable charm to her gaze.

Chris caught a brief look and quickly looked away.

"The Holden family's new energy project started late. While it doesn't have the strong connections of the Walsh family, your aunt is dependable, far more than your villain husband," Chris said, his tone was casual but also explanatory.

It was the first time Kimberly heard Declan referred to as a villain, which she found both ridiculous and somewhat fitting, making her laugh.

This laugh drew a subtle smile from Chris, the corners of his eyes wrinkling slightly.

"Oh, the necklace!"

Approaching the garden on the other side of the venue, Kimberly realized she had forgotten to hand the necklace over to Renee.

She raised her hand to take it off, but the necklace got tangled in her hair, and she couldn't remove it.

The more she tugged, the more frustrated she became. Just as she was about to forcefully free herself, a calm male voice intervened, "Don't move, let me help."

Before Kimberly could object, Chris was already behind her, his hands deftly working to free the necklace.

His cold fingers brushed against her warm skin, and she instinctively wanted to pull away but felt it was too insignificant to make a fuss over.

Thus, she stood still, letting Chris carefully untangle the necklace.

"Just bear with it, these last few strands are stuck. I'll need to break them."

Kimberly closed her eyes, bracing herself for the slight pain when a stern male voice suddenly cut through the air. "What are you two doing?"

By then, the necklace had been freed, and Chris carefully removed it from around her neck.

Declan, with Valerie by his side, marched over from a distance, anger clear on his face.

The scene he had just stumbled upon was like a dagger to his heart.

He had been publicly scolded by the butler in Javille's high society and nearly thrown out of the banquet, turning him into the laughingstock of the entire city!

And the instigator, his wife, was being affectionate with a stranger!

He rushed forward, shouting at Kimberly, "No wonder you've been acting so differently today and treating me harshly. You wanted to get rid of me to attract another man!"

Kimberly scowled. "Then why have you always kept me from these gatherings? Was it so other women could flirt with you?"

Declan was momentarily at a loss for words. "You..."

Next to him, Valerie covered her face, looking shocked by the confrontation.

"Kimberly, regardless of what you do privately, this is a public event. You need to mind your behavior. If people see this, it could damage the Walsh family's reputation!"

Her words subtly suggested that Kimberly was unfaithful and wild.

This further infuriated Declan, who seized Kimberly's wrist, intending to drag her away.

"Go home and stay there. Stop embarrassing yourself!"

However, his movement was abruptly stopped by a firm grip on his arm.

"Without Mrs. Walsh's agreement, you have no right to decide for her."

Declan turned to see a man with sharp brows and captivating eyes, radiating an air of arrogance even in his disdain.

His anger grew even stronger. "I'm her husband. She must do whatever I ask!" He assumed the young, handsome man in front of him was just a lover brought in by some rich woman, and his contempt grew. "And who are you to interfere?"

Chris responded with a slight smirk, enhancing his already charismatic presence. "Unfortunately, in this setting, I do have a say. My name is Chris Howard."