That every night, while the city was still discussing the success of LY's auction, the big families had moved on to a new piece of gossip that they had heard.

Just as Pat had declared to Wayne when they had gone on a long bike ride, the aristocratic families were aware of what he wanted them to know.

According to some sources, Patrick Yang had sent out word that he had an important announcement to make concerning the Yang family.

This caused an uproar in the big families because everyone was pretty sure of the reason why he had decided to make an announcement and what it might be.

"Do you think that woman and child are really related to Patrick?" Renee asked her husband as they snuggled in bed.

Her close friends had called her up after dinner and had shared this juicy piece of gossip with her.

The entire city had witnessed the shameful revelation of Patrick Yang's illegitimate child in the news.

Patrick was a famous figure in the business world and this news had caused a lot of damage to the Yang Group's stocks.

Though he was known as an evergreen bachelor, the fact that he had a child outside marriage was looked down upon by the shareholders.

What was the worst of it all was that he refused to accept the accusations until they presented him with rock-solid DNA proof.

This had happened two months ago and since then there was no news about the woman or about her child.

Rumors were that he had asked them to stay at Yang Manor but that was all they knew about these two women.

Only in recent days were the mother-daughter pair being seen at small social gatherings because they had made friends with some of the madams and young miss from the big families.

Not once had Patrick made an effort to introduce Mandy to high society as his daughter or Lucille as the mother of his illegitimate child.

"I don't know, Renee. But I doubt that the Yang family would introduce that child to high society when we all know how reluctant Patrick was until the very last minute." He shook his head and denied that possibility.

"He was forced to accept them because of the pressure from his board of directors. What if they are playing some tricks again?" She estimated the likelihood of such a situation occurring.

"Hmm… Then I might understand that he has no choice but to do it." He sighed deeply.

"I feel bad for Wallace. They haven't publicized their relationship for so many years and now this scandal must have come between them." She hid her face in Felix's chest and rubbed her cheeks on him.

She had just said out loud what Felix had been thinking.

Not many people knew about their relationship but the Ming family knew about it from the very beginning.

"I know but there is nothing we can do about it." He patted her back and shut the lights.

"Should we stay for a few more days or should we leave tomorrow?" Renee asked as she snuggled closer to him.

They were prepared to leave for their countryside villa the next morning but this news was making Renee have second thoughts.

"We can't leave dad alone for many days. Let's just come back if Patrick makes any official announcement about this matter." He suggested and received an understanding nod from his wife.

"Good night, baby." He kissed the crown of her head and smiled contentedly.

"Night, lover." She purred and quickly closed her eyes before he could pounce on her.

'Always tempting but never fulfilling! Just you wait till we get back to the countryside.' Felix let her go for the time being but decided to avenge his awakening desires when they reached their villa.

---

They weren't the only people speculating about this news.

Jeanette Liang hugged her father's arm as they took a walk in their backyard after dinner.

"Daddy, what do you think the Yang family wants to announce?" She curiously asked.

She had heard about some small rumors but she wasn't really sure about what it was.

Burt Liang looked down at his lovely daughter and then back at the night's sky.

In the stars, he could see a face that made him smile for a brief second.

"We will know what it is about when they make an announcement. No need to waste our time to guess what it is." He smiled at her.

Jeanette too smiled because her father was always like this.

Nothing could ever really affect his mood. He was always indifferent to everything around him except for his daughter.

"It's getting late. Go sleep now, daddy will make you french cinnamon toast for breakfast. Will my princess like to eat it?" He asked while caressing her head.

Jeanette's mom had died while giving birth to her and Burt was the one who had taken care of her alone since she was a baby.

Playing the role of both mother and father for her, he did everything to keep her happy.

"Um." She hurriedly nodded and drooled just by thinking of the heavenly toast that her father made on special occasions.

"Good. Now hurry along." He urged her to go back.

When he saw that she had left, he took out a cigarette and started puffing on it while watching the stars.

'I already know why that bastard Patrick wants to make an announcement.' He grimaced when he thought of Patrick Yang.

While her father was lost in his thoughts, Jeanette Liang was secretly watching him from afar.

She then dialed a number and waited for it to be answered.

"Why has my darling remembered me this late in the night?" A low and hoarse voice was heard through the phone.

"Daddy Is still behaving in a weird way. What should I do?" She asked and waited anxiously for the other person's answer.

"Don't worry just do as I say and he will be fine." The manly voice chuckled

"I'll call you later if I have any updates." She hung up after she heard him hum in approval.

Jeanette was very close to her father so she knew that something was wrong with him after the auction.

He was always lost in thought and smiled at random times.

This strange behavior of his made her snoop around to find clues to explain his behavior and what she discovered this morning had shocked her.

Having no way to cope with this newfound information, she called the only other person she trusted.

"I'll help you to check things out so stop panicking." The man had reassured her.

She then spent the entire day trying to adjust to this situation and only now did she come and speak to her father.

'I will protect you just like you always protect me, daddy!' She vowed and then went to her bedroom.

----

Another such situation was transpiring during a video call among four friends.

"I told you that if we wait long enough we will surely get some news about this!" One of the women excitedly spoke as soon as the call was connected.

"I was shocked when I heard that Patrick Yang was going to introduce his bastard child to society. That is such a shameful thing to do." Another scoffed.

"But why do I feel that something is not right? Why did he accept them so suddenly? Why now?" A woman with bulging cheeks pouted as she sipped on some tea.

"Did you forget about what we saw at Cecilia's? Maybe that bastard child is not the reason for this announcement at all." The last lady spoke in a soft voice but that was enough to shut them all up.

"What? Do you really think that…?" The woman who was sarcastic earlier asked with her eyes wide open.

They all collectively gasped when they saw her nod her head.

'Are they finally back?' Each of these women had the same thought in their minds.

----

While all this commotion was happening, Lina was happily slurping the spicy noodles that Butler Mo had prepared for her.

"Stop eating spicy food, you'll have an upset tummy tomorrow morning." Uncle Pat gently chastised her but his words fell on deaf ears.

"I'll be fine!" She brushed him away and went back to eating.

Right now all the cousins along with the uncles were having dinner at Luo Mansion.

Lina was absolutely clueless about what was going on in the outside world.

According to her knowledge, they were just planning a simple going-away party for Stacy.

"So what kind of party do you want to have?" She asked and was ready to note down whatever Stacy had to say.