Dear Sweetheart novel

Rayna grinned. “Don’t mention it. After all, we’re a family.”

Arnaud responded with a sneer.

“Winona is right. We’re a family.”

Rayna froze for a moment when Boniel called her Winona, the pseudonym she used in Yartran. Arnaud’s expression

darkened as well.

She made the remark merely to poke fun at Arnaud but did not expect Boniel to step in to defend her.

The way Boniel looked at her was also not as aloof as before. “I heard Marcus initially didn’t want to sign the

document, but you managed to persuade him in just a couple of hours. From this, I can tell you’re an intelligent

person. You’re a good match for my son.”

She paused for a while before responding, “Thank you, Old Mr. Terblanc.”

Boniel nodded. He then turned to Jefferson and said, “Calbert, call the pastor to see if he’s available. Let’s have

your marriage registered.”

“L-Let’s not rush into things, Old Mr. Terblanc!” Rayna was shocked by the suggestion. “At this point, I want to help

Calbert build his career. We can talk about the other matters in the future.”

Boniel expressed his dismay. “Is Calbert not good enough for you?”

Rayna gave him a faint smile, behaving as calmly as possible. “Calbert has just obtained the succession rights to the

Terblanc family, so he has a lot on his plate. I don’t want to burden him with more things.”

She had only agreed to pretend to be Jefferson’s girlfriend to take Arnaud down. Once Jefferson recovered from his

illness, she would still leave the country.

“Dad, we shouldn’t force Winona if that’s her wish.” Arnaud stepped in to help Rayna out. “They have gone through

a lot to be together. You don’t want to scare her off, do you?”

Rayna knew the mind game he was playing. He’s trying to tarnish my image.

After rolling her eyes inwardly, she said, “Old Mr. Terblanc, Calbert and I have gone through thick and thin to get

back together, and that’s why we cherish every moment we spend with each other. I like Calbert, and I respect you.

I wish I could join this family, but I know I’m not qualified. Everything I do is not only for Calbert but also for myself. I

will marry him once I feel I’m worthy of becoming a part of the Terblanc family.”

Boniel went deep in thought after hearing her words.

He suddenly remembered the woman he had dreamed of every night and how her eyes sparkled. No darkness

could extinguish the light and hope in the windows to her soul.

Unfortunately, she passed away. Her death had quashed his passion and dashed all his hope and dreams.

Feeling a tinge of sorrow, Boniel muttered, “You two are very much alike. Both of you are smart, and your eyes

sparkle with hope…”

Rayna knitted her brows as she knew he was talking about Sandy.

Instantly, the atmosphere grew tense.

Upon hearing that, Jefferson clutched the steering wheel. A few seconds later, he loosened his grip and parked the

car in front of the house.

Arnaud got off the vehicle and said to Boniel, “Dad, we’ve arrived. You can come down now.”

“All right.”

Boniel got down the car after Rayna, but instead of walking away, he waved his hand, gesturing for Jefferson to go

over.

Boniel patted Jefferson’s shoulder and said affectionately, “Come, let’s go in together. I have a big announcement

to make tonight.”

Jefferson’s body stiffened instantly.

After meeting Rayna’s gaze, he regained his composure and bobbed his head in response.

Upon noticing Boniel and Arnaud had returned, the kitchen crew immediately prepared a meal for four.

Boniel invited them to the living hall. He then called the butler over and whispered into his ears.

After the butler left, he picked up a cup of coffee and took a sip while sitting on the couch with his legs crossed.

Boniel was so quiet that Rayna and the others dared not utter a word.

Since Rayna was pregnant, her back started aching after she sat motionlessly for nearly eight minutes. She

cautiously grabbed a pillow and placed it behind her to ease her discomfort.

Inching closer, she whispered into Jefferson’s ear, “Do you know what’s on your dad’s mind?”

“I guess he wants to talk about the companies’ matter,” Jefferson answered softly, “the last time he invited Arnaud

and me over for a chat, he gave us the start-up capital for our companies.”

Disdain swept across Rayna’s face. “Your dad must have given him a lot of money in the past, and he still wants to

give him more? Why do I feel he treats Arnaud much better than before?”

“We’ll see.” Jefferson flashed her a warm smile and gave her a peeled grape.

Rayna took over the fruit and stuffed it into her mouth.

While enjoying the sweet fruit, she stared at the man and asked, “Will we have oranges tonight? I crave oranges.”

Her question rendered Jefferson speechless. Her obsession with oranges during her pregnancy is too much. What if

the children she gives birth to also look like oranges?

After sitting quietly in the living room for half an hour, they heard a doorbell. Two visitors in suits entered the house

with a briefcase in their hands, looking professional.

“Mr. Boniel.” The two lawyers walked over and greeted him.

After shaking hands with them, Boniel invited them to sit down. He then introduced the lawyers to Rayna. “They’re

here to witness the important announcement I’m about to make.”

After learning that the two men were the top lawyers in Yartran, Rayna knew the announcement was a big deal.

She straightened her back and paid close attention to what he was about to say.

Boniel took another sip of the coffee and said calmly, “For years, I’ve burned a candle at both ends. It’s time for me

to pass the baton to my successor because I’m exhausted. I wish to retire in three years.”

The look in Jefferson’s and Arnaud’s eyes changed subtly, but their expressions remained calm.

“Cyrus, Calbert, I want to sign a bet-on agreement with you,” Boniel said slowly while tapping his thigh. “I’ll assign

two lower-middle market companies in any part of the world to you and award each of you one billion worth of

start-up capital. You’ll be given three years to grow the company. Once the company’s market value reaches at

least half of or exceeds the market value of the Terblanc family business, the person will inherit the corporation. I

will still allow the other person to manage his assets and continue running the business.”

After a pause, Boniel continued, “But if both of you fail, I’ll retract all your companies and assets. If need be, I might

give you another challenge. Do you dare to sign this bet-on agreement?”

Arnaud smiled and said, “Dad, everything we own today came from you. I’ll be more than willing to take this

opportunity to test my capability, even though I might risk losing everything.”

“Great.” Boniel turned to Jefferson and asked, “How about you, Calbert?”

“Great minds think alike.” Jefferson adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. Despite his gentle expression, there was

ruthlessness and determination in his eyes. “I’ll go all out as I don’t want to live with regrets.”

“As expected of my sons! You’re both brave and adventurous. I’m so proud of you!” Boniel nodded approvingly

before instructing the lawyers to present them with the agreements.

“Go through the documents and sign the papers if you agree with the terms and conditions. You’ll be given a

company and a specific amount of start-up capital,” he added.

Arnaud and Jefferson dropped their signatures on the bet-on agreements, with Rayna and the two lawyers

witnessing the signing.