Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 572

Conrad still ended up bringing Felicity inside.

As soon as they appeared, a ripple of unease spread through the guests. Many had come just to see if the recent rumors were true-after all, the two families supposedly locked in an ugly feud had both shown up in full force.

If things really had fallen apart between them, why would the Montgomerys come to this celebration at all?

People couldn't stop speculating: What on earth was going on between these two families?

Scattered across the lawn, guests waited for the engagement party to begin, each lost in their own thoughts. Some who were on friendly terms with Conrad tried to get a straight answer from him, but he brushed them off with a few perfunctory lines.

Clearly, he wasn't interested in talking.

"Didn't expect to find you with so much free time, Mr. Ayers." After sidestepping a handful of nosy questions, Conrad led Felicity over to greet Townsend.

He could dismiss most people easily, but the old gentleman was different-he couldn't be ignored. A greeting was the least he could offer.

Mr. Ayers and the Montgomerys were old acquaintances, so he didn't snub him. With a wry smile, he answered, "Just here to see an old friend's protégé. But you? Did you come just to stir the pot?"

After all, neither of the soon-to-be newlyweds had any love lost with the Montgomery family. Showing up here was just asking to be unwelcome.

Conrad could only shake his head inwardly.

He was definitely going to give Lysander a piece of his mind once this was over. What a disaster of an idea-he'd made a complete fool of himself today! He never should have listened to him.

Outwardly, though, Conrad kept his smile. "An old friend's protégé? Who could possibly have the pull to bring you out here?"

Townsend glanced at Forrest, who was on stage addressing the crowd with Mila at his side, and chuckled. "Tyrell, that old scoundrel. Lazing about and making me haul these old bones out here..."

Conrad was taken aback.

Forrest was Tyrell's student?

an engagement party for the younger generation. There was no

and he asked, "Has Mr. Ayers settled on

the other guests, his question was

businessmen. They hadn't focused heavily on smart tech research, but they certainly dabbled

in action, but valued information

Townsend didn't seem surprised.

a sidelong

But if you're looking for investors, I can't offer technical expertise-but I can certainly write a check for whatever you

the project. The higher-ups were watching it closely, after

out a

let you invest, and the project succeeds, will it still be mine? Or will it end up stamped

were a cunning bunch. Could they really

"We're

Townsend just snorted.

his tone shifted, and

you never let him pursue research at the institute... Wasted

gone before

f.n

a rueful smile. "What could I do? I only had the one kid. If he went off into academia, who'd fun the family business? Someone has

now, there was no one

after money," Townsend

just smiled and

family business was only part of the

family member drifting

went far enough, sooner or later it would touch on

Given the Montgomerys' resources

some