This dangerous woman had finally come knocking at the door!

But in that situation just now, pretending to be clueless was naturally much better than actually being clever. On the garbage planet, Henry Lane had long learned the art of disguise. But this woman—damn, she was at least ten times more attractive than the pale widow next door on the garbage planet!

Henry Lane's dazed stare at her long leg was completely caught in Violet Lane's gaze, and a barely perceptible trace of anger flashed in her eyes.

Although it was their first meeting, from the way Henry Lane looked when he opened the door, to his current unblinking stare at a beautiful woman, Violet Lane had already formed a basic judgment about him: after all, he came from a place like the garbage planet. Even though he was her father's illegitimate son, he didn't have a trace of the Lin family's superior bloodline. The whole person was shameless and vulgar!

Violet Lane, just in her early twenties, had already dealt with countless schemes and intrigues. Not only did she carry the aura of a top university's star student, but she also possessed a poise cultivated in many social settings. Judging by her age alone, it was hard to imagine that she was already the daughter of a lord within Wayne Enterprises, with enough authority to mobilize vast resources with a single word. It would be hard to find such intelligence and intimidating charm in an ordinary girl, but in her, they were perfectly combined.

So the anger in her eyes flashed and disappeared, replaced by a smile. "You must be Henry Lane."

Henry Lane nodded.

"I've heard about you. I'm Violet Lane... We're about the same age, but officially, I could be considered your older sister... So from now on, you are already a member of Lord Lin Wei's family." Her underlying meaning was to remind him that a family had its own rules. Whether he was perceptive enough to understand this would determine how well his days in this manor would go.

Henry Lane was clearly taken aback. Not long ago, when he arrived at the villa, he had slapped his so-called "younger brother" Howard Lane twice. He had originally thought that Violet Lane, who was famous on Riverside Star for her strong and arrogant personality, would come to hold him accountable, and he had even prepared for the worst. But unexpectedly, when Violet Lane came, she said something like this.

But the calmer things seemed, the more violent the coming storm would be.

With the keen nose of a hyena from the garbage planet, Henry Lane sensed something unusual. But Henry Lane acted as if he noticed nothing, his dark face splitting into a grin that revealed two rows of gleaming white teeth. "Of course we're family! Ha, now we're all living under the same roof."

Truly someone from a slum. Completely lacking in manners, and even shamelessness should have its limits.

The anger in Violet Lane's eyes finally surfaced.

History was full of cases where illegitimate sons from the countryside, after witnessing a life of luxury, developed ambitions they were never meant to have, even plotting to seize the family fortune.

And in the Great Eagle Empire, the status of an illegitimate child was always extremely low, hardly recognized by mainstream society, and thus had no right to covet the family property. Although the laws were now comprehensive, for customs that had lasted a thousand years, these were facts tacitly accepted even in the imperial courts.

Violet Lane had come today to confirm what kind of person Henry Lane really was. She had managed the Lin family business for so many years, pouring her heart and expectations into it. All of this was the foundation she had laid for her brother Howard Lane. Now, with Henry Lane suddenly appearing, if he had picked up the filthy habits of the slums and set his sights on the family business, she would have to take precautions early.

But seeing Henry Lane's behavior today, Violet Lane was actually relieved.

This was just a small-minded, petty, and short-sighted commoner, greedy for small gains and immediate benefits, shaped by a place like the garbage planet. Every word and action was repulsive. Such a person could never have any grand ambitions for the family business. Besides, with his limited worldview, he couldn't possibly understand what a colossal entity the Lin family's Wayne Industrial Group was to him.

Thinking of this, Violet Lane looked at him with a touch more sadness, and even an involuntary mocking smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Have you eaten?"

"Ah... not yet." Henry Lane shook his head, honest and unreserved.

"Come with me... my treat." Violet Lane said, then stood up and walked toward the door.

Who would have thought that behind her, Henry Lane would look utterly flattered. "Going out to eat... are you asking me out? It's my first time, I'm a bit excited!"

Violet Lane's tall figure suddenly paused at the door, then she clenched her fists to resist the urge to cough up blood, and walked straight out without looking back.

Watching Violet Lane storm off into the villa's elevator, not even waiting for him before pressing the close button,

The corners of Henry Lane's mouth curled up in amusement.

Chapter Four: A Dark Future

When Henry Lane came downstairs, he saw the somewhat aloof butler of the manor, Donald Hayes. According to Andrew Thompson, this was the chief steward of the Lin family manor, and also the chief financial officer of Wayne Group. Although only in his thirties, he was a powerful figure in both the manor and the group. The five stewards in charge of various parts of the manor, including Andrew Thompson, all reported directly to him.