She was uncertain of how to voice her opinion. Luckily, Gerard preemptively spoke. "I'm currently in a phase of career advancement, Mom. Let's discuss this matter later."

“Every single day revolves around your career! Money can't buy everything!"

Brenda expressed her frustration. “You know, Lilah is the only one who can endure your constant focus on work. Any other woman would be furious about being neglected. Lilah, be honest, is Gerard neglecting you because of his job?"

Only Brenda dared to address Gerard in such a manner.

Lilah couldn't help but smile as she responded, “It's nothing like that. Don't worry; we're doing just fine.”

"You don't have to cover for him. If he mistreats you, let me know and I'll set him straight!" Brenda declared firmly.

Lilah nodded earnestly.

Throughout this exchange, Richard maintained his silence.

Lilah sensed that the reason for Richard's silence was that Jerrold was her child.

Full acceptance of her had not yet been granted.

It appeared there was still a lengthy journey ahead to gain approval from everyone in the Harris family.

After departing from the grand Harris family mansion, Gerard and Lilah each returned to their bustling work environments.

The mall, having been open for more than a week, saw the customary diminishing of excitement. To help with this, Lilah designated Effie as the mall's spokesperson, an instant success that drew crowds almost daily.

Simultaneously, the Dillon Group was diligently revamping its own mall, gearing up for an impressive grand opening.

The novel design would exude a distinct sense of opulence, poised to leave a Lasting impact on Phillips Mall. They had conducted extensive pre-launch promotions and enlisted the renowned actress Flora, partnering her with Winston for marketing.

Recently co-starred in a popular TV series, the pairing of Flora and Winston was adored by fans, creating a powerful synergy during their joint promotional efforts.

On the mall's opening day, it captivated immediate attention, with lengthy queues forming outside the entrance.

Observing the line from a nearby window, Marlene felt a release of the pent-up frustration accumulated over the past few days.

Reflecting, she mused, even if Lilah inaugurated her mall earlier, what significance did it hold?

The true measure of success lay in endurance.

A satisfied smile played on Marlene's lips as she sipped her coffee.

Abruptly, the phone rang.

"Marlene, thank you!" a voice filled with gratitude echoed from the other end-Flora's voice.

Marlene, a tad perplexed, wondered about the reason behind the gratitude.