260-261

Chapter 260: Pregnancy Is a Good Thing

The Jinpu Building is a skyscraper in New York City, USA.

Its address is located between Nassau Street and William Street in Manhattan.

The mailing address is 40 Wall Street.

Originally, this skyscraper was known as the Manhattan Bank Building.

As the name suggests, it was initially constructed by the Rockefeller family.

It’s fair to say that in its early years, the Rockefeller family built over 40% of Manhattan’s skyscrapers.

Later, however, the Manhattan Bank merged with Chase National Bank.

As a result, the building was no longer called the Manhattan Bank Building but was renamed 40 Wall Street.

Two years ago, Jinpu acquired the building through a bank loan, renamed it, and kept the name since.

In the parallel timeline, before meeting Milo, this building was considered the core asset of Jinpu.

Even now, the Jinpu Building remains incredibly important to the golden-haired old man.

In fact, whenever he and his family are in New York, they mostly reside in the uppermost floors of this building.

The building has 70 floors and was completed in 1930. Its construction took only 11 months, making it the tallest building in the world at the time, until it was surpassed by the Chrysler Building.

That being said, despite knowing Jinpu for so long, this was Milo’s first time visiting this future New York landmark.

When the convoy arrived at the building's entrance, Milo noticed many people with cameras and microphones around.

It was clear that the golden-haired old man wanted this moment—Milo entering the Jinpu Building—captured on camera.

Once the footage hit the news, the stocks of many companies associated with Jinpu would likely see a slight uptick.

No joke—this was the level of Milo’s influence now.

On Wall Street alone, his impact was already so evident.

If it were a company in Silicon Valley, a few words of praise from Milo could cause a startup's valuation to increase severalfold.

After all, compared to his Wall Street nickname, "Lion of Wall Street," his Silicon Valley moniker, "Godfather of Silicon Valley," was even more renowned.

Waiting outside the building were Jinpu, the golden-haired old man, and a group of aides and executives, ready to welcome Milo.

Despite feeling slightly helpless, Milo stepped out of the car.

With a smile, he walked over and hugged Jinpu amidst the enthusiastic cheers, camera shutters, and flashing lights.

"Welcome, dear Milo! Everyone in the Jinpu Building is thrilled because of your arrival!"

"I think the happiest person here is you," Milo remarked, pointing at the reporters on both sides of the building, their faces alight with excitement.

"Ha ha..." Jinpu pretended not to understand and laughed loudly.

"Let’s go inside. Show me your place—I’ve heard you’ve decorated it extravagantly."

"Yes, yes, I’m sure you’ll love my taste in décor!" Jinpu said confidently.

Milo thought to himself, Décor? You mean that over-the-top golden extravagance like a desert sheikh’s style?  

Indeed, his father-in-law had a real fondness for gold and glitter.

The same style could be seen in Mar-a-Lago and even his private jet. The Jinpu Building was unlikely to be any different.

Once upstairs and away from others, Jinpu dropped his earlier playful demeanor, though a faint smile still lingered on his face.

He led Milo to his home, specifically to Ivana’s room.

"…My period is a week late, and I’m a bit worried," Ivana said nervously.

"Wow!"

"So, I secretly used a pregnancy test. The results were very clear…"

"Wow!"

"I haven’t been to the hospital yet. It’s possible the test or my cycle is off. Only a hospital visit can confirm it."

"Wow!"

Listening to Ivana’s slightly panicked explanation, Milo couldn’t help but glance at Jinpu, who remained in the room to eavesdrop.

"Don, could you stop being so surprised? It’s just the three of us here," Milo said.

"Wow! Okay, I’ll stop," the golden-haired man said, nodding while pouting. "But I am surprised—it’s my daughter who might be pregnant!"

"Dad, I haven’t been to the hospital yet, so it’s not certain!" Ivana exclaimed.

Jinpu shrugged but couldn’t hide his joy.

On the way up in the elevator, the golden-haired old man had subtly probed Milo.

From their conversation, Jinpu had gleaned some comforting news.

If Ivana were indeed pregnant, and if she wished to keep the baby, Milo would acknowledge the child, care for them, and take responsibility for the mother.

That was enough for Jinpu.

Although the child might be illegitimate, it wouldn’t be just any ordinary illegitimate child.

It would be akin to a Rockefeller or Morgan illegitimate heir.

Jinpu thought of New York families descended from such lineages.

For instance, one prominent family, founded by a Morgan illegitimate son, had been a political powerhouse since the end of World War II.

One of their standout members had long controlled the Southern District Attorney’s Office in New York.

Jinpu believed that with Milo’s support, his illegitimate grandchild could grow into a similarly remarkable figure.

This would undoubtedly benefit the Jinpu family in the future.

Not to mention, this situation would bring him closer to Milo!

So, of course, Jinpu was delighted.

Even if it might come at the expense of his daughter's lifelong happiness.

But what’s the big deal about that?

Everyone has to make sacrifices—Ivanka is no exception. Her future marriage would most likely be one of convenience anyway.

And marriage of convenience is meant to bring benefits—advantages in various aspects.

Now, without needing to marry someone else, these benefits are already attainable.

And not just any benefits—significant ones.

So even if she doesn’t marry later and just lives this way, it wouldn’t matter much!

The three of them discussed briefly and quickly reached a consensus.

Let Ivanka get checked first.

A blood test or urine test would suffice; modern technology is advanced.

By noon, the results were out.

Yes, Ivanka Jinpu, who had just turned sixteen a little under two months ago, was indeed pregnant.

Less than two weeks pregnant, barely over a week.

Judging by the timing, the seed was planted during their time at the forest cabin.

“I... What should I do? Milo, I... I don’t know what to do right now,” Ivanka said, her face showing a trace of panic.

But the test results were right there on the table.

Milo asked her, “What exactly are you worried about?”

“Ah... I’m just... this news is making me overly anxious and worried... I never thought I’d get pregnant this early... I’m a little scared…” she murmured, covering her face.

It seemed like she couldn’t bring herself to look at her father, who was currently staring at the test results intently.

As if it held some sort of secret to immense wealth.

At this moment, a pair of arms reached out, wrapped around Ivanka’s shoulders, and pulled her into a broad chest.

Milo kissed the top of her head and said softly, “Every woman feels uneasy when they first get pregnant. It’s perfectly normal—just a natural human fear of the unknown. But you don’t have to be afraid. I’m here for you, and everything you’re worried about won’t happen. Isn’t that right, Tang?”

“My worries?” Ivanka murmured, tightening her arms around Milo.

Hearing himself called out, Jinpu briefly tore his gaze away from the test results. He looked at his daughter, who seemed both nervous and expectant, and then at Milo—the audacious man standing beside her.

From a father’s perspective, Jinpu thought he should be angry.

But why couldn’t he stop his lips from curling into a smile?

“Exactly,” Jinpu said, his face beaming with joy. “There’s nothing to worry about. Pregnancy? Pregnancy is a good thing. It happens to everyone—well, to all women, that is.”

“See? That’s how I see it. And your father sees it that way too. So there’s really no need to be anxious,” Milo said with a smile. He kissed the top of her head again and gently caressed her flat stomach.

“This is good news, Ivanka. Although it might feel a little early for you, I’m thrilled that we’re having a child.”

Ivanka bit her lip, unsure of what to say, but her body instinctively nestled deeper into Milo’s embrace.

“I’m overwhelmed, Milo,” she sighed softly. “I don’t know what to do. I’m still in school—am I supposed to go to Harvard next year with a big belly? And... I don’t know what you’ll think or what you’ll do. I’m afraid you might…”

“You don’t need to worry about that anymore,” Milo said, comforting her as he held her close. “This is my child. I would never deny that. I may be a jerk, but I’m a responsible jerk. As for school? It doesn’t matter. If you want, I can have Harvard send you a diploma right now. Plus, you have a great father and me. Your education doesn’t matter much.”

Ivanka leaned into him and sighed again. After a long pause, she said softly, “I’ll do whatever you say, Milo. But… but what about Ariana…”

Milo couldn’t help but smile to himself.

He thought this must be Ivanka’s biggest worry after learning she was pregnant.

“Ariana loves children,” Milo said, giving her arm a gentle squeeze. “She’s already the godmother to several of my kids from other women. If she’s like that with other people’s children, imagine how much more she’ll love yours. You’re so close to her, after all.”

Jinpu: “…”

Ivanka: “…”

Was he openly admitting, in front of both father and daughter, that he had other illegitimate children?

Ivanka looked at her father. She wanted to be angry but realized she didn’t even have the right to be upset about it.

As for Jinpu, he was amazed by the shamelessness of the man before him.

But he had to admit—this was absolutely something Milo would do.

After aligning his views with Jinpu and calming Ivanka down, Milo returned to the International Building at Rockefeller Center that afternoon.

Entering his office, he downed the coffee prepared by Shirley on the coffee table in one gulp.

Milo then walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, stretching lazily in the winter sunlight streaming in from outside.

To be honest, the news of Ivanka’s pregnancy had startled him.

But he recovered in just a few seconds.

Given how recklessly he had behaved in the forest cabin, it was no surprise that a “life” had been created.

If blame was to be assigned, it was to Ivanka’s emotional attachment to him.

However, objectively speaking, Ivanka was indeed quite young.

Although, in some southern states, many American girls become mothers at twelve or thirteen.

The most extreme cases have seen eight- or nine-year-olds giving birth.

But sixteen? It was still a little early.

That said, considering Ivanka’s physique, it shouldn’t be too taxing on her body.

Besides, modern technology is advanced. If it came to it, there was always the option of a C-section…

Sure, it would be more inconvenient, but nothing unmanageable.

After all, sowing and planting seeds is meaningless without results, right?

Being an “American Prince Jing of Zhongshan” didn’t sound too bad.

Milo chuckled at the thought as he looked at the bustling streets below. Then he strolled back to his desk and sat down.

Even though Ivanka was pregnant and quite young, Milo’s plans wouldn’t change.

Firstly, this was New York—right under the watchful eyes of the Rockefeller family.

Showing too much favoritism toward any one woman could arouse suspicion, even if Ariana didn’t mind.

Secondly, Ivanka had a unique charm for him.

There are plenty of women who could evoke nostalgic feelings for Milo.

Sophie Marceau, Monica Bellucci, Catherine Zeta-Jones—even Sherry, his personal maid who performed her duties exceptionally well—which one of them didn’t stir some kind of sentiment in him?

Speaking of Sherry, two days after confirming Ivana’s pregnancy, Milo met the precious daughter of his personal maid.

It happened at Sherry’s upscale Manhattan apartment.

The ten-year-old girl, despite her heavenly beauty, didn’t exude any sort of ethereal aura.

Being of Chinese descent and maturing more slowly, she was just a little girl for now.

“This is Mr. Blackburn,” Sherry introduced. “He’s the generous man Mommy told you about. Because of him, you were able to enroll at St. Paul’s Church School, and we were able to move from Brooklyn to Manhattan.”

“Hello, Coristal. You can call me Uncle Milo,” he said warmly.

Milo then began chatting with the little girl and her mother.

Of course, the main focus was Coristal.

At first, the girl responded only with "Mm-hmm" or "Yes." When an explanation was necessary, she spoke a bit more, but in a soft, timid voice.

However, as the conversation progressed, she gradually opened up.

Eventually, she not only shared a lot about herself but also burst into frequent giggles at Milo’s jokes.

The more Coristal talked, the more surprised and delighted she became.

She even thought, if not for this man’s obviously different appearance from an Asian person, she might have believed she had somehow returned to her home country.

After dinner, Milo stayed for a little while before leaving.

From that evening onward, Coristal no longer had to live alone with the specially hired nanny in the Manhattan apartment.

Her kind “Uncle Milo” granted her permission to stay directly at her mother’s workplace.

For example, whenever Milo was in New York and her mother was working in New York, Coristal could stay in one of the luxury mansions owned by Milo in the city.

At other times, she could choose to live in the dormitory at St. Paul’s Church School.

Does this count as “grooming”?

Milo thought it probably did.

After counting things up, he realized he seemed to be “grooming” quite a few.

Not counting Britney and Christina, whom he had already “devoured,” there were still others.

There was Avril, whom he had recently signed, now joined by Coristal, with Taylor and Emma also waiting in line…

“Damn, I’m starting to feel like one of those perverts from the donkey party.”

This thought suddenly popped into Milo’s mind.

At first, he was stunned. Then, he chuckled to himself and finally shook his head dismissively.

“I’m actually a good person,” he assured himself.

“I gave Britney a more relaxed work environment and greater support. The same goes for Christina.

"I changed the life trajectory of Liu and her daughter—they no longer have to drift from one dependency to another; they only need to rely on me.

"Next, I’ll provide Taylor, Avril, and the others with all kinds of support, making them more valuable.

"I’ve made their lives better than they would have been otherwise.

"Sure, they might lose a bit of freedom for this, but isn’t that just the cost of life?

"So, really, I’m the best person for them.”

That was how Milo justified his actions to himself afterward.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 261: The Engagement Ceremony

Time passed, and Thanksgiving of 1997 finally arrived.

It was November 27, 1997—a day that holds immense significance in the United States, second only to Christmas.

Even New Year’s Day isn't celebrated with such grandeur.

On this day, the streets of Manhattan were immersed in a thick holiday atmosphere.

From Fifth Avenue to Wall Street, the streets were adorned with colorful flags and various decorative ornaments.

Outside stores, displays of turkey and pumpkin pie models caught the eyes of passersby.

Huge Thanksgiving-themed balloons floated in the air as children gleefully chased each other underneath.

When it comes to holiday sales, American shopkeepers outshine their counterparts anywhere in the world.

However, what was unknown to many was that this day also marked the union of two powerful families—the Blackburn family of Boston and the Rockefeller family of New York.

This wasn't a wedding, of course—just an engagement.

In line with Puritan traditions, engagements and weddings were often held separately.

According to Protestant customs, a formal wedding could take place years after the engagement.

Traditionally, a Protestant engagement was announced in the presence of family and friends.

During the rule of Pope Innocent III in 1215, the Church began mandating that engagement ceremonies be officiated by a priest in a church.

In 1477, Maximilian I famously placed a diamond ring on the finger of his fiancée, Mary of Burgundy.

That ring is widely regarded as the first diamond engagement ring in history.

Protestant traditions dictate that the engagement ring is worn on the left ring finger, believed to be directly connected to the heart by the "vein of love."

This tradition traces back to Roman times.

Since the 4th century AD, heart-shaped rings have symbolized the union of two lovers in Western culture.

Understanding these traditions clarifies that wearing rings on different fingers—index, ring, or middle—has nothing to do with Chinese customs; it stems from European heritage.

Today's engagement uniting the Blackburns and Rockefellers was, of course, for Milo Blackburn and Ariana Rockefeller.

The ceremony was held at the most ancient, prestigious, and renowned Trinity Church in Manhattan.

However, what bewildered many devout New Yorkers was Trinity Church’s announcement that it would remain closed to the public for the day.

The stated reason? Maintenance.

On Thanksgiving—a day second only to Christmas for attending church services—Trinity Church was closed!

This was unforgivable in the eyes of the faithful.

And yet…

The church doors remained shut, guarded by numerous security personnel.

What could the believers and tourists do? Storm the gates? Of course not. Police were already stationed there.

Still, some couldn’t help but notice that cars occasionally pulled up to the church entrance, and certain individuals were allowed inside.

Wasn’t the church supposed to be closed?

Why were they allowed in while others were turned away?

Speculation spread like wildfire, especially when it became evident that many of these individuals were prominent figures.

Inside Trinity Church, however, a solemn and dignified engagement ceremony was indeed taking place.

Even the current U.S. President had discreetly attended under the guise of a holiday vacation to witness the event.

“…In the name of the Lord, I hereby declare Milo Blackburn and Ariana Rockefeller officially engaged!”

Benjamin, the most revered archbishop in New York and the entire state, smiled as he announced the union of the two radiant young people before him.

The audience erupted into applause and cheers as his words marked the conclusion of the ceremony.

Sitting in the front rows, Larrington was visibly moved. Turning to Joseph Blackburn, a family member of the groom-to-be, he remarked:

“This is truly touching. Joseph, it reminds me of my engagement ceremony with Silanie. We were just as young and blessed by everyone around us.”

What could Joseph say in response?

He, of course, accepted Linton's blessings with a smile and exchanged polite but superficial pleasantries with the Grand Leader.

On the side, old Blackburn and old David clapped their hands and exchanged knowing smiles.

The two elderly men were somewhat emotional.

Emotional at the thought that two sides, once considered opposing factions, had now become family through marriage.

Sure, there might still be future conflicts for one reason or another.

But with the connection of Milo and Arianna’s union, any disputes could always find a path to reconciliation.

This was one of the purposes of an alliance through marriage.

Nearby, the current head of the Morgan family, John Chris Morgan, who was slightly younger than Joseph, was clapping with a wide smile on his face.

However, upon closer observation, one could definitely see that his smile was fake.

He couldn’t help it—after all, leveraging marriage alliances to infiltrate and dominate other financial conglomerates had originally been the Morgans’ trump card.

The Morgan family had even gone so far as to deliberately produce a large number of illegitimate sons and daughters for this very strategy.

Their achievements and expertise in this area had always been the strongest among America’s so-called "Heavenly Dragons."

Yet now, the Morgans, who once dominated the art of marriage alliances across the United States, had misjudged the situation. The Rockefellers had beaten them to the punch with Milo.

Initially, according to the agreement between the Morgans and the Rockefellers to infiltrate the Boston consortium, Milo Blackburn was supposed to be the Morgans’ target.

Craig of Bayard, a rising political star in Massachusetts, was meant to be the Rockefellers’ objective.

However, things changed when some friction occurred between JP Morgan of the Morgan family and Milo over Silicon Valley matters.

This led to the Morgans disliking the unpredictable Bostonian.

Then old David stepped in and snatched this marriage alliance from the Morgans.

Up to this point, the Morgan family wasn’t particularly concerned.

What John Chris Morgan hadn’t expected was that this Bostonian would rise to a position within just two short years that even they had to take seriously.

In terms of marriage alliances, the Morgans had been outmaneuvered by the Rockefellers.

Naturally, John Chris Morgan was not happy about it.

Following the invitation from the Rockefellers, other elite families such as the Mellons, First Citi, Cleveland, and DuPont had also sent representatives to the ceremony.

Unsurprisingly, representatives from California and Texas, who had marital ties with the Blackburn family, were also present.

In fact, none other than Wilson and Herbert themselves had come.

It could be said that the guests present at Trinity Church today were so influential that any one of them, with a mere stomp, could shake the entire United States—or at least a significant portion of it.

Alternatively, if a single missile or even a grenade were to explode in this church, America’s top elite class would instantly lose one-third of its members.

With the engagement ceremony now officially concluded, the socializing among these elites was far from over.

Trinity Church was simply too small.

So, after the formal conclusion of the engagement, everyone left Manhattan and headed to the Rockefeller family’s estate along the Hudson River in New York.

A place that, on all publicly available maps of the United States and the world, had never been marked.

The New Sleepy Hollow, Rockefeller Castle.

"Ah, how time flies. I still remember when Milo was just a little boy. He had just been born back then, and I was still serving as an informal ambassador in China. That was before our nations had even established diplomatic relations. And now, in the blink of an eye, my little Robin’s tiny boy is engaged," said Herbert Bush that evening at the Rockefeller Castle.

The Rockefeller family, of course, hosted a grand celebration party that night.

The number of attendees that evening was significantly larger than at Trinity Church.

First, Trinity Church was simply too small to accommodate so many people.

Second, only a select few were qualified to witness the engagement between the Rockefellers and Blackburns.

But the number of people eligible to celebrate and share in the joy was far greater.

Among those speaking, Herbert Bush certainly had the qualifications to witness Milo and Arianna’s union at Trinity Church.

After all, he wasn’t just Milo’s grandfather—he had once lived in the White House himself.

In the corner where Herbert was standing, several other former White House occupants were present: Carter, Reagan, Nixon, and Ford.

It was practically a reunion of former Presidents.

Indeed, it was exactly that.

Hearing Herbert’s words, his former boss and predecessor, Reagan, glanced at him with a hint of envy.

"Herbert, like you, I never imagined that the little one you once brought to visit the White House would now be engaged. Time does fly."

Back when Herbert served under Reagan as Vice President, he had brought his grandchildren, including Milo, to the White House one Easter.

They had participated in the annual "Happy Easter Egg Roll" event hosted by the Reagans—a typical televised political showpiece.

At that time, Milo had been just one of the children in the group, which meant Reagan had also witnessed part of his growth.

The other former Presidents present didn’t share the same personal connection as Reagan and Herbert.

So, they could only smile and listen as the two elder statesmen, especially Herbert, subtly yet clearly boasted.

Boasted about having such an outstanding grandson and about how his political influence would only grow stronger in the years to come.

"Unlike those washed-up old folks,

they're gradually being swept into the dustbin of history.

Let’s not talk about Herbert's boasting over there.

In another corner of the celebration party at Rockefeller Castle,

a grand residence of the Rockefeller family, there is a small attic.

From this vantage point, the entire estate, meticulously renovated with the family's wealth, is visible,

including the expansive lawn where the celebration is taking place.

Today, the patriarchs of the two families bound by marriage have gathered once again,

watching the distant scenery and the lively party below.

“Does Milo really need so many illegitimate children? As far as I know, he already has six. The guy acts like a dog in heat—he even messed around with his sister-in-law.”

“John, aren’t you going to do something about it?”

Old David’s tone had a sharp edge to it.

It was evident that Milo’s antics hadn’t escaped the Rockefellers’ notice.

Or rather, Milo never even tried to hide them—

even the affair with his sister-in-law, Hailey, was an open secret that anyone could uncover with minimal effort.

Hearing David’s words, old Blackburn’s face darkened. He snapped back,

“If my grandson is a dog in heat, then what are you, David? A stud horse?

When it comes to illegitimate children, Milo won’t even come close to you in twenty years!”

As the saying goes, “The pot calls the kettle black.”

Everyone there knew the truth.

Among them, the one with the most children was none other than the late old Morgan.

But the rest weren’t far behind.

Even old Blackburn was no exception—

every single one of them was just as guilty.

So why should one crow mock another?

Old David sipped his whiskey gloomily, changing the subject.

“In any case, some restraint would be good. I don’t want Ariana to feel hurt.

By the way, do you think Arthur will make it through the year?”

“We’re old now. Let the younger generation deal with their own problems,”

Blackburn said flatly. “As for Arthur, it’s unlikely. He might not even see this year’s Christmas tree.”

David fell silent.

As the head of the Rockefeller family,

he couldn’t help but feel a sense of grief, like a fox mourning a rabbit’s death.

He, Blackburn, Arthur Adams, Schneider Wilson, and the late Morgan were all of the same generation.

More than thirty years ago,

their generation had fully taken the reins of power.

It was during that time that the Rockefellers and Morgans formed their alliance.

Together, they crushed and absorbed many American conglomerates,

including the Boston syndicate,

forcing Kennedy, who once held the brightest hopes for leading Boston out of its struggles, into a complete deadlock.

Now, thirty years later,

times had changed.

The once-unshakable alliance of Rockefeller and Morgan now dominated America.

But time had taken its toll.

The men of those days had grown old, fallen ill, or passed away.

Even David, who had witnessed the era of Roosevelt challenging capitalists,

couldn’t help but feel the curtain closing on their chapter of history.

This world is deeply unfair—people are born unequal.

But in one respect, it is fair.

Time.

Time is fair to everyone.

“I see in your grandson the younger versions of ourselves. Milo’s ambition is immense…”

David’s voice suddenly dropped to a somber tone.

“Was our ambition ever small?” Blackburn chuckled knowingly and looked at David.

“Or anyone else’s for that matter? Take that kid you have stashed away in Kansas.

His ambition is just as big as anyone’s. Ambition itself doesn’t matter; what matters is whether the ability matches the ambition.”

David was silent again.

Because he knew Blackburn was right.

There are plenty of people in this world with ambition.

But very few have the ability to match it.

“Phew… I’m done talking to you about this,”

David sighed, annoyed. “Arguing with someone who used to be a pastor is pointless.

I preferred the version of you who stood behind Arthur, glaring at me but helpless.”

“But I have a good grandson.”

Having been a pastor and a whip for the GOP,

Blackburn was unmatched in arguments and mockery.

“And you, David. You don’t. Your descendants are mediocre.”

“F*** you!”

The head of the Rockefeller family snapped, flipping him off.

“Ha, f*** you too!” Blackburn laughed and shot the gesture right back.

The two old men traded curses for a moment,

then suddenly stopped at the same time.

A second later, they burst into laughter.

They laughed so hard that tears streamed from their eyes.

(End of chapter)