Chapter 6106

On that night, every staff member was wide awake, working tirelessly throughout the night. They constructed massive welcome signs and floral displays at the pier where they would welcome guests to the island, and they meticulously cleaned the red carpet, preparing to roll it out from the pier to the hotel lobby the following morning. Bernard Arnault, while taking the elevator with his wife after a relaxing spa treatment under the sea, grumbled, "Why did that American singer choose to come to the Maldives at this time? The whole island will probably be in chaos, and it’ll be quite annoying." His wife nonchalantly replied, "What’s the issue with that? It's about business. As long as the guests are able to pay, we have to treat them well." Bernard responded with irritation, "I don’t want the luxurious resort I’ve meticulously created to turn into a chaotic scene akin to a bustling market just because of a celebrity. Unfortunately, this woman wields too much influence, and we can't refuse her access to the island. We have to put on a welcoming front, which is incredibly frustrating." His wife shrugged, saying, "I mentioned long ago that if you planned to vacation alone, it would be better to have the hotel refund all reservations so that our family could enjoy the island in peace. Not only would it be quieter, but it would also be safer, yet you didn't listen." Bernard Arnault raised his eyebrows and exclaimed, "What you suggest sounds easy. Do you realize how much compensation we would owe if the hotel issued refunds for our sake? It would be three to five times the amount, plus we’d have to cover their airfare and any emotional distress claims. If we end up with a customer who enjoys suing, it would lead to even more trouble down the line." His wife crossed her arms in dissatisfaction and murmured, "You’re already incredibly wealthy. Can’t you be a little more flexible? Even if you compensate these guests generously, how much could we possibly lose? Just a few million or tens of millions at most. Our family’s assets are in the hundreds of billions, and we make over ten billion annually. The returns from our various investments are incalculable. What does this money even mean?" Bernard Arnault waved his hand dismissively and replied, "You don’t understand; money is something to hoard, not squander. As the saying goes, 'Save as much as you can.' We need to avoid unnecessary waste. How can you be sure we won’t face significant expenses in the future?" What he never revealed to his wife was that he had spent 100 billion dollars on a rejuvenation pill from China. During the Rejuvenation Pill auction, he had been ousted by Desmond Evans and Ferdie Joules's son and lost his ability to pay, yet he had managed to buy a rejuvenation pill for 72 billion dollars. At that time, his entire group and his personal cash reserves were barely over 80 billion dollars. Little did he expect that he had already allocated over 300 million dollars worth of products beforehand, but the owner of the rejuvenation pill insisted that he provide 50% of the goods. Most of the 36 billion had to be paid in installments. In his quest for rejuvenation, Bernard Arnault had significantly diminished his assets, causing substantial strain on his and his group's cash flow. There were still numerous installment payments that depended on future profits to settle. At this stage, not to mention tens of millions in revenue, he was reluctant to part with even 100,000 dollars. Additionally, a very important reason for his frugality was that he wanted to conserve more funds over the years. As the effects of the rejuvenation pill were bound to diminish, he aimed to secure a second one quickly. This meant he needed to save up to 100 billion dollars over the next decade to ensure another twenty years of life.

However, he didn't dare share this information with his wife, as theoretically, the income from the company belonged to both of them. He was using their shared resources to pursue immortality, all while disregarding his wife's well-being. If she discovered his secrets, she would undoubtedly create a scene. To keep his wife in the dark, he willingly allowed the company’s finances to misrepresent revenue and profit figures. Moreover, he had never disclosed his cancer diagnosis to her, as once he reached his level of wealth, he grew cautious of those around him. He feared that if his wife learned he had cancer and a limited time left, she would hastily make arrangements for the inheritance and take control of the company. While it's normal for couples to prepare for any eventualities, Bernard Arnault was adept at understanding human nature. He knew that if his wife started planning for her own affairs believing his days were numbered, her feelings for him would wane. If she passed away within her expectations without disrupting his plans, their relationship could remain strong until the end. However, if she lived beyond her expectations and prepared herself as an alternative, he could only guess how she would react. What people fear most is a shift in their mindset. For the same circumstance, before the mindset shifts, it may feel like torture, but after the change, it can become hopeful and desirable. To prevent this from happening, he refrained from telling his wife about his cancer and the rejuvenation pills, which altered his life drastically. This is yet another unique burden faced by the ultra-wealthy. His wife continued to voice her complaints: "Bernard, I understand why you’ve become increasingly stingy lately. Let me speak honestly—at our age, why do you fret about material things like money? Even if everything goes well, we might only have ten or twenty more years together. The most important thing is to enjoy ourselves!" Bernard Arnault thought to himself, "For you, life may last only ten or twenty more years. But for me, as long as I have enough money and the rejuvenation pill auctions continue, I might add another forty years to my life!" However, he did not dare to voice these thoughts; instead, he smiled and reassured her, "This island is vast, and we only need two houses—there’s no need to monopolize the entire island. Sometimes we should embrace the lively atmosphere of earthly celebrations. Tawanna Sweet's arrival will surely bring a vibrant energy to the island, and thinking of it this way makes it a positive thing. Engaging with young people might even help us feel younger ourselves." His wife looked at him in surprise and said, "You’re changing your tune quickly. Just a moment ago, you were complaining about Tawanna Sweet, and now you see it as a good thing?" Bernard Arnault smiled awkwardly, "Oh, things always have two sides. While it can seem unfavorable when viewed one way, it appears much clearer from another perspective." As he spoke, he deliberately shifted the topic and said, "By the way, dear wife, since Tawanna is an international superstar adored by guests on White Horse Island, why don’t we host a party tomorrow to invite her and guests from all over the island? It would be lively and help us recapture our youth. What do you think?" His wife shook her head in resignation but smiled in response, "I was originally advising you against this, yet why are you now persuading me? But since you want to celebrate, I have no objections." Bernard Arnault seized the opportunity, saying, "That’s settled! After Tawanna arrives on the island tomorrow, I’ll discuss this with her. As long as she agrees, we’ll organize the party tonight!"