It was precisely because of Sam’s imperfection that his perfect image seemed less fake and revealed a more genuine side of him. On the other hand, Camilla had managed to keep Declan happy during this period, making him feel much younger. He believed he had never mistreated Camilla, yet this woman couldn’t take her eyes off Sam, who was younger and more handsome than himself.
Men, from the age of three to eighty, are creatures who value their pride. To have his woman yearning for another man while in his arms felt like a slap in the face.
Luckily, Sam was a sensible and polite young man. Otherwise, Declan would have had to sorrowfully bid farewell to Camilla. At present, he hadn’t grown tired of this woman yet, and he knew he would feel regret once she was gone.
Thus, he decided to give her a warning, urging her to restrain herself. “His name is Sam, a child of my late friend. My friend tragically passed away four years ago, leaving this child alone, so he came to seek refuge with me.”
Camilla was aware of Declan’s background; his ancestors hailed from Ineburgh and were considered a prestigious family there. Later, due to internal conflicts in Chulae, the Gilliam family decided to immigrate and settled in the Southern Seas, becoming overseas Chinese and starting a business here.
By the time Declan’s father took over the family business, the Gilliam family had already become the most famous Chinese entrepreneurs in the area. After Mr. Gilliam’s father passed away, he inherited the family business and then went to study in Metshire for a period of time. Seeing the great potential in Chulae, Mr. Gilliam, along with some friends from college, decided to venture into business there.
As for why he chose not to return to his ancestral home in Ineburgh but to stay here and become a prominent figure, Camilla was not privy to the reasons. However, Mr. Gilliam had mentioned his influential friend to her, someone who was once a powerful figure in Chulae.
Sam, the gentleman in question, was the son of that influential friend, indicating his high status. The thought of this made Camilla feel a slight ache in her heart, as if he had appeared too late.
If Sam had come to visit Declan a week earlier, she would have chosen him without hesitation. She also believed that Mr. Hurst could help her seek revenge against Cheyenne and Kelvin.
Taking a deep breath, Camilla concealed her true emotions and smiled at Sam as if nothing was wrong. “Mr. Hurst turns out to be Mr. Gilliam’s friend’s son, what a coincidence. You Chulae people have a saying – meeting is fate. How about I raise a toast to Mr. Hurst?”
As she spoke, she gracefully slipped out of Declan’s embrace, picked up her glass, and intended to clink glasses with Sam. However, Sam remained composed and elegant, smiling lightly as he declined firmly but politely, “There’s a saying in Chulae that drinking can lead to trouble. Sam is here to discuss official matters with Mr. Gilliam today, and drinking too much may hinder the conversation.”
“Let’s save this toast for another time. Sam will make amends to Miss Callahan then, alright?”
His response was tactful and dignified, avoiding any sense of awkwardness. Declan’s fondness for Sam grew once again. In his life, he lacked neither wealth nor fame nor women, but his only regret lay with his children. The renowned entrepreneur in the Southern Seas, Declan, only had two daughters and no son to inherit the family business.
In his youth, an injury had left his first wife unable to bear more children after giving birth to one daughter. Despite raising many other women afterwards, not one of them bore him a son. One daughter was his adopted daughter, while the other was his biological daughter, the second lady of the Gilliam family, who had just graduated from university at the age of twenty-two.
The adopted daughter is like him, decisive and reliable, a worry-free good child.
But the biological daughter clashes with him, which is Declan’s headache.
Yet, with deep love for his biological daughter, he not only has to plan for the future of the Gilliam family a century from now, but also for his daughter.
With no sons, the best solution is to find a son-in-law who will come to him! Sam, an old acquaintance;
With impeccable looks and capabilities, the only thing left to test is his views on women.
The reason he kept silent and observed just now was to test Sam’s intentions.
Even in the presence of a seductive figure like Camilla, he remained unmoved, proving the rumors of his self-discipline to be true.
Only someone like him is worthy to be Declan’s son-in-law.
Satisfied, he nodded and finally spoke, “Camilla, why don’t you go down first. Sam and I have something to discuss.”
Mr. Gilliam didn’t let her stay, naturally due to lack of trust in her.
Camilla muttered angrily in her heart as she left, casting a lingering glance at Sam before she left, her red lips curling.
“Well then, Mr. Hurst, please make yourself at home. We’ll chat another time.”
“Yes, Miss Callahan, take care.”
What a foolish and unattainable woman!
Sam thought disdainfully in his heart.
With no one else in the hall, Declan then asked him what had happened, his expression unexpectedly serious.
After rehearsing in his mind, Sam hesitated before speaking.
“Mr. Gilliam, didn’t you send me to Yheehull to negotiate a deal? When I arrived, I noticed that Blaine’s people were also lurking around, so I paid closer attention.”
“Yes, you told me about this last month, and I spoke to Blaine afterward. He said the goods were lost, so I immediately asked for your help to find them, those goods…”
Instead of answering directly, Sam took out a broken map from his pocket, with a certain location circled in red.
It was a rainforest area, Blaine’s hometown.
Declan also went to elementary school in that area and was very familiar with the place.
“I actually found the goods a week ago, hidden here.”
“What? What did you say!”
Finally understanding the implication behind Sam’s hesitancy, Declan realized that if the goods were found a week ago, then why did Blaine claim to have no news until yesterday, and now Sam was saying the goods were in Blaine’s hometown?
Putting it all together, it was not hard to see it was an inside job.
Seeing Declan’s face turning pale, tinged with a cold purplish hue, Sam lowered his head and let his long hair shield the gleam in his eyes.
His gentle voice flowed like water.
“Perhaps Blaine forgot where he hid them, but… what I want to say is not about that. It’s that yesterday, Blaine suddenly barged into my villa with a group of people wanting to kill me.”
“What? Has Blaine lost his mind!”