Jasper reeled from another blow, this time completely stunned.
He stood there like a statue, gaping at Sariah in utter disbelief.
He’d thought she was coming to his aid, but instead, she was siding with Coleman! What kind of power did Kayden possess to have even Sariah jumping to his defense?
A whirlwind of questions spun through Jasper’s mind: Who am I? Where am I? What on earth is happening?
Coleman relaxed his fist and let out a deep sigh. Though he didn’t understand Sariah’s motives for backing Kayden, he was just relieved there was no conflict between them. If she had tried to force Kayden to kneel, Coleman wouldn’t have hesitated to throw her out, the Henderson family or not.
Taking a step forward, Coleman fixed Jasper with a menacing glare. “Jasper, on your knees. Now!”
Jasper trembled from head to toe. Faced with those intimidating eyes, he felt utterly helpless. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees.
At that moment, his pride was the least of his concerns.
The true blow to his ego was being humbled by a beauty like Sariah. The shame was almost unbearable.
A hush fell over the crowd as everyone stared at the kneeling Jasper. Beckett’s son on his knees – now that was something to talk about.
“Mr. Scott, is this satisfactory?” Coleman asked nervously.
Kayden waved his hand dismissively. “That’s enough. Thank you, Mr. Vincent.”
Coleman nodded and ordered, “Get Jasper and his group out of here!”
As Jasper was escorted away, the crowd began to disperse, their voices buzzing with excited chatter.
“What’s the story with that Adams family son-in-law? Why is Old Mr. Vincent showing him such respect?”
“It’s not about the guy’s background. Old Mr. Vincent just can’t stand bullies. That Jasper had it coming!”
“But why did Sariah help him? Could she be interested in him?”
Georgia placed a hand over her racing heart, feeling as though she’d narrowly escaped disaster. In stark contrast, Kayden maintained his cool demeanor, as if everything had unfolded according to plan.
“Ms. Faulkner, thank you,” Georgia said, stepping forward to express her gratitude.
But Sariah merely glanced at Georgia without replying. Instead, she approached Kayden once more. Her eyes locked onto him, scanning him from head to toe, filled with an indescribable emotion.
Then, she did something that shocked everyone present.
She extended one delicate hand towards Kayden and said, “Hello, I’m Sariah Faulkner. I find you quite intriguing. May I get to know you?”
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. What was going on? Sariah had actually taken the initiative to introduce herself to that man. Could it be that Sariah was truly interested in him? His entire outfit probably didn’t cost more than a few dollars, yet Sariah seemed drawn to him!
It wasn’t that he was unattractive – he was quite handsome. But his attire made him look completely out of place next to Sariah. She was like a goddess, and he was a mere mortal.
The scene was enough to make anyone’s blood boil with jealousy.
Kayden made no move to shake Sariah’s hand. Instead, Coleman’s granddaughter, Erika, stepped forward and grasped Sariah’s hand. “I’ll shake hands on Kayden’s behalf,” she said. “Nice to meet you.”
Inwardly, she seethed with resentment towards Sariah.
To be honest, Erika felt a bit intimidated standing before Sariah, who had indeed taken her breath away. It wasn’t that Erika herself wasn’t attractive – she carried herself with the air of nobility befitting Coleman’s granddaughter. But compared to Sariah’s cold beauty, hardened by battle, Erika paled in comparison.
From the moment Erika had witnessed Kayden’s prowess, she had idolized him. Now, seeing such a sexy woman approach him, she instinctively stepped in to shield her beloved Kayden.
“You?” Sariah looked at Erika quizzically.
Just as Erika was about to respond, Kayden cut in with a sharp question. “Wood, what’s wrong with you?”
Sariah’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Wood? Are you talking to me?”
“Kayden, her name isn’t Wood, it’s Sariah!” Erika interjected. “You could also call her Mrs. Henderson. I think that sounds much better.”
“No,” Kayden shook his head firmly. “She is Wood.”
Sariah’s frown deepened. “I’m sorry, sir, but my name is Sariah, not Wood.”
Kayden scrutinized Sariah intently, a hint of concern flickering in his eyes. Something was wrong with Wood. Could she have lost her memory, just as he had three years ago after that brutal battle?
After a moment’s hesitation, Kayden reached out and grasped Sariah’s hand. “I’m Kayden,” he said simply.
“Kayden!” Erika exclaimed, unable to hide her dismay.
Georgia, standing to the side, felt even more disappointed. She was Kayden’s wife, yet here she was, watching two other women vying for his attention! To make matters worse, both women far outranked her in social status.
One was Coleman’s granddaughter, the other Sariah – the Southwest’s reigning beauty and the jewel of the Henderson family in Inassea. Had Kayden ended up with either of these women, his life would have taken a dramatically different turn!
A wild thought struck Georgia. Was Kayden a charming playboy in public, but playing the fool at home? Or perhaps he’d been a notorious playboy before his memory loss?
Suddenly, a bold theory flashed through her mind. What if Kayden had scored that invitation thanks to Coleman’s granddaughter?
It made perfect sense. Their easy familiarity, the way Erika called him “Kayden” with such affection – it all fit. Even Coleman’s earlier defense of Kayden took on a new light. It must have been for Erika’s sake!
Georgia could hardly bear to watch anymore.
And now, to add insult to injury, Kayden was still holding onto Wood’s hand, refusing to let go. The nerve of him! It was absolutely infuriating!
In truth, Kayden’s actions weren’t what Georgia imagined. After grasping Wood’s hand, he began using his inner energy to probe her meridians and blood vessels.
The handshake dragged on, and Wood, growing uncomfortable, frowned and said uneasily, “Mr. Scott, could you please let go of my hand?”
The first time, Kayden didn’t hear her. The crowd around them grew impatient.
Murmurs rippled through the onlookers. “Has this guy lost his mind?”
“Obviously. He must’ve been in some fantasy earlier, and now that he’s got his hands on her, he’s sunk even deeper into dreamland.”
“How embarrassing! Why would Sariah be interested in someone like him? And his wife is such a beauty too. Not to mention that Vincent family’s granddaughter. Damn, it’s infuriating!”
Just then, Kayden finished his examination. His subtle probing hadn’t revealed any issues, only sensing some complexity in Wood’s energy flow.
He released Wood’s hand, who quickly pulled it back, eyeing Kayden with a mix of embarrassment and confusion.
Georgia let out a huff and marched straight towards Kayden. She deliberately bumped into him, snapping, “I’m going to the restroom!”
With that, she stormed off, expecting Kayden to offer some explanation. To her dismay, Kayden didn’t say a word!
Instead, he turned to Sariah and asked, “Ms. Faulkner, with so many people here, why did you single me out?”