Old Mrs. Adams was thoroughly impressed with Georgia, even declaring her intention to invite Georgia’s family to dinner next week.
After seeing Old Mrs. Adams off, Georgia retreated to her office. Kayden, instead of leaving, followed her.
“What are you doing here?” Georgia asked tersely as she sat down, giving him a sidelong glance.
Although Kayden had solved a major problem for her, Georgia wasn’t ready to forgive him just yet.
“Waiting for you to finish work,” Kayden replied. “Then we can grab dinner together.”
“No need. Go have dinner with your precious Sariah,” Georgia snapped, her temper flaring. Despite her words, Kayden’s recent actions had somewhat softened her attitude.
Noticing Kayden’s pensive expression, Georgia added, “Don’t think that just because you helped me out, I’m going to forgive you.”
Kayden sighed. “What will it take for you to forgive me?”
Georgia huffed, “I haven’t decided to forgive you yet.”
“But I really didn’t do anything last night!” Kayden insisted, maintaining his earnest demeanor.
Georgia fixed him with a steady gaze. “So what can you do?”
“You believe me?” Kayden asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Georgia remained silent, neither confirming nor denying.
That was Kayden – always full of surprises, capable of shocking you one moment and delighting you the next.
Amid her mixed emotions, Georgia considered giving Kayden another chance.
Despite his questionable actions, she understood his reasons. For three years, he had endured immense suffering, avoiding all contact with women and sleeping on the floor.
Even when they shared a room, they never became physically intimate.
Seeing a woman like Sariah – who had stunned even Georgia with her beauty – it was somewhat understandable that Kayden, as a man, might be affected. Georgia found herself tentatively believing that Kayden truly hadn’t done anything with Sariah.
After work, they went to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
They ordered a few dishes and sat across from each other in silence, neither knowing quite what to say.
After a while, Kayden suggested, “How about I take you shopping for a new outfit later?”
Georgia scoffed, “No thanks. You think a new outfit is enough to make me forgive you?”
“Then what do you want?” Kayden asked sincerely.
“Nothing,” Georgia snorted.
In truth, by agreeing to have dinner with Kayden, Georgia had already begun to forgive him in her heart.
The following evening, at the Beckett family mansion.
Beckett stood before the ancestral tablets, his bloodshot eyes wide with anger. He hadn’t slept in two days, not since receiving Fletcher’s call. His mind had been in turmoil ever since.
He had rushed back home, abandoning his other affairs. If he didn’t resolve this situation, he feared it would be the end of him.
It was all because of his good-for-nothing son. It was bad enough that Jasper was always causing trouble, but at least those issues could be resolved. This time, however, he had offended someone far beyond their league – someone even Fletcher feared!
It was like digging their own graves, and Jasper had dug Beckett’s too!
Beckett had witnessed firsthand Fletcher’s deferential attitude towards that person. Such reverence, such unwavering respect!
How could someone like Beckett even dream of crossing such a figure?
At this thought, he closed his eyes and said remorsefully, “My ancestors, I have failed you.”
He took a deep breath.
Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out, “Beckett, what do you think of this dress?”
A voluptuous woman walked towards Beckett, admiring her outfit with evident self-satisfaction. She was strikingly beautiful, in her early thirties, embodying all the alluring qualities of a mature woman.
Most notably, she wore a white lace dress with a hint of red underneath. The combination of her attire and demeanor was enough to make anyone’s head turn.
Beckett looked back as the woman approached, twirling before him.
In the past, he would have swept her into his arms and headed straight for the bedroom. But now, he felt only rage.
“Get out!” Beckett roared.
The woman flinched, staring at him in bewilderment.
“What’s wrong with you? Why are you suddenly acting crazy?” she asked, unconsciously adjusting her dress with an air of indignation.
Beckett snorted, “It’s all because of that son of yours and the trouble he’s caused me!”
Just then, the door creaked open, and a young man walked in. His face was slightly bruised. Upon seeing Beckett, he immediately burst into tears, “Dad! You have to help me! That guy, he beat me up!”
Beckett’s eyes locked onto Jasper, filled with the kind of hatred reserved for mortal enemies.
“You ungrateful brat, get on your knees!”
Beckett bellowed, his fury reaching its peak.
Jasper froze, touching his bruised face in confusion. “Dad, why? I’m the victim here. I got beaten up!”
“Kneel!” Beckett’s voice thundered, shaking the very walls of the room.
“Beckett, what’s gotten into you? Are you ill? You come home from a business trip and start yelling at me, now you’re shouting at your son. What’s wrong with you?” The woman grabbed Beckett’s arm, her face twisted with displeasure.
“Get out!” Beckett violently shook her off, sending her sprawling to the floor. As she was about to unleash a tirade, Beckett pointed at her menacingly. “Shut your mouth! This worthless son nearly got me killed, got you killed, destroyed our entire family!”
Hearing Beckett speak with such venom and witnessing his unprecedented rage, both the woman and Jasper were stunned into silence.
“You disgraceful brat! Kneel down, now!” Beckett glared at Jasper once more.
Jasper stubbornly replied, “Dad, why? I could understand if someone else made me kneel, but you? Are you really that afraid of Coleman?”
“Afraid of Coleman?” Beckett’s face contorted in confusion.
Jasper continued. “Isn’t that why you’re upset? That guy I made a bet with forced me to kneel using Coleman’s name. Coleman must have told you something, right?”
“Are you completely brainless?” Beckett was so furious he could feel his hair standing on end.
Smoke practically billowed from his nostrils as he spat, “You think that man relies on Coleman? Do you also believe I partnered with the Adams family just because his wife is pretty?”
“Fool! Absolute idiot! Do you have any idea who that man is? Forget about you – even I can’t afford to offend him. Even Fletcher, the head of the most powerful family in the Southwest, wouldn’t dare cross him!”
“Thud!” At these words, Jasper’s knees gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.