“Thank you all for attending the engagement party of my Hunter family,” Jordan Hunter declared with a proud smile. “I hereby announce that my grandson, Sean Hunter, and Miss Lindsay Wind are officially engaged!”
The announcement sent a ripple through the crowd. Lindsay’s face darkened noticeably.
Although everyone had been aware that Sean Hunter was set to marry Lindsay, hearing the confirmation from Jordan Hunter himself still sparked a wave of surprise.
After all, Lindsay wasn’t just the eldest daughter of the Wind family-she was also hailed as the most beautiful woman in Amerosia.
Sean Hunter, on the other hand, was the Hunter family’s young master but far from being a figure of admiration. He was known as a notorious playboy, infamous for his countless scandals involving women in Riverton.
If not for the protection of the Hunter family, Sean Hunter would have been thrown in prison long ago.
The idea of such a man marrying Lindsay left many feeling pity for her. Yet, no one dared to voice their objections-this was the Hunter family’s domain. Speaking out here would be tantamount to courting death.
Jordan Hunter turned to Frances Wind with a smile. “Since your father couldn’t attend today, and you are the acting head of the Wind family, you can represent your family in this union with ours.”
Frances Wind, beaming with satisfaction, replied, “Mr. Hunter, it’s an honor for our Wind family to form a union with yours. On behalf of the Wind family, I formally announce the engagement of Lindsay and Sean Hunter-”
“Shut your filthy mouth!”
Before Frances could finish, a voice rang out, cutting through the ceremony like a knife. Chris stepped forward, his expression defiant.
“Frances Wind,” Chris began, his voice steady yet sharp, “what gives you the right to speak for Lindsay? If you want her to marry Sean Hunter, shouldn’t you at least ask her opinion first?”
Frances Wind’s face flushed red with anger. “Chris, you-”
The interruption had caught Frances completely off guard. Having Chris challenge him in front of everyone was a blatant slap in the face.
Seething, Frances roared, “Chris, this has nothing to do with you! You’re not part of the Wind family. You have no right to speak here. Get out at once!”
Lindsay, however, stepped forward, her voice calm but resolute. “Chris is my friend. What he says represents my thoughts.”
“Lindsay, are you out of your mind?!”
Frances Wind exploded in fury. This was, after all, the Hunter family’s engagement party. Lindsay’s words were nothing short of a direct provocation.
The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Chris.
Speculation ran wild-who was this man? He seemed unfamiliar to everyone. Perhaps he was an outsider? But for an outsider to show up at Riverton and openly challenge the Hunter family, he must have a death wish.
Chris met Frances Wind’s glare with a look of disdain. “Frances Wind, you’re just Lindsay’s uncle, not her father. What right do you have to make decisions on her behalf? If you’re so eager for this union, why don’t you marry your own daughter, Emily, to Sean Hunter?”
“You-you-you-”
Frances stammered, pointing at Chris, unable to form a coherent response.
He knew exactly what kind of person Sean Hunter was. Marrying his daughter to Sean would ruin her life. As a father, how could he possibly push his own child into such a pit of fire?
Chris smirked coldly. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue? You wouldn’t dare marry off your own daughter, yet you’re perfectly fine with sacrificing Lindsay. What’s your real motive?”
Unable to argue, Frances turned to Jordan Hunter, his face blazing with indignation. “Mr. Hunter, this Chris is intentionally causing trouble at your engagement party. Please, have him thrown out!”
Jordan Hunter’s expression darkened.
What had started as a perfectly orchestrated engagement party was now in shambles, thanks to Chris.
The marriage between Sean Hunter and Lindsay Wind was a critical move in Jordan Hunter’s grand plan. The Wind family had no male heirs in the third generation, only Lindsay and her cousin Emily. Marrying Lindsay into the Hunter family would allow them to infiltrate and, eventually, take over the Wind family.
Once the Wind family was absorbed, the Hunter family’s power would surge to unprecedented heights. With the Wind family under their control, no rival in Riverton would be able to compete with them.
Jordan’s plan had been on the verge of success-until Chris appeared.
Enraged, Jordan shouted, “Where did this stray dog come from, daring to disrupt my Hunter family’s engagement party? Guards! Get this mutt out of here!”
At his command, a group of Hunter family guards surged forward, surrounding Chris.
But Chris remained calm, his face betraying no fear. He turned to Lindsay and asked, “Lindsay, tell everyone here-do you want to marry Sean Hunter?”
Lindsay hesitated, her fists clenched. Then, with a determined voice, she declared, “I don’t!”
Her words landed like a thunderclap, sending shockwaves through the room.
The Hunter family was humiliated.
It was supposed to be a day of celebration, with all the most prominent figures in Riverton gathered to witness the union. First, Chris had disrupted the event, and now Lindsay had publicly refused the marriage. It was as if the Hunter family’s dignity was being trampled in front of everyone.
Jordan Hunter turned to Frances Wind, his eyes blazing with fury. “Frances Wind, is this the stance of the Wind family? If this is how your family intends to behave, don’t blame us for turning against you!”
Frances broke out in a cold sweat. “Mr. Hunter, please don’t be angry. I’ll handle this immediately.”
Frances hurried over to Lindsay, his face a mask of desperation. “Lindsay, have you lost your mind? How could you say something like that? Marrying Sean Hunter is a decision made by the family. You have no right to oppose it!”
Lindsay’s expression remained firm. “I’ve told you before-I don’t like Sean Hunter. I will not marry him.”
“You-you-you-”
Frances was so furious that he couldn’t even speak.
He turned his rage toward Chris, shouting, “This is all your fault! If it weren’t for your interference, Lindsay would never have dared to defy the family’s decision!”
To Frances, Chris was the root of all the chaos.
Since Chris had entered their lives, the Wind family had known nothing but trouble. First, he had beaten his daughter Emily, and now he was instigating Lindsay to reject the marriage.
What was Chris’s goal? Did he intend to destroy the Wind family?
After all, the Hunter family was one of the four great salt merchant families, the most powerful of them all. Offending them would bring disaster upon the Wind family.
Chris met Frances’s glare with a calm, steely gaze. “I’m Lindsay’s friend. I won’t let her walk into a trap.”