Sai Hunter walked over, smiling at Lindsay. “It’s been a while. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
After speaking, Sai turned his gaze to the woman beside Lindsay-Esther-and asked with a smile, “And who might this beautiful lady be? Would you mind introducing us?”
Lindsay had no intention of engaging with Sai Hunter at first. However, as the eldest son of the Hunter family, she couldn’t afford to completely ignore him. Keeping her expression cold, she replied, “She’s my friend, the president of Chester Group, Esther.”
Sai Hunter’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re the president of Chester Group? Miss Jefferson, are you here in Riverton to explore business opportunities?”
Having heard of Chester Group before, Sai Hunter was well aware that it was the top corporation in Amerosia. What he didn’t expect was that its president would be such a beautiful woman. The idea of marrying Esther suddenly surfaced in his mind. Such a union would be a tremendous asset to the Hunter family.
With that thought, Sai Hunter’s interest in Esther grew even stronger. Esther, maintaining her politeness, responded coolly, “Yes, Mr. Hunter.”
As Sai Hunter attempted to flirt further with Esther, Chris entered the venue with Ray. Shortly after arriving, Ray was pulled aside by a few friends, leaving Chris alone to sip his wine in boredom. His wandering gaze soon landed on Lindsay-and the woman standing beside her.
Esther?
Chris blinked, thinking he must be mistaken. He took a closer look. No, it was unmistakably her-his wife, Esther.
“What’s she doing here in Riverton?” Chris’s mind raced with questions. Was she here to look for him?
Meanwhile, Sai Hunter’s attempts to charm Esther were interrupted by the arrival of Sean Hunter, who had also joined the gathering.
“Brother!” Sean called out, only to stop in his tracks when he saw Esther. His face twisted in shock. “It’s you?”
Sai Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Do you know her?”
Sean’s expression darkened as he sneered, “Brother, this is Chris’s wife-Esther!”
“What? She’s Chris’s wife?” Sai Hunter was stunned. He hadn’t anticipated that Esther, of all people, would be tied to Chris.
Sean turned his hostile gaze to Esther. “We meet again, don’t we?”
Esther frowned slightly. She vaguely remembered Sean Hunter. Their last encounter had been on the East Coast, where Sean and Dylan Piper had clashed with Chris during a meal. That incident had ended with Chris violently teaching Sean a lesson. She never expected to run into him again here.
In a cold voice, Esther asked, “Is there something you want?”
Sean Hunter smirked cruelly. “Your husband crashed my engagement banquet and stole my fiancee. Tonight, I’m here to settle the score!”
“Engagement banquet?” Esther’s confusion deepened. Before she could react, Sean suddenly made his move.
Lindsay’s outrage erupted. “Sean Hunter, what do you think you’re doing? Esther is my friend. If you lay a hand on her, you’re disrespecting me!”
Sean turned his anger toward Lindsay. “You wretched woman! Because of you, I became the laughingstock of all Riverton. How dare you talk back to me tonight? I swear I’ll destroy both of you!”
At his command, two bodyguards stepped forward and grabbed Lindsay and Esther.
“What are you doing? Let us go!” Both women shouted in protest.
Sai Hunter, watching from the sidelines, smirked but didn’t intervene. While he had been interested in Esther initially, learning she was Chris’s wife had shifted his thoughts. If Sean wanted to cause trouble, Sai saw no reason to stop him. After all, Lindsay’s rejection of his marriage proposal had already humiliated the Hunter family. Teaching her a lesson seemed fitting.
The other attendees observed the scene unfold but refrained from stepping in. Neither the Hunter family nor the Wind family were forces they dared to cross. It was safer to stay out of it entirely.
Chris, however, had been watching everything from a distance. His face darkened with fury as he saw Sean Hunter harassing Esther and Lindsay.
In a blur, Chris charged forward.
Bang! Bang!
Two swift punches sent the bodyguards flying, freeing Esther and Lindsay in an instant.
“Darling!” Esther cried out with joy at the sight of Chris.
Chris spared her a glance before turning his piercing gaze on Sean Hunter. His expression was icy as he growled, “Sean Hunter, are you trying to get yourself killed? Don’t think that being a member of the Hunter family means I’ll let you off. Lay a hand on my wife, and you’re dead!”
Sean Hunter tried to put up a brave front. “Chris, this is Riverton. If you dare touch a single hair on my head, you’re the one who’s dead!”
Before Sean could finish his threat, Chris grabbed him by the throat with one hand and lifted him off the ground.
Sean’s face contorted in panic as he shouted, “Chris, what are you doing? I’m the son of the Hunter family! Are you insane? Do you have a death wish?”
Chris sneered coldly. “The Hunter family? I’ve never cared about the Hunter family!”
With that, Chris flung Sean across the room.
Crash!
Sean’s body slammed into the wall with a thunderous impact. Blood spewed from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground.
The room fell into stunned silence. No one had expected Chris to actually lay hands on Sean Hunter. To attack the Hunter family’s son-it was nothing short of madness.
Chris ignored the shocked stares of the crowd. His eyes burned with rage as he strode toward Sean, step by step. Sean had dared to threaten his wife-this was unforgivable.
Terrified, Sean scrambled backward. “Chris, stay away! If you kill me, the Hunter family won’t let you go!”
Chris smirked at the empty threat, his gaze filled with disdain.
Just as Chris was about to strike again, someone stepped in his way. It was none other than Sai Hunter, the eldest son of the Hunter family.
Sai’s expression was grim as he glared at Chris. “Chris, Sean is my brother. What do you think you’re doing?”
Chris’s public assault on Sean was a blatant challenge to Sai’s authority, and Sai’s anger was palpable.
Chris met Sai’s glare, his eyes narrowing slightly. He could tell Sai was strong, exuding a powerful aura. But so what?