“Scarlet, are you going with him too?”
Jakub’s face darkened as he watched Scarlet climb into the car.
Scarlet ignored him completely, sliding into the Lexus without hesitation.
She had disliked Jakub since childhood. He constantly bullied her mother, and she was certain he had a hand in driving Flynn out of their home.
Earlier, when Maria entered the house, her eyes were red, clearly from crying. Scarlet suspected Jakub was involved.
She couldn’t understand why Jakub’s family could act recklessly without consequence, while her simple refusal to marry Rolando had caused such an uproar.
Her grandfather was so unfair.
He had been partial to Jakub’s side since her father was a child. Even though her father had a disability, he was still his son!
Jakub’s expression grew colder when Scarlet refused to acknowledge him. He turned to Flynn and sneered:
“Kid, you’d better leave Pelens now. The Gray family isn’t someone you can afford to provoke!”
The rest of the Wong family joined in, their faces filled with disdain.
“A hillbilly like him? Plain as day, but good at sweet-talking Scarlet into following him around!”
“Is it just the man’s fault? If Scarlet wasn’t so naive, would she agree to be with someone like that?”
“Her taste is something else! Taking in a man who’s been cast aside by someone else like he’s some treasure. Eduardo has spoiled her too much!”
Even if Scarlet’s claims about Flynn knowing Orion Kennedy and other major figures in Niarak were true, the Wong family saw no reason to treat Flynn with respect.
As Pelens natives, they carried an innate sense of superiority. Just as Slatin people looked down on migrant workers, there was a hierarchy of disdain among the wealthy.
Pelens, as a historic capital spanning three dynasties and the current provincial hub of Shipmeda State, naturally looked down on a mere prefecture-level city like Niarak.
Even without Rolando in the picture, the Wong family would never allow Scarlet to marry Flynn.
In their eyes, Scarlet was too exceptional-her beauty and figure ranked among the top in Pelens.
Her future husband had to be someone from a wealthy, prominent family in a major city.
And Flynn? He was divorced.
If his ex-wife left him, there must be something wrong with him!
“Tomorrow, you’ll beg Flynn to stay with us!” Scarlet shot Jakub a fierce glare and grabbed Flynn’s arm, pulling him into the car.
“What did I just hear? Begging a nobody to stay in the family?”
“Goodness, does Scarlet really think this bumpkin can stand up to Mr. Gray?”
“Not just Mr. Gray! Felix Langford, Jiri Langley, and even the eldest princess of the Sheppard family will be there tomorrow. When they stand together, even Lysander King has to show them respect!”
To the Wong family, Flynn must have filled Scarlet’s head with wild stories, convincing her he was somehow better than Rolando.
But Flynn? He was probably already terrified. Why else would he remain silent?
They snickered to themselves, waiting for Flynn to bolt. They were certain he’d flee back to Niarak by nightfall.
Flynn, however, had no interest in their opinions.
The real issue lay with the Gray family. Since they had invited him to talk, he was willing to talk.
But his woman? No one was going to take her from him.
The Gray family? They weren’t even qualified to shine his shoes-how dare they try to take what was his?
“Jakub, let’s try to reason with them,” Eduardo said, stepping into his car with a flushed face.
He didn’t believe Flynn could take his daughter away. After all, the Gray family’s influence in Niarak was overwhelming.
Flynn, as someone from Niarak, could at most reach the Gray family’s knees. And tomorrow, Rolando’s friends from the Langford, Sheppard, and Solis families would all be present to support him.
Jakub snorted coldly. “You’d better talk some sense into them, or you’ll see what Mr. Gray is capable of!”
“This is Pelens, not Niarak!”
His words were directed at both Eduardo and Flynn.
Maria shot Jakub a sideways glance before stepping into the car. Exhausted, she said, “Let’s just go to the hotel. It’ll be easier.”
The drive was silent.
The Lexus turned a couple of corners before Maria spoke.
“Hand me your IDs. I’ll book two rooms,” she said, reaching out.
Flynn hesitated briefly before replying, “There’s no need to waste money. One room is fine.”
What?
Now it was Maria and Eduardo’s turn to be stunned. They both looked at Scarlet.
“You two are already…”
“Yes.” Scarlet’s face flushed as she lowered her head and handed over her ID.
“Oh, kids these days…” Maria sighed heavily, taking the IDs to the front desk.
Despite her repeated warnings against cohabitation, it seemed they had ignored her.
Once the room was booked, the four of them headed upstairs.
“Do you smoke?” Eduardo offered a cigarette to Flynn.
“I don’t smoke,” Flynn declined.
Eduardo raised an eyebrow slightly, then turned to Maria. “How about we have dinner at the hotel? I’ll order takeout.”
Maria nodded.
Eduardo turned back to Flynn. “Do you drink? I could order a few bottles.”
“I don’t drink much when there’s nothing to celebrate, but if you’d like to, I’ll join you,” Flynn said with a smile.
Eduardo nodded, feeling more at ease.
His earlier questions hadn’t been mere politeness-they had been tests.
A man who didn’t smoke or drink excessively was generally more reliable and resistant to temptation.
Scarlet tossed her bag onto the table and slumped onto the couch with a long sigh.
“Mom, what’s going on? Didn’t you tell Grandpa that Flynn is better than Rolando?”
Maria pursed her lips, irritated. “How could I say something like that? If your grandfather caught me lying, he’d flip the table!”
Scarlet froze, finally understanding why the Wong family looked down on Flynn.
“But Flynn really does know the Spencer family. Rocco Spencer even went to Niarak personally to see him.”
“The King of Poison-you’ve heard of him, right? Flynn was the one who helped Rocco Spencer take him down.”
“Rocco Spencer even asked Flynn for a pill to treat his wife’s scars. Flynn refused, and Rocco didn’t even dare get angry.”
“The King of Poison?” Maria frowned, her expression darkening. “Wasn’t that Cruz Brooks, the God of War, who killed him?”
“And Rocco Spencer’s wife was in a car accident. The wound cut to the bone, leaving a huge scar after healing.”
“She sought out countless renowned doctors and used medicine for years, but it didn’t improve. And you’re telling me one of Flynn’s pills could cure it?”
“Scarlet, stop making excuses. I know you like Flynn, but he has to leave Pelens tomorrow, or his life will be at risk.”
Rolando and his crew weren’t ordinary people. With their family’s power and influence in Pelens’ elite circles, they could easily cover up breaking Flynn’s legs if they wanted to.
The only solution was for Flynn to leave. Scarlet could then negotiate with Rolando.
If the Wong family and Gray family insisted on the marriage, Maria would have no choice but to help her daughter and Flynn escape Shipmeda State altogether.
Maria did want her daughter to marry a capable man, but she couldn’t stand Rolando.
He was too sinister and had a twisted personality. That was why Maria initially favored Clayton Robinson.
But Flynn had swooped in and taken that spot.
“Leave Pelens? Mom, do you really want me to marry-” Scarlet began, her voice tight with frustration.
But Flynn raised his hand, cutting her off. Smiling, he turned to Eduardo.
“Sir, when you were young, you suffered a severe injury-bone fractures and a torn Achilles tendon on your right leg, which has been weak ever since. Am I correct?”
“Well, since this is our first meeting, I planned to bring a gift, but Scarlet insisted on paying for everything herself.
“So, here’s what I’ll do. Consider this my gift. Lie down, and I’ll heal your leg.”