Alexie pretended not to notice the awkward atmosphere in the room and continued his introductions with a bright, unbothered tone.
“Scarlet, you’ve either been studying abroad or staying in Niarak these past few years, so you might not be familiar with these people. Let me introduce them to you.”
He gestured toward a man with long hair.
“This is Felix Langford. The Langford family’s ancestor was the former mayor of Pelens. Felix’s father is the head of the Pelens Bureau of Commerce and holds a deputy mayoral position. His mother is a director at Emberglow Enterprises.”
“The Langford family and the Gray family have been close allies for generations. Mr. Langford and Mr. Gray are among the four most prominent heirs in Pelens.”
Scarlet froze in surprise.
So this long-haired man was the eldest son of the Langford family. She had met him a few times two years ago, but back then, his hair was cropped short, and his face wasn’t as strikingly handsome as it was now. There had been rumors that Felix Langford was obsessed with his looks-perhaps he’d undergone cosmetic surgery.
Flynn, standing beside Scarlet, furrowed his brows slightly.
The Wong family wasn’t part of the elite circles, so Scarlet probably hadn’t interacted much with their inner ranks. However, she definitely knew Felix’s background. Alexie’s detailed introduction was clearly a deliberate way to flaunt his connections and superiority to Flynn.
“What’s this about the ‘Pelens Four’? It’s just a title people made up to flatter them,” Felix Langford said coldly, his gaze fixed on Flynn.
However, the wealthy heirs present didn’t share Felix’s humility.
The so-called “Pelens Four” were all born into powerful political families, a pedigree far above that of heirs from mere commercial families.
Alexie smirked and raised his right hand again, this time gesturing toward a stunning woman with fair skin and striking red lips, exuding a subtle allure.
“Sister, this is Miss Peyton Sheppard, the sole heiress of the Sheppard family and the daughter of Bobby Sheppard, president of the Dragon Creek Society!”
Peyton gave a small nod, her expression calm and distant, radiating an air of aloof pride.
She had only come to observe the scene, her demeanor detached and uninvolved.
However, the younger generation of the Wong family couldn’t hide their shock upon hearing her name.
The Sheppard family might not have much influence in politics, but in Pelens’ business sphere, they were unrivaled.
With assets exceeding $20 billion, the Sheppard family’s dominance was unquestionable.
It was rare for them to meet this “queen of commerce” in person.
Peyton had been raised by her father, Mr. Sheppard, from a young age, developing a sharp business acumen. At just eighteen, she had successfully made her first investment, earning over $10 million. Now, at twenty-six, she was already the CEO of three companies, each valued at over $1 billion.
Together with Lilia Hussain, Peyton was one of the two most formidable businesswomen in Shipmeda State.
“Peyton,” Scarlet greeted warmly, recognizing her from a few interactions between their fathers. She stepped forward to pay her respects.
Peyton nodded slightly again, casting a subtle glance toward Flynn.
Scarlet’s boyfriend? He seemed rather… ordinary.
Alexie didn’t stop there. He pointed toward the muscular man standing next to Peyton.
“And this,” Alexie announced with exaggerated enthusiasm, “is Jiri Langley, a war hero from the Shipmeda State military district and a Semi-Grandmaster!”
Jiri was dressed in a crisp white shirt tucked into olive-green military pants, with polished black boots completing the look. His muscular frame was nearly twice the size of Peyton’s, and he sat like an immovable mountain. His presence exuded a chilling aura of violence, a clear indication of his battlefield experience. At the moment, he was calmly chewing on a fish head, not even bothering to look up.
Alexie had deliberately raised his voice when mentioning Jiri’s titles, clearly intending to intimidate Flynn. The message was simple: watch what you say-this isn’t someone you want to cross.
When Jiri didn’t respond, Alexie let out a slightly awkward laugh, then turned his attention to the man seated at the head of the table.
“Sister,” Alexie said to Scarlet, “this is Rolando Gray, Mr. Gray. I shouldn’t need to introduce him, right?”
“Mr. Gray has admired you for a long time. He confessed his feelings to you three years ago.”
Alexie’s tone turned slightly more serious.
“And let me add this-Mr. Gray has made significant progress in the last two years. He’s now part of the Gray family’s executive leadership.”
“Peter Gray has already said that within the next decade, Mr. Gray will gradually take over all of the family’s businesses.”
The implication was obvious.
Scarlet, if you agreed to be with Mr. Gray, you would become the future matriarch of the Gray family, managing its vast empire alongside him. Your future would be limitless, living under the admiring gaze of all.
As expected, Alexie’s words caused a stir in the room.
“Ten years? By then, Mr. Gray will only be thirty-eight! If he takes over the Gray family’s billion-dollar empire, he’ll be the youngest business magnate in Shipmeda State and beyond!”
“Mr. Gray is already incredibly capable. He’s nothing like those other rich heirs who rely on their families. Even Lysander King once said that in ten years, Mr. Gray could become the next him!”
“That’s right. Lysander King rarely praises anyone, let alone a young successor!”
“Exactly! He’s mentioned Mr. Gray several times. His potential is unmatched. He might even surpass Lysander King one day!”
The wealthy heirs and socialites in the room heaped praise upon Rolando, convinced that the day Lysander King retired would mark Rolando’s rise as the new king of the business world.
Even the younger members of the Wong family were in awe.
They hadn’t expected Peter Gray to relinquish power so soon.
But didn’t that only prove Rolando’s exceptional abilities?
If Scarlet married into the Gray family, the Wong family’s status would skyrocket.
With influence in both politics and business, they could potentially join Pelens’ most elite families.
The younger Wong family members glared at Flynn with even more resentment.
If it weren’t for this man, the Wong family wouldn’t be in such an embarrassing position.
Rolando, dressed in a tailored suit, exuded an air of authority. His clean-shaven face and composed demeanor made him seem like he already controlled the room. Despite being under thirty, he carried the aura of someone accustomed to power.
With a faint smile, Rolando said, “You flatter me. Lysander King has many connections in the cultivation world, something we outsiders can’t compare to. Please don’t overpraise me like this.”
Though his words were humble, a trace of pride flickered in his eyes.
In Pelens, or even Shipmeda State, the person Rolando admired most was Lysander King Zion Watson.
He aspired to become just like Zion Watson.
He had already resolved that once he achieved significant success in business, he would shift his focus to the cultivation world.
After all, in that realm, the more connections one had, the more power one wielded.
But that was for the future. His current priority was marrying Scarlet and excelling in business.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Rolando’s gaze landed on Scarlet, his expression tinged with anticipation and amusement.
This was the woman he had dreamed about for two years.
Now, she was of marriageable age and even more beautiful than before.
Her figure had grown more voluptuous, her skin more radiant.
Was it the water in Niarak that made her so alluring?
Scarlet glanced at Rolando, and when their eyes met, she instinctively moved closer to Flynn.
This subtle movement didn’t escape Rolando’s notice. His smile froze, and his face darkened as he took a sip of red wine, his eyes flashing with cold fury.
The crowd noticed Scarlet’s reaction and whispered among themselves.
“Three of the four famous heirs of Pelens are here, and even the Sheppard heiress showed up. There’s bound to be some drama today!”
Their schadenfreude-filled gazes all turned toward Flynn.