Billy’s heart pounded violently upon hearing those words. He widened his eyes and said, “Master, you know the young master’s temper. If he finds out you’re manipulating his personal affairs, he might turn against the Scott family.”
“Rather than letting him suffer immensely over this matter in the future, we should protect this girl now,” the elder replied calmly. “I doubt he’d want to see this girl used as a weapon against him. And he certainly wouldn’t want her dragged into this mess.”
“You mean well, but… will the young master understand?”
“He’ll understand. Don’t underestimate him.”
Hearing this, Billy nodded slightly, and they began discussing their plan.
—
It was the weekend-a day off.
Even as the head of Adams Group, Georgia still enjoyed the right to take a break. Taking advantage of her free day, she arranged to meet a few friends for a meal.
One of the friends who invited Georgia out was Cyan Mella, the same girl she went shopping with last time-a dormmate of hers. On that outing, they even ran into the fortune-teller, Maverick Quinn.
They had chosen a high-class, elegant restaurant for their gathering. Georgia wore her favorite black chiffon dress and applied simple makeup. Yet, the simpler her look, the more striking she appeared.
Cyan Mella, on the other hand, donned a luxurious white gown. Though her beauty and presence slightly paled in comparison to Georgia’s, her aura was still far from ordinary.
Two stunning women sitting together were a sight to behold. Unsurprisingly, the two attracted quite a few lecherous glances from nearby patrons, with some whispering about how lucky they’d be to win over even one of them.
“Order whatever you like. It’s my treat,” Georgia said generously, sliding the menu toward Cyan Mella. After all, she was now the head of a multimillion-dollar company.
But Cyan Mella pushed the menu back and refused. “How could I let you pay? Besides, we’re still waiting for someone else to arrive.”
“Who?” Georgia asked. “Is it Regina?”
Cyan Mella chuckled mischievously. “No, it’s someone you know. He’s here.”
As Cyan finished speaking, a man in a tailored suit entered the restaurant holding a large bouquet of fresh flowers. It was none other than Luther Falcon, the son of Hugh Falcon-Georgia’s grandmother’s relative.
With a warm smile, Luther approached their table. He greeted Georgia politely, “Cousin Georgia, it’s been a while. You’re even more beautiful than I remember.”
After speaking, he handed the bouquet to Georgia.
Georgia frowned instinctively. She glanced at Cyan Mella and asked, “What… is this?”
Cyan Mella, ever forthright, laughed and said, “Georgia, don’t you get it? I didn’t invite you out-Luther did!”
Luther, unwilling to give up after being rejected previously, had stayed in Hiphia to observe Georgia. Her demeanor that day had left a deep impression on him.
He was truly infatuated with her. Her elegance and charm captivated him, and in his eyes, only someone of his own stature and talent was worthy of her.
Knowing Cyan Mella, he used her as a bridge to invite Georgia out. Luther had even meticulously planned an “accident” to change Georgia’s perception of him. He was determined to show her a different side of himself today.
“Cyan, how could you do this?” Georgia pouted, clearly displeased.
“Oh, come on!” Cyan said breezily. “It’s just a meal-what’s the big deal? If you have nothing to hide, then there’s no harm in it. Let’s eat!”
Cyan nudged Georgia with a meaningful look. Left with no choice, Georgia reluctantly accepted the situation.
She didn’t have a good impression of Luther. But as Cyan pointed out, as long as her conscience was clear, there was nothing to worry about. With that thought, she decided to let it go and focus on the meal.
The group ordered their favorite dishes and began eating. The conversation flowed mostly between Cyan and Luther, with Georgia responding only occasionally with brief “oh” or “mm-hmm.” She barely engaged with Luther’s attempts to draw her into the discussion.
As they chatted, the topic shifted naturally to marriage.
Cyan remarked, “I think I have a fear of marriage. Whenever I hear stories about what happens after people get married, I feel terrified!”
“Georgia,” Cyan continued, “do you think marriage really means being left lonely every night, with your husband ignoring you completely?”
Georgia shook her head. “No, it doesn’t.”
“How can you be so sure?” Cyan pressed. “I have a friend whose husband travels frequently for work. She ends up alone all the time. Eventually, she couldn’t resist the temptation of her neighbor-a fitness coach-and got involved with him. Now, when her husband is home, they live normally, but the moment he’s away, she acts like someone else’s girlfriend. It’s outrageous!”
She turned to Georgia. “By the way, your husband hasn’t been back to Hiphia for a long time. With someone as stunning as you, there must be plenty of men out there eyeing you. Haven’t you ever thought about-”
“Cyan!” Georgia interrupted sharply. “How can you say such things? If you keep talking like this, I’ll get angry. I know what you’re trying to do, but let me make this clear: I love my husband, and he loves me. Don’t push this.”
Luther’s expression stiffened, as if he’d just been stabbed in the heart. Forcing a smile, he said, “It’s fine. I just wanted to invite you to dinner before I leave tomorrow. Knowing that you and your husband are happy is enough for me. I’d never try to come between you.”
But inwardly, his thoughts were far from noble. Just wait. By the end of the night, you’ll be completely mine.
As Luther entertained these thoughts, the restaurant doors suddenly burst open. A group of rowdy thugs, reeking of alcohol, stumbled inside.
The leader of the group, his face flushed from drinking, swaggered forward. A waiter hurried over, trying to intervene. “Can I help you?”
“Get lost!” the thug roared, slapping the waiter so hard he fell to the ground.
The violent display sent a wave of fear through the restaurant. Many diners stood up and quickly left.