Sarah, “…”
If she clashed with Linda on her first day, it would certainly displease the family elders.
If Sarah guessed correctly, Linda was trying to provoke her on purpose, probably to cause a scene in front of Old Mr. Smith.
At that moment, Sarah noticed a tall, elegant figure out of the corner of her eye.
—Fine!
Since Linda called her an angelic bitch, she might as well play the part right in front of her.
Sarah touched her forehead lightly, “Miss Linda, I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”
Linda sneered, “You think playing the victim will work on me? It won’t.”
Sarah held her forehead, looking pitiful and fragile, with a delicate beauty. She walked towards Holden, swaying weakly a few times, and suddenly stumbled into Holden’s arms.
Her eyes reddened instantly, “I’m sorry, Holden. I talked to Linda for a bit and suddenly got a headache.”
Linda was stunned. She had called Sarah an angelic bitch in anger, trying to provoke her and draw the Smith family elders’ attention.
—She hadn’t expected that Sarah really was an angelic bitch!
Holden wrapped an arm around Sarah’s shoulder, his handsome face showing just the right amount of doting affection. “So delicate. Let’s go back to our room and rest.”
Linda opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. She felt she had done nothing wrong but was forced to endure this public display of affection.
She looked at Holden with a mix of resentment and confusion.
She had known Holden for many years and had liked him since she could remember. Yet, never once had she seen Holden treat her with such warmth. Whenever she talked to him, he was always cold and indifferent.
Linda couldn’t help but block Holden and Sarah’s way.
Holden’s attitude towards her turned icy instantly. “Move aside.”
Once they were back in the room, they immediately separated.
Holden mocked, “My dear wife, you’re really clever, aren’t you?”
“Thank you, ” Sarah pretended not to catch his sarcasm. “Born that way.”
Holden almost laughed out of frustration.
Sarah was never one to take things lying down. She had to lower her head when under someone else’s roof, especially when it came to Mr. Holden, who gave her money. She reluctantly bowed her head a little.
But for someone like Linda, whom she didn’t even know, she had no intention of putting up with her.
Was there anything that would piss off Linda more than flirting with Holden right in front of her?
Absolutely not.
At dinner, Holden’s two younger uncles joined them.
His second uncle, Samuel Smith, looked slick and cunning, while his third uncle, Reuben Smith, wore glasses and seemed more scholarly.
These two were younger than Holden. Old Mr. Smith had them in his later years and doted on them greatly.
Nicola adored her two sons even more, viewing Holden as a thorn in her side, wishing he would disappear so her precious sons could inherit everything from the Smith family.
Unfortunately for her, due to Holden’s father’s situation, Old Mr. Smith felt guilty towards Holden. Over the years, Holden never lacked material things from the Smith family.
Old Mr. Smith wasn’t particularly fond of Sarah. In his eyes, Sarah’s humble background was unworthy of Holden.
In other matters, Old Mr. Smith dared to push Holden, but given the family’s previous incident, he wouldn’t dare force Holden when it came to matters of the heart.
“You and Holden should get along well,” Old Mr. Smith sternly instructed Sarah. “Have a child soon to give the Smith family an heir.”
Sarah nodded.
Seeing her neither resist nor argue, Old Mr. Smith felt a rare sense of satisfaction.
Nicola, however, didn’t like Old Mr. Smith’s attention on Sarah and Holden.
Samuel and Reuben, both eloquent, sat beside Old Mr. Smith, entertaining him with new stories and making him laugh heartily.
Nicola listened with a smile, occasionally serving them food.
Old Mr. Smith’s attention was fully on his two younger sons, forgetting about Holden entirely.
Sarah, “…”
For some reason, although this was Holden’s home, Sarah felt that Holden seemed like an outsider here.
During the day, the maid mentioned that Holden lost his parents when he was very young. Does that mean he’s spent the past twenty-odd years living alone like this?
Being in such an environment, without attention or care, could easily make a person reclusive.
However, Holden was always polite to women and carried himself gracefully in conversations with anyone, showing no signs of psychological issues.
It was clear that his mental state was exceptional.
No wonder he was so successful.
Sarah thought about this while watching Nicola continuously serve food to her two sons. She decided to serve Holden a slice of mushroom.
Holden glanced at her but didn’t eat it.
Sarah, “…”
She used a serving fork, so there was no reason for Holden to think it was dirty.
Thinking he might be picky, she served him a shrimp instead. This time, Holden ate it.
From start to finish, Holden didn’t say a word.
After dinner, Sarah followed Holden back to their room.
After spending the previous night together in the hotel, sharing a room again today didn’t feel strange to her.
However, last night Holden slept in the bed while she only napped briefly in the morning after ensuring he was okay. If she didn’t sleep well again tonight, she’d be exhausted.
“Um…” Sarah began, “Can I sleep in the bed tonight? It looks pretty big.”
Holden lit a cigarette, his lean, handsome face looking a bit gloomy in the smoke. This was entirely different from the gentle impression he first gave her.
She felt there was something violent and agitated hidden in his blue eyes, making him seem dangerous and scary.
But just for a moment.
When he extinguished the cigarette, he put on a gentle facade again, giving a faint smile.
“Sure.”
Sarah thought she must have imagined it.
She cautiously asked, “Mr. Holden, are you okay?”
“Miss Sarah,” Holden replied coolly, “For your own safety, don’t try to care about me or understand me.”
Sarah asked, “Why? Will the Earth be destroyed?”
Holden chuckled and opened the bathroom door. “The Earth won’t be, but you might.”
When he returned from his shower, he was wearing a black silk pajama set.
Perhaps all handsome men look good in black, and Holden was no exception.
His features were chiseled, and he had a gentle smile when he smiled, but when he didn’t, he exuded an intimidating aura that kept people at a distance.
While he was in the shower, Sarah pondered his words for a long time.
Holden was undeniably dangerous.
Sometimes, the seemingly gentle ones are the real villains pulling the strings.
Holden clearly didn’t like women, but he was a very charming man who knew exactly how exceptional he was, surrounded by women to the point of annoyance.
His words were likely a warning to keep Sarah from falling for him and becoming a persistent suitor like Linda.