When Kayden finally spoke, Wood Faulkner lowered the dagger in his hand and replied, “Yes, Mr. Scott.”
The young man, drenched in cold sweat, couldn’t comprehend the allure of this man. How could someone like Kayden command such devotion from such a stunning woman? She listened to his every word without hesitation. As he stared at Kayden, curiosity and doubt began to creep into his heart.
Could this man be so charming that he could conquer a beauty of that caliber?
It was no wonder even his mother, a mature and elegant woman, seemed so intrigued by Kayden, asking him endless questions during their car ride. Thinking about this, the young man couldn’t help but feel a twinge of admiration for him.
By evening, the high-speed train had arrived at its destination.
The graceful woman parted ways with Kayden, but not before leaving him her number. She told him that if he wanted to attend the cultivator’s auction, he should call her anytime, and she would arrange it.
Kayden didn’t refuse her goodwill and kept her contact information.
The Western Frontier was indeed a place rich in cultural identity. Upon arriving, Kayden and Wood Faulkner quickly found a restaurant to eat. After all, even warriors needed sustenance.
They chose a decent restaurant nearby. Almost immediately after they sat down, Wood Faulkner became the center of attention. Her beauty was unparalleled, not just in Seclela but likely in the entire world, and it naturally drew every gaze in the room.
However, Wood Faulkner’s eyes were only on Kayden. She ignored everything and everyone else.
Initially, she stood beside Kayden like a loyal guard while he ate. But Kayden gestured for her to sit down and join him. He reminded her that they were no longer in a superior-subordinate relationship-they were friends now.
As they ate, Wood Faulkner suddenly asked, “Mr. Scott, may I ask you something?”
“Go ahead,” he said.
“Do you like women like the one from earlier?”
Kayden paused, clearly taken aback. “What do you mean?”
“I just wanted to remind you that her son is about your age. Besides, there are plenty of women who are interested in you-you don’t need to choose someone like her.”
Kayden’s face twitched slightly. He shook his head with a wry smile and said, “Wood Faulkner, that woman is part of the Rocco family. I was talking to her to gather information about their activities.”
“But… I could tell she seemed quite interested in you,” Wood Faulkner murmured softly, like a child who had just made a mistake.
Kayden took a deep breath and replied, “Enough. Focus on your meal.”
“Yes, sir,” she said quietly, not daring to say more.
While they ate in silence, a well-dressed man from a nearby table suddenly approached.
He stopped by Kayden’s side, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said with a smirk, “Hey buddy, I’ll give you a thousand bucks. Go outside and get me a bottle of water.”
The man tossed a wad of cash onto the table, his face full of arrogance.
Kayden glanced at him, then at the money.
In a low voice, he uttered a single word: “Leave.”
“Oh? You’ve got some attitude,” the man sneered, his arrogance intensifying. His group of lackeys behind him burst into laughter, feeding off his bravado.
He reached into his pocket again and pulled out more cash. “Ten thousand. Go get me a bottle of water now. How about that?”
He was blatantly flaunting his wealth, trying to humiliate Kayden. Seeing such a skinny guy accompanied by a stunning woman, he couldn’t resist the urge to belittle him.
In his mind, once Kayden was degraded, the woman would see him for the pitiful man he was and be drawn to his own wealth and confidence. After all, to Ryder Steele, there wasn’t a woman in the world he couldn’t buy with money.
If ten thousand wasn’t enough, he’d offer a hundred thousand. If that didn’t work, he’d go up to a million-or even ten million. A woman this beautiful was worth every penny.
The Atkinson family didn’t lack money.
Kayden’s expression darkened as he slowly set down his chopsticks.
“Hundred thousand.” Ryder pulled out a bank card and smirked.
“A million. Get me a bottle of water, will you?”
Kayden didn’t move. He didn’t even glance at the bank card.
This lack of response infuriated Ryder. He had been bragging to his friends about how easily he’d claim this woman. Now, being ignored like this felt like a slap in the face.
“Ten million! Ten million dollars-go get me a bottle of water!”
With a loud slap, Ryder threw down another bank card, his demeanor as cocky as ever, as if ten million was a small fortune he was willing to part with.
Kayden hesitated for a few seconds before turning to the waitress and calling out, “Hey, can I get a bottle of water?”
A waitress quickly brought a bottle of water to their table and placed it in front of Kayden. “That’ll be one dollar, sir.”
“Sure,” Kayden said calmly. He pulled a single dollar from his pocket, handed it to the waitress, and picked up Ryder’s ten-million-dollar bank card.
“Here’s your water. Take it and leave,” Kayden said coldly.
Ryder was so furious he nearly coughed up blood.
“You little punk! Are you looking to die? Do you not understand what I meant?” Ryder roared.
“I understood perfectly,” Kayden replied, his tone calm yet sharp. “You gave me the money. I bought the water. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Ryder’s lackeys stood up one by one, their faces full of rage.
“Are you stupid or just pretending to be? I told you to take the money and leave-leave the woman! I want her!” Ryder yelled.
Wood Faulkner pulled out two daggers, ready to strike, but Kayden stopped her with a single glance.
“Oh, I see now,” Kayden said with a faint smile. “Why didn’t you just say so earlier? If you’d been clearer, I’d have understood. Money, I’ve taken. Water, I’ve bought. But if you want my woman, that’s going to cost you.
“A bottle of water was worth ten million to you. My woman? That’ll be a hundred billion.”
His words pierced Ryder’s heart like a blade. Kayden wasn’t just mocking him-he was toying with him. Ten million was Ryder’s limit, and now Kayden was throwing out an absurd number, completely out of reach.
Ryder trembled with rage. He had never suffered such humiliation. Ten million, gone, all for a one-dollar bottle of water. He felt like he was losing his mind.
“You bastard! I’ll show you who’s in charge here!” Ryder bellowed.