After slapping the man who had spoken out of turn, his sharp gaze shifted back to Ryder Steele.
“And you! Are you still not kneeling?” Grant Rocco bellowed furiously, pointing at Ryder Steele.
Ryder Steele hesitated for a few seconds but ultimately knelt on the ground timidly.
Kayden couldn’t be bothered to watch any further. A man like Ryder Steele wasn’t worth his time, let alone the other nobodies nearby, who didn’t even deserve a second glance.
“Let’s go,” Kayden said indifferently, nodding to Wood Faulkner.
Wood responded with a simple “Yes,” and the two left the restaurant entrance, one after the other.
They hadn’t gone far when Grant Rocco came rushing after them. Smiling sheepishly, he called out, “Master! Master! Wait for me!”
Kayden shot a disdainful glance at the man blocking their path. “Stop calling me that. I’m not your master. Besides, your foundation is too weak. Even if you wanted to learn something from me, you wouldn’t be able to.”
Grant Rocco wasn’t offended. Instead, he laughed casually and grabbed Kayden’s arm.
The moment his hand touched Kayden, a cold blade was instantly pressed against his throat.
“Let go of your hand. You’re not worthy… not worthy of touching Mr. Scott,” Wood Faulkner said in a low, icy voice, laced with unmistakable killing intent.
Grant’s face twitched as he swallowed hard. “I-I-I didn’t mean any harm! Didn’t I just help you earlier? Right? Come on, Ice Queen, don’t be so harsh!”
“Enough! Go book a room,” Kayden ordered abruptly.
Wood Faulkner’s expression shifted slightly, but she responded with a firm “Yes” before turning and leaving.
Once Wood was gone, Grant Rocco rubbed his neck, muttering to himself, She’s beautiful, no doubt, but pulling a knife on me every other second? That’s a bit much.
Kayden turned to him and asked, “Why are you calling me ‘Master’? Who sent you? Was it your mother?”
To Kayden, it seemed obvious that Grant’s mother had put him up to this.
But Grant grinned and replied, “No, no, I just really admire you! I admire how you have such a gorgeous woman who follows your every word and how you managed to win over my mom! I want to know your secret. Teach me how to win women over. I want them to obey me like yours do.”
So that’s what he’s after-how to pick up women. Kayden found it all rather trivial and shook his head in exasperation.
“You shouldn’t be lacking women,” Kayden said flatly.
For someone like Grant Rocco, with his wealth, women should be lining up to serve him.
Grant sighed, “I’m not lacking women, but I know they’re only with me because my family is rich. There’s almost no one who truly loves me. But your woman doesn’t seem to care about your circumstances. She’s willing to follow you no matter what, always staying by your side. That’s what’s truly enviable.”
Kayden paused, realizing that at least Grant Rocco wasn’t entirely clueless. Despite his privileged existence, he understood that most people only cared about his money. This level of self-awareness was rare among spoiled rich kids.
“By the way, there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about,” Grant said mysteriously. “My mom seems to think highly of you. She’s never taken the initiative to talk to someone before, let alone said more than three sentences. On the train, I could tell she was interested in you.”
Kayden was speechless. What was he supposed to say to that?
“So… are you here to play matchmaker for your mom?”
Grant hurriedly waved his hands. “No, no! I’m just here to learn from you. I want to figure out what makes you so charming. What’s your secret?”
Kayden took a deep breath. “There’s no secret. I have no idea what you’re talking about. And I’m not interested in being your dad.”
With that, Kayden walked away.
—
The Next Day
Kayden and Wood Faulkner left the hotel early in the morning and headed for the Alfredson family estate.
The Alfredson family wasn’t hard to find. A few inquiries were all it took to locate their home.
Years ago, the Alfredson family had helped Wood Faulkner during a critical moment. At the time, she had been on the run, pursued by enemies from the battlefield. Exhausted and injured, she had nearly been killed.
It was then that the head of the Alfredson family had stepped in. He eliminated her pursuers, nursed her back to health, and even gave her $500, 000.
Because of this debt of gratitude, Kayden felt compelled to accompany Wood Faulkner to repay the favor.
Zack Alfredson, the family head, had a stellar reputation. Many in the Western Frontier referred to him as “Master Alfredson.” A few conversations revealed that he was still alive, which made Wood genuinely happy. At least now, she could repay her benefactor.
Zack Alfredson was widely respected, known for funding schools, building roads in underdeveloped areas, and engaging in numerous charitable activities. Whenever someone faced injustice or bullying, the Alfredson family would step in to help without hesitation.
To the common folk, the Alfredson family was a blessing. To the local tyrants, they were a nightmare. Few dared to provoke them, not only because of their wealth but also because they were a family of skilled martial artists.
As Kayden and Wood approached the Alfredson estate, a voice suddenly called out to him.
“Young… Young Master Kayden!”
Kayden froze, startled by the familiarity of the voice. He turned to see a middle-aged man, around fifty, wearing a shirt and slacks. Balding and dark-skinned, the man looked plain and unremarkable.
But Kayden recognized him immediately. Searching his memory, he quickly placed the man.
“Mr. Baker!” he exclaimed.
“Young Master, it really is you!” The man’s face lit up as he hurried toward Kayden, his excitement evident, like a long-lost relative reunited.
As the man approached, Wood Faulkner instinctively drew her dagger, but Kayden stopped her.
“Wood Faulkner, stand down. He’s a friend of my father’s,” Kayden said calmly.
“Mr. Baker!” Kayden called out again.
“Master!” John Baker grabbed Kayden’s arm, his eyes welling with tears. “It’s really you. I can’t believe it’s you! Young Master, what happened to you all these years? You’ve gotten so thin. Have you not been eating well? Are you struggling?”
John Baker had once been a trusted subordinate of Kayden’s father, Ambrose Scott. Back then, he had frequently visited the Scott household and had watched Kayden grow up until he was ten years old.