Sitting in the car with Wood Faulkner, Kayden maintained his usual calm, expressionless demeanor. Wood Faulkner, on the other hand, appeared visibly nervous. She glanced at Kayden, hesitated for a long while, and finally spoke with guilt etched across her face.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Scott. I didn’t mean to do that. I…”
“Enough,” Kayden interrupted, his tone indifferent. “I’m not blaming you. You didn’t do anything wrong. Why are you apologizing?”
“Mr. Scott!” Wood Faulkner’s voice was tight with tension. “I belong to you. Whatever you do, I’ll follow. From the moment you saved me from the brink of death on the battlefield, I have belonged to you. I… I’m really sorry for what happened today.”
To Wood Faulkner, Kayden was everything. Her life was his; her existence was solely for him. This was why, during the three long years of Kayden’s absence, she never stopped searching for him.
Wood Faulkner was an orphan, raised in a dark and brutal world. At eighteen, she had been trafficked overseas. If Kayden hadn’t rescued her, she would have died. He had given her a chance-a second life.
And so, this life was no longer hers. It belonged to Kayden.
“It’s nothing serious,” Kayden replied coolly. “Get ready. Tomorrow, join me at the Rocco family’s auction.”
“Yes, sir!” Wood Faulkner answered immediately.
Back at the hotel, Kayden treated Wood Faulkner’s injuries again.
As she lay face down on the bed, she suddenly caught a whiff of a woman’s fragrance.
“Mr. Scott,” she murmured hesitantly, “I don’t know if I should say this.”
Kayden closed his eyes, his hands pressing against her back. “Say it.”
“There’s… Mrs. Rocco’s scent on you.”
At her words, Kayden’s eyes snapped open, his piercing gaze like a cold blade. Even though she had her back to him, Wood Faulkner felt an icy chill crawl over her.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Scott. I didn’t mean anything by it.” She cursed herself for speaking too much lately.
“Heh.” Kayden chuckled lightly. “I met her.”
Wood Faulkner hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer and, after a brief pause, summoned the courage to ask, “Did… did anything happen between you two?”
Kayden shook his head. “No. It’s already happened.”
“What?” Wood Faulkner nearly turned over in shock. She asked angrily, “Did she force you?”
“No,” Kayden replied, his voice steady. “I was willing.”
Wood Faulkner fell silent. Her eyes dimmed with sadness.
Kayden understood her feelings-completely. That was why he had spoken so bluntly, hoping she wouldn’t harbor false hopes about him.
“Wood Faulkner, you’re an individual. You can’t live just for me. You should live for yourself. I have nothing left now. After tomorrow, if you want to leave, you can go anytime.”
“No!” Wood Faulkner exclaimed, her voice firm and unwavering. She didn’t even bother to cover herself as she declared, “If I leave, then you truly will have nothing! I can’t leave you. From the moment you saved me, my life has been yours. Even if you want me as a servant or slave, I’ll follow you for the rest of my life.”
“Commander,” she continued, her voice choking with emotion, “I’m sorry. I’ve overstepped. I shouldn’t meddle in your affairs. I’m not qualified to. Please, don’t send me away. If you do, I might as well die.”
Kayden let out a cold laugh. “I’m not trying to send you away. I just think this trip will be tough. We may face many ruthless enemies. I have a feeling-the real storm is just beginning.”
Wood Faulkner swallowed hard and said firmly, “No matter the storm, you will always be my god! There’s nothing in this world you can’t accomplish, right?”
Kayden gave a faint nod and said no more.
The next morning, Kayden and Wood Faulkner headed to the Rocco family’s auction.
The Rocco family’s estate was as grand as a palace, sprawling over hundreds of acres. By the time Kayden and Wood Faulkner arrived, the grounds were already packed with luxury cars. Vehicles worth less than $500, 000 seemed out of place here.
For cultivators, wealth was no obstacle. Money came easily to them, and they hardly valued it.
The annual cultivator auction at the Rocco family estate was the most anticipated event in the Western Frontier.
Crowds of spectators had already gathered outside, eager to catch a glimpse of the cultivators-an opportunity rarely afforded to ordinary people. For some, this was more exciting than any holiday. Others were merely here to enjoy the spectacle.
Among the crowd were May and Emma, who had come secretly to confirm if Kayden would actually attend. They had arrived early, choosing a distant spot to wait for him.
“Emma, that guy must’ve been lying. How could someone like him qualify for such an exclusive event? I still think Mr. Steele is better-he’s got everything anyone could want,” May said dismissively.
“Mom!” Emma snapped, annoyed. “I don’t even want to admit I know Ryder anymore. I gave him my heart, and he treated me with such underhanded tactics.”
“So what? That’s just his way of showing love. It’s a bit extreme, sure, but it’s still love.”
“Enough! I don’t want to argue with you. I’m never going to see Ryder again, and I’m quitting that company too. But Kayden-I owe him an apology. I need to tell him that.”
“Apology? For what? You think…”
May’s words trailed off as she suddenly burst into laughter, pointing at a taxi pulling up nearby. “Look! A taxi! Who on earth had the nerve to drive one here?”
Her mocking tone faded as she watched Kayden and Wood Faulkner step out of the cab.
For a moment, May froze, her expression stunned.
What caught her off guard wasn’t Kayden but the woman beside him. She was breathtakingly beautiful-dashing, regal, and icy. Her beauty was almost unreal, but her cold, proud aura made her even more striking.
Emma’s heart skipped a beat. She had often teased Kayden about wanting her, but now she realized how foolish she had been. With a woman like this by his side, how could Kayden ever look at her?
The thought of her own self-delusion made Emma’s face burn with humiliation, as though she’d been slapped.
While May and Emma were still processing their shock, Kayden and Wood Faulkner strode decisively into the Rocco family estate.
They walked in without hesitation-calm and composed, leaving no room for doubt.
“Mom, they went in. Kayden really went in!” Emma whispered, still in disbelief. Neither she nor May mentioned the taxi again, their attention fixed on the disappearing figures. They stood there, stunned, unable to calm their racing thoughts.