Flynn left Titan Holdings and drove straight back to the Indigo Grove Estate.
It was already 6 p. m.
As soon as his Porsche entered the villa courtyard, Flynn noticed Rose standing on the second-floor balcony, lost in thought.
After parking the car, he headed upstairs.
“You’ve been out all day and only come back at sunset!” Molly, busy in the kitchen preparing dinner, couldn’t help but grumble when she saw him.
“Missed me?” Flynn paused mid-step and glanced toward the kitchen, smiling.
Molly turned to him with a pout, her nose scrunched. “Don’t flatter yourself. But if I catch you tangled up with another woman, I’ll tell Scarlet!”
“And what if I get tangled up with you?” Flynn teased, his tone mischievous.
Molly frowned, her irritation flaring. “Don’t even think about it! If you dare touch me, I’ll chop your hands off!”
“Save it! I’ve touched you plenty, and you haven’t done a thing about it.” Flynn smirked and headed upstairs, leaving her fuming.
“You bastard, Flynn!” Molly suddenly recalled their past close encounters, her face flushing red. Grabbing a spoon, she dashed out of the kitchen and yelled toward the staircase, “You’re the worst!”
Flynn arrived at the second-floor balcony.
“Well, Ms. Sharp, enjoying the sunset, are we?”
Rose didn’t turn. Her gaze remained fixed on the distant horizon, her tone serious.
“Flynn, I have a question. After you take down the Clark family, would you be willing to live abroad?”
“Abroad? Why would I do that?” Flynn feigned ignorance, though he already understood her intentions. Selling Sharp’s Group was clearly part of her plan.
“If you destroy the Clark family, you’ll definitely become a target of Ostrad’s military. Staying here won’t be an option,” Rose said softly as she turned her head.
The golden light of the setting sun bathed her face, casting a divine glow. She looked like a goddess descended from a frozen mountain-breathtakingly beautiful.
Flynn asked, “And going abroad guarantees safety? Ostrad’s military influence isn’t limited to just this country.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. All you have to do is agree to leave, and I’ll ensure you’ll live without worries,” Rose said, waiting silently for his answer.
“You don’t believe I can survive in Ostrad after eliminating the Clark family?” Flynn asked casually.
Rose sighed. “Flynn, can you be serious for once?”
“I’m not stopping you from going after the Clark family. I even believe you can do it. But have you thought about the consequences?”
“The Clark family includes two deputy commanders. The military will definitely come after you!”
“I don’t want you throwing your life away for nothing!”
Flynn chuckled. “Taking down the Clark family is personal. You don’t need to risk your own safety for some promise.”
“Besides, you owe me nothing. Helping Sharp’s Group was just me repaying a debt. Now that it’s done, we’re even. Why put yourself in harm’s way?”
Rose’s brows furrowed, her voice tinged with anger. “Is that what you think? That I’m helping you just because of some promise?”
She was stunningly beautiful-even when angry. Her expression could bring the world to its knees. Ethereal, untouchable.
Flynn stared at her, momentarily dazed, and blurted, “Then why are you helping me?”
“Idiot,” Rose muttered, turning her gaze away. Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “No matter how strong one person is, they can’t fight a nation. In Ostrad, it’s impossible to defy the system.”
“When this is over, you must leave the country!”
Flynn studied her profile, a sly smile playing on his lips. “If you give me a little encouragement, I might just pull off the impossible.”
“Flynn!” Rose snapped, her tone sharp. “Will you or won’t you leave the country?”
Feeling the conversation had lost its charm, Flynn shrugged. “If all of you go, I’ll go too.”
“All of us? You mean you?” Rose gave a helpless laugh, shaking her head. “Even when fleeing, you can’t stop thinking about women. Aren’t foreign women beautiful enough for you?”
Flynn shook his head with a grin. “I prefer classical beauty. Someone like you.”
“Flatterer!” Rose rolled her eyes, scoffing. “It’s not classical beauty you like-it’s any pretty face you can find.”
Flynn smiled but didn’t deny it. “So, Ms. Sharp, where exactly do you want me to go? Somewhere warm all year round, perhaps?”
“Why does it have to be warm all year? Experiencing the beauty of all four seasons isn’t so bad. Like now-red maple leaves, pomegranate trees heavy with fruit, morning frost blanketing the valley,” Rose replied.
Flynn glanced at her figure wrapped in a thick coat and smirked.
She caught his look immediately, her face darkening. “Maybe I should send you to a private island stocked with women who never wear clothes. That’s what you’d really like!”
“Don’t even think about it! Somewhere with winter year-round would be perfect-freeze you to death!”
Flynn laughed. “Doesn’t matter. Anywhere with you feels like summer.”
“You’re the one who said I’m cold as ice. Now it’s summer?” Rose raised an eyebrow but didn’t press the topic further. “I’ll go with you. Scarlet will too. But the others… they’ll have to decide for themselves.”
At that moment, Molly called from the stairs. “Rose, dinner’s ready. Come down and try my cooking.”
“Oh? Rose? No more ‘Ms. Sharp’?” Flynn teased.
Rose replied calmly, “Molly and I are like sisters. No need to be so formal.”
“Sisters, huh? Makes me the outsider, then. I’ve been calling you Ms. Sharp for so long, and you never told me to stop.”
“Call me whatever you want. I’m not stopping you.” Rose rolled her eyes and walked downstairs, her usual graceful demeanor intact.
“Wait up, Rose.” Flynn grinned and followed her.
“Ugh, gross!” Molly and Rose both shivered at his playful tone and quickened their steps.
The dining table was set, and Rose made a video call to Scarlet.
“Scarlet, Flynn agreed,” she said, handing the phone to him.
“Hello, Scarlet! I’ve missed you so much. I haven’t been able to sleep these past two days without you. Look at me-I’ve lost weight, and I’ve got dark circles under my eyes,” Flynn said with an exaggeratedly pitiful expression.
Rose and Molly cringed at his theatrics and quickly moved away in disgust.
“Stop with the fake sentiment!” Scarlet stuck out her tongue and pouted. “I know you too well.”
“Admit it-you’re happier when I’m not around.”
Flynn’s smile faded. “If that’s how you feel, then there’s no point in talking.”
“Women are so confusing. Sweet words are too much, but if I stop, you’ll think I don’t care.”
Scarlet giggled and apologized. “Okay, okay, I’m happy now. Better?”
“You promised. Once the Clark family is gone, we’ll move abroad. No backing out!”
“What about your parents?” Flynn asked.
“With how convenient travel is nowadays, it’s not like we’d never see them again. Besides…” Scarlet sighed, her tone softening. “What can I do? My man is a troublemaker. I don’t have a choice.”
Though her words were light, her smile was strained.
The thought of leaving her parents weighed heavily on her, especially moving to another country.
When she and Rose made this decision, it felt manageable. But now that Flynn had agreed, the pain of leaving her family hit her all at once. Scarlet’s eyes reddened.
Not wanting Flynn to notice, she quickly handed the phone to Harriet.
“Flynn, Harriet has something to discuss with you. I’ll be busy with company matters. These past few days have been hectic.”
Hectic indeed.
Sharp’s Group was being sold to Titan Holdings, along with Orco Real Estate.
Piles of documents awaited her signature.
The dream of being a business queen had turned to ash. Yet, for Flynn’s survival, it was all worth it.