“Mr. Langford, my apologies, but you couldn’t stop him. Lord Valerian Nox is going to celebrate his sister-in-law’s birthday. Hahaha!”
Paxton laughed heartily, his voice dripping with arrogance.
In his mind, he had already accepted Lord Valerian Nox as his sworn brother. Naturally, this made Tessa Watson the sister-in-law of Lord Valerian Nox.
Carter Landford sighed deeply and shook his head, choosing to remain silent.
The Clark family was digging its own grave, and there was no stopping it.
If Paxton ever found out that the man he revered as his brother was actually his own son, what kind of expression would he have?
He would be utterly humiliated.
Paxton, watching Carter Landford’s expression, became even more convinced of his own assumptions.
Had Carter given up? Was he bitter? Disappointed?
The Clark family’s fortune was thriving-how could anyone stop it? Becoming the most powerful family in Slatin was no longer just a dream for them.
Tessa Watson, too, was overwhelmed with excitement. Even though her maternal family’s power and status meant she didn’t need to show Lord Valerian Nox any particular respect, her marriage into the Clark family bound her to its interests.
With Lord Valerian Nox as her son’s godfather, guiding him in cultivation, and with the medical texts they possessed, achieving the rank of Earthly Sovereign was no longer just a fantasy for her son.
After all, reaching the Earthly Sovereign level wasn’t something that could be achieved with medicine alone. That level required complete harmony with the forces of nature-a realm that demanded unmatched talent and guidance from a higher-level cultivator.
Even with extraordinary talent, her son would need years to reach that level. But neither her son nor the Clark family could afford to wait that long.
Now, with Lord Valerian Nox’s mentorship, her son’s progress would be unstoppable.
So what if her son called Lord Valerian Nox his godfather? This was a strategic move!
The Clark family would rise to even greater heights, and her reputation would shine. Even when she returned to her maternal family, she would hold her head high.
“Congratulations, Mr. Clark! Congratulations, Mr. Woods!”
The elite families gathered around, offering their congratulations with expressions of envy.
This was Slatin, a young city with only a century of development. Its historical foundation paled in comparison to cities like Eahta.
As a result, Slatin had no noble families, only powerful clans. To them, an Earthly Sovereign was the pinnacle of cultivation.
If Lord Valerian Nox had been an elderly man in his sixties or seventies, the envy might not have been as intense. But he was young, with a future as limitless as the sky. His talent far surpassed Vicente Clark’s, and his potential was undeniable.
As Lord Valerian Nox’s cultivation advanced, the status of both the Clark and Woods families would rise with him.
Especially the Woods family-Lord Valerian Nox was about to become their son-in-law!
Layla Woods was brilliant. Not only was her talent extraordinary, but her luck was equally incredible. Lord Valerian Nox, who could have chosen any noblewoman, had fallen for her instead.
It made sense, though. Someone as gifted and proud as Lord Valerian Nox wouldn’t choose a partner based on family background. He would only care about someone who caught his eye.
Layla was the lucky one.
Besides, she was no ordinary woman herself. Her future achievements wouldn’t be low, and her heartfelt confession to Lord Valerian Nox earlier had completely won him over. Everything had fallen into place.
“Oh, by the way, my dear granddaughter,” John Woods suddenly asked, “three months ago, I told you to break off your engagement with that Clark family outcast. Did you do it?”
Layla nodded. “Grandfather, as soon as you mentioned it, I went to see Flynn.”
“I tore up the engagement agreement, but Flynn hasn’t given a clear response yet.”
Because of her father’s involvement, Layla hadn’t informed her family after breaking off the engagement. She had hoped Flynn would take the initiative to end things formally.
But three months had passed, and while Flynn had shown his anger, he had yet to make a definitive statement.
The last time they competed, their bet had been that if Flynn lost, he would personally go to the Woods family to break off the engagement. But Layla had lost.
At the time, she hadn’t cared much. Now, she was starting to feel uneasy.
For a clean break, Flynn needed to take the initiative to end the engagement. Only then could the matter be fully resolved.
It was time to confront him.
“He hasn’t given a clear response?!” John Woods’ face darkened in disbelief.
“That outcast, discarded by the Clark family, still thinks he can cling to you? Dream on!”
“For the next few days, you’ll do nothing else. Find that outcast and make him end the engagement. I’ll announce it to everyone!”
“No, call him now! Immediately!”
Layla dialed Flynn’s number, determined to resolve the matter without delay.
“What is it?”
Flynn, watching the sunset with Olive, answered her call.
“Flynn, I lost our last bet, but I need you to go to the Woods family and formally break off the engagement. Name your terms-whether it’s expanding your connections in Slatin or money, I’ll agree.”
John Woods snatched the phone and shouted, “Listen here, boy! You may have achieved a little success, but you’re still not worthy of my granddaughter. Don’t think you can exploit my son-in-law’s favor to act recklessly and demand the world!”
“Go to the Woods family now and break off the engagement! I’ll invite the top ten families in Slatin to witness it!”
“And let me tell you this-Lord Valerian Nox has agreed to marry my granddaughter. Whether you want to or not, you’ll have no choice but to end the engagement!”
“A little success?” Flynn laughed coldly. “You want me to break off the engagement in person? Fine! On Tessa Watson’s birthday, I’ll fulfill her wishes at the Clark family estate.”
He hung up.
“At the Clark family estate?” John Woods turned to the Clark family members, frowning. “That outcast thinks he can attend Mrs. Clark’s birthday celebration?”
Layla’s face was indifferent. “It seems that’s his condition. He’ll break off the engagement, but only if he’s allowed into the Clark family’s event.”
The crowd finally understood.
So that’s what Flynn wanted-an opportunity to apologize to Tessa Watson.
The Clark family hadn’t offered a full apology for the earlier incident, and Flynn was desperate.
They could already imagine the scene four days from now: Flynn, kneeling and begging for mercy, utterly humiliated.
The very thought filled them with anticipation.
“Mr. Clark, what do you think?” John Woods approached Paxton.
Paxton forced a smile. “With Lord Valerian Nox about to marry into the Woods family, how could I refuse your request?”
Although he was furious about Flynn, he had to give the Woods family face, especially with their connection to Lord Valerian Nox.
“Haha!” John Woods laughed triumphantly. “Excellent! Everything is coming together for Mrs. Clark’s birthday-it’ll be a grand celebration for both our families and the elite of Slatin!”
“To make it even more unforgettable, I’ve decided to purchase a million dollars’ worth of fireworks. Four days from now, the skies above the Clark family estate will light up, and the explosions will echo across Slatin!”