“Nephew, I’ll be frank. Back when the Quinn Family wanted to get into maritime trade, we acquired all the necessary permits and qualifications. Now, with my key position at the port authority, we are fully capable of replacing the Patterson Family.”
Mr. Quinn paused, a sharp glint in his eyes.
“The Patterson Family has monopolized the shipping industry for years, and their appetite has grown too large. If the Quinn Family takes over, we will naturally follow Aethelgard’s rules and conventions. What’s more, I’m willing to split the profits fifty-fifty with the Westgate Family. I absolutely will not make things difficult for you, Nephew. What do you say?”
The Quinn Family’s offer was indeed generous.
The shipping business was just that—business, and someone had to run it.
The Patterson Family had never shared a single cent of their profits with the Westgate Family, yet the Quinn Family was willing to split it down the middle.
Besides, he never had a good impression of Zane Patterson to begin with.
Jett Westgate said, “The Patterson Family has deep roots in Veridia. Taking them down won’t be that simple. This has to be done my way.”
Hearing this, Mr. Quinn’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Excellent! Nephew, we’ll follow your lead! We’ll do whatever you say!”
***
When Annelise Valentine returned, the manor was even more festive than it was during the New Year.
Several elders and close relatives had all arrived.
The house was festively decorated both inside and out, and small, colorful lights were strung up in the courtyard.
In the living room, the butler was directing staff to set up the engagement ceremony backdrop.
In an adjacent hall, Jett Westgate was playing mahjong with several elders, the CLATTER of shuffling tiles filling the air.
Outside in the courtyard, a few of the relatives’ children were running around wildly, and even the family’s golden retriever was wearing a red bow tie.
Ruby Lynn and Evelyn Sutton were sitting on a small sofa, sipping bird’s nest soup.
As they looked up and saw Annelise Valentine enter, Ruby Lynn set down her small bowl.
Her gentle tone was tinged with reproach.
“Annelise, where have you run off to?
You didn’t even answer your phone.
You’re getting engaged tomorrow, and you’re still out fooling around this late.”
Annelise Valentine glanced at the dozen-plus missed calls on her phone and said vaguely, “Oh, my phone was on silent, so I didn’t see.
I’m heading upstairs.”
She paused, then tilted her chin toward the mahjong table.
“Hey, Jett Westgate—come upstairs for a minute. I need to talk to you.”
Jett Westgate was still holding a mahjong tile.
He froze for a moment when he heard Annelise Valentine call his name.
The boisterous room fell quiet for a moment.
The elders exchanged glances, knowing smiles spreading across their faces.
“Stop playing! Go on, go on, go talk to Annelise!”
He looked up at Annelise, a slight smile playing on his lips.
He slapped his tile face down on the table and rose smoothly to his feet.
“Excuse me.”
The bedroom door clicked shut, cutting off the lively sounds from downstairs.
Jett Westgate’s voice broke the silence first.
If you’re here to apologize for this afternoon, don’t bother.”
“Sorry.
I thought about it all afternoon.
I can’t get engaged to you.”
Jett Westgate’s face immediately hardened.
“All afternoon?
Where were you doing all this thinking?
At Zane Patterson’s house?”
“I’m serious.” Annelise met his gaze.
“I’m not being petulant, and this isn’t about anyone else. This is my own decision.”
Jett’s anger from that afternoon had been simmering just beneath the surface, and now she had stoked it into a raging fire.
He advanced on her, his gaze sharp.
“Fine. Everyone is downstairs right now. If you’ve got the guts, go down there and tell them. Stand in front of all of them and say it, loud and clear: you’re not going through with the engagement.”
A chill crept into his eyes.
“You don’t dare, do you? You’re afraid of hurting your grandfather, afraid your parents will call you childish, afraid of destroying the decades of respect your family has earned.”
He paused, his breathing heavy.
“So you just hide up here, trying to force my hand again and again—trying to make me be the one to call it off, so you can walk away clean and look like the good guy, right?”
His words were like daggers, making her heart tremble.
“Yes, I don’t dare do it alone. My grandfather is old, and I’m afraid the shock of calling off the engagement would be too much for his health. That’s why I came to talk to you. Can we go tell them together? We’ll just say we’re not compatible and want to part amicably. If we go together, we’ll have a better chance. It’s better than me throwing a tantrum by myself.”
She lowered her eyes, her voice softening.
“After we call off the engagement…
I’ll compensate you.
We can discuss your terms.”
“Jett Westgate, we’ve known each other for a while.
There’s no need to make this ugly.
Help me this once…
Just consider it a favor I owe you.”
Jett Westgate let out a short, harsh laugh, as if he’d heard the most absurd joke.
“Why on earth should I help you?
Annelise Valentine, is there anything in that brain of yours besides throwing money at problems?”
“Do you think you can buy your way out of feelings with money?”
“Do you think money can solve everything?”
“Annelise Valentine, you’re so naive.”
Hearing him say that, Annelise’s own temper flared.
In her entire life, she had never once encountered a problem that money couldn’t solve.
“Enough with the useless talk. You’re not going, are you?” She spun around and marched toward the door, her mind made up.
“Fine, I’ll go tell them myself. And whoever the hell tries to stop me is a goddamn dog!”
Jett Westgate was about to explode.
As Annelise stormed past him, he grabbed her wrist.
“Annelise Valentine… you’re fucking asking for it.”
Annelise stopped in her tracks.
“Whether I live or die is none of your fucking business!”
‘Such a beautiful face, but it has to come with a mouth that does nothing but infuriate people.’
Annelise struggled to free her wrist.
“Let go!”
Instead of letting go, Jett tightened his grip, looking down at her.
“What’s with that tone?
Are you ordering me?”
“Jett Westgate, get one thing straight.
We’re in Veridia, in my family’s house!
So what if I’m ordering you?
If you don’t let me go, I’m going to scream for help!”
“Scream, then.” His voice was dangerously low, but a fire was blazing in his eyes.
“Some—” Just as Annelise started to cry out, Jett pinned her against the wall.
The next second, his lips crashed down hard on hers.
The kiss was fierce and rushed, domineering and forceful.
With her hands pinned by his, Annelise could barely breathe.
Unable to move, she steeled herself and bit down hard on his lower lip.
Jett hissed in pain, his movements halting as the metallic taste of blood filled their mouths.
He raised his eyes to look at her.
Just as Annelise was about to curse him out, he leaned down and kissed her again.
This kiss was even rougher, more brutal, and mingled with the sweet, metallic tang of blood.
It was as if the kiss had ignited Jett’s desire.
He yanked her toward the bed.
Annelise cried out as she was thrown onto the bed, letting out a muffled groan.
“Jett Westgate! You…” She had just pushed herself into a sitting position when she looked up to see him standing by the bed, slowly unbuttoning his shirt.
One button, then two…
His pale collarbones were exposed inch by inch under the light.
He gazed down at her, his eyes terrifyingly dark.
Annelise’s heart clenched.
She knew that when this man lost control, he was capable of anything.
But her pride, etched into her very bones, refused to let her surrender.
Even though her fingertips were trembling, her voice remained hard as steel.
“Jett Westgate, you just dare lay a hand on me!”