Chapter 7 The Secret
Martin retorted with a frown, “Mrs. Vance, but the engagement was made with Sharon.”
He couldn’t help thinking, ‘That’s the engagement with the number one elite family. How can they just give it to Karen? It’s so unfair to Shari.”
“You don’t get a say in that,” Roxanne snapped. “It’s settled. Enzo, take them to their rooms and explain the rules here.”
Roxanne was so furious that she didn’t even want to spare a glance at Sharon again.
Karen and Madeline exchanged a satisfied glance. They thought smugly, ‘Nice, we made it.’
Sharon ignored the undercurrents of scheming and followed Enzo upstairs to the guest rooms.
Martin looked visibly troubled. “Ms. Vance, this is too unfair to you.”
“Never mind,” Sharon replied calmly. She had no intention of marrying a man she didn’t love or didn’t even know. Losing the engagement was a relief to her.
Martin insisted, “But if you give it up just like that, your second uncle and his crew will only look down on you more.
“And people outside will definitely laugh at your brothers for not even being able to keep an engagement, especially one with the Baxters.”
Sharon furrowed her brows, now genuinely troubled. She muttered in her mind, ‘Would this make others look down on my brothers? That won’t do. Should I refuse?’
*****
The next morning, everyone gathered in the dining room. The long table was covered with an exquisite spread.
“Shari, this is top-grade truffle, flown in fresh this morning. You probably haven’t had it before. Here, give it a try.” Karen kept listing off the luxurious ingredients like she was showing off, treating Sharon as some country bumpkin.
Sharon simply smiled and stayed silent.
Alyssa couldn’t help but say, “Ms. Karen Vance, you’re so kind to teach us how to eat these things. Unlike Sharon, she grew up wild and strange and never talked much.”
“Mrs. Crawford, please be at home,” Karen said with a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. No matter what, she was convinced she was the true heiress, the one born to belong in this world, and Sharon was just a stray from nowhere.
Roxanne grew more displeased with Sharon by the minute. Just imagining Sharon going out and embarrassing the family made her lose her appetite.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “We’ll meet the Baxters later. Remember, if you don’t know what to say, just keep your mouth shut. Don’t embarrass me.”
She put down her fork, too angry to eat another bite.
Martin wanted to speak up for Sharon, but Alyssa quickly pulled him back and whispered, “Don’t get involved. Karen is from a proper background.
“Sharon’s just a wild girl. That’s the Baxter family. Sharon doesn’t deserve to marry into such a family. Better to give it to Karen.”
Sharon remained composed, but a flicker of uncertainty passed through her eyes. She wondered, ‘Should I refuse?’
After breakfast, Roxanne changed into a tailored outfit, looking elegant and refined. She glanced at Sharon’s casual clothes and frowned. “No one got her an outfit?”
“Karen’s the main focus today,” Madeline cut in. “Sharon can wear whatever she wants.”
Madeline didn’t want Sharon to look too stunning. After all, Sharon’s pretty face was attractive enough.
Roxanne thought about it and agreed that Madeline had a point. She gave Sharon a cold snort and walked away.
Dressed in a designer skirt, Karen looked polished and radiant. Compared to her, Sharon’s plain clothes looked almost out of place.
Martin sighed, “Shari, just follow your instincts when you get there.”
He didn’t have the right to accompany them, and with Sharon’s brothers unreachable, he had no way to stop what would happen.
He couldn’t help but feel indignant inwardly. ‘They’re both girls from the Vance family. Why should such a good marriage be handed to Karen?’
Sharon nodded and followed Roxanne into the car.
*****
At the same time, in the study of Baxter Estate, Edward Baxter spoke with a stern face, “You’ve gotta pick one.”
“I refuse,” Nicholas replied firmly. “Grandpa, you said the engagement would be called off, and that’s why I came back.”
But upon returning, Nicholas found the table piled with gifts, jewelry, plush toys, and dolls—clearly to girls’s liking. Edward’s intention was clear—he wanted Nicholas to pick one and send it to his fiancée, whom he had never even met.
Nicholas thought to himself, ‘Come on, no one gives a girl gifts when they are about to cancel the engagement.’
Edward, feeling a bit guilty, kept his angry face. “The engagement hasn’t been called off yet, has it? What’s wrong with sending a gift? Keep going like this, and you’ll die a bachelor.”
Edward’s nagging echoed through the study. Nicholas listened calmly, unaffected, not even lifting his eyelids.
After rambling for a while and finishing his water, Edward sighed, “I won’t live much longer. My only wish before I go is to see you build your own little family. Is that too much to ask?”
“You sound full of energy when scolding me. It doesn’t seem like you’re dying anytime soon,” Nicholas said while pouring Edward more water.
“Hmph, it’s because I’m too angry. I just might keel over any day now,” Edward huffed.
Nicholas teased, “You said the exact same thing to my brother last time. You sure have a lot of wishes, don’t you?”
Being exposed again, Edward flew into a rage. “Listen, people in the Vance family will visit us today. If you dare agree to cancel the engagement, I’ll… I’ll go on a hunger strike.”
“As you please.” Nicholas smirked.
“I’ll even post it online and tell people you abused your kind and loving grandpa.”
Nicholas shook his head helplessly. Finally, he looked up and said, “If you want my cooperation, then at least tell me why you are so insistent I marry that girl?”
Edward explained, “The Vance family is one of the four great families. It’s a kind of alliance between powerful families, got it?”
Nicholas replied, “But the Vance family has more than one child. Mr. Vance has two sons, and the younger one inherited the family business. He also has a daughter. Based on status, it makes no sense for Sharon to be the chosen one.”
Edward snorted, “You and Shari were betrothed before birth. Back then, no one could’ve predicted the future.”
Nicholas replied, “Grandpa, don’t take me for a fool. You made up the story, right? I’ve never heard a word about it before.”
His implication was clear: He didn’t believe his grandpa. He suspected there was more to the story.
Edward clamped his mouth shut, thinking, ‘This brat is getting harder to handle.’
Nicholas added, “If you don’t tell me the true reason, then I have to cancel it.” Nicholas set his glass down and turned to leave.
Behind him, Edward bellowed, “Stop right there, you ungrateful brat.”
Nicholas paused and looked back. “You going to talk now?”
With his refined features, Nicholas looked every bit the obedient grandson, but that was just on the surface. Among the Baxters, he was the most rebellious one.
Yet Edward couldn’t do anything about him. He loved his grandson but sometimes felt a headache about him.
Edward cleared his throat and said, “You know about the secret that the four families protect, don’t you?”
“Yes, you’ve mentioned it before.” Nicholas nodded.
Half an hour later, Nicholas walked out of the study, a rare seriousness clouding his expression.
“Nick, what did Grandpa say to you?” A beautiful middle-aged woman approached with worry on her face. “Don’t get upset. If you really don’t want the engagement, we can reason with him.”
“I’m fine, Mom.” Nicholas frowned, as if weighing a significant decision.
Nicholas’s father chimed in, “If you’re really against the engagement, I will handle it. The Vances are not good at all.”
“I’ve agreed to keep the engagement,” replied Nicholas.
The couple stared at each other in shock, thinking, ‘Wait, he agreed? Seriously?’
