Mason made himself clear. It was unlike Sieg to suggest backing down and giving in. Sieg said earnestly, “I have crossed paths with Kaze before and admittedly been burned by him. He’s an arrogant prick, and nothing gets through to him. “It won’t be easy for you to become the mayor if you intend to exert your authority over him.” Mason frowned and took a good look at Sieg. “Thank you for the heads-up, Mr. Lyfe. Still, I am a father first. I can’t sit back and do nothing after what happened to my son.“Besides, I didn’t come to Lilyrose to become a mayor figurehead. “How am I supposed to govern Lilyrose if I let a former mayor walk all over me? “I’ve got a bone to pick with Kaze for both personal and professional reasons.” Mason spoke righteously without a hint of pretense. He was speaking from the heart. Though Mason needed to go through Kaze to become the mayor, he would not beg and plead to get his approval. Sieg replied, “I’m impressed with your devotion, May
There was a lot to decipher from the brief conversation between Mason and Sieg. Jackson believed his years of education were for nothing because he clearly saw nothing more to the conversation. “Hmph.” Mason scoffed, his eyes reflecting a fleeting viciousness. Despite knowing Sieg was goading him into a confrontation with Kaze, Mason had to keep up appearances and stay civil. Sieg was one of the top eligible bachelors in Geranium City after all. “What brings you to Lilyrose ahead of time, Dad?” Jackson asked. Mason replied icily, “Well, no thanks to you, idiot. The Lilyrose Quints are having a ceremony for rejoining the main family. I’m here on behalf of the Ridgesouth Quints.”“Huh?” Jackson was surprised for a moment before breaking out in joy. “Doesn’t that mean that Kaze and his wife need to act careful around you? “Hahaha! You need to get back at him for me.“I doubt I’d ever get another good night’s sleep until Kaze pays for what he did to me.” …Meanwhile,
Darcy scoffed and rolled her eyes. Kaze suddenly had a way with words. “What else are you keeping from us, Kaze?” Darcy asked, her voice a mix of annoyance and excitement.When Darcy was named the head of the Lilyrose Quints two days ago, Agnes no longer thought Kaze was good enough for her daughter. Yet now, Kaze’s position at Perfect World Group dismissed Agnes’ opinion. He was the chairman of Perfect World Group. Kaze always seemed to blow Darcy and her parents away with surprises. “Mom, truth be told, I—” Parting his mouth, Kaze was about to reveal who he really was.However, Agnes waved her arm. “Never mind. I’m not trying to criticize you. All I care about is that you and Darcy are happy together. “That reminds me. When are you planning to have a baby with Kaze?” Agnes’ question threw Darcy for a loop. Though Agnes no longer insisted that Darcy and Kaze slept in different rooms, she made sure they were safe against pregnancy. Agnes, likely bitter about the
Darcy’s family was baffled. They could not wrap their heads around the reason why Miru’s aunt and uncle would want to visit them. Their families had no prior interaction. Shocked, Kaze glanced at Agnes and said with a smile, “Maybe they want to thank us for always watching over Miru since she was all on her own in Lilyrose.” Fanny and Jared presented a gift and even wanted to visit. It appeared Miru’s cocky aunt could be finally playing nice. …The Quints’ residence was elaborately decorated by the next day.A fleet of luxury cars gridlocked outside the residence. No cars worth less than a million dollars would be found in the area. All of the most important people in Lilyrose had arrived. The event was not exclusive to the locals. Even the representatives of prominent families and businesses in neighboring cities like Sunrise and Riverbank attended the function. With the Lilyrose Quints rekindling their connection with the main family, they would rise to become a
Some local residents of Lilyrose seized the opportunity to curry favor with Mason, hoping to establish a solid relationship upon his appointment as mayor. It was their chance to ensure success in the coming years. “Mayor Quint.” “Welcome to Lilyrose. The city will only get better under your leadership.” “We have faith in you to govern the city, Mayor Quint.” The crowd greeted Mason. They acted like Mason already got the job. These people flattered Mason in the presence of Kaze, the former mayor. The reality was that Kaze was already yesterday’s news. “Hello, everybody.” Mason responded with a smile, carrying himself humbly and discreetly. No one could fault his kind manners. Passing through the crowd, Mason made his way to the Quints. The group behind Mason behaved cockily. Jackson, whose head and arm were patched up, was among the people. He looked at Kaze grimly. “Uncle Mason, I am Darcy.” Darcy, the head of the household, went up to introduce herself.
“From this day on, Darcy, Hector, Agnes, and the other 123 members are accepted back into the family. “We should always love and care for each other. “It is against our code to harm those of our own blood.” After recording the names in the booklet, the old man rose to his feet, read out the family names, and talked about the family rules. At that point, the ceremony was over. Hector and Agnes beamed. Now that they were part of the Ridgesouth Quints, no one would walk all over them. “Uncle Mason, everybody, if you could take a seat.” Darcy breathed relief and invited the guests to sit as the feast would begin. “Hang on.” Mason waved his arm. The group had been a bundle of nerves for hours. Just when they were able to loosen up, Mason’s stern face put them back on edge. Surprised, Darcy asked, “What’s the matter, Uncle Mason?” “Is someone missing from the registry?” Mason took the registry from the old man and flipped through it. “Oh?” The Quints paused an
Kaze frowned but did not make a move. He was not as naїve as Darcy and his in-laws. Not to mention that he was reluctant to be listed in the Quint family’s Golden Family Registry, when Mason mentioned it, Kaze sensed conspiracy. At first, Kaze thought Mason sided with him because of the upcoming mayoral appointment and it was to return the favor at a later date. However, when he saw the frostiness in Mason’s eyes when he looked at him, Kaze realized it was not as he thought it would be. When Mason voiced out his suggestion, Kaze knew his suspicion was right. “However, the Ridgesouth Quints have a rule. The live-in son-in-law must change his last name to be listed in the Golden Family Registry. For example, Kaze Lee’s name must be changed to Kaze Quint. “Once the name is listed, he or she will be a Quint forever, alive or dead. When the time demands it, a Quint family member must be prepared to sacrifice for the family’s greater good. “What do you say, Kaze?” Mason said
“No matter where you are, be it in Lilyrose or anywhere in the South River State, or even the whole Arcadia, you can tell others that you are my godson and I will protect you!” Kaze never showed courtesy to people who sought trouble with him. His words silenced the entire house. Guests who came for the event widened their eyes in disbelief and almost forgot to breathe. Even the local Lilyroseans looked at Kaze in shock. They expected Kaze to reject the name change since he was known to be a tough guy, a stubborn person who spoke louder with his fists. He had crossed paths with many powerful and prominent figures up until now. From the top three families to the Vinlands, Magnus, the Viper’s Den West State Branch’s leader, and Gunter, the Glowmoss Powells, he bowed to no one. Everyone laughed at him and called him useless trash just because he married into his wife’s family but he was tougher than anyone else. Therefore, such an expectation was completely reasonable. Ho
With a darkened expression, Ruby commanded Lance, “Don’t you have a lot of wealthy friends? Just get two hundred thousand from them. Call them and ask them for help!” Lance gradually lost his patience. “They are not the friends who would lend me money. I should be grateful that they don’t come to me for money, and you are asking me to go to them for help? “It’s just a dress. Why are we buying it today? Let’s just do a rain check. When my father unfreezes my credit card, I’ll buy you something more expensive!” He wanted to take Ruby away but the woman was being stubborn. Anger rushed to her head as she shook Lance’s hand off. She shouted, “You useless piece of shit, you can’t even afford a two-hundred-grand dress? Don’t touch me! Get out of my face!” Lance got mad too. “If you have the fucking money, buy it yourself! I’m not your husband! You are begging me to buy it but you’re raising your voice?!” “You?!” Ruby wanted to slap some sense into Lance but the other customers
Ruby was confident in her body. Her physique allowed her to wear all kinds of beautiful dresses flawlessly, so she knew she would fit in the gown without even trying. However, the gown had a pure and innocent vibe, which did not fit her demeanor and temperament. The different style did not bother her because she was carried away by the price tag; the more expensive it was, the more it satisfied her vanity. “Miss, this is the most expensive gown in our store. It was created by a famous designer overseas. It cost two hundred thousand,” said the storekeeper. “Two hundred thousand for a gown?! Even the celebrities aren’t wearing something this expensive!” “Yeah. Maybe the top celebrities can afford it but a small one could never!” “Forget about it. We won’t be able to afford it, but it’s nice to have a look.” “I can’t afford it either. Different people, different lives.” When the price was revealed, the other customers gasped in astonishment, followed by regret and jealousy
Ruby thought that after mocking Sasha and Kaze, they would leave the store with a sour look, yet the two of them went to another section to continue shopping. Sasha’s timid figure was a pain in her eyes. In the other section, Kaze asked the storekeeper to do the same as the previous store. “Pick a gown for my sister here. She’s going to wear it to emcee at a party.” To their surprise, Ruby and Lance came after them. “You two poor bastards, get out of the way! Can you even afford the clothes here? Hmph! “You, I want you to pick something for me that is fitting!” The female storekeeper looked troubled. “Miss, this…” “Cut the crap and get on with it!” The storekeeper was instantly defeated by Ruby’s aggressive demeanor. She quickly sized up Ruby’s body and physique and selected a red gown with a deep frontal cutting for her. “Miss, this one might look nice on you.” “Let me have a look.” Ruby took the gown and looked at the price tag. She then tossed it on the floor
“Your little sister? I have not heard of Sasha having a brother. Are you the sugar daddy who’s been feeding her?” Ruby scrutinized Kaze and noticed nothing branded on him, which fueled her contempt for him. “But you don’t look like a rich one, more like a poor loser! What are you two doing here in a luxury store?” Kaze coldly said, “We don’t have to inform you where we are going.” “You don’t have to, but if you are just here window shopping, I would suggest you leave right away. People just don’t seem to know their limits.” Ruby then looked at Sasha, who was afraid, and mocked her, “Some people are just an ugly duckling, not a swan. You can’t just change who you naturally are, not like you can put on a dress and look great. Am I right, Lance?” She curled her arms around Lance’s and spoke in a sweet and flattering tone. Lance was one of the wealthy young men on campus who had been asking her out. Initially, she saw Lance as just another one of her test subjects she could
“Lance,” Sasha said with a nod. She instinctively took another step back, which made the man named Lance frown. Ruby was displeased by how Lance reacted to Sasha, her face ashened. She scrutinized Sasha and said sarcastically, “Sasha, look at you. You’re Cinderella today. I thought you were still that Ugly Duckling back at school. Don’t tell me you’ve found a sugar daddy.”Misunderstood as someone clinging onto a rich man, Sasha’s face instantly blushed. She waved her hands anxiously and said, “No, it’s not like that! It’s nothing like that! My boss from Herbal Spring wants me to get some new clothes for work, so that I’d look better.” Ruby scoffed, “Are you kidding me? The brand that you are wearing might not be to my taste but it costs thousands. There’s no boss who is this kind, spending money on the employee’s outfit. Besides, you are just a part-timer, not a full-time employee. And you are telling me you don’t have a sugar daddy?” Her words fueled Sasha’s anxiety, making
“Kaze, I really don’t need it…” Buying ten thousand bucks worth of clothes was already overwhelming for Sasha. She dared not even spare a glance at the expensive gowns and dresses. “The boss is paying. Come on, let’s go get you something nice.” Kaze already spotted another store specializing in gowns and dresses. He dragged the girl inside without giving her the chance to escape. The store was filled with various designs of dresses and gowns, so fancy that it made the girl’s jaw drop. Even though she looked reluctant due to the price, her eyes showed a hint of delight. Kaze saw the delight in her and simply smiled. No woman could resist wearing beautiful dresses. He knew all women, including Sasha, would be instantly captivated by the beautiful dresses. He brought Sasha shopping for luxury dresses so that she could get used to the extravagant experience. He knew that a girl like Sasha could never conceal her charms under her shyness. Men would flock over to her like
Sasha’s lips moved once more, but Kaze’s gaze remained fierce, so she wisely zipped her mouth. “Not a problem, sir.” The storekeeper knew Kaze was a generous customer, so she nodded happily. Being a storekeeper for a luxurious brand required experience and taste. In less than ten minutes, the storekeeper selected three sets of outfits for Sasha, from top to bottom and outer to inner. “Miss, you try these.” Kaze swiped his card before Sasha had the time to regret or stop him. If the size did not fit, she could change it on the spot. Sasha looked at Kaze helplessly and then reluctantly followed the storekeeper to the changing room. A while later, Sasha came out in a new dress and with a blush on her face. Kaze was slightly surprised, looking at the brand new Sasha in a pure white dress. He had to praise the storekeeper for her sharp sense. The white dress emphasized the girl’s innocence and gentleness. “Miss, you are the first customer in our store to present su
Sasha looked troubled. She said, “The owner is paying? It’s okay! I’m wearing the clothes anyway; I should pay for them. The owner and the others took good care of me while at work, I don’t want to take advantage of them.” Kaze was left speechless. How could a little girl be as stubborn as a mule?“How are you taking advantage of them? I said, the owner wants you to wear beautiful clothes and get more business for them, so that they can earn more money. “You know the other employees actually have an allowance for shopping? Each of them has twenty thousand to buy clothes, but since you are just part-time, and you are new, you only have ten thousand.” Kaze continued to coax the girl. “Ten thousand?!” Sasha was shocked by the number. She shook her head and hands, “No! I don’t need that much! A few hundred is enough!” Ten thousand was enough for her to cover her daily expenses for two years or more. How could she spend all of them on clothes? Kaze chuckled. “Ten thousand i
Twenty minutes later, Sasha came out in fresh clothes. She wore a white T-shirt coupled with a pair of jeans, but the patches on them indicated that they were old clothes. She was holding her phone with a slight embarrassment on her face. “Sasha? What’s the matter?” Kaze asked. “Uh, it’s nothing. I-I have to call my school to inform my teacher.” Sasha then went to the corner to make the phone call. “Sasha, you should really try to be the emcee of the evening party. I always have high hopes for you but you are too shy. You blush whenever you talk to strangers. How are you going to adapt when you go out to work in the future? You should train yourself to speak up more. Try to go on stage.” The voice of a middle-aged woman came from the phone once it was connected. Sasha said shyly, “Ms. Cornell, thank you for your kindness, but I cannot afford to buy a gown. I won’t be joining the party.” “My dear, you should learn to be more open-minded. I said I would prepare the gown