Chapter 4

Anne already had a terrible impression of Skyler after they traded barbs, and she was further irked now that she compared him to Carl.

"Oh, him?"

She snorted in disdain even before Skyler could speak, "He's poor, he's filthy, he's disgusting—"

Skyler simply smiled as he walked over to Carl, offering a handshake. "I'm Skyler Woods. Lily Sable's fiance."

Carl's eyes widened, his pupils dilating.

He had already heard about Lily's engagement, and had come in the evening to probe for more information.

Be that as it may, he still couldn't help but feel shaken inside when Skyler said it out loud.

Lily Sable's… fiance!!!

A flicker of rage and coldness showed in the depths of his gaze, but he was otherwise impassive.

He had no intention of shaking Skyler's hand either, instead smiling faintly, "So I've heard. By the way… may I ask about your profession? All I heard is that you were raised abroad."

As Skyler withdrew without an ounce of embarrassment, he instead asked, "May I have the honor of your name?"

"Carl Jenkins," the other man replied coolly.

"Ah. You see, Mr. Jenkins…"

Skyler sniffed, his eyes locked on Carl's as he answered, "I'm jobless."

"Jobless?" Carl smiled.

Skyler was nodding and smiling too, just as he asked, "You're in love with Lily, aren't you Mr. Jenkins?"

"What…" Carl's smile stiffened.

On the other hand, Skyler was still smiling calmly. "You asked me about my profession because you're looking to take me down a peg. Should my profession be less glamorous than yours, or my family and income are less ideal, you'd use that to deflate me."

"But what would that change? Even if I don't measure up, Lily is still my fiance and soon my wife. She'll be sleeping with me on the same bed… And there are things about me that's better than you."

"Shut up!" Anne was leaping and snapping at Skyler even before Carl could speak. "There's nothing about you that's better than Carl, and you'd still—"

"Oh, come on," Skyler beamed with confidence. "I'm taller than him, for one."

Guh!

Carl almost choked right then.

On a serious note, he was not short—it was simply Horton's beauty standards that men should be 5'11" to look 'perfect'.

In every other aspect, Carl was the perfect man—his family background, looks, and career all seemed impeccable.

His height was the only thing about him that left him dissatisfied, and Skyler had to hit him where it hurt, and with someone else listening.

So at that very moment, Carl hated Skyler to the bone, and it was no exaggeration to say that he was furious.

The Jenkins family was close friends with the Sable family, and Carl himself was childhood friends with Lily. Even though he never declared his affection to her, many of their elders were in tacit agreement that they were an item.

However, things never turn out as expected—just as Carl had never predicted Lily's grandfather betrothing her before his death.

And the fiance wasn't him!

As a matter of fact, Carl and Lily remained very close over the years, and would meet every other day. And throughout those days, he had never heard of Skyler Woods—hell, where did he even come from?

Be that as it may, Skyler was right.

It doesn't matter how close Carl was with Lily, or how much better he was in everything else. As long as Lily wasn't marrying Carl, his sense of superiority was just a joke to Skyler!

"You win… for now!" He growled through his teeth, glaring at Skyler.

"Of course. Why else would Lily… fall for me?" Skyler grinned, once again inflicting critical damage.

Anne promptly chimed in, "Skyler Woods, my sister would never marry—"

"Shut up!"

Skyler suddenly wheeled on her, glaring at her viciously while snarling every word, "Your sister will definitely marry me, and Sablecorp would be mine and your sister's—you won't even inherit lint! So run your mouth again, and I'll throw you out to the streets, where you'll be begging for alms!"

Anne was stunned!

The arrogance… The insolence!

The bastard… had just threatened to chase her out of her own house?!

Still, before Anne could start a tantrum, a cool voice spoke, "What's with all the yelling?"

"Lily!"

Anne's eyes lit up as she dashed towards her sister. "Thank goodness you're home!"

Skyler turned to find Lily Sable herself entering.

She looked just like her photo, but all photos show were face, not the presence that Skyler could observe now:

She was as beautiful as a flower, as resplendent as the moon but having the gentleness of a willow tree.

However, Skyler could also read the staunchness in her bones that was akin to diamonds, further accentuated with her snow-fair skin and the transient beauty of autumn.

Indeed, of the countless beauties Skyler met in life, not many of them would match her in good looks. If he were to appraise style and presence… only three at best would be her equal.

She was a goddess, through and through!

"Hey, Lily," Carl hurried to her as well, but Skyler beat him to it.

"Lily."

With a tender smile, he shoved Carl out of the way and wrapped Lily firmly in his arms. "Long time now see… Missed me?"

Lily's entire body stiffened—what the hell?

She spaced out for a moment, and rage struck her as soon as she came to her senses.

She was absolutely ready to push Skyler away and slap him a few times for good measure, when a velvet voice breathed softly into her ear, "Your sister already suspects us. Cooperate, or you know how it goes—the more people know about something, the less of a secret it would be."

"And with that, the stage your grandfather worked so hard for would be all for nothing."

Lily froze once again.

She remembered how concerned her grandfather was before his death, working his heart and soul to arrange this fake marriage for her.

Hence, despite her temper still flaring, she couldn't vent it just then.

And it did not feel good!

On one hand, no man ever had hugged him like this… Not even Carl, her childhood friend!

No, she wasn't just furious that the stranger would hug her—she felt disgusted too.

But on the other hand… She had to actually feign delight so as to not arouse suspicion, showing both surprise and affection right then.

As for Carl, his face was ashen at the sight of a stranger hugging Lily—a man he had never even heard of three days ago!

His knuckles were clenched, and his eyes could shoot fire.

That woman was his childhood friend, and the one he had always been in love with!

Worse of all, that prick had called him short! There was no way he would let that slide!

And yet, he had to.

What could he do?

Not only were Skyler and Lily lovers, but they would be marrying soon.

And what about Carl? He was no more than a third-wheeler!

However, even though Carl could bite down and bear with it, a certain someone couldn't.

In fact, Anne lost it when she saw her sister hug Skyler. She shrieked, "You… let go of her!"

"Anne!" Lily snapped at her, seizing the timing to pull away from Skyler.

However, Anne wasn't letting up, pointing at Skyler while yelling to her sister, "Lily! You have to listen to this—he said Sablecorp would be his, and threatened to kick me out of the house! He's clearly after our money!"

"Stop it!" Lily snapped at her again nonetheless.

"What…"

"I'm marrying Skyler because we both love each other, and it's also Grandpa's last wish. Understand?"

"But—"

"And he's right," Lily finished. "Half of the family assets will go to him once we marry."

And with that, Anne was left utterly dumbfounded.