Kian Sterling had always been fiercely protective of his sister, and he had raised her to be delicate.
Today, Celia Sterling's cascading hair was tied back with a ribbon into a chic high ponytail. She wore a relaxed-fit purple V-neck dress, its hem falling above her knees to reveal long, slender, porcelain-white legs. Inside her nude, rhinestone-studded heels, her delicate toes were painted with purple polish.
She looked delicate, yet stunningly beautiful.
But a pampered woman couldn't handle a massive, badass lizard.
'This girl, who looks so delicate and soft… she must have a fierce spirit deep down.'
Silas Norwood's controlled gaze barely grazed her delicate feet before he smoothly looked away, leaving no trace of his momentary interest.
Celia Sterling and Kian Sterling entered the living room and were shown to a loveseat.
Across the coffee table from them sat Silas Norwood.
"Kade," Silas Norwood said, elegantly pouring Kian Sterling a glass from a freshly opened bottle of red wine. "A '92 Screaming Eagle. Care to try it?"
Kian Sterling casually undid two buttons on his shirt and settled into a more leisurely posture. "You're being too polite."
At his side, Celia Sterling's fingers twitched as her eyes landed on the bottle of wine.
'If I remember correctly, a mysterious tycoon bought this very bottle for half a million dollars at an auction in Westerfall last year. Kian was a step too late and missed out. The spot we reserved for it in the family wine cellar is still empty.'
'Welcoming them with a wine worth hundreds of thousands of dollars... he was certainly being polite.'
'I wonder what a wine that costs as much as gold tastes like...'
Kian Sterling saw what she was thinking and frowned slightly. "You shouldn't be drinking for the next few days. After this passes, you can take your pick from all the good wines in my cellar."
Celia Sterling gave a disappointed "Oh."
The next moment, a slender, fair hand slid a cup of fragrant tea toward her.
Silas Norwood's voice was gentle, yet held a natural distance. "A new tribute tea from Morgath. For you, Miss Sterling."
Celia's gaze followed the hand up to its owner, landing on Silas Norwood.
This was the first time she had ever truly looked at the man in charge of the great noble family of the Capital Circle from this close. They had crossed paths at countless grand banquets, but always from across a sea of people, his features never quite clear.
Now that she was this close, she realized he was strikingly handsome. He had fair skin and exquisite bone structure, but it was his amber eyes that were truly arresting—deep, mysterious, and captivating. His entire bearing exuded an ineffable, noble grace that made it difficult to meet his gaze.
'As pure as snow in a mountain ravine, as luminous as the moon in the sky.'
'No wonder he was the ultimate unattainable crush for every young lady in the Capital Circle...'
Celia met his gaze. As his amber eyes fixed on her, they seemed to hold a faint, shimmering light, one that could pull a person's very soul into its depths.
After a mere two seconds, she quickly looked away.
'Some people shouldn't be looked at for too long.'
'It's too easy to start getting ideas.'
"Thank you... Silas."
Celia murmured her thanks and lowered her head, taking a sip of her tea.
Silas Norwood hummed a quiet acknowledgment, then spoke softly to the butler at his side. "The air conditioning is a bit cool. Please bring Miss Sterling a light blanket, and prepare a cup of brown sugar tea."
Celia nearly choked on her tea. "That's... really not necessary."
Without offering a pointless reply, Silas turned to Kian Sterling and began to casually discuss matters of finance.
When the butler returned with the blanket and the brown sugar tea, the pleasantries between the two sides came to a tacit halt.
The main branch of the Norwood family finally got down to business.
Mrs. Norwood was all warmth and enthusiasm, continuously placing an array of delicate pastries and fruits in front of Celia.
"These are all your favorites. That boy, Declan Nash... he may be a bit wild at times, but he truly cherishes you, Celia. He remembers everything you like with perfect clarity..."
After she finished speaking, she personally peeled a lychee for Celia. "He knows you love them. Declan flew to Mount Cinderwood yesterday and picked these himself. They're exceptionally fresh."
Celia lowered her gaze. "Thank you, Mrs. Norwood."
But she didn't reach out to take it.
Mrs. Norwood gave her husband a worried look.
Justin Norwood, however, had no attention to spare for his wife. Kian Sterling had just placed several divestment proposals directly in front of him.
"You know full well what Declan Nash did. We all move in the same circles, and I have no desire to make this ugly. But calling off the engagement and pulling our investments are non-negotiable."
Calling off the engagement and pulling investments would not only damage the Norwood Family; the negative impact on the Sterling Family would also be immense.
But Kian Sterling was the kind of man who carried the ruthless ferocity of someone who had clawed his way back from hell.
He wasn't afraid of losing.
The main branch, however, which held little real power in the Norwood Family, couldn't afford to lose.
Justin Norwood personally poured tea for the younger man who could command the winds and rains of the financial world.
"Chairman Sterling, Miss Sutton is a beautiful woman. Declan was just momentarily confused, his head was turned. It's a stretch to say he betrayed Celia. I guarantee that from this day forward, I will keep a tight leash on my wayward son and never allow him to engage in such foolishness again."
"Mr. Norwood, there's no need to whitewash the situation," Kian Sterling said, unmoved. "You must have heard about my relationship with Summer Sutton recently. In the eyes of the world, your son's actions have humiliated my sister and my close confidante at the same time. Calling off the engagement and pulling our investments is only the first step. This is far from over."
Justin Norwood was frantic. "Chairman Sterling, you can't do this! You just can't! Look, how about this? We'll give the Sterling Family those two plots of land in the North District as an apology. Our joint ventures are mutually beneficial, there's no need to pull out! The Norwood family may not have much else, but we have plenty of handsome men. If Declan isn't up to par, feel free to pick anyone else, Chairman Sterling."
"'Pick anyone?'" Kian Sterling's voice was frigid. He raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to Silas Norwood, who had ceded the stage to the main branch after the initial greetings. "Is that your decision, Mr. Norwood, or... is it Silas Norwood's?"
Silas Norwood stroked the black thumb ring on his finger, not answering right away.
The relatively peaceful atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.
Justin Norwood was already starting to babble. "It's my idea! If you don't think that's enough, Chairman Sterling, she can pick a few of them! She can date them all and just choose whoever she's most satisfied with in the end!"
In any case, the engagement could not be broken, no matter what.
"'Date them all?'" Kian Sterling let out a cold laugh. "Every last one of your Norwood family's spoiled, second-generation brats... what a bunch of worthless trash!"
Justin Norwood was indignant. "The Norwood family is a noble house with a legacy stretching back hundreds of years! We have plenty of exceptional young men..."
"That's enough." Silas Norwood's cool, calm voice cut in.
He glanced at his clueless older brother, his refined tone laced with a sharp edge. "A woman like Miss Sterling can have any man she wants. Do you think she can be insulted with the dregs of the Norwood family?"
Kian Sterling's expression relaxed slightly. He swirled the wine in his glass, his own expression unreadable as he waited for Silas to continue.
'Based on his years of dealing with the man, he knew Silas Norwood was not one to be easily persuaded.'
After a few seconds of silence, Silas Norwood pushed the annulment agreement back across the table, his deep eyes holding a hint of apology.
"The Norwood family was in the wrong. However, from a family standpoint, this marriage cannot be called off."
Kian Sterling nonchalantly picked up the agreement, raising an eyebrow.
"Silas Norwood... are you declaring war on The Sterlings?"
"I wouldn't dare." Silas's cool gaze, seemingly devoid of personal feeling, rested gently on Celia's face. "My nephew Declan Nash acted foolishly. How about... you replace him with me?"