Daring to belittle Adrian as a fool, huh?
In a few years, when Adrian rises to become the undisputed overlord of the business world, she would regret those words so deeply she would wish she could tear out her own tongue.
Lina made a silent decision—until that day came, she would protect Adrian's dignity at all costs.
Vivian met Lina's shining gaze and saw her own distorted, frightened reflection staring back at her. A chill ran down her spine.
Elder Mr. Black watched Lina with open approval, deeply impressed by her unyielding resolve.
Nick had always said his younger daughter was crude, uneducated, and stubbornly arrogant. Coupled with the incident three days ago when Lina was injured, even Elder Mr. Black had been worried.
Yet now, seeing her calm decisiveness and unwavering stance, every lingering doubt in his heart vanished.
Elder Mr. Black turned his gaze toward Vivian, his eyes filled with unmistakable disdain. A sharp-tongued young woman like this—if left undisciplined—would only grow more reckless with time.
Lina caught the certainty in Elder Mr. Black's eyes, her heart tightening.
Weren't wealthy families supposed to value gentle, poised, elegant young ladies? Why, then, was there approval for her—someone unafraid to raise her hand and strike?
If she'd known Evan and Elder Mr. Black would be here today, she might as well have dressed like a punk and offended everyone in one go.
Vivian turned toward Evan, her eyes brimming with grievance.
Though Evan doted on his sister, Lina's words had shaken him to the core.
No matter how tempting Cole Pharmaceuticals' profits were, their sales channels depended heavily on the Black Group. Offending the Black Family would spell disaster.
"Apologize to Elder Mr. Black. Now," Evan signaled urgently.
Never in her life had Vivian been so humiliated—especially not by Lina. Seeing that even her brother wouldn't shield her, she turned desperately to Nick.
"Uncle Nick, didn't you teach Lina that once she returned to the Gray Family Residence, she shouldn't behave like she did outside? Look at her—hitting people right in front of you!"
Nick's expression darkened. He sneered coldly.
"Vivian, if not for your parents' sake, I would discipline you myself."
Publicly sowing discord between the Gray and Black families—one slap was already lenient.
Adrian had long been a subject of quiet mockery within the Black Family due to his blindness.
Whispering behind closed doors was one thing. But for an outsider to ridicule him openly? That was courting disaster.
Tia hurried over and pulled Vivian back, glaring at Lina.
"Vivian is still young. If she's wrong, you should correct her with words. How could you hit her?"
Finally, someone was defending her.
Vivian clutched Tia's hand, nodding fiercely.
Lina's gaze shifted—sharp, playful, and dangerous—as it landed on Tia.
"So youth excuses mocking one's elders?" Lina asked coolly. "Or when a guest openly insults someone my family respects, should I simply pretend not to hear?"
Vivian clenched her teeth. 'Respected elders'? What nonsense.
Lina called Adrian a 'blind man' all the time—why couldn't she?
Just as Vivian opened her mouth to retort, Tia pulled her aside.
"Lina had a client meeting today. She might have been mistreated and is in a bad mood."
"So she vents her anger on me?" Vivian snapped indignantly.
Tia lowered her voice further.
"If you keep causing trouble, how will your brother bring up the marriage proposal? Elder Mr. Black seems quite fond of Lina. If he suggests Lina marry Adrian, Evan's plans will completely fall apart."
Vivian's fury slowly morphed into something else as she glanced back at Lina.
Good.
The more chaos, the better.
If Lina were forced to marry Adrian, she'd like to see how long Lina could keep pretending to be noble.
"I'll take you to put ice on your face. It's swollen," Tia urged, tugging Vivian's arm.
She hadn't expected the opposite reaction.
"I won't go!" Vivian snapped.
She shook off Tia's hand, stormed toward Lina, and raised her arm.
Evan shot to his feet, grabbing Vivian mid-motion.
"Have you had enough?!"
"You're yelling at me?" Vivian's eyes reddened instantly. "Brother, you're siding with an outsider over your own sister?"
"What outsider? She is—" Evan's head throbbed with anger as he lifted his hand threateningly.
"Go on, hit me!" Vivian sobbed, throwing herself at him. "Just pretend you don't have a sister! You might as well kill me!"
Evan's chest heaved.
"Uncle Nick, Elder Mr. Black… I'm sorry. I'll take her home first."
Nick frowned and waved dismissively.
Seeing the situation spiral beyond control, Tia clenched her fists in frustration. She was too late to stop it.
Elder Mr. Black studied Lina quietly, a faint smile forming on his stern face.
"Lina," he said gently, "do you know why I came today?"
Lina hesitated, then shook her head.
"Three days ago, your uncle visited as a guest," Elder Mr. Black said. "He mentioned a marriage alliance between our two families. What do you think?"
"…"
Damn it, Lina cursed inwardly.
What did she think? She had never considered it—not even once.
Nick gestured toward Lina.
"Do you want to—"
Adrian's position within the Black Family was pitifully low. Marrying into that family would invite ridicule from outsiders and insiders alike.
With Lina's temperament, she wouldn't last a month before causing irreversible trouble.
Nick didn't care if Lina suffered. As long as Tia remained safe and untouched, everything else was irrelevant.
Still, another thought crept into his mind—Cole Pharmaceuticals' shares.
Should Tia marry Evan instead?
No… that would be unfair to her.
Tia deserved someone better.
Tia herself was conflicted.
She certainly didn't want to marry Adrian. But if Lina did, what would become of her plans with Evan?
Even if Adrian were powerless, Lina wouldn't be an easy pawn under his watch.
Lina was equally torn.
Refusing to marry Evan didn't mean she wanted to marry Adrian.
He already despised her. Becoming his fiancée would only deepen the misunderstanding between them—perhaps even worse than in their previous lives.
Elder Mr. Black fixed his sharp gaze on Lina, his voice gentle.
"If you do not wish it, I will not force you."
Tia finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Evan had told her Lina was deeply in love with him. If Elder Mr. Black relented, Lina would surely refuse.
Nick also relaxed.
As long as Tia wasn't the one marrying Adrian, he didn't care who did.
Lina didn't look at Nick.
Instead, she turned toward Elder Mr. Black.
"Thank you, Grandfather," Lina said softly, a faint smile curving her lips. "I'm willing."
For Adrian to reclaim his place within the Black Family, he needed more than opportunity—he needed the backing of powerful elders.
And Elder Mr. Black was the best choice.
In her previous life, Adrian had died saving her.
This time, even if there was little she could do, she would at least help him return to his rightful peak.
After all, Adrian didn't like her.
Once he recovered his sight and power, he could end the marriage whenever he wished.
She would consider it repayment—for the life he had once given for hers.
Even if, in the end, she hadn't lived much longer than he did.