Lance thought, ''Damn! This old man is really blunt today.''


    Wyatt continued, "And also, neither of your sons is Amelia''s type. So why not pick one who''s a better


    match for her?"


    Lance wanted to keep discussing it, but when he saw that Wyatt didn''t want to continue the


    conversation, he could only sigh in frustration.


    Charles always enjoyed socializing with women. When his leg wasn''t injured, he fancied himself as a


    casanova. He always had a knack for charming girls with his slick talk. Since Amelia didn''t immediately


    turn him down, he tried hard to entertain her with his witty remarks.


    But Amelia was different from any other girls he had met. She always appeared uninterested in what he


    said, showing no interest at all. He couldn''t seem to get through to her, no matter how hard he tried. His


    throat felt dry, and frustration simmered inside him.


    Charles thought, ''She''s just the daughter of a mistress. If it wasn''t for my injury, why would I choose


    her? What''s so special about her anyway?!''


    Astrid could see that things were not going well and felt worried for her brother. Some sneaky tactics


    were needed to make this work.


    At that moment, Charles''s secretary rushed over, but Astrid intervened. "Hey, where do you think you''re


    headed? Can''t you see Charles is upied?"


    "Ms. Iverson, there''s a little problem." The secretary''s words were vague.


    "Just spit it out. Why beat around the bush?"


    "It''s... Ms. Thompson''s previous secretary. He''s waiting outside right now."


    Astrid''s eyes shed with a sinister look. "Steven?"


    "That''s right! That Steven guy! Isn''t he the one who''s into Ms. Amelia too? I have a feeling he''s here to


    cause trouble for Young Master Charles. So I wanted to give him a heads-up and figure out how to deal


    with it. Right now, he can''t just walk in without an invitation, but if Ms. Thompson gets involved, she''ll


    probably help him out. Then Young Master Charles will be in a really tough spot, right?" The secretary


    was a loyalckey, always thinking about what''s best for his boss.


    "Hmm, you''ve done well. I''ll handle this matter. You can leave Charles alone for now," Astrid said in a


    rxed manner.


    "Yes, Ms. Iverson."


    After the secretary left, Astrid''s eyes gleamed with mischief as she pulled out her phone and sent a


    message to Charles.


    [Astrid: Hey Charles, yourpetition is here trying to mess things up. I''ll handle it for you. How are


    you going to show your gratitude?]


    [Charles: Little sis, haven''t you always had your eye on that ruby-studded ne? I''ll get it for you.]


    [Astrid: Oh! Thanks so much, Charles- XOXO!]


    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    [Charles: But since he''se knocking, it wouldn''t be right for our Iverson family''s hospitality to let him


    leave empty-handed.]


    Astrid replied with an "okay" gesture and a sly smile ying on her lips.


    The vi was brightly lit inside, while the outside was cold and deserted. Steven''s phone battery died,


    and his shaking fingers nearly shattered the screen.


    The brilliant lights felt like sharp des, cutting into his heart over and over again.


    Without an invitation, he could only wait outside. He could have called Be to get in, but he hesitated


    because this was a personal matter and he didn''t want to involve her.


    Steven nced downward, his throat bobbing as he battled with feelings of inadequacy and remorse.


    Was he simply reaching too high?


    The person he loved was inside. He missed her so much that he thought he might go crazy. Yet the


    harsh reality of his status left him stuck outside the fortress walls, unable to even see her. "Hey there,


    who are you? You look quite familiar."