"He was only saying it casually, but I took it to heart," Mr. Valentine sighed, looking at Seth Valentine. "A pity I was never fated to have a daughter, only this brat, Seth."
"Later, I told Owen Westgate that it wasn't going to happen in our generation. But in the next, if he had a grandson and I had a granddaughter, we would definitely unite our families through marriage. He smiled and readily agreed."
"Later on, after the war was won, he returned to Aethelgard to go into politics. I had planned to be his secretary, to run errands for him, which would have given me peace of mind. But he told me there was no future in being a secretary for life. He saw I had a talent for business and sent me south to Veridia to make my fortune."
"If it weren't for Owen Westgate's help, the Valentine Family wouldn't be what it is today. I've remembered the debt I owe my old friend Westgate my entire life."
"But as time went on, with one family in the north and the other in the south, each with our own ventures, we didn't see each other as often as before."
"It's a shame, though. The old fellow passed away too soon to see our children get engaged."
He raised his glass, his eyes growing moist. "Come, this toast is to him, and to our two families finally becoming one!"
Glasses clinked in the air. The elders drained their cups, their faces etched with somber reflection.
Annelise Valentine was suddenly moved.
A hail of bullets, entrusting each other with their lives, trading a life for a life... These concepts were so far removed from her own twenty-two years of privilege, yet her grandfather's story made them feel immediate and real.
She had heard her father mention that her grandfather's life was saved by Mr. Westgate, but she'd always assumed it was something simple—maybe he'd pulled him aside on the battlefield, or provided some cover as they weathered a storm together.
She had never imagined the truth was so brutal—that Mr. Westgate had traded his future ability to have children, and nearly his own life, for her grandfather's survival.
And in return, her grandfather had carried him on his back, carving a path to survival out of a mountain of corpses and a river of blood.
'In the end, the Valentine family… really does owe the Westgate family an unrepayable debt of gratitude.'
Suddenly, she found the wine hard to swallow.
'She had originally planned to use this family dinner, with elders from both sides present, to bring up calling off the engagement.'
'Even if they all disagreed, at least she would have made her stance clear, letting everyone know she was unwilling.'
'But she never expected her grandfather to suddenly recount a story like this...'
She wasn't ungrateful, nor did she have a heart of stone. On the contrary, she understood. She had truly taken it all in.
'How could she possibly bring up breaking the engagement now?'
'Was she supposed to stand up in front of everyone and negate the promise her grandfather had spent his entire life honoring?'
'She couldn't do it,' she thought.
She silently picked up her chopsticks, placed a small piece of steamed fish in her mouth, but couldn't taste a thing.
After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation at the table grew lively. The elders chatted about old times and current events in a harmonious atmosphere.
Ruby Lynn noticed her fidgeting and spoke up during a lull in the conversation.
"Annelise, it looks like you and Jett are about done eating. Don't just sit there. Jett rarely gets to visit Veridia. Why don't you take him out for a walk? Show him the city's nightlife, play the part of a good host."
This was exactly what Annelise Valentine wanted to hear. She immediately agreed. "Okay! In that case, Uncle, Auntie, please enjoy your meal. I'll be taking my leave for a bit."
Ruby Lynn nodded in satisfaction, adding a reminder, "Go on, go on. Be safe and have fun. Oh, and remember to be back early tomorrow morning. We have an appointment to try on your engagement ceremony outfits. Don't be late."
She mumbled in response, "I know."
***
Just as she stepped out of the main gate of The Valentine Ancestral Home, she saw a red and yellow Bugatti sports car parked not far away.
Zane Patterson, dressed in simple black clothes, was leaning against the car door, smoking.
"Zane?" Annelise Valentine was surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Zane Patterson didn't answer. He stubbed out his cigarette and walked over.
Ignoring Jett Westgate behind her, he took off his own thin black jacket and draped it over Annelise Valentine's shoulders.
"It's cold at night. You should have worn something warmer."
"Come on, want to go for a drive?"
Seeing Zane Patterson, Annelise Valentine nodded with barely a moment's hesitation. "Okay."
The word had just left her lips, the sound still lingering in the air, when Jett Westgate yanked the jacket from Annelise Valentine's shoulders and threw it on the ground.
Then, he nonchalantly stepped on it.
"Baby, wear mine." As he spoke, he unbuttoned his suit jacket and draped it over Annelise Valentine, completely enveloping her in it.
Annelise Valentine was stunned. Zane Patterson was stunned too.
Annelise Valentine even wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her. She blinked, looking at Jett Westgate in disbelief.
"W-what did you call me?"
She repeated the nickname that gave her goosebumps, "B-Baby?!"
Jett Westgate's expression didn't change. He seemed to give it some serious thought before casually asking,
"What should I call you then?"
"Wifey?"
Annelise Valentine: "!!!"
"Jett Westgate! Don't just call me whatever you want!"
Jett Westgate seemed completely unfazed by Annelise Valentine's fury and Zane Patterson's dark mood, saying with a hint of triumph,
"We're getting engaged the day after tomorrow. How is that 'whatever I want'? Isn't it good to get used to the name ahead of time?"
After his initial shock, Zane Patterson's face had completely darkened.
He looked at Annelise Valentine. "Annelise, get in the car."
Jett Westgate's expression turned grim. He immediately grabbed her wrist. "You're not going!"
His voice wasn't loud, but the playful teasing he'd used to provoke them was gone, replaced by pure, absolute possessiveness.
Annelise Valentine's wrist ached in his grip. She struggled but couldn't break free.
"Jett Westgate! Let go! What right do you have to stop me?"
"So what if you're my fiancé? I have my own freedom! I can go with whoever I want! You can't control me!"
"On the grounds that you are my, Jett Westgate's, fiancée!" He paused, his grip tightening slightly as he pulled her closer.
"Your business is my business, of course."
With that, Jett Westgate flicked his wrist, pulling Annelise Valentine behind him.
He then used his own body to block her from Zane Patterson.
"Zane Patterson, you listen to me."
"I don't care what your relationship was before, and I don't care how long you've known each other."
"From now on, stay away from her. Otherwise... I wouldn't mind letting you experience the Westgate family's methods."
Behind him, Annelise Valentine's wrist throbbed with pain. "Jett Westgate! You're hurting me! Let go, do you hear me?!"
Jett Westgate seemed to have run out of patience, or perhaps he just couldn't be bothered to argue with her anymore.
With a sudden exertion of strength, he slid one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, lifting her into a princess carry!
Annelise Valentine cried out in surprise and, a second later, found herself in a firm embrace.
"Jett Westgate, put me down! You... you bastard!"
Jett Westgate held her steady, his steps unfaltering as he walked toward his car, ignoring her kicks and punches.
He glanced down at the struggling beauty in his arms. "Be good~"
"Be good, my ass! Jett Westgate, put me down!"