Despite saying all of that, the elderly man still felt unsatisfied and added, “Tell them to go back to where they came from. I don’t want those eyesores around!”
“But Old Mr. Fairchild,” the butler said in a hushed voice, “They’re already here. Furthermore, I heard that…”
The butler continued whispering into Rufus’ ear, and only then did the latter’s tensed-up expression soften.
Nonetheless, his tone was still ice-cold. “Just let them wait outside for now as this matter requires the agreement of both Xavier and Winnie.”
Xavier and Winnie exchanged glances with one another, feeling taken aback when their names were brought up.
Despite not knowing what was going on and what they were about to face, Xavier gave Winnie a reassuring look and took the initiative to ask his grandfather, “Grandpa, what is it that made you so angry? Does it concern me and Winnie?”
“It has nothing to do with you two. You’re both good kids!” Rufus got increasingly angry while thinking of the predicament they were in. “It’s all because of that cousin of yours, Nate! He knows you’re here, so he’s come to ask for forgiveness.”
A crease appeared between Xavier’s brows. “You knew about it, Grandpa?”
Glancing at his grandson, Rufus retorted, “How can I not? How long are you planning to keep it a secret from me? If it weren’t for your Aunt Beatrice, I’d still be in the dark right now.”
“Nate crossed the line. Last time, we were all fooled by him, and I doubt his apology will be sincere. His tactics are getting increasingly nastier. He clearly wants you to meet a fate that’s worse than death!” he continued.
“Indeed,” said Xavier with a frown. “However, he’s a direct descendent of the Fraser family and Aunt Beatrice’s favorite. Uncle Jonathan also dropped by the office and talked to me about it. Perhaps we can sweep this incident under the rug.”
“What did he say to you? He’s considered your elder, but in the corporate world, the Fairchild family and the Fraser family are two different entities. There’s no reason for us to take the short end of the stick.”
After giving Rufus a slight nod, Xavier reassured him, “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’m well aware of where to draw the line.”
Keeping one’s personal relationships out of their professional life was something Rufus had taught Xavier since the latter was a young boy. Satisfied with his grandson’s response, the patriarch of the Fairchild family exclaimed, “Good! What did you two discuss? Is it about the gold mine?”
“Yes.” Xavier nodded. “They’ve made a huge compromise.”
“All right. I’ll swing by the company tomorrow. Let me have a look at the proposal then,” said Rufus in a tone laced with content.
“Why don’t I bring it to you? I wouldn’t want you to overexert yourself, Grandpa.”
“It’s fine. Besides, going out every now and then will be good for me.”
Rufus’ words had essentially confirmed his plans to drop by the company the next day.
Once that was settled, he instructed the butler, “You may let them in now.”
As soon as the butler had left, Rufus then called Winnie over with the intention of discussing the latter’s grandmother, Jacinta.
Jacinta had no idea what Nate had done to Xavier. Needless to say, she was not aware of the history between the Fairchild family and the Fraser family either. Hence, Rufus wanted to have her settled down in a separate room.
Winnie understood Rufus’ concerns. Hence, she brought her grandmother to another room.
After making sure Jacinta was comfortable, Winnie proceeded to switch on the TV in the room.
“Granny, why don’t you watch TV? You can go on your phone if none of the shows interest you. I’ll be back in a moment.”
Hearing that, Jacinta furrowed her brows slightly. “This is a matter between the two families. Do you have to be involved in it?”
Winnie’s tone was laced with a hint of seriousness as she explained, “The truth is, Xavier’s illness and everything that happened does concern me. Since I’m here tonight, it’s best if I step up for a bit. Don’t worry, Granny. I’ll be fine.”
“All right, then. Come back as soon as you can.”
“I will.” While Winnie was speaking, she received a message from Xavier. She scanned it quickly before saying to her grandmother, “I have to go now, Granny. It’s windier than usual tonight, so I’ll shut the windows for you.”
“Okay.” The wind was whistling outside. Jacinta walked over to shut the windows herself. “I can take care of it. Where did this wind come from anyway? It’s about to take the trees with it.”
“A typhoon has come onshore, affecting a couple of coastal cities. Avenport is often affected by typhoons during this season, and it might be slightly worse this year.”
While walking her granddaughter to the door, Jacinta said, “I got it, so go on now. Hurry back!”
Although Avenport was not a coastal city, it was often affected by typhoons during the windy season.
The wind on that particular night was stronger than usual. In fact, it was so strong that Winnie’s hair was all messed up the moment she stepped outside.
She walked along the Chanaean-styled cloister and quickly spotted Xavier, who was standing not too far away.
Beautiful crystal chandeliers embellished the cloister, swinging from side to side as the wind blew. In midst of the darkness of the night, the chandeliers shimmered, casting a warm golden light on the road ahead.
At the end of the cloister was an arched door that was adorned by fresh flowers. Roses were blooming beautifully during this season and hung right above Winnie’s head as she stepped through the door.
Xavier, however, was much taller than the petite Winnie and the door. Hence, he had no choice but to take a few steps to the side and leaned against a wall in order to avoid the fresh flowers hanging above the arched door.
The man kept his hands in his pockets, exuding a languid and casual vibe. Nonetheless, his eyes never left the woman who was slowly approaching him.
In the faint glow that bathed the entire cloister, Xavier looked exceptionally stunning like the lone moon that hung in the night sky. An air of mystery and calmness enveloped him, and his eyes were shimmering as if an entire galaxy of stars were trapped in them.
Looking at the man, Winnie could not help but chuckle.
When she was a little girl, she dreamt of her prince charming too.
However, she would have never expected that the man she’d end up with would turn out to be a ladykiller—a man so handsome that he could make all the women swoon. Winnie was sure she would not be able to forget him even if a century were to pass.
“Did you wait long?” asked Winnie as she finally arrived at his side.
“Not at all.” Xavier straightened his posture and lifted a hand to tidy up Winnie’s disheveled hair. After that, he lowered his head and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.
He wanted to pull away after the kiss, but of course, Winnie was not about to give him that chance.
She lifted her slender arms and wrapped them around Xavier’s neck. Looking at his lips, Winnie could not help but wonder if they were as sweet as the rose petals above their heads.
“Hey, are you planning to leave right after kissing me? Well, I won’t let you!” After a deep passionate kiss, Winnie lifted her hand and gently pinched Xavier’s face.
The man was still panting after the kiss, his eyes ablaze with excitement. “You’re such a little minx.”
“Oh?” The corner of Winnie’s lips lifted into a smile as she gently grazed her finger against the man’s Adam’s apple. As she spoke, her tone was so sweet that it almost bewitched him. “Tell me, what sort of minx am I? The sort of minx that would accidentally suck your all energy out of you by accident?”
“No.” Grabbing ahold of her slender hand, Xavier uttered in a low voice, “You looked just like a seductress when you made your way toward me.”
Her strides were sexy and even more so when the faint moonlight cast a gentle glow on her.
Whether it was her hair that cascaded down her back or her long skirt that swayed as she moved, Xavier’s heart trembled with her every move.
She was slowly captivating him, getting him all hot and aroused.
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