All of this was so absurd, Sherman could barely process it.
If it weren''t for the fact that the two men in front of him were actually his
grandfather and the well-known Mr. Watson, Sherman would have assumed Ste had hired actors to y a prank.
But then Nicolle started naming her outrageous terms, and Mr. Burton''s patience snapped.
"Ste, you can have your pick of any eligible bachelor in the Burton family," Mr. Burton dered. "If you''re willing to marry into our family, I''ll give you a ten percent share of Burton Group!"
The Burton Group''s shares were scattered among family members. Even Mr. Burton himself only held about fifteen percent. The offer was staggering.
Sherman and Karl''s expressions changed at once.
"Grandpa!" Sherman protested. "How can you give such an important share to an outsider?"
Right now, Sherman was convinced his grandfather had lost his mind.
Mr. Burton shot him a sidelong nce. "If she marries into the family, she''s not an outsider anymore, is she?"
Sherman let out augh-bitter and incredulous.
"I may not be the most brilliant in the Burton family, but you want me to marry this country bumpkin? Grandpa, have youpletely lost it?"
Mr. Burton''s eyebrows shot up. "Watch your mouth! Who taught you to be so disrespectful?!"
"But it''s true, she-"
Sherman didn''t get to finish. Ste cut him off, her voice cool and steady.
"Mr. Burton, I''m from Neo-Vespera, right here in Novaris-not the countryside. And I graduated from the College of Music and Fine Arts at Neo-Vespera University, one of the world''s most prestigious schools. As for the university you attended, Mr. Burton, if I''m not mistaken, it doesn''t hold a candle to Neo-Vespera University. So I really don''t know what gives someone with a less impressive diploma the right to call me uneducated."
Her gaze was icy, her words unyielding. She showed no intention of backing down or ying nice, even with Mr. Burton present.
"Now, I''d like you to apologize for your inappropriate remarks."
Neo-Vespera University? Sherman stared at Ste, genuinely surprised.
Wasn''t this the same woman everyone said had terrible grades, who only squeaked into some third-rate college thanks to the Williams family''s money? Ste could practically read Sherman''s mind. She sneered.
Pride and prejudice-they weighed on the human heart like a mountain.
She had never once imed to be a poor student. Who, exactly, had started that rumor about her barely getting into university through bribes?
Sherman frowned, ncing at Mr. Burton.
Mr. Burton spoke with authority. "Ste''s right. Apologize to her, now."
Sherman was thrown by his grandfather''s stance.
"Grandpa, I''m your own grandson. Why are you siding with her? You''re not really
under some kind of spell from this woman, are you?"
A sh of disdain crossed Mr.
Burton''s face. "Don''t go around
telling people you''re my grand
nov
With brains like yours, it''s embarrassing."
Sherman was left speechless.
Karl, standing off to the side, looked like he wanted to speak up, but Mr. Burton
fixed him with a cold nce.
"Karl, you''d do well to stay out of business you know nothing about."
Karl promptly fell silent.
Mr. Burton waved a hand. "Sherman, apologize to Ste now, or don''t bother calling me your grandfather anymore."
The words hit like a p.
Sherman''s face paled. He didn''t dare argue any further. Head down, he muttered, "Ste, I''m sorry."
Ste''s expression remained calm
and indifferent. She didn''t say a word, nor did she give any sign of forgiving him. She made it clear she was in no mood to let Sherman off the hook.
With Mr. Burton watching, Sherman couldn''t lose his temper. He could only try
again, this time more sincerely.
"Ste, I misjudged you. I apologize."
Humiliation burned in Sherman''s
chest. He was the one who''d been insulted, yet in the end, he was the one forced to apologize. It waspletely unfair.
Before Ste could respond, Skyler stepped in with a warm smile, skillfully
defusing the tension in the room.