Ruben’s voice was steady, but his tone was cold. “Briar, I heard from Larry that you’re bringing Ashton home tomorrow<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Briar nced at Ashton and nodded. “Yes. We’re flying out tonight and will arrive around three or four tomorrow afternoon.”


    On the other end of the line, Ruben paused for a few seconds before replying, “Got it. Travel safely.”


    After Ruben hung up, Ashton asked Briar, “Why do I feel like your uncles have already torn me to shreds several times, and I haven’t even arrived yet?”


    Briar chuckled. “What? Scared? Are you still going to dare propose in front of my uncles?”


    Ashton pinched Briar’s smug cheek. “What’s there to be afraid of? A little challenge like this won’t stop me.”


    Briar just smiled and said nothing. ‘A little challenge?”


    Whaty before Ashton was no small challenge, but two formidable forces.


    Before she turned 18, her uncles wouldn’t even let her date. Now, not only had Ashton whisked her away, but he also wanted to marry her. Her uncles were probably at home sharpening their knives.


    Everything was ready. They were just waiting for their direct flight to Qathana that night.


    Just before they were about to leave, Briar was tagged in her private group chat. She opened the WhatsApp group and saw it was a message from Louie Gagher, the admin of their exclusive three–person chat.


    Louie: [Briar, I heard you’reing back to Qathana?]


    Louie Gagher was the most powerful fighter at the DDC Vanguard Base and the leader of the elite instructors at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. His whereabouts were always a mystery, and he rarely appeared in the group chat.


    For him to break his usual silence and message first meant something big was about to happen.


    Briar answered honestly: [Yeah, I’m taking my boyfriend to meet my family.]


    After she sent the message, Louie hadn’t replied yet, but it drew out another lurker from the group.


    [Boyfriend? You mean Ashton<b>, </b>the youngest billionaire in Dasmieca? Briar, aren’t you afraid your two uncles will tear him apart if you take him home now?]


    Briar: <b>[</b>It’s not that serious, is it? He seems well–prepared.]


    Louie: [When you get back to Qathana, find a chance to return to the base. I have something to tell you.]


    Briar: [Got it.]


    <b>12:54 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>20 </b>


    The group


    Ian<b>. </b>


    :


    <b>66 </b>


    35 vouchers


    chat quickly fell silent. Briar put her phone away and, when Ashton wasn’t looking, shot a look at


    Ian hurried over. “Briar, what’s up?”


    Briar crossed her arms and looked at Ian. “Did you leak the news to the base that we’re returning to Qathana?”


    Ian’s cheerful expression faltered, and he asked guiltily, “Yeah, wh… what’s wrong?”


    “Who did you tell?” Briar asked.


    Ian said, “I didn’t tell anyone. I just… I just mentioned in our instructors‘ group chat that you were returning to Qathana…”


    Briar was speechless.


    Ian was one of the five main instructors at the DDC Vanguard Base. Their instructors‘ group chat included the only female instructor, Este Farley. Este was best friends with Mollie Campbell, the wife of the head elite instructor, Louie, and they told each other everything.


    In other words, if Mollie knew she was returning to Qathana, that meant Louie knew as well.


    No wonder Louie had specifically tagged her in the group chat. Considering the uing annual mercenary training at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, Briar thought with resignation, ‘Louie is using this as an opportunity to drag me back for some grunt work!‘


    Briar nced <i>at </i>Ashton walking ahead of her. ‘What excuse could Ie up with for disappearing for half a month without arousing his suspicion?‘ she thought.


    Sensing her gaze, Ashton turned around. With one hand in his pocket, he reached out to her. Once she put her hand in his, he took it and tucked it into his coat pocket. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Nervous?”


    Briar chuckled, tracing his palm with her index finger. “How could I be? I’m not the one who’ll be in trouble, so why would I be nervous<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Ashton tightened his grip on the fingers that were unknowingly teasing him in his palm. “Let’s make a bet. 1 bet your two uncles won’t give me a hard time tomorrow; they’ll even see me off with a smile.”


    Briar scoffed. “Ashton<b>, </b>it’s good to be confident, but overconfidence often backfires.”


    Ashton had just stolen their precious niece, and he expected her two uncles to see him off with a smile.


    “So, let’s make a bet. If you win, you can name any condition.” Ashton’s eyes held a captivating glint.


    Briar agreed without hesitation. “Deal! If I lose, you can name a condition too, and I won’t back out.”


    They boarded the ne, and by the time theynded at a private airstrip in Qathana, both were still convinced the other would lose<b>. </b>


    *****


    <b>12:55 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>20 </b>


    :


    (66


    E35 vouchers


    More than a decade of wealth umtion had ced the Grant family on the list of global billionaires.


    Theymanded a vast business empire in northern Qathana. While the Grant family’s industries were not as all–epassing as the Wade family’s, they had almostpletely monopolized the entertainment industry, one of theirter ventures<b>. </b>


    So, the Grant family had settled in a viplex in the most prosperousmercial center in the north.


    Briar owned a vi worth 30 million dors, which the Grant family patriarch, Zeke, had personally purchased for her.


    However, when Briar brought Ashton home today, it was to the house where Ruben and Larry lived.


    The house staff had been busy since early that morning, preparing all of Briar’s favorite dishes. As for Ashton’s preferences, her two uncles considered them unimportant.


    <i>The </i>family driver was already waiting at the airport. After picking up Briar and Ashton, he drove them straight home.


    Laughing, Briar pulled Ashton out of the car and called out cheerfully to Ruben and Larry, who were standing at the main entrance, “Uncles, we’re back!”


    Ashton smoothly followed suit. “Hello, Uncles. I’m Ashton.”


    Larry was polite enough to nod at Ashton. Ruben, however,pletely ignored him. He took Briar’s hand, just as he always had, and led her into the house.


    Ashton stared at his empty palm.


    That confirmed it. Ruben really did not like him.


    Larry patted Ashton on the shoulder. “Don’t take it to heart. What do you expect when you’re the one trying to steal the Grant family’s most cherished treasure!”


    Ashton shook off his surprise and nodded. “I understand. If someone stole away my future daughter, I would look even more upset than her uncle.”


    Larry narrowed his eyes. ‘What did he mean by that? He hasn’t even officially won the girl over, and he is already thinking about whether they would have a son or a daughter?‘


    What Larry didn’t know was that Ashton hadn’t just decided on having a son or a daughter; he had even picked out their names.


    The trunk was filled with gifts Ashton had brought. Since Ruben didn’t wee him, he painstakingly helped the staff carry the gifts into the house, acting with great diligence.


    <b>12:55 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>20