My Fiancé's Scandals Never End, So I Married His Brother Instead

Chapter 34: What Goes Around, Comes Around

Hearing a familiar name, Celia Sterling lowered her head and subconsciously took one sip of her drink after another.

On the other end of the line, Declan Nash fell silent for a long moment. His voice, no longer fluent, came out slightly hoarse. "Uncle, maybe you and... you should get back to your business."

Silas Norwood had no intention of ending the video call. "That mining proposal you just mentioned—a few of your points lack data to back them up."

Now that the topic was broached, it was clear he had no intention of letting it go.

Declan Nash’s voice was languid. "Oh, I analyzed some of the local policies from recent years, starting the year before last..."

His voice trailed off intermittently, a clear sign he was severely distracted and not performing at his best. By the time he finally managed to stumble through his explanation, his voice had grown even hoarser.

"Uncle, can we stop here for today?"

"Let’s hear your thoughts on the oil field’s strategic plan," Silas Norwood said, looking at his nephew. "The executives on your end spent over half a year developing that proposal, and you just rejected it wholesale. You owe them an explanation."

Declan Nash was silent for a moment. "There are two parts I feel are illogical..."

In the lounge area, Theo Chambers was chatting quietly with Celia Sterling. "Miss Sterling, if there’s anything you’d like to eat, please let me know. I can have it prepared for your next visit."

Celia Sterling gave a small "oh." "No, thank you. I’m watching my weight these days. I was actually planning on learning from your boss, who seems to live on air."

"’Learn from my boss?’ Theo Chambers thought of the large takeout orders he brought in for him every other day. ’He has a pretty big appetite and often has an extra meal in the dead of night.’"

Celia Sterling had only eaten with Silas Norwood twice: once a light, simple meal at The Dynasty Restaurant, and the other time a family dinner at Jade Orchid Manor. She recalled how the food in front of him had remained virtually untouched, and she gave Theo Chambers a peculiar look.

"Your definition of ’a big appetite’ seems a bit different from a normal person’s, Chief Assistant Chambers..."

Over on the call, Silas Norwood shot a quick glance at Theo Chambers. Though Theo didn’t understand why, he tactfully fell silent.

Things were not going well on Declan Nash’s end.

He’d barely regained his composure and was continuing his report in fits and starts when that bewitching voice came from the other side of the call again. It was a sweet, gentle voice that, despite having nothing to do with him anymore, still had the power to shatter his heart to pieces.

"Uncle." Declan Nash’s eyes turned red; he couldn’t take it anymore. "Can we continue this tomorrow?"

Watching his nephew’s distraught state, Silas Norwood waited a long moment before giving a faint nod. "Send me a copy of your analysis after the meeting."

As soon as he got the confirmation, Declan Nash practically fled.

Back in the office, Theo Chambers found his mind wandering.

Somehow, he was reminded of the time when the Eldest Young Master Norwood had been head over heels in love.

He remembered several video conferences back then that his boss had sat in on. The Eldest Young Master Norwood, usually so unrestrained, had always been completely perfunctory. He would constantly get distracted and, heedless of the professional setting, secretly chat with his girlfriend. The endless, clinging calls of "baby, baby" were enough to make Theo Chambers’ ears bleed. Yet, the Boss never said a word, acting as if he hadn’t heard. But the aura around him was like an impending avalanche, carrying a bone-deep chill.

Who could have imagined back then how the tables would turn, with the Eldest Young Master Norwood now the odd one out in love?

’He just wasn’t sure if his boss, who always favored swift action, had intentionally prolonged today’s meeting. But a man as noble and aloof as his boss surely wouldn’t stoop to bickering with a junior over a woman and settling old scores... right?’

The secretarial department quickly delivered the files from Solisia.

When he saw Silas Norwood’s gaze land on Celia Sterling, Theo Chambers quietly excused himself.

Celia Sterling sipped her juice while gazing at the scenery outside. Her hair was pinned up, and beneath her loose shawl, her delicate, smooth shoulder blades were faintly visible. Further down, her waist was so slender it looked as if it could be spanned by a single hand.

Silas Norwood forced himself to look away. He turned, retrieved a bottle of water, frozen nearly solid, from the refrigerator. With his back to Celia Sterling, he leaned against the fridge and drank with feigned elegance, but the heat stirring within him was not so easily quelled.

"Silas?" Celia Sterling’s confused voice came from behind him.

Silas Norwood took a moment to compose himself before casually setting down the ice water and walking over to Celia Sterling. "Mm, I was just lost in thought. My apologies."

He sat down opposite her, deliberately not looking at her.

"I brought you something to eat, Silas." Unaware that Silas Norwood had been zoning out, Celia Sterling pointed to the delicate pastries on the white coffee table. "This dessert shop is fantastic. I often get some for my brother, but I’m not sure if you’ll like them."

Silas Norwood didn’t have a sweet tooth, but hearing the anticipation in Celia Sterling’s voice, he replied warmly, "I do."

"We were originally supposed to have lunch," Celia Sterling said, checking the time on her phone, "but a jewelry brand under the Sterling Conglomerate has a new product launch at eleven, and I have to make an appearance."

"That’s alright, we can reschedule." Silas Norwood’s tone was gentle. "It’s going to be very windy in Metropia this afternoon. I’ve already asked Theo Chambers to get you a coat. Cece, please put it on before you go out."

"I have this..." Celia Sterling pointed to her shawl.

"It’s nothing but openwork," Silas Norwood said, his thoughts on the subtle fragrance wafting from the skin peeking through it. "What good will that do?"

When Celia Sterling left, she was wearing a coat that, despite being light and soft, completely covered her back.

Celia Sterling looked in the mirror for a long time. "It doesn’t match my dress."

Silas Norwood, as if he hadn’t heard, stood up. "I’ll take you."

"Aren’t you busy, Silas?"

Silas Norwood glanced at the thick pile of documents waiting for approval on his desk and said calmly, "Not busy."

At the product launch, Celia Sterling only made an appearance for a few minutes, spending most of her time seated in the VIP area. Silas Norwood had accompanied her to the venue and wasn’t in a hurry to leave. He stood in a discreet corner, watching the constant flash of cameras as she took the stage, and quietly instructed his bodyguard:

"Inform the media. From now on, her photos must be blurred."

He paused for a moment. "Pick out the clearest ones and send them to me."

After the launch event, reporters from several major media outlets were successively pulled aside for a "private chat" by two different groups of bodyguards. They all looked rather apprehensive as they left.

A reporter from an up-and-coming media outlet stared blankly at the handful of photos remaining on his high-definition camera.

"I took more than five hundred photos, and they deleted all but thirty or so. How am I supposed to report back to my editor?"

"You new here?" a reporter from another agency asked dismissively. "That woman you were shooting like your life depended on it? She’s the heiress to a conglomerate. All the major outlets were warned years ago not to post any photos of her online. Haven’t you seen? Even the Sterling Conglomerate’s official website only has one picture of her, and it’s blurred."

"But they copied our photos just now..."

A reporter from yet another outlet wasn’t surprised at all. "Before they order you to delete them, the Sterling Family’s bodyguards always copy any of the good, high-def shots. It’s standard procedure."

The reporter from the up-and-coming outlet was still baffled. "But there were two groups. Besides the Sterlings’ bodyguards, who was the other one?"

"Who else could it be?" a reporter in the know lowered his voice. "Didn’t you see the crest on their lapels? That’s the final boss of our industry."

Whether they understood or not, everyone fell silent.