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

Chapter 63: A Night of Three People

Before Celia could speak, a large hand reached over and gently took the phone from her grasp. Silas Norwood’s expression was calm, with no hint of embarrassment at being caught. His voice was level as he spoke:

"Kade. Something you need this late?"

Kian Sterling’s sharp gaze swept over his damp hair and loose bathrobe.

Every man knew what it meant to be showering in a young woman’s room. But Silas Norwood wasn’t Declan Nash; intimidation wouldn’t work on him. Kian Sterling bypassed the interrogation, casually picking up a new document, his tone placid.

"There’s an implementation issue with the project we discussed last time at Sterling Manor."

Silas Norwood’s gaze lowered. He grunted noncommittally and sat down on the sofa, knowing he was in for a long talk. ’I just wonder how long it will be.’

"Go ahead."

"There are problems with the supply chain. The data from the second party lacks authenticity, and there are oversights in the geological survey report for that parcel of land..."

These were matters for CEOs and department heads, not something the two top bosses needed to discuss personally.

But Kian Sterling had brought them up, and Silas Norwood played along. The true intention was crystal clear to both of them.

The night grew deep and still.

The heads of two financial empires settled in for a long, drawn-out video call, maintaining the pretense of discussing business. Celia had been tense at first, but she gradually relaxed when she realized it had nothing to do with her. She brought Silas some tea, then finished her own shower with a relaxed mind and climbed into bed.

Silas Norwood’s voice was cool yet gentle, while Kian Sterling’s was deep and magnetic. Both were perfect for lulling someone to sleep.

At three in the morning, the RUSTLING from Celia’s side of the room ceased completely, replaced by the faint sound of even breathing.

The two men, still supposedly discussing the project, fell silent in perfect unison.

The atmosphere grew heavy in the silence.

A few seconds later.

"She’s asleep," Silas Norwood said in a low voice, glancing at the gentle rise and fall of the blanket.

Kian Sterling’s stern face was hidden in shadow, his expression unreadable. "Silas Norwood, remember your promise."

"I have no intention of having our wedding night early." Silas Norwood was unintimidated, his gentle voice laced with an authority that brooked no argument. "But it’s normal for an engaged couple to be affectionate. Kade, you need to respect our boundaries."

Kian Sterling held his gaze for a long moment before letting out a cold scoff. His tone softened, however, as he added with a hint of weariness, "She kicks off her blankets. Make sure she doesn’t catch a cold."

The call finally ended.

Silas Norwood plugged the phone into its charger, then leaned over to gaze at Celia’s face for a moment. She was sleeping right on the edge of the bed, the blanket already half off. Her breathing was light, and she was sound asleep.

Silas Norwood gently lifted her and moved her to the middle of the bed. After tucking the blanket back around her, he poured himself a glass of wine and spent the rest of the night watching the tide from the floor-to-ceiling window.

「Metropia. The Majestic.」

Justin Norwood, head of the main branch of the Norwood family, and Mrs. Norwood burst into Declan Nash’s villa in the middle of the night. The butler had called them in a panic, reporting that the young master had brought several online influencers home and was dead drunk. Knowing Declan’s defiant temper, the old butler hadn’t dared to intervene, but he feared for the young man’s health and had reported the situation to Justin Norwood with a heavy heart.

Justin Norwood’s stomach churned with anger just thinking about his defiant son.

They had finally convinced him to go to Solisia to cool off, only for him to turn the place upside down. On several occasions, senior executives there had even filed complaints with Silas Norwood. It had taken two weeks to get him to settle down, but then he’d taken advantage of the long weekend to sneak back on a private jet, looking for trouble at Sterling Manor. He hadn’t found any, but a single glimpse of that Sterling girl had apparently flipped a switch, and he was back to his self-destructive behavior...

If Declan weren’t his only son, Justin Norwood would have kicked him out of the family ages ago.

The villa’s sunroom reeked of alcohol. The moment Justin Norwood and Mrs. Norwood stepped inside, they saw Declan in a state of debauchery. He was slumped drunkenly on the carpet, flanked by two women. Both had long, curly hair and wore revealing, brightly colored clothes. And both of their faces bore a striking resemblance to Celia Sterling.

"Cece, give your brother a kiss," Declan slurred, his seductive eyes lazily falling on the woman to his left.

The woman leaned in sensually and gave his neck a provocative nip. But Declan’s face instantly went cold. He wiped the lipstick from his neck in disgust. "Get out!"

’His Cece would never be so forward.’

He then turned to the woman on his right and poured the rest of his red wine down her front. "You. Get angry for me."

The woman’s face froze, but she didn’t dare show a hint of anger, managing only a soft, fawning smile. Declan’s eyes turned to ice. He slammed the wine glass onto the floor. "You get out, too! All of you, get the hell out! You’re pathetic imitations, not even close! What makes you think you’re worthy of copying Cece’s face?!"

Mrs. Norwood’s heart hammered in her chest. "Declan, what do you think you’re doing!"

Declan glanced over hazily but didn’t say a word.

The old butler explained in a low voice, "They’re two very popular makeup influencers. The young master summoned them and had them put on makeup to look like Miss Sterling..."

Mrs. Norwood’s face went pale with rage as she looked at the two vulgar women. "Go! Get them out of here! Do you know who Declan is? From now on, keep all these trashy women out. Don’t let a single one through the door!"

The two women were quickly escorted out.

Mrs. Norwood looked at her miserable son, a mix of anger and heartbreak washing over her as tears streamed down her face. "Our Dec... what did we do to deserve this..."

"Quiet," Justin Norwood said, closing his eyes. "Arrange a flight. He’s leaving tomorrow. And assign him bodyguards. I want them watching him around the clock in Solisia. He is not to return to Metropia without authorization again."

Wiping away her tears, Mrs. Norwood looked at her dazed son. "Help him to bed. And call a doctor. I can’t imagine how much he’s had to drink..."

"Don’t touch me! I need to find Cece!" Declan pulled out his phone, his fingers dialing a number from pure muscle memory.

After a long pause, someone answered but didn’t speak.

"Baby..." Declan called out several times, his voice thick with tears and pleading. "Baby, please come back to me, okay?"

「Seraphina.」

By the cruise ship’s panoramic window, Silas Norwood stood holding Celia’s phone, his expression impassive as he listened to the caterwauling for "Baby" on the other end.

He wasn’t supposed to answer this call.

It was past four in the morning, and the girl in the bed was sleeping soundly. The phone, however, kept ringing incessantly. He glanced at the caller ID, saw it was one of his own family members, and casually answered.

The endless stream of "Baby" was utterly cloying.

Silas remained silent.

Declan’s voice grew even more slurred, his thoughts jumbled, and he started spewing all sorts of nonsense:

"He’s over thirty! What’s so good about an old man? At his age, who knows how many women he’s had? Baby, come back. If you come back, I’ll never leave your side again. I’ll do anything you say..."

Silas’s patience wore thin.

A clear, frigid voice, laced with an icy chill, exploded in Declan’s ear:

"This is Silas Norwood."