novelraw Chapter 184: They Had All Asked for Her Hand
Chapter 184: They Had All Asked for Her Hand
"Second Young Master, shall we go?" the assistant asked in a low voice.
"Who was that man just now, the one the family heads were calling ’Sterling’?"
"I just overheard a few of the family heads who were making excuses to leave. They were muttering that he seems to be Kian Sterling’s father, Franklin Sterling," the assistant said. "He doesn’t have any real power anymore, though. He just holds some non-voting shares in The Sterlings and has been living his own life overseas."
"Talk about perfect timing..." Second Young Master Sutton smiled. "Leak that piece of information to Franklin Sterling. As Celia Sterling’s biological father, he’s the most qualified person to verify it. We can just wait for the show to start in Port Sovereign and avoid the immense risk of provoking Kian Sterling and Silas Norwood."
He thought for a moment, then stressed, "Send the message in Wyatt Sutton’s name."
The board in Port Sovereign was already at the peak of its dissatisfaction with him. Several shareholders had even proposed letting Wyatt Sutton take over on a trial basis for a few months. In that case, he would just throw Wyatt Sutton into the fire...
The Chairman of Norwood Group was getting married, and the event was an unprecedented spectacle.
The wedding was held on a large cruise ship owned by Silas Norwood. After a month of preparations, the entire vessel was draped in red silk and covered with flowers symbolizing good fortune, creating a very festive atmosphere.
The cruise ship was large enough that every prominent family in Metropia received an invitation. In addition, major clients from other regions who had dealings with the Norwood and Sterling families, such as the Warren Family of Seraphina and the Miller Clan of Aeridor, also attended in person, with their leaders bringing along their direct descendants.
In a changing room on the cruise ship, Mrs. Norwood watched Declan Norwood meticulously put on his suit, and her eyes suddenly reddened.
Declan had arrived the previous night.
After not seeing him for some time, the typically devil-may-care Eldest Young Master Norwood seemed to have matured considerably. However, his handsome face had visibly thinned, and his once flamboyant, beautiful eyes had grown dim. From the moment he returned home last night until this morning, Mrs. Norwood had been trying every way she could to console her son. Yet Declan hadn’t said a word in response. He had just sat up all night, holding his best man’s suit, and then put it on flawlessly this morning.
This was the first time the rakish Eldest Young Master Norwood had ever worn a suit. Compared to his usual dazzling and flamboyant style, he appeared mature and composed. And because he was so naturally good-looking, he looked incredibly dashing. Watching him, Mrs. Norwood felt a mix of pride and heartache:
"Declan, no matter what you’re thinking, what’s done is done. After today, you need to forget your past feelings. It’s time for you to have a life of your own."
Declan didn’t answer. He just glanced at the time and said in a low voice, "I’m going out. It’s her first wedding. We can’t miss the auspicious time."
"Alright, I’ll go out with you." Mrs. Norwood paused. "Don’t walk around with such a long face in front of everyone. A lot of people are waiting to see you make a fool of yourself, and your uncle is so particular..."
But Declan had already pushed the door open and walked out.
The wedding procession was about to depart. Eldest Young Master Norwood’s face had caused quite a stir in the Capital Circle before, and his appearance now drew many sideways glances. The eyes of several socialites lit up as they looked at his handsome face, and ideas began to form in their minds.
So what if he had a past with Eldest Miss Sterling and was rumored to have dated some celebrity? Plenty of people in their circle were far wilder. In fact, Declan’s three years of devoted obsession with Celia Sterling was something they envied.
Justin Norwood had already been keeping an eye on his son. Seeing that many prominent families were showing interest, he discreetly walked over to Declan and said softly:
"Almost every prominent family is here, Declan. Dad can arrange a new match for you. Just tell me who catches your eye. It doesn’t have to be one of the top-tier families, as long as you like her."
"I’m only twenty-three. What’s the rush?" Declan’s tone was flat as he lowered his head and slowly pinned the best man’s boutonnière to his chest.
Justin Norwood’s heart sank. When he was engaged to Celia Sterling, this rebellious son of his would count down the days, eagerly awaiting the wedding. Now, with anyone else, he wasn’t in a hurry at all. He even noticed a discreet ring on his son’s left pinky finger. He didn’t understand the convoluted ways of young people, but his nephew from the second branch had been there last night and had tactfully told him that wearing a ring there signified a commitment to staying unmarried. The news had angered him so much he couldn’t sleep all night.
Since Declan had finally come home, he didn’t want to spend their rare few days together arguing with his son. He tried his best to sound calm and collected:
"It’s fine. We can discuss this later. Your uncle is getting married today, so be on your best behavior. Don’t be fooled by Silas’s strict demeanor; he cares a lot about you. At the last group meeting, I could tell from his tone that he intends to groom you for a key position."
Declan gave a noncommittal grunt. He wasn’t in the mood to chat with Justin Norwood and silently walked over to the wedding motorcade.
Although Silas Norwood was the head of the corporation, he was the youngest son of the previous Norwood chairman, born late in his father’s life. As a result, his seniority in the family was high. People of his generation were not just married but already had flocks of children, some even grandchildren. Therefore, for his groomsmen, many of the usual rules were bent, and the unmarried ’crown princes’ from several top-tier families were invited to join the party.
They were all around the same age and usually hung out together, so this group of ’crown princes’ clustered together now, chatting familiarly.
First, they dutifully reviewed the wedding schedule together. The Lowell family’s Crown Prince reminded them, "Chairman Norwood has given the word: no forcing drinks on the groom and no rowdy wedding night games. Our main job today, brothers, is to run interference for him with the alcohol and block any tactless people after the banquet."
"But that’s Chairman Norwood. Who would be that tactless?" the Warren family’s Crown Prince asked, not understanding. Then, for some reason, he added emphatically, "The women in our circle are all crazy. And Chairman Norwood is the ’Moonlight’ they’ve been pestering for years. If they all start causing a scene... AHEM. A gentleman doesn’t fight with a lady, and I really don’t have a way to deal with that."
The Sinclair family’s Crown Prince commented casually, "You’re overthinking it. All the family heads are here. The women might be heartbroken, sure, but they won’t dare cause a scene. Besides, my sister and Nina Sterling’s group have already warned those women in private. There won’t be any problems."
At this point, however, he couldn’t help but glance at Declan, looking as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.
Declan lifted his gaze to meet the Sinclair family’s Crown Prince’s eyes. "What are you looking at me for?"
The Sinclair family’s Crown Prince silently averted his gaze and turned to the Lowell family’s Crown Prince. "Lowell, about that sister of yours, Jasmine..."
"She didn’t come." The Lowell family’s Crown Prince shook his head, looking troubled. "After the trouble she caused at Sterling Manor last time, insisting that Silas Norwood was her blind date, there’s no way my dad would dare let her show up."
"Has anyone noticed something...?" the Marsh family’s Crown Prince mused. "Of the eight of us groomsmen, besides Declan, the rest of us all approached Kian Sterling about marriage in the past."
"We were, but you two, Sinclair and Marsh, weren’t," the Lowell family’s Crown Prince said with a slight cough. "As I recall, it was the Sinclair’s second son who went to propose, and for the Marsh family, I think it was the fourth?"
The Sinclair family’s Crown Prince was silent for a few seconds. "Chairman Norwood originally told my dad that my second brother should be a groomsman. But he came down with the flu, so I was the last-minute replacement."
The Marsh family’s Crown Prince’s expression was even more complicated. "The invitation was sent to my fourth brother, too. But then they heard he had an illegitimate child and thought it was inauspicious, so they reluctantly had me fill in."