On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon

Chapter 207: Thank You, Madam

"What? Your husband’s wine!" the man said, stunned. "Jasper Lockwood? How did his wine end up on the black market?"

Chloe Sterling: "Just keep an eye out for me. Let me know if you hear anything."

The man chuckled. "Alright, I’ll keep an eye out. I’ll do my best to help you recover your husband’s losses."

Chloe Sterling: "........Thanks."

"You’re welcome."

Seeing the slight embarrassment on the girl’s face, Jasper Lockwood’s lips curled into a smile. Hearing her call him "husband" warmed his heart, and his gloomy mood brightened considerably.

Chloe Sterling had suddenly remembered Jasper Lockwood saying he felt insecure. To give him a greater sense of security, she had decided to call him that in front of her friend.

’Although I’m not sure if it will work...’

After hanging up, Chloe Sterling added, "My friend is familiar with the black market scene. His information should be faster and more up-to-date."

Jasper Lockwood gazed at her, his voice bewitching. "Thank you, my dear wife."

Seeing him still smiling, Chloe Sterling said, "And you can still smile!"

"Seeing my wife so concerned about me, my mood has improved immensely."

"Let’s just eat."

Chloe Sterling picked up her chopsticks, put a piece of vegetable in her mouth, and after a moment, as if remembering something, suddenly asked, "It’s already dinnertime. Why didn’t you ask Miss Morgan to stay for dinner before she left?"

Jasper Lockwood picked up his chopsticks as well. "We just have a professional relationship. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to stay for dinner."

Chloe Sterling raised an eyebrow. "Aren’t you two friends as well?"

"Even friends of the opposite sex should maintain a certain distance."

"So... you know Stella Morgan has a crush on you?"

The chopsticks in Jasper Lockwood’s hand froze. "She has a crush on me? What makes you say that?"

Jasper Lockwood was genuinely unaware of this. His dealings with Stella Morgan had always been professional, and she had never shown any romantic interest in him. Their interactions were almost exclusively work-related.

Back in Valengard, Chloe Sterling had overheard Stella Morgan’s friend talking about it. Stella didn’t seem to have any other intentions, though; she wasn’t trying to compete for him, just quietly admiring him from afar.

Seeing Jasper Lockwood’s reaction, it seemed he really hadn’t noticed. Apparently, Stella Morgan had never revealed her feelings in front of him. Instead of saying she had overheard it herself, Chloe Sterling countered, "Isn’t it true?"

Jasper Lockwood: "While I’m pleased that you’re jealous, you’re overthinking it."

Chloe Sterling: "Who’s jealous? I was just asking."

「Meanwhile, on a certain island.」

"Boss, this beat-up bottle of wine... is it really worth two million?" a red-haired man in a pirate outfit asked, holding a bottle of red wine and looking up at the young man seated on a high chair.

Although the man was sitting, it was still clear that he was tall and well-built. He had healthy, sun-kissed skin, handsome features, and a heroic air about him. A scar, about three centimeters long, ran down the side of his face, but it didn’t detract from his striking looks; instead, it added a touch of intimidating authority.

"Bring it here and let me see."

The red-haired subordinate immediately presented the bottle of wine. "Boss, take a look."

The man took the bottle and examined it closely. "What the hell am I supposed to see?"

The red-haired subordinate replied, "You can’t tell just by looking, of course. You have to taste this kind of thing to know."

The man snorted. "You’re just greedy, aren’t you, kid?"

The subordinate chuckled sheepishly. "I’ve never had it before, so I’m curious."

The man said, "Even if I let you drink it, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference! This stuff all tastes the same!"

The subordinate: "......"

The man suddenly grinned and added, "But since we’ve already hijacked it, let’s open a few bottles and have a taste. Don’t touch the rest. We’re taking them to the black market to sell."

"Alright," the red-haired man said, his face full of excitement. "Then Boss, can we drink this at our victory banquet tonight?"

The man readily agreed. "Sure."

The redhead: "Thanks, Boss."

"Oh, right. Don’t sell them all on the black market. Save a few bottles for me. The New Year is coming up, and I need to get some gifts for a friend."

The redhead chuckled. "Boss, you want to give them to Lynn Chester, right? She seems to really like wine. She’ll definitely love it."

The man laughed. "You’re getting smarter and smarter, kid."

The redhead looked smug. "I know you pretty well, Boss. Lynn Chester is the only friend on land you ever think about. But... would she accept something you stole?"

The man’s brows furrowed. "Then just don’t tell her! Say I bought it myself!"

The redhead: "Right."

"Alright, enough nonsense. Go prepare the victory banquet! Once we sell this wine, we can take it easy for two years."

"Heh heh, alright."

After his subordinate left, the man took out his phone and made a call.

"Lynn Chester, it’s me. How have you been?"

On the other end of the line, Chloe Sterling’s voice came through. "Not bad. And you? How’s business lately?"

"Uh..." The man chuckled. "It’s going okay. Just landed a big order recently."

Chloe Sterling didn’t know he was a pirate; she always thought he was in the maritime business, salvaging seafood or something similar. She laughed and said, "Is that so? That’s great. Congratulations."

"Thanks. By the way, where are you now? Still in Country E?"

"No, I’m in Crestfall of Imperial."

"Huh? When did you run off to the Imperial again?"

"I’ve been here for a while. I was already here the last time you contacted me."

"Then why didn’t you say so?"

"You never asked."

"I guess you’re right." The man chuckled. "But no matter. I’ll come find you in the Imperial then."

"Okay."

The two chatted for a while before hanging up.

Chloe Sterling put down her phone and continued eating.

Jasper Lockwood noticed the call was from an international number and asked curiously, "Whose call was that?"

Chloe Sterling said calmly, "A friend I haven’t seen in a long time."

"A businessman?"

"Mhm, he’s in the seafood business."

"A man?" Jasper Lockwood asked again.

Chloe Sterling looked at him. "That’s what you really wanted to ask, isn’t it?"

"Mhm, that’s right," Jasper Lockwood admitted frankly.

"Yes, a man. The kind I talk to once in a blue moon."

Jasper Lockwood’s lips curved slightly, and he said no more.

「Two days later.」

Chloe Sterling arrived at the Crimson Wing Dojo and was surprised to see Damian Rivers.

Though it had only been a few days since she’d last seen him, Damian Rivers seemed like a different person. He had traded his casual clothes for a suit, and his sunny, cheerful demeanor had been replaced by a mature and composed one.

Their eyes met. After a brief silence, Damian Rivers spoke first. "Chloe, long time no see."

Chloe Sterling said softly, "Long time no see. Are you here to train?"

"No, I’m here to pick up my things. I’ve taken over the company, so I probably won’t have time to train anymore." After a pause, Damian Rivers added, "Chloe, I’m sorry for what my mom did to you before. It won’t happen again."

Chloe Sterling would not forgive what Serena Lockwood had done, but she wouldn’t take her anger out on Damian Rivers. Besides, the Rivers Family was already in a difficult situation, so she didn’t feel it was right to say anything more.

Just then, Chase Langdon came down from upstairs, holding a small box. He walked up to Damian Rivers and handed it to him. "This is yours, too. You should take it back."

"Okay." Damian Rivers took the box. There was a noticeable distance between him and Chase Langdon now. "I’ll be going."