My Fiancé's Scandals Never End, So I Married His Uncle Instead-Chapter 100: Declaring Sovereignty

Theo Chambers was, frankly, a bit speechless.

He had received Silas Norwood’s instructions to notify the Norwood Family’s senior executives in Port Sovereign. The goal was to find a way to move up the project launch meeting, and he even hinted that they absolutely had to get Chairman Sterling to attend. Although he didn’t know why his boss wanted Chairman Sterling out of the way, the executives were competent. They claimed a major incident had occurred at the Metropia headquarters and they had to leave Port Sovereign the next day. This put direct pressure on the event organizers, who then found every excuse to invite Chairman Sterling over.

It should have been a perfect plan.

The problem was, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"Boss..." Theo Chambers took a deep breath and forced himself to speak. "You may need to end your trip to Port Sovereign."

Silas Norwood’s expression turned cold. "Why?"

"An hour ago, President Langdon was in a car accident. Your second brother and VP Sinclair were in the car with him. They’re all hospitalized now. While their lives aren’t in danger, they’ll be laid up for at least ten to fifteen days."

Theo felt the absurdity of the situation even as he spoke. CEO Julian Langdon, General Manager Jude Norwood, and COO VP Sinclair—each managed a key area of the Norwood Family’s empire. With all three out of commission at the same time, the situation instantly devolved into chaos.

Even though there were plenty of capable executives to step up, at a time like this, they needed Silas Norwood, the ultimate boss, on-site to quell the inevitable panic.

Silas’s expression was unreadable. "What were they all doing in the same car so late at night?"

Theo Chambers cleared his throat. "I heard General Manager Jude Norwood organized it. They were going to, ah, ZONE Club for ’team building.’ The driver made an error and hit a bridge abutment. It was a close call."

ZONE Club—Metropia’s infamous den of extravagance, and Kian Sterling’s territory. Whether they were there for "team building" or for pleasure went without saying.

After ruling out any conspiracy and confirming it was an accident, a faint hint of displeasure flickered in Silas Norwood’s amber eyes. "Arrange the earliest flight back to Metropia."

"Will Miss Sterling be returning as well?" Theo asked cautiously.

"So she can return and see her boyfriend’s company in a state of utter chaos?" Silas retorted lightly.

Theo Chambers promptly shut his mouth.

’I’d forgotten. My boss is extremely conscious of his public image. The Norwood Family’s disarray is, in a sense, Chairman Silas Norwood’s disarray. It’s just like him not to want his girlfriend to see such a messy side of things.’

Kian Sterling returned in the middle of the night.

After the project launch meeting came the reception, and by the time it ended, it was already past midnight.

He stood at the door of the presidential suite for a moment, undoing two buttons on his shirt to air out the smell of alcohol before signaling a bodyguard to swipe the key card.

The lights in the living room were still on.

Silas Norwood and Celia Sterling were sitting together on the sofa. The man was dressed in an elegant, well-tailored suit, sitting with a refined air. The girl, however, was in a loose-fitting pajama set, leaning lazily against him as they watched TV. Her waterfall of long hair was undone, spilling across Silas’s chest. He casually twirled a lock of it between his fingers.

"Why aren’t you two asleep yet?" Kian Sterling glanced at them, then looked away, casually unfastening another button as he sank onto a separate sofa.

"Waiting for you, brother." Celia Sterling stood up, brought him a cup of tea to sober him up, and set out the snacks she’d bought for him. Her voice was soft. "I’ll go to sleep after you’ve had something to eat."

Kian Sterling reached out, naturally gathering her hair and loosely tying it with a silk ribbon from the sofa. He accepted the tea she offered, then raised an eyebrow at Silas Norwood. "And you? She waits, so you wait too? Playing the part of the doting couple?"

Silas Norwood’s pale gold eyes darkened slightly. He calmly pulled his gaze away from the practiced way Kian Sterling had tied her hair. "I’m leaving for Metropia shortly."

Kian Sterling clicked his tongue. "I heard at the launch meeting that something happened at the Norwood Family. All the executives here are pulling out. I thought it was just a diversion."

Silas Norwood put on a solemn expression.

’It wasn’t exactly a diversion. I really did want to get Kian Sterling out of the way to enjoy an immersive world for just the two of us. But the best-laid plans often go awry.’

"Julian Langdon and my second brother were in a car accident. I need to go back and clean up the mess." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"..." Kian Sterling was silent for a few seconds. "Do you need my help?"

"It’s nothing major. Just take good care of Cece, Kade." Silas Norwood stood and elegantly smoothed out his clothes where Celia Sterling had been leaning. "Now that you’re back, Kade, I’ll entrust Cece to you."

Celia Sterling muttered, "I’m a grown woman. You don’t need to pass me back and forth like a child."

Silas Norwood’s eyes rested deeply on her face for a few seconds. A faint smile seemed to touch his lips as he reached out and affectionately pinched her cheek. His voice was devastatingly smooth.

"While your boyfriend’s away, Cece needs to listen to her brother."

Celia Sterling: "..."

’Is he really declaring his ownership right in front of Kian Sterling before he leaves?’

Kian Sterling said nothing, his deep, cool gaze meeting Silas’s.

Celia urged him, "Silas, you should go. Don’t miss your flight."

Silas Norwood strode toward the door with his long legs, unhurried. Just as he reached it, he seemed to remember something and turned back gracefully. "Kade."

Kian Sterling watched him with chillingly cold eyes.

Silas’s tone was even. "When you have time, let’s schedule a lesson so you can teach me how to tie Cece’s hair. In the future, you won’t need to trouble yourself with such an intimate task for my girlfriend."

With that, he didn’t bother to see the look on Kian Sterling’s face. His distinguished figure departed, surrounded by a throng of bodyguards and assistants.

A dead silence fell over the living room.

Kian Sterling’s expression was frigid and indifferent, his stern features unreadable as he lowered his gaze.

Celia, oblivious to the hidden barbs in the men’s exchange, said softly, "Silas is usually so gentle. I didn’t expect him to be as domineering as you sometimes, brother, getting worked up over something as small as tying my hair."

Kian Sterling reached out and dimmed the lights, shrouding himself in shadow. His voice was low.

"Cece, go to sleep."

The girl obediently hummed in agreement, rubbed her eyes, and went to her bedroom.

On the sofa, Kian Sterling remained motionless as an oppressive aura filled the room. He sat silently in the corner of the sofa until the sky began to lighten, only then picking up a bathrobe and heading to the bathroom.

「The next few days」

Celia Sterling was finally at leisure. The Fragrance Gala was over, but President Adeline Lowell of the Lowell Family had taken a great liking to her and invited her to the Lowell Family’s main residence. Overjoyed, Celia went to experience the Lowells’ perfume-making process, personally escorted by Kian Sterling.

"This is perfect. I can make a bottle of perfume to place on Professor Lowell’s grave as a token of my respect." Thinking of the person at Stillwater Cemetery, an idea sparked in Celia’s mind.

She tentatively asked President Lowell if she could use local ingredients from the Lowell Family estate and borrow their laboratory to create a fragrance. Adeline Lowell readily agreed.

Personally received by Adeline Lowell, Celia Sterling and Kian Sterling stepped through the main gates of the Lowell Family residence.

In the distance, the agent Anne Lowell, who had come to pick someone up, was walking with Summer Sutton along a quaint, antique mahogany corridor. They both stopped in their tracks when they saw Celia Sterling and Kian Sterling being welcomed in by Adeline Lowell.

"That Eldest Miss Sterling is really born lucky," Anne Lowell remarked with a sigh. "Because of her status, she’s the center of attention wherever she goes."

Summer Sutton said nothing.

She stood there for a long moment, then suddenly asked Anne Lowell, "What day is it today?"

"Sunday." Anne Lowell glanced at her watch. "Our flight back to Oakhaven is at 8 p.m. We have a meeting this afternoon with a Port Sovereign businessman to discuss an investment. We’ll finish just in time."

"Cancel the meeting with the businessman," Summer Sutton said softly. "I have to see someone."