My Fiancé's Scandals Never End, So I Married His Uncle Instead-Chapter 89: A Thousand-Mile Journey

On the way back, the partition rose. In the back seat, Celia Sterling sat poring over her densely packed notes.

Kian Sterling’s phone chimed with a notification. He glanced at the message, his expression unreadable. After casually silencing the phone and tossing it aside, he nonchalantly told Evan Rhodes in the front passenger seat,

"Have the hotel staff convert the study into a bedroom."

He paused, then added, "And bring over that bottle of Han Emperor Maotai from my collection."

Kian Sterling had his own private villa in Port Sovereign, not far from Summer Sutton’s place at Wyvern Bay Villa. However, it was mostly vacant, as he rarely stayed there. Instead, Kian Sterling used it as a storage space for many of his private collectibles, which included a considerable number of fine wines.

He had acquired that bottle of Maotai for a high price at an auction in Port Sovereign five years ago and had kept it in the villa’s wine cellar ever since, loath to bring it out on a whim.

A very important guest must be expected.

Evan Rhodes acknowledged the order in a low voice and immediately bowed his head to contact the bodyguards on standby. Celia Sterling glanced up at Kian Sterling curiously.

"I’ve never been to your villa in Port Sovereign, Brother."

"I’ll take you some other time," Kian Sterling said, changing the subject. He glanced at the notebook in her hands. "Isn’t your hand tired from writing so much?"

The change in topic immediately animated Celia Sterling. "Brother, I totally hit the jackpot today!"

Kian Sterling feigned ignorance, raising an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"The Fragrance Gala today coincided with a rare, large-scale lecture hosted by the Lowell Family. I had a really nice conversation with their Chief Perfumer, Rosalyn Lowell, yesterday, so she invited me to sit in. They’re truly top-tier masters! So many of their comments were a complete revelation. I’m going again tomorrow. If I can absorb even ten percent of what I’ve learned these past two days, it will lead to a huge improvement for me over the next year."

Kian Sterling played along with a low chuckle. "You’re really lucky, Cece."

"Although, those dozen or so seniors all seemed incredibly astute. I deliberately tried to downplay my abilities, but it felt like they were still paying a lot of attention to me. They made me answer a lot of questions and even had me participate in several small tests. The way they looked at me was odd... I can’t quite describe it. I’ll be more low-key tomorrow."

As she spoke, Celia Sterling carefully smoothed out the pages of her notebook, handling it with immense care.

Kian Sterling’s voice was low. "Evan Rhodes."

Evan Rhodes understood instantly.

The partition slid down. Evan Rhodes, in the front seat, silently retrieved an exquisite, soft-leather box from his briefcase and respectfully handed it to Celia Sterling. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"What’s this?" Celia asked as she took it.

Evan Rhodes made a small sound of acknowledgement and said casually, "When I dropped you off at the Lowell Family’s company this morning, I happened to run into President Adeline Lowell. She seems to have taken quite a liking to you, so she gave me this box on the spot. Said it was for you, to help pass the time."

"From what I saw, President Lowell didn’t seem like the generous type of person you’re describing, Assistant Rhodes," Celia remarked as she opened the box. Inside, a thick stack of reproduced handwritten notes was arranged neatly. She saw the signatures of many of the seniors who had lectured that day on the cover sheet. For her, the shock of this "casual" gift was on par with the twelve bottles of perfume ingredients Silas Norwood had given her!

Celia’s head snapped up to look at Evan Rhodes. "How could she possibly give something this valuable away for nothing! What did my brother trade for it?"

"Nothing," Evan Rhodes replied out of reflex.

Celia turned her gaze to Kian Sterling beside her.

Kian Sterling gently tapped her on the forehead. "I just helped her out with a small matter, that’s all. They’re only reproductions; they’re valuable, but not priceless. Just accept them."

Celia looked as if she wanted to say more, but she stopped herself.

Kian Sterling spoke of it lightly, but she knew in her heart that where she was concerned, he would spare no expense. She just couldn’t imagine what price he had paid this time to get his hands on this stack of papers that, while seemingly weightless, would be considered priceless to a family of perfumers.

Seeing her solemn expression, Kian Sterling chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Don’t overthink it. It was nothing to me."

Before Celia could say anything, his gaze fell on her messy hair and her slightly disheveled appearance, her makeup smudged from a light sweat. He saw how she was stroking the stack of notes, unable to put them down, and a teasing smile crept into his eyes.

"The light in the car is dim. Put the notes away and look at them when you get back. Also, I suggest you touch up your makeup."

"Why would I touch up my makeup? It’s late. I’ll just wash up and go to sleep once we’re back."

Despite her words, Celia slowly pulled out a compact mirror, glanced at her reflection, and obediently touched up her lip color.

The car drove into the parking garage of the Port Sovereign International Grand Hotel.

Evan Rhodes stayed downstairs to wait for the bodyguards bringing the wine from the villa. Celia Sterling held onto Kian Sterling’s arm as the two of them took the VIP express elevator up to the presidential suite’s floor.

Celia keenly noticed that in addition to the Sterling Family’s bodyguards, there were several unfamiliar ones on this floor. Kian Sterling’s expression was calm, completely unsurprised. He led Celia to the suite door, and a bodyguard immediately swiped the key card with a respectful bow.

The door to the suite opened.

Inside the luxurious suite, a single wall sconce cast a dim light.

On an armchair before the floor-to-ceiling windows, an elegant and distinguished figure quietly gazed out at the glittering, decadent nightscape of Port Sovereign.

The moment the door opened, Celia’s gaze was drawn to the figure. She stopped in her tracks and tugged on Kian Sterling’s sleeve, her almond-shaped eyes showing a hint of bashfulness. "Brother, you go in first. I’ll just get some air out here."

Kian Sterling didn’t call her out, simply closing the door and leaving her outside.

By the floor-to-ceiling windows, Silas Norwood finally raised his eyes with an elegant air. "Why didn’t she come in?"

Kian Sterling didn’t answer. He simply sank into the other armchair, crossed his legs leisurely, and asked lightly, "I thought you kept insisting you weren’t going to get involved with the Port Sovereign project. What made you suddenly show up?"

"I have no intention of managing the Port Sovereign project," Silas Norwood replied, his tone cool. "I’m here to spend time with my girlfriend, to save Kade the trouble of looking after her all by himself."

"You two haven’t been together that long. I didn’t realize you were so clingy," Kian Sterling said, feigning ignorance. "Did you get a room? The suite next door is still vacant."

Silas Norwood acted as if he didn’t understand Kian Sterling’s hint, his amber eyes darkening. "Naturally, I’ll be staying with my girlfriend to cultivate our feelings for each other."

A frosty layer seemed to settle over Kian Sterling’s dangerously handsome face. His eyes turned glacial as he sneered, "And you’re pulling a stunt like this while I’m right here?"

Silas Norwood was completely un-intimidated by his aura, meeting his gaze without flinching. "We already shared a room on the cruise ship. I’m sure Kade is aware of that."

Kian Sterling looked down and began to drum his fingers slowly, one by one, on the armrest of the sofa. He fell silent, yet the atmosphere grew strangely suffocating.

But that suffocating pressure clearly had no effect on Silas Norwood, who had been steeped in power for just as many years. He calmly toyed with the thumb ring on his finger, his mild gaze sweeping past Kian Sterling’s face toward the door. He waited with immense patience.

A few minutes later, the door finally opened again.

Celia Sterling stepped inside.

She had redone her makeup. Her once-messy hair was now tied back with a purple silk ribbon. In the dim light, her fair, delicate face was tinged with an alluring charm.

"Silas," she greeted him, her voice sweet and gentle as she walked toward Silas Norwood. "What are you doing here?"