Chapter 313: Chapter 313: These Two Are Too Scary
When Basil Xavier said this, Stella Sterling burst out laughing.
She stole a glance at Gordon Ford, picturing him being the one to marry into a family, then covered her mouth and let out a few soft coughs.
Gordon Ford, however, was now giving Basil Xavier a chilling look, a smirk playing on his lips. "What was that you just said?"
A shiver went down Basil Xavier’s spine. He chuckled sheepishly. "Hey, I’m just trying to help you out here. Don’t get the wrong idea. It was just a joke!"
’Does he have to be so terrifying? Can’t he see I’m trying to help him persuade Stella Sterling?’
’This Gordon Ford is so ungrateful; he can’t even tell when someone’s speaking up for him.’
As he thought this, his eyes flickered. He was feeling a bit guilty.
’Alright, I admit it,’ he thought. ’I had a bit of an ulterior motive. Helping Gordon Ford was the real goal, but I also wanted to poke fun at him and get a laugh at his expense while I was at it.’
’I figured that since I was speaking up for him, he wouldn’t mind the teasing. I didn’t expect him to be so petty.’
With this in mind, Basil Xavier looked at Stella Sterling, shooting her a pleading glance. He hoped she would agree to Gordon’s proposal; that way, Gordon would be happy and stop glaring at him.
However, when he turned to look at Stella Sterling, he saw her looking absolutely delighted.
His face fell.
’It seemed Stella Sterling hadn’t taken the rest of his words to heart; she’d only heard the part where he was teasing Gordon Ford.’
He knew his attempt to persuade Stella Sterling had been a total failure.
Not only had he failed to help Gordon Ford, but his words had also become fodder for Stella Sterling’s amusement at Gordon’s expense.
At this thought, Basil Xavier felt even more sheepish.
’My intentions were good, but I just couldn’t stop myself from running my mouth.’
’If I’d known this would be the outcome, I wouldn’t have been such a smart-ass. Not only did I fail to help Gordon, but I also made him a laughingstock. I’ve well and truly put my foot in it now.’
He sighed. He wanted to scream for a do-over. If he could go back, he would’ve swallowed that wisecrack and just said what he meant to say.
’Great, just great. Gordon is so petty, he’s definitely going to hold this against me.’
He rubbed his nose. Feeling he had to say something to salvage the situation, he gave another sheepish laugh and said to Stella Sterling, "No, that’s not really what I meant. I just wanted to say, Gordon Ford’s offer is really tempting. Stella, aren’t you going to give him some serious consideration?"
"I’ve already said it. We’ll see how he performs."
Stella Sterling said, holding back a laugh, but the smile on her face didn’t fade.
Seeing her reaction, Basil Xavier looked over at Gordon Ford. ’Even though I didn’t get the result I was hoping for, at least I made Stella Sterling happy,’ he thought. ’And once she’s happy, isn’t it easier to talk things through?’
Gordon Ford shot him a cool glance, an expression Basil Xavier couldn’t quite decipher.
So, he could only turn his hopes to Stella Sterling. "Stella, you have to get him under control! Look at him! He looks like he’s going to eat me alive just because you haven’t agreed to his proposal."
Gordon Ford glared at him, looking exasperated.
Then he looked at Stella Sterling and said, "Don’t listen to his nonsense. I hope you’ll say yes, but not because you feel forced. All that matters is that you follow your heart."
Stella Sterling paused for a moment, then smiled. "Of course. If anyone dared to force me, they’d better be careful with their life."
Hearing this, Basil Xavier, who was standing to the side, shivered again. He quickly said, "Don’t get the wrong idea, Stella! I’m not pressuring you! I was just... I was just trying to put in a good word for Gordon. But when it comes to feelings, of course both people have to like each other. Otherwise, being together would just be mutual torture. Just... just pretend everything I just said was a bunch of nonsense."
The more Basil Xavier spoke, the more jumbled his explanation became. He could even feel the way Gordon Ford was looking at him change again.
At this moment, even the fruit in Basil Xavier’s mouth seemed to lose its sweetness.
’What a mess,’ he thought. ’I was just trying to help, and now I’ve made everything even more chaotic.’
’Why are these two so terrifying? In fact, I think Stella Sterling is even scarier than Gordon Ford. Threatening people’s lives at the drop of a hat... it’s horrifying.’
He had only launched into that explanation to save his own skin, but he felt like everything he said had come out wrong.
He smacked his forehead. His head was starting to throb. ’What do I do? I need to get out of here. They aren’t both thinking about how to get rid of me, are they?’
He cowered in a corner, trembling.
Seeing him act like this, the corner of Gordon Ford’s mouth twitched. ’Am I really that terrifying?’
’This guy is laying it on a bit thick, isn’t he?’
At this thought, Gordon Ford carefully glanced at Stella Sterling. ’Is she going to think I’m some kind of monster for treating my friend like this?’
And so, Gordon made a silent vow. As soon as they left this place, he was going to give that idiot Basil Xavier a proper beating.
’The man was actively ruining his image in front of her.’
When he saw Gordon Ford look over, Basil Xavier put on a fawning smile. "Gordon, think of all the years we’ve been through thick and thin together. We’re brothers who’ve faced death together!"
He was trying to remind Gordon Ford of their bond, reminding him that they were brothers who had been through life and death together. Gordon couldn’t just take his life over something so trivial. Not only that, but if Stella Sterling tried to harm him, Gordon would have to talk her out of it.
Seeing his pathetic act, Gordon Ford’s heart actually softened a bit. He said, "Alright, alright. Stop messing around."
"Heh heh heh heh..."
Basil Xavier chuckled, knowing Gordon wasn’t angry anymore, and he sat there grinning foolishly to himself.
This display made Stella Sterling roll her eyes at him. If she hadn’t known him for quite a while, she would have suspected the man was either an idiot or had something wrong with his brain.
’Even if he wasn’t a complete moron, his brain clearly wasn’t wired right.’
’And Gordon Ford has been hanging around with someone like this for a long time...’
At this thought, Stella Sterling shot Gordon Ford a suspicious glance.
She didn’t say anything, but her expression said it all.
Afraid this would tarnish his image in Stella Sterling’s eyes, Gordon quickly explained, "Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m nothing like him."
Basil Xavier, who was standing to the side, was completely baffled. ’What does he mean, "nothing like him"?’ he wondered. ’How did I get dragged into this? What does any of this have to do with me?’
He badly wanted to ask them what that was supposed to mean.
But then Gordon Ford turned and shot him a look. Basil immediately clamped his mouth shut, not daring to say another word as he stood quietly to the side.
