Chapter 324: A Battle of Pride and Words
A Battle of Pride and Words
Julian looked at the pendant once more before smiling.
[Idiot... trying to win my Bianca over right in front of me. As if I’d just stand here and watch.]
[I’ll sell this pendant later. Only an idiot would throw away something valuable because there’s no reason to waste good money. More importantly Besides... I don’t want anything that came from you anywhere near my Bianca.]
Bianca De Dominicis lowered her eyes for a brief moment, pretending to admire the pendant resting against her fair neck.
Only she could hear Julian’s shameless inner voice.
The corners of her lips almost curved upward.
My Bianca...
Those two simple words echoed repeatedly in her mind.
She knew Julian had spoken them only in his thoughts, completely unaware that she could hear every single one.
Yet for some reason, they made her heart beat a little faster.
Across the room, Felberta Ashbourne’s crimson eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
She wasn’t displeased with Julian.
Instead, she silently shifted her gaze toward her elder brother.
A trace of disappointment flickered across her usually emotionless face.
They hadn’t traveled all the way to Valemont for something as meaningless as pursuing a woman.
Their father was suffering day and night.
Yet her brother still had the leisure to chase romance.
To her, it was nothing short of irresponsible.
The atmosphere gradually became awkward.
Zyan Ashbourne’s smile had long disappeared.
His expression darkened visibly as his sharp eyes fixed on Julian.
The office suddenly felt much quieter.
Even Luka De Dominicis subconsciously looked between the two young men.
After a brief silence, Zyan finally spoke.
Seeing Julian act so shamelessly, he no longer bothered maintaining superficial politeness.
"Julian, what do you mean by this?"
His voice was calm, but everyone could hear the anger hidden beneath it.
Julian simply shrugged as though he didn’t understand why the other man was upset.
"Nothing much, just helping my Bianca accept a gift."
He answered with a carefree smile.
His tone was so natural that anyone unfamiliar with the situation might think Bianca truly belonged to him already.
Bianca couldn’t help smiling as well.
The smile was faint.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
She genuinely enjoyed watching Julian become jealous over her.
Even his childish tricks somehow felt incredibly adorable.
She thought quietly to herself.
A man who isn’t willing to get jealous for you... simply doesn’t care enough.
That thought alone was enough to make the expensive pendant around her neck seem insignificant.
Seeing Bianca smile because of another man only made Zyan’s expression uglier.
He narrowed his eyes.
"So... your Bianca?"
He let out a cold laugh.
"I remember Young Master Julian has the nickname of the number one simp in Valemont."
"Aren’t you fond of that woman named Selene Aurevale?"
His words were deliberately sharp.
He believed exposing Julian’s embarrassing past in front of everyone would shatter the other man’s pride.
At the very least...
It should make him lose his composure.
Unfortunately...
He had chosen the wrong opponent.
Julian looked at him as though he had just heard the funniest joke of the day.
"Oh, that’s where you’re mistaken."
He chuckled leisurely.
"If I only simp for one woman, then yes, I’m a simp."
He raised a finger with complete seriousness.
"But if I simp for a hundred women, am I still a simp?"
He spread both hands dramatically before grinning.
"No."
"The roles have reversed."
Silence.
The office instantly fell quiet.
Even the Ashbourne household martial artist standing beside the sofa couldn’t stop the corner of his mouth from twitching.
What kind of logic was that?
Luka De Dominicis blinked several times, completely speechless.
Bianca pressed her lips together, trying desperately not to laugh.
She failed.
A soft laugh escaped her lips despite herself.
Felberta Ashbourne remained expressionless.
Yet deep inside...
She couldn’t deny that Julian’s shameless confidence was unlike anyone she had ever met.
"..."
Zyan Ashbourne stared blankly at Julian.
His face twitched.
He had seen arrogant people.
He had seen shameless people.
But someone who could proudly twist such absurd logic into something that almost sounded reasonable...
That was a first.
He felt utterly disgusted.
How could someone be so brazen about being a simp?
"Enough."
Felberta’s cold voice suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere.
The room immediately quieted.
She turned toward her elder brother, her beautiful face carrying unmistakable disappointment.
"Brother, don’t forget why we’re here this time."
Every word was calm.
Yet they carried undeniable authority.
Zyan clenched his fists beneath his sleeves before slowly releasing them.
"...Of course, I know."
Being reprimanded by his own younger sister in front of outsiders only darkened his mood further.
Still...
He knew she was right.
They hadn’t come to Valemont merely to argue with Julian.
Ever since Evan’s treatment had gone horribly wrong...
Their father, Dario Ashbourne, had lived in constant agony.
The pain tormented him day and night.
His miserable screams echoed throughout the Ashbourne estate so often that even the servants had grown accustomed to them.
Even something as ordinary as going to the bathroom had become unbearable.
Eventually, Dario had begun deliberately avoiding drinking water simply to reduce the number of times he needed to relieve himself.
Watching the once-proud patriarch suffer like that was almost unbearable.
Finally...
Unable to endure the pain any longer...
Dario summoned both of his children.
His command had been simple.
Whoever could cure his illness...
Would become the next patriarch of the Ashbourne family.
Those words had shaken Zyan to his core.
As the family’s only son...
Hadn’t that position always belonged to him?
The truth was...
He had never been particularly enthusiastic about curing his father’s illness.
Part of him had secretly hoped the condition would remain unresolved.
After all...
If his father recovered completely, there was always the possibility that another woman might eventually bear him a son.
A younger half-brother would inevitably threaten his inheritance.
That selfish attitude had completely disappointed Dario.
On the other hand...
Dario had always doted on Felberta.
Rather than deciding immediately, he chose to let his son and daughter compete fairly.
Whoever proved more capable would inherit everything.
Remembering this, Zyan slowly suppressed the anger burning inside him.
He shot Julian one last cold glance.
Enjoy yourself while you can.
Once Father’s illness is cured...
I’ll settle today’s humiliation with this country bumpkin from Valemont.
Taking a deep breath, he turned toward Bianca.
His tone became polite once again.
"Miss Bianca, I heard your De Dominicis household has a good relationship with senior Miracle Doctor Ravenswood."
"The Ravenswood household possesses an ancestral medicinal needle capable of treating my father’s illness. Could the De Dominicis household help us obtain it?"
Originally...
He had intended to visit personally.
Unfortunately...
After senior Miracle Doctor Ravenswood learned about Dario Ashbourne’s numerous romantic affairs, the elderly physician had bluntly refused to help.
The old doctor was famous for his stubborn principles.
There was no point trying to force him.
That was why Zyan had no choice but to seek the De Dominicis household’s assistance instead.
Bianca listened quietly before gently shaking her head.
"I’m sorry."
"I can’t help with that."
Her refusal was calm but absolute.
She knew enough about the Ashbourne family’s situation.
More importantly...
She understood senior Miracle Doctor Ravenswood’s personality.
Once the old doctor made up his mind, almost no one could change it.
Hearing the rejection, Zyan’s expression immediately turned ugly again.
"This small Ravenswood household dares to disrespect the De Dominicis household?"
His voice grew noticeably colder.
"A mere family of doctors."
"If they were in Silverhaven City, they wouldn’t even have the right to refuse!"
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