"Young man." Robert's voice was easy, almost casual. "Are you married?"
The room went still.
Alexander's eyes found Elena's for a fraction of a second. She looked back. Then he turned to Robert, blinking. "M — me?" He pointed at himself.
"Both of you are grown." Robert's tone was warm, unhurried. "Mature enough to start something worthwhile—"
Elena was already moving. She stepped between them and took her grandfather's hand. "Grandpa." Her voice was careful. "He is my employee."
"Your employee?" Robert repeated, sounding surprised. "And what is that supposed to mean? As a matter of fact, it doesn't matter whether he is your employee or not."
"Grandpa—" she called again
Alexander cut in before she could say more. "Please, sir." His voice was calm, and the smile on his face was deliberate. "I'm just an ordinary employee. I saved your life. That's all. I'm not here asking for anything beyond that."
Margaret had heard enough. She drew herself up. "Exactly." She looked at Alexander the way someone looks at something that doesn't belong. "It is good that you know your place, young man." Then she turned to Robert, her voice dropping "This young man may have some skills, but skill alone does not make a person capable or suitable for our granddaughter. Bringing someone like this into the family would be an embarrassment. It would be a mistake we cannot undo, especially for Elena."
Alexander swallowed. The words landed like a slap delivered with a smile.
Drake had been waiting. He suddenly felt relieved. Alexander's skills clearly didn't matter when it came to winning Elena. This was his moment to prove he was worthy. He stepped forward with a polite bow, his voice warm and practiced. "Grandpa, with respect, this young man is exactly what he said. An ordinary bodyguard. Nothing more." He smiled. "But I am the young master of the Voss family. I am someone worthy of Elena. When we marry, everything my family owns becomes hers. That is the kind of man she deserves."
"In your dreams," Elena said flatly.
Drake didn't hesitate. He turned to the room. "Let me prove my worth." Then he clapped his hands three times.
Within thirty seconds the door opened and a line of men entered, each carrying something. The room watched in silence.
Drake slid one hand into his pocket and used the other to gesture as he spoke. "These are luxury jewels," he said. One million dollars." The room went quiet in a way that meant everyone was doing the math, eyes locked on the shimmering gold . "And this folder—" he lifted it, "is a signed contract worth thirty million dollars." He set it on the table. "That is my opening offer for her dowry. It is only the beginning."
A collective gasp filled the room. The Carter relatives looked on with greedy eyes.
"Young Master!" Harlan stepped forward, his face lit up. "From today I am calling you brother-in-law." Drake clapped him on the back, satisfied.
"Young Master Drake truly lives up to his name," Veronica said, pressing her hands together. She turned to Elena. "Please. You should reconsider. Think of the family."
Elena's voice came out clean and final. "None of this has anything to do with me. He can use the whole world as his dowry if he likes."
The words hit the room like a door closing. It was the voice of someone who had already made up her mind so completely that no amount of money was going to move it.
Robert was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke.
"Yes — yes!" Dr. Li Wei stepped forward, suddenly animated. "I fully support this. My master's future is great. Mighty, even. There is no limit to where he will go."
Alexander turned and waved his hands. "Don't start. I am not your master. We met today. We barely spoke. When did I become your master?"
"Yes, yes — you are right," Zhou Fen said, stepping in with a grin. "But we did talk today. We even made a bet, remember?" Alexander swallowed. He already knew exactly where this was going. Zhou turned to Robert, his voice full of conviction. "Sir, this young man has more than a bright future ahead of him. Far more.
"The room stirred with murmurs. Eyes moved between Zhou and Alexander, feeling confused and unsure about what was happening or what to think.
Drake watched in silence, jaw tight. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. But then it hit him — Zhou Fen was probably just playing with the room. Trying to look reasonable, draw everyone's attention, build a little goodwill. That was all this was. Drake almost smiled. Let the old man have his moment. When the time was right, he would twist every bit of it back in his favor.
Got it.
Zhou kept going. "Kid!" He stopped himself the moment the word left his mouth. Both hands came up and he slapped both sides of his face at the same time. "My mouth — what is wrong with you." He cleared his throat. "Young man, I apologize." Another slap. He searched for the right word, trying several in his head before landing on one. "Master!" He turned to Robert. "Grandpa, I tell you—"
The room had been barely holding it together since the self-slapping started. Laughter and shock mixed into something nobody knew how to handle.
Drake's expression had gone from irritated to dangerous. His eyes were fixed on Zhou Fen like the rest of the room had stopped existing.
Alexander slowly pointed at himself. Me?
Zhou dropped to one knee.
Alexander stepped backward.
The gunshot came before anyone could react.
Everyone jumped. Some screamed. Then they saw Drake standing with a gun raised, barrel sweeping slowly across the room until it covered everyone in it.
Hearts were pounding. Everyone except Robert, Elena, and Alexander knew it was most likely just a threat, but even Robert and Elena felt it, especially with Zhou already flat on the floor and motionless.
Dr. Li Wei looked at Zhou. Quick, private calculation — colleague already down, eighty percent chance the next bullet had his name on it. He slipped out of the room without a sound.
"In this city," Drake said, his voice loud and tight, "nobody tells me no." His eyes snapped at Robert and Alexander. " And you had the nerve to compare me to this country bumpkin. Are you insulting my family? Do you want to make an enemy of us?"
Nobody spoke.
"When were we ever friends with your family?" Elena's voice was sharp and direct. "Please leave. I don't want to see you again."
Drake turned the gun on her.
Elena shifted. Alexander moved at the same time — one smooth step, placing himself just slightly in front of her, his hand finding her arm and drawing her back gently without looking at her.
Drake lowered the gun slowly. A thin smile crossed his face.
"You don't want to see me." He nodded once, as if filing it away. "Fine."
He reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone.
"Before I go," he said, his voice returning to something almost conversational, "let me tell you something about the man I'm about to call." He looked around the room, making sure he had every face. "John Mercer. Manager of Crestline Private Bank." He let that sit for a moment. "My cousin. Loyal to this family in every way that matters."
Everyone in the room was shocked. scared.
Drake's smile widened just slightly.
"Scared now?" he laughed "Carter Group has an outstanding loan with Crestline. Two hundred and thirty million dollars. Not yet due, of course. But I'm making it due today."
The room fell completely silent. Robert's jaw tightened. Margaret gripped the edge of her skirt tightly.
Elena wanted to speak, but she swallowed hard.
Drake dialed.
"John." His voice on the phone was light, almost friendly. "Pull up the Carter Group account. I need you to issue an immediate demand for full repayment — everything outstanding, due or not. Today." A pause. "If they can't pay by end of business, file to place them in default and freeze all operations until the debt is settled. And John — if it comes to that, I'll cover it personally. In exchange for the company." He ended the call and slid the phone back into his pocket.
"What—" Elena's voice came out sharp but Drake was already pointing at her.
"Tou brought this upon you self."
Alexander look away and smiled
"Young man." Robert's voice was quiet and controlled. "Where have we wronged you?"
Drake ignored him. His eyes moved slowly across the room, face by face, until they landed on Elena and stayed there.
He walked toward her. The room watched. Elena held her ground.
He raised his hand and reached toward her face, fingers extended — not a threat, something worse. Admiration. Like she was something he already owned.
Elena knocked his hand away.
Drake smiled. "Still playing tough." His voice dropped low, meant only for her. "I don't care anymore what your family decides. I am going to have my way — today." He reached again. Elena pushed his hand aside. He reached again. She deflected again. Each time he came back slower, more deliberate, enjoying it.
Alexander caught his wrist.
Drake turned. Their eyes met and held. Nobody in the room breathed.
Alexander released his hand and stepped back.
Drake nodded slowly, the smile still on his face. "I haven't forgotten about you." His voice was almost friendly. "I have a gift for you today, kid. Blame yourself when you get there." He clapped his hands three times.
Within seconds, a man walked in.
The room read him immediately — the way he carried himself, the stillness in his body, the size of his hands. This was not an ordinary person.
The man took his place beside Drake.
"This is a master of martial arts," Drake said, his smile widening. "Winner of the last international martial arts championship." He gestured between Alexander and the man. see how valuable it is. Tell me, kid, am I not generous enough?" He grinned widely.
Alexander looked at Drake. Then at the man standing beside him.
He said nothing. But his mind was already made up about what to do with him.