Any lustful thoughts Declan Nash had were instantly doused.
In the end, of course, nothing remotely romantic happened. He had just spent several hours reverently and nervously drinking tea with Kian Sterling, his prospective brother-in-law.
The incident had once been the talk of the Norwood family's group chat, and even Silas Norwood, the head of the family, had followed the drama.
"A simple date," Silas Norwood said, his expression unchanging as he met Kian Sterling's gaze. His voice was reserved, without a hint of impropriety. "Kade, surely you wouldn't want to see Cece marry a man she knows nothing about, only for us to live a life of cold civility."
Kian Sterling: "Heh."
Silas Norwood was nothing like Declan Nash. Celia Sterling found it hard to imagine what a date with such an aloof and noble man would be like. She felt a little awkward.
"Silas, is this date really necessary? I honestly don't mind if we lead separate lives. We can just go through the motions on the wedding day."
In their social circles, wealthy couples who led separate lives were all too common.
"I do mind." Silas Norwood looked at Celia Sterling gently, a refined, elegant smile on his face. "Cece, I have no intention of having a marriage of convenience with you."
Celia Sterling was speechless.
If not for his utterly proper tone and prim, reserved expression, she might have thought he was making a subtle innuendo.
"A date it is, then." Celia Sterling cleared her throat. "As long as you don't find me too clingy, Silas."
Silas Norwood's deep-set eyes darkened for a moment. He nodded, a hint of indulgence in his voice. "Mm, I won't."
Kian Sterling's gaze swept over the two of them, but he didn't press the issue.
He quickly scanned the agreement and handed it to Celia Sterling.
"Cece, sign it."
The marriage contract was just the master agreement. In addition, Theo Chambers, the accompanying assistant from The Norwood Family, entered with a silver briefcase and took out a large stack of attached documents.
There were a great many documents to sign. The real estate transfer agreements alone numbered in the hundreds, and the involved equity transfers were even more complicated. Celia Sterling buried her head in the paperwork, initially reading each document, but her vision soon blurred and her mind grew muddled.
"Brother," she said, flexing her knuckles and looking at Kian Sterling with hopeful eyes. "Could you look these over for me? There are too many for me to read."
"You dare to sign without reading them carefully?"
Kian Sterling pointed to the pages she had just signed. They were equity transfer agreements for several financial firms that Silas Norwood had founded personally, independent of The Norwood Family. Without ceding any decision-making power, Silas had generously offered a substantial number of non-voting shares. The value of those documents alone already surpassed the total of Declan Nash's original list of betrothal gifts.
If he wasn't mistaken, Celia Sterling's mind had been elsewhere when she signed those pages; she hadn't looked at the contents at all.
Celia Sterling replied matter-of-factly, "With you here, Brother, I know you won't let me get taken advantage of."
"'Brother...'" A rare flicker of irritation crossed Kian Sterling's face as he scoffed, "Your brother can't watch over you forever."
Silas Norwood remained silent, quietly watching as the stunning Eldest Miss Sterling's clear eyes grew hazy, her pampered side showing in front of her brother.
His mouth suddenly felt a little dry.
He averted his gaze and took several large sips of his cool tea.
「By the time all the documents were signed, it was already evening.」
The Norwoods rose to take their leave.
From outside, however, a familiar voice rang out, lazy yet intimate:
"Well now, Dad, Mom, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Youngest Uncle, everyone's here?"
The relatively harmonious atmosphere instantly turned frigid.
Even Celia Sterling, who had been massaging her fingers, froze.
Declan Nash had already walked in.
He looked travel-worn, a cluster of flashy, modern accessories hanging askew on his clothes. But his eyes were incredibly bright and a smile played on his lips. After a cursory greeting to the other Norwoods, he swaggered over and practically glued himself to Celia Sterling's side.
"Babe, it's been so many days. I've missed you like crazy."
'He's still calling me Babe.'
'The last time we video-called, the connection must have dropped too fast for him to hear me say we were breaking off the engagement.'
A subtle feeling of helplessness washed over Celia Sterling, and she silently edged away from him.
"Are you still mad, Babe?" Declan Nash leaned in, obviously trying to curry favor. "I brought you a box of exquisite alexandrite cat's eyes. Didn't you say your vanity was too plain? We can have them inlaid on top for decoration."
His presence was suffocatingly close.
But with so many people watching, it wasn't the time for a drawn-out argument.
Celia Sterling passed the problem to her brother. "Brother."
Kian Sterling shot a meaningful look at Silas Norwood. "Silas Norwood."
Silas Norwood's expression was cool and distant as he looked at his nephew. "Declan Nash, address her as your aunt."
Declan Nash froze for a second. "Aunt? I already said hello to my second aunt."
With the exception of the inscrutable Silas Norwood, the other Norwoods all wore complicated expressions.
"You little bastard!" Justin Norwood's face darkened as he stared at his rebellious son, who was fawning over Celia Sterling like a loyal puppy the moment he returned. "Why are you back?"
"The job's done, so of course I came back." Declan Nash looked at his father and ran a hand through his defiantly messy hair, his face filled with resentment. "Dad, it was bad enough you gave me such a tough assignment, but it was in the middle of nowhere. There was a little bit of cell service a few days ago, but for the last two days, there's been nothing. I couldn't send a single text or WeChat message. Don't send me to a place like that again. It was pure torture."
Mrs. Norwood stammered, "But that project... your father said it wouldn't be finished until next week at the earliest. Your return is so sudden, and you didn't even call ahead..."
"I pulled two all-nighters to get it done. Nearly died from overwork." Declan Nash casually picked up the glass Celia Sterling had used and gulped down some water. "There was no signal, so I couldn't get in touch with my babe. I don't know why, but I've had this terrible, panicked feeling for the last two days. I couldn't relax until I came back to see you."
The pressure in the room inexplicably dropped.
Not daring to look at Silas Norwood, Mrs. Norwood scolded coldly, "Stop with all the 'babe' this and 'babe' that. Your engagement with Miss Sterling has been called off."
Declan Nash stared blankly for a moment, then chuckled. "Mom, what are you talking about? The joint projects between our families are worth tens of billions. How could the engagement possibly be canceled? Oh, right, why are Second Uncle and Youngest Uncle here today? Are the families working out the wedding details?"
Justin Norwood swung his palm and smacked Declan Nash hard on the head. "This is all because of your outrageous behavior! The engagement couldn't be broken, but now the Sterling Family won't have you. The Norwood Family was caught in an impossible situation, so for the good of the family, your youngest uncle had to step up. The fiancé swap is already done. From now on, you will drop that clingy act and treat Miss Sterling with the respect she's due as your new aunt. Be respectful!"
"Fiancé swap?" Declan Nash froze as if struck by lightning. "What swap? On what grounds? Have you all forgotten how much I like Cece? How could you just swap me out? Did you even consider my feelings? No, I won't agree to this! Never!"
Silas Norwood unhurriedly set down his cup, his dark, cold eyes fixed on his nephew.
"Your consent is not required."
Declan Nash stumbled back half a step, his face deathly pale. "Uncle, you can't take advantage of my situation like this..."
"Is that any way to speak to your uncle!" Justin Norwood scolded. "Your mother and I signed the agreement to terminate your engagement with Miss Sterling. You're the one who made this colossal mess! Your uncle has been forced into this from the start. It's a done deal. If you keep making an unreasonable fuss, there will be no place for you left in The Norwood Family!"
Declan Nash's face was grim, his eyes bloodshot with rage.
Celia Sterling looked at the man who had been with her for three years. "Declan Nash."