Chapter 508

Aaron's gaze locked onto Lily.

Lily arched an eyebrow, her lips twisting into a frown. "Did you invite Chairman Ashbourne here?" Suspicion dripped from her tone.

He widened his eyes, playing dumb. "Wow, that's harsh. Sure, I'm Emeric's son, but I'm no Benedict Arnold. My loyalty's always been to Evadne!"

A reluctant smirk tugged at Lily's lips at his audacity. "Then what's the plan? Do we let him in?"

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Aaron scoffed. "If you don't open that door, trust me, my old man will rip it clean off its hinges."

Lily had no comeback for that.

Not wanting to offend such an influential figure, she inhaled sharply and turned the knob.

The Ashbourne family's security detail swarmed the villa's courtyard, an intimidating sea of black suits.

Emeric stood at the threshold, his expression frostier than a midwinter storm, with Mr. Dunn hovering behind him.

Emeric had been ready to unleash hell—until he spotted his youngest son. His brain short-circuited.

Mr. Dunn blinked in shock. "Young Master Ashbourne?!"

Aaron rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Hey, Dad."

Emeric's gaze ping-ponged between his son and Lily before taking a deliberate step back to check the house number.

"Chairman Ashbourne, you're at the right place," Mr. Dunn supplied helpfully, though his lips twitched with suppressed amusement.

"Right."

Emeric nodded slowly—then his eyes lit up with sudden realization. "Ah! So this is your girlfriend? I see now. You've got a thing for the feisty ones. Should've known—would've saved me the trouble of setting you up with all those sweet girl-next-door types."

Lily's jaw dropped. Aaron groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Dad, please stop. If you keep this up, I'm joining a monastery. You know why I became a cop in Elmsworth? To escape your nonstop marriage lectures! I'm not some prize stallion!"

Lily pressed her lips together, fighting a laugh. Even the elite weren't immune to parental nagging.

"If you dare join a monastery, I'll drag you out by your ears—mark my words!"

Emeric's scowl melted into a salesman's grin as he turned to Lily. "Miss, how old are you? What's your name? Where do you work? Are your parents local or from Skyrim?"

He leaned in conspiratorially. "My son plays it cool, but I've had his wedding gift ready for years. Marry into the Ashbournes, and you'll live like royalty. No need to overthink it—better to settle these things early!"

"Dad!" Aaron looked ready to combust with humiliation.

"Chairman Ashbourne, you're mistaken," Lily interjected smoothly. "Mr. Ashbourne and I are strictly professional. I'm Mr. Fairhaven's secretary."

Emeric's face fell. He shot Aaron a withering glare.

"Perhaps we should continue this inside?" Mr. Dunn suggested diplomatically, though his smirk betrayed him. The Ashbourne heirs were Emeric's pride—and his perpetual headache.

Father and son faced off in the living room, the air thick with awkward tension.

"Did everyone know Evadne was here except me?" Emeric ground out. "Am I even your father anymore?"

Aaron snatched an apple from the fruit bowl and crunched into it. "Maybe we should get a paternity test."

Emeric inhaled sharply, counting to ten.

Lily, usually unflappable, bit her lip to stifle a laugh.

Soft footsteps interrupted the standoff.

Mari entered with a tea tray, setting a cup before Emeric with practiced grace. "Mr. Emeric, your tea."

Emeric's stern expression softened at the sight of her delicate features. "Mari! Keeping your sister company, I see?"

"Y-Yes," she stammered, cheeks flushing. She couldn't exactly admit she was living with Jareth, so she dodged the truth.

"Never mind that!" Emeric brightened, pulling her closer for inspection. "No boyfriend, right? What do you think of my youngest here? He's a bit rough around the edges, but you two would balance each other out."

Aaron choked on his tea, spraying it across the table.

Mari recoiled, fingers twisting in her skirt, her porcelain skin turning scarlet.

Aaron might be blunt, but his detective instincts were sharp. He noted her skittishness—social anxiety, maybe?

As she nibbled her lip, eyes glistening like a startled fawn's, something protective stirred in him.

"Dad!" he barked. "Did you come here just to kidnap a bride? I've told you—I'm focusing on my career, not marriage! Drop it!"

Emeric narrowed his eyes. "You think you have a choice? If you'd had your way, you wouldn't have been born."

"F—" Aaron barely swallowed the curse, his face burning.

Why him? With four older brothers, why was he the one being hounded like some prized breeding bull?

His job had him globetrotting for high-risk missions. What woman would want that life? If he ever married, he'd want to cherish his wife—not leave her lonely.

As Emeric continued his matchmaking, Lily swiftly pulled Mari into a shielding embrace and leveled him with a glare.

"Chairman Ashbourne, while I appreciate the sentiment, she's already spoken for."

"By who?" Emeric scoffed. "Who could possibly outmatch my son?"

"Mr. Jareth Fairhaven," Lily stated coolly, though amusement danced in her eyes. "Their relationship has Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Frederic's blessing. In fact, Jareth will soon formally propose after being named Fairhaven Group's CEO."

Though Jareth had whispered promises of marriage, hearing it aloud sent a giddy thrill through Mari, her cheeks blooming pink.

Emeric blinked, recalibrating. He turned to Aaron with a nudge. "No ring yet? There's still time to sweep her off her feet."

Aaron wished the floor would swallow him whole.

Footsteps cut through the tension—sharp, purposeful.

"Emeric!" Evadne stood hands on hips, glowering. "Why the armed entourage? Planning a hostile takeover?"

Love had tempered her fear of confronting him. Even if he threw the full weight of K Group at them, it wouldn't matter.

Last night, curled against Thaddeus, she'd traced his lips and whispered, "What's on your mind?"

He'd nipped her finger playfully. "Just thinking about the battles ahead."

"Then we'll fight them together," she'd declared, resting her head on his chest. "No more cold feet, alright?"

He'd pinched her waist. "Evadne, I wasn't—"

"I know," she'd teased.

He'd surrendered with a smile. If calling him a coward kept her close, so be it.

"Nothing will part us," she'd murmured.

"Nothing," he'd vowed, lacing their fingers. "In life and beyond."

Now, seeing his daughter grocery shopping like a commoner, Emeric's eye twitched.

His precious heiress, raised with armies of servants, now carrying her own bags!

His outrage faltered when he spotted Thaddeus behind her, arms laden with groceries like a pack mule.

A pang of envy stabbed Emeric's chest.

Thaddeus, misreading his glare, hastily set the bags down and bowed. "Chairman Ashbourne, my apologies."

"He should apologize to you!" Evadne snapped. "Violence was unacceptable!"

Emeric's heart clenched. He exhaled sharply. "Evadne, you've had your rebellion. My patience wears thin. It's time to come home."