The Arrogant Underling

This subtle movement made Luna's heart skip a beat. She looked up at Leonardo, only to find his expression as calm as ever, as if that momentary hint of intimacy had never occurred.

He released her hand. "I'll have the lawyer prepare the agreement as soon as possible."

Luna nodded. Suddenly, she noticed a tiny mole on his left earlobe, hidden at the edge of his hairline. It was barely noticeable unless from this angle. This small imperfection somehow made his almost too - perfect appearance seem more relatable, and it inexplicably put her at ease.

Luna picked up her handbag. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she said, "Oh, by the way, do we need to... act affectionate in public?"

Leonardo raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"

"At least at the engagement party..." Luna chose her words carefully. "We need to make it seem real."

"Naturally." Leonardo nodded slightly. "I'll follow your lead."

"Congratulations," his voice was low and gentle. "For bravely starting a new life."

These words were like a drop of warm water falling onto a frozen lake. Luna felt something in her chest loosen slightly. She blinked, suddenly realizing that this was the first time since the incident that someone looked at her not with pity or gossip, but sincerely congratulated her on her choice.

He accompanied her to the elevator and pressed the down button. During the wait, Luna could feel his gaze on the top of her head, heavy as if it had a tangible weight.

The elevator "dinged" as it arrived. Leonardo suddenly reached out and tucked a wayward curl away from her forehead, his fingertips brushing ever - so - slightly against her temple.

"Well, I'll be going then," she tried to keep her voice steady. "See you in three days?"

"I'll see you off." Leonardo had already pressed the intercom to tell the driver to change the route. "After all, since we're getting married, it's only reasonable that I pay a visit to the Windsor Manor."

Luna didn't decline and softly thanked him. Leonardo's lips curved into a faint smile. "You're welcome, fiancée."

The word "fiancée" was pronounced clearly by him, with a hint of teasing, yet it was strangely not offensive. The tips of Luna's ears turned warm. She pretended to adjust her skirt, avoiding his smiling gaze.

The scenery outside the car window gradually changed from the Manhattan business district to the high - end residential area in the Upper East Side. Luna stared at the familiar street scenes, still feeling a bit dazed. Had she really gotten herself married in such a muddled way? To a man she'd known for less than 24 hours?

She looked down at the hand that he had held earlier. There still seemed to be a lingering warmth on her skin. This marriage that started as a deal seemed to have deviated from the track she had envisioned from the very beginning.

An odd silence filled the car, only the faint sound of the air - conditioner vents could be heard.

Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the silver chain on her wrist - a "token of love" given by Richard on her 18th birthday. The pendant was engraved with the initials of their names. Now, it seemed so ironic. As they passed a trash can in Central Park, she suddenly unclasped it and threw the expensive bracelet into it without hesitation.

There was a soft "ding" as the metal hit the bottom of the trash can. The sound was blocked by the car window, but it stirred up a strange sense of pleasure in her heart.

Just then, her phone vibrated. The screen showed more than a dozen missed calls, all from "Eileen Windsor". Luna's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately called back.

The moment the call connected, a frosty voice came from the receiver. "You have half an hour. Come back immediately."

Luna opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She instinctively looked at Leonardo and found him looking thoughtfully at the action of her throwing the bracelet.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft.

"My sister knows." Luna bit her lower lip, suddenly feeling like a child who had done something wrong.

Leonardo raised an eyebrow. "Are you afraid of her?"

"Not exactly afraid..." Luna twisted her fingers. "Isabella has always thought Richard was unreliable and has never approved of us being together."

Leonardo chuckled, and a few fine laugh lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. "Your sister is right."

This smile made him seem more alive, less of the fierce Wall Street wolf and more relaxed. Luna was taken aback. Suddenly, she realized this was the first time she had seen Leonardo's sincere smile.

At the Windsor Manor at this moment

Luna's sister, Eileen Windsor, was sitting on the sofa, her slender fingers pinching a document. Her knuckles were slightly white from the force. Her expression was cold, and a layer of frost seemed to congeal in her ice - blue eyes. The man opposite her, however, seemed oblivious, wearing an uncomfortable smile on his face.

"Miss Windsor," the man, Drake Morton, Richard's trusted subordinate, crossed his legs and spoke in a casual tone. "Mr. Vanderwoodsen won't be able to attend the engagement party. Here is the guest list from the Vanderwoodsen family. Take a look and send out the invitations as soon as possible."

Luna saw Emma, her sister's assistant, standing aside, so angry that her face was turning green. Her expression seemed to say: There are so many men in the world. Why did the young lady fall for that scoundrel Richard?

"Miss Eileen, you won't need to worry about the transfer of these properties in the future," Drake Morton said leisurely, his tone tinged with a bit of frivolity. "After all, once Mr. Richard and Miss Luna are engaged, we'll be family."

His eyes were filled with greed and disdain, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, as if he could already see the day when the Windsor family's properties fell into their hands.

Eileen's secretary stood aside, so angry that his face was flushed red. His fingers tightly grasped the edge of the folder, almost crushing it. But Eileen just coldly raised her eyes, her gaze as sharp as a blade.

"Drake," her voice was soft, but it was like an icicle piercing through the marrow. "Have you forgotten that Richard Vanderwoodsen is just a bastard?"

Drake's smile froze on his face.

Eileen slowly stood up. Her high - heeled shoes made a dull sound on the carpet. She leaned forward slightly, her red lips parting as she said word by word: "And you, are nothing but a dog he keeps."

Drake's face instantly turned ugly. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "You - "

"Watch your tone," Eileen interrupted him, her eyes fierce. "Otherwise, I won't mind letting Richard know how he climbed up, and he can just as well roll back down."

Drake was intimidated by her imposing manner. His Adam's apple bobbed. He was used to showing off in front of Luna and had gradually started to look down on Eileen - after all, since the death of the Windsor couple, there had been rumors that Eileen was just an adopted daughter and not of the true Windsor blood.

But at this moment, he felt a hint of fear.

However, he quickly regained his bravado and glared at her viciously. "Heh, Miss Eileen, don't forget that you're the 'adopted daughter' of the Windsor family." He deliberately emphasized the last two words, his eyes full of mockery. "A fake, yet you dare to act so high - and - mighty here?"

Eileen's eyes suddenly turned extremely cold.

Drake felt a chill down his spine under her stare, but he still forced a sneer. "I'll report everything that happened today to Mr. Richard exactly as it is." He added through gritted teeth, "I hope you'll watch your words and actions from now on."

With that, he grabbed the documents, turned around, and strode out. His leather shoes stomped heavily on the floor, as if he wanted to vent all his anger.

• The humiliation he endured today, he must make Richard get it back for him!

As soon as Drake got into the car, he couldn't wait to dial Richard's phone.

"Mr. Richard!" he said in an indignant tone, exaggerating what had happened just now. At the end, he couldn't help but belittle the two sisters. "They don't take you seriously at all! Especially Eileen, she actually dared to say that you're - "

Richard on the other end of the phone suddenly raised his voice and interrupted him. "Are you sure it was Eileen who said it?"

Drake was taken aback, then he said with certainty, "Absolutely! She was extremely arrogant!"

Richard was silent for a few seconds before coldly saying, "I see."

Drake wanted to say more, but the phone had already been hung up. He angrily hit the steering wheel. Just as he was about to start the car, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar black Maybach passing by.

His eyes widened in shock.

• Leonardo Black's car?