Chapter 152: No Choice
Frederick turned to Nathan, who remained silent, seated calmly on the sofa. “An engagement? Father, you approve of this?”
The last time a scandalous video from the slums had surfaced, Nathan was resolute, stating he would never allow Claire to marry into the Hawthorne family. Yet now, with Jane boldly mentioning an engagement in front of Nathan, it was evident he had given his consent. Jane would never dare bring up such a topic otherwise. If that were the case, then Nathan must have decided to give him up.
Currently, with the presidential campaign in full swing, Nathan had two sons in the running—Frederick and Arthur. Of course, there were other candidates too; the Hawthorne family wasn’t the only source of contenders. But Nathan’s shift in attitude toward him indicated something far more ominous: he had chosen to fully support Arthur and had decided to let Frederick fend for himself. Although Nathan couldn’t singlehandedly determine the outcome of the presidential race, his support for Arthur would spell disaster for Frederick.
As the head of the Department of Defense and a senior statesman of Anbusall politics, Nathan’s influence carried immense weight. Thus, the decision on whether to get engaged to Claire became critical—it would unmistakably signal Nathan’s stance.
Nathan ignored Frederick’s question and asked instead, “What’s the story with that woman at Halfmoon Manor—Caroline?”
“Caroline? She’s Anna’s younger sister. After Anna passed, she stayed by my side,” Frederick replied, his expression momentarily faltering. Nathan’s sudden inquiry about Caroline came out of nowhere, catching him off guard.
Nathan pressed on. “The younger sister of Andrew Prescott—the man who died saving your life?”
“…Yes.” Frederick nodded, his heart sinking. He had known for a long time that nothing escaped Nathan’s notice. Still, when faced with his father’s probing, the unease was inescapable. Nathan wasn’t merely influential—he was far more powerful than Frederick had anticipated. It seemed Frederick’s years of keeping a low profile and biding his time had not been enough.
Some things couldn’t be rushed; patience was paramount. After years of endurance, no matter what happened, he had to stay composed. He couldn’t let all his efforts go to waste.
“If you had to choose between Caroline and Claire to be your wife, who would it be?”
Nathan, evidently pleased with Frederick’s honesty and deference, spoke in a tone that was noticeably less stern than before, even showing a hint of leniency.
“Whoever you choose for me, Father, that will be my choice.” Frederick didn’t hesitate, stepping closer to Nathan and bowing his head in respect.
“Then get engaged to Claire. We’ll make the announcement at Madam Prescott’s ninetieth birthday celebration. As for their family, you don’t need to worry about the arrangements. I’ll handle it myself.”
Nathan smiled with satisfaction, though his deep, inscrutable gaze revealed little of his true thoughts.
“Understood. Thank you, Father.” Frederick nodded obediently, his demeanor as mechanical as a well-programmed automaton.
“Remember this: an engagement doesn’t necessarily mean a marriage.”
Throughout the conversation, Nathan had been quietly scrutinizing Frederick, his eyes betraying a subtle calculation. Only after hearing Frederick’s compliant response did he rise, walking over to place a firm hand on his son’s shoulder.
“Stay home tonight,” Nathan instructed casually as he made his way upstairs.
“Yes, Father,” Frederick responded with deference.
Jane, who had remained silent until now, cast a sharp glare at Frederick before following Nathan up the stairs.
That night, Frederick lay in bed, his mind replaying the evening’s events in endless loops. No matter how he turned it over in his head, he couldn’t piece it all together. Frustrated, he decided to let it go for now. He was acutely aware that his power fell far short of Nathan’s, a seasoned and commanding general. Without knowing his father’s ultimate intentions, Frederick could only adapt to whatever challenges came his way.
The next morning, Claire, following Frederick’s earlier suggestion, packed her things and returned to Halfmoon Manor. Wendy, whose role had been left unaddressed by Frederick, accompanied her. Frederick, meanwhile, awoke at the Hawthorne Manor and went about his usual routine: breakfast, grooming, and heading to the Kingstown Security Department. Everything seemed ordinary, as though nothing had changed.
Except for one thing: the engagement needed to be formally communicated to Claire. Settling into his car, Frederick dialed her number.
“What is it? Something urgent?”
Claire had just arrived at Halfmoon Manor with Wendy and was unpacking when she saw Frederick’s name flash on her phone. She pressed the speaker button casually.
“Just to let you know,” Frederick began without preamble. “I spoke with my father last night. He’s decided that we should get engaged. He’ll handle the arrangements with your family.”
His tone was more a directive than a discussion. Claire immediately understood—this was a decree, not a negotiation. She had no choice but to comply.
“Got it,” she replied curtly before ending the call. But as she looked up from her phone, she found herself face-to-face with Caroline. Caroline, who had anticipated Claire’s return today, had been brimming with smug satisfaction, already plotting ways to torment her rival. What she hadn’t expected was to overhear Frederick’s phone call, announcing the engagement to Claire. Her triumphant…