Chapter 394

She drew a deep breath. After all, she’d taken his payment–time to deliver.

Her crimson lips curved as she rose from the chair, clasping Shi Yao’s hand.

“Grandpa Shi, I’m sorry. Shi Yao and I lied to you. We’re not actually a couple.”

Grandpa Shi snorted coldly. “I already knew that.”

Alarieka smiled. “No, you didn’t.”

Few dared contradict him so directly these days.

Grandpa Shi’s expression darkened as he frowned at her. “What did you say?”

Shi Yao couldn’t tear his eyes from Alarieka’s profile. His pulse raced, their clasped hands growing slick with sweat as his throat tightened.

He stiffened when he felt movement between their palms.

Their loosely joined hands shifted. He watched Alarieka’s fingers slide deliberately between his, slowly interlacing until their palms pressed flush.

Shi Yao’s mind blanked. His heartbeat thundered louder than ever before.

Suddenly Alarieka lifted their intertwined hands, her voice ringing clear.

“Grandpa Shi, I’m the one pursuing him.”

Shi Yao’s thoughts shattered. He couldn’t even feel his own heartbeat anymore.

Grandpa Shi’s brows knitted tighter.

Alarieka beamed with unflinching confidence. “When I heard you were pressuring Shi Yao to marry, even arranging a fiancee for him, I suggested pretending to be his girlfriend. I made him bring me here. This was all my selfish motives.”

Grandpa Shi narrowed his eyes slightly.

Alarieka’s voice rang out firm and clear: “Grandpa Shi, I regret to inform you that I won’t give up. I’ll keep pursuing Victor persistently. I won’t stand by watching him marry another woman. If you truly force him into marriage with someone else, I won’t hesitate to sabotage it. I’d even gladly play the homewrecker. If I end up embarrassing your family, I apologize in advance.”

Grandpa Shi’s expression remained unchanged: “Ms. Huston, you don’t strike me as that type of person.”

Alarieka smiled dismissively: “Since you’ve investigated me, you know my humble background. Some said I’d remain hopelessly incompetent forever. But look at me now–don’t I perfectly fit the modern definition of success?”

Grandpa Shi offered no rebuttal:

Alarieka’s claim was undeniably valid.

Present-day Alarieka indeed possessed the capital to make such statements.

Alarieka declared: “Here’s the thing–I always achieve exactly what I set out to do.”

“I want Victor, and I will have him. Your opposition won’t change that.”

Grandpa Shi’s gaze darkened as he slowly appraised her: “Young lady, you’ve got nerve. But courage and your current assets alone won’t let you challenge the Shi family.”

“Then what if you add me into the equation?”

Victor’s voice cut through abruptly, low and raspy.

Alarieka felt his hand tighten fiercely around hers.

Victor suddenly turned to face her directly.

Alarieka: ?

Unless mistaken, wasn’t Victor’s gaze… burning with intensity? As if his eyes were about to glue themselves to her.

She glanced at the base of his ears.

Unsurprisingly, they’d flushed crimson.

“Alarieka, I never realized… you felt this way about me.”

Alarieka opened her mouth, then closed it. Hidden from Grandpa Shi’s view, her eyes flickered with suspicion.

Was this guy acting… or dead serious?

Victor’s throat tightened: “Alarieka, listen. You don’t… you don’t need to go this far. I… have feelings for you too.”

With Grandpa Shi still present, Alarieka forced a stiff smile: “What are you talking about?”

Victor pressed his lips together, his Adam’s apple bobbing: “Alarieka, I promise you–let’s be together. You’ll be my only girlfriend. No one else. Ever.”

Alarieka: ?

Grandpa Shi: ?

Alarieka frantically signaled Victor with her eyes while playing along: “Victor, you don’t have to do this. Take time to think it over-”

“No. I’m certain I’m clear-headed.”