Chapter 19: Once and for All
He lowered his head and kissed Nadia on the forehead.
"Alright, I'll apologize with you. I won't let you face it alone."
He was willing to give himself and Nadia a chance. At least now, he wanted to marry Nadia. As for Lily, if she regretted it later, it would be her own doing.
The meeting lasted until eleven. Edmond wasn't surprised by their answers and only said to Royce, "Remember, this is your choice."
After they left, Octavian came in with a stack of documents to sign. Adhering to the principle of reporting everything, he mentioned the question Royce had asked him earlier and his answer. Edmond paused, his action of picking up the pen halted, and he looked up with a moment of confusion in his clear eyes.
"Once and for all?"
Octavian realized he might have misunderstood. So, the boss wasn't fed up with Lily's back and forth? Then why suddenly fulfill Royce and Nadia's wishes? Octavian, curious, asked softly.
Edmond picked up a document, read through it, uncapped the pen, and slowly signed his name.
"Royce wants to be a laughingstock, and Nadia wants to jump into a fire pit. Why not fulfill their wishes? Most importantly, if Lily keeps entangling with Royce, she will be destroyed sooner or later. Now that she wants to stop this absurd obsession, I must cut off her path of regret, so she can only move forward."
His casual tone made Octavian grasp the meaning behind his words. A laughingstock? Indeed, in a family like the Zhou's, a wife like Nadia would certainly be a joke among their circle. These rich young men might play wildly outside, but their marriages were always alliances, and their wives were socialites. Lily had a bad temper, but in all other aspects, she outclassed Nadia. A fire pit? Indeed, the Zhou family was a difficult environment, not one an ordinary person could endure. Even excluding other members of the Zhou family, Royce's mother was notoriously harsh and snobbish. Marrying into the family would mean no peace for Nadia.
Octavian pondered that his boss was standing up for Lily, unsure whether out of gratitude for saving his life or other reasons. He didn't dare ask more but felt relieved for Lily, who could finally be free. However, by four in the afternoon, Octavian received a call from Lily.
"Mr. Pan, is Uncle Edmond available now? I have something to discuss with him."
Octavian's first thought was: Did she regret it after just one night's sleep? Not wanting to break off the engagement anymore? Octavian relayed Lily's words to Edmond, worried the boss's efforts might be in vain and resented. Edmond, however, remained calm.
"Let her come."
Octavian dutifully informed Lily. Half an hour later, Lily arrived, and Octavian invited her into the office, making her a cup of coffee before closing the door.
Edmond unbuttoned his sleeves leisurely, noticing Lily standing nervously and gestured to the sofa on his right.
"Sit."
Lily moved to the sofa, sitting more rigidly, her posture upright, hands clasped on her knees, her pale fingers fidgeting nervously.
Edmond observed her tension, walked over to the sofa opposite her, and handed her the coffee.
"Your third wish, have you already decided?"
Lily took the cup, feeling she might want to find a hole to crawl into out of embarrassment later. To avoid dropping the cup, she placed it on the coffee table.
"Yes."
Edmond slightly nodded, signaling her to speak.
Lily, with her delicate, beautiful brows slightly furrowed, took a deep breath and asked in one go.
"Uncle Edmond, do you need a wife?"
Lily hadn't planned to visit Edmond today. She and Aria had slept until one in the afternoon. From waking up to eating, Aria kept repeating the benefits of marrying Edmond, tirelessly brainwashing her.
"Dear, listen to your sister. Your top priority now is to win over Edmond. Once your wedding with Royce is canceled, regardless of the reason, you'll be in the spotlight, and people will laugh at you. Edmond is a bit reserved, but his character is impeccable. Alistair always said Edmond was the most trustworthy among his friends. If you hadn't been so fixated on that scumbag Royce all these years, I'd have set you up with Edmond long ago. Marrying Edmond would infuriate Zoya, your parents and brother wouldn't dare neglect you, Royce would call you auntie, and Nadia would have to bow to you. Those who laugh at you wouldn't dare do it openly..."
Aria's relentless persuasion made Lily tempted but not courageous enough. She left the apartment, driving to the Jian family estate, feeling restless without news from Edmond and unable to stay home due to lack of inspiration. She planned to cause a scene at the estate.
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