Chapter 57: Julian Fletcher Is Interested in Me

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Julian Fletcher Is Interested in Me

I was backed into a corner, so I had to think on my feet. "Uncle, what are you trying to do?"

"It truly is unfair to you, having to be with that madman..." Dylan Lancaster said with a smile. "But we have a long future ahead of us. Why don’t you just be with me now..."

"But the doctor said I’ve just gotten pregnant, and Master Lancaster cares deeply about this child. What if I lose it..." I said with a smile. "Uncle, that wouldn’t be good, would it? Surely you’re not that impatient?"

Dylan Lancaster’s eyes narrowed, clearly pleased.

He reached out and grabbed my chin. "What a little siren."

I forced a smile, fighting back my revulsion. ’How can a person like this still be allowed to live...’

"Fine. I have plenty of time to wait, so we’ll wait." He kept his grip on my chin and started to lean in.

I frowned and tried to pull away, but that displeased him. "What? Not even a kiss? If you’re going to be a whore, don’t pretend you’re a saint."

’His patience was limited, and my act was about to crumble.’

THUD! Just when I was panicking, unsure of what to do, someone behind me struck Dylan Lancaster with a club, knocking him out cold.

I stared at Asher in shock. "You... How did you get out?"

His face was grim, and his eyes held a raw glint. He paid me no mind, raising the club to viciously bring it down on Dylan Lancaster’s head. He was going for the kill.

"Asher!" I cried out in alarm, rushing to stop him. "Are you trying to kill him?"

’I could feel it. Asher genuinely wanted to kill him...’

’I was growing more and more certain that he was one of the killers...’

But I couldn’t just stand by and watch him kill someone. "If you kill him, Master Lancaster won’t spare you either! Don’t be rash."

Asher’s murderous gaze fell on me, and some of the killing intent slowly dissipated. "He touched you. He deserves to die."

I froze. Those words... they sounded so familiar.

Back when I was a wandering soul, he had gone crazy beating that scumbag next to Julian Fletcher, and he’d said the same thing.

’"Touch her, and you die..."’

At the time, I didn’t understand. Asher and I had never even met, so why would he be willing to kill for me?

’So it wasn’t for me, but for Silvia Lynch?’

"Young Madam... AH!" A maid had come to call me downstairs. Seeing Asher out of his room and Dylan Lancaster on the floor, she screamed and ran off.

My expression hardened. I quickly grabbed Asher’s hand and pulled him back into the room. "Stay in here. I’ll handle this."

Asher looked at me, seemingly wanting to say something, but only opened and closed his mouth.

I shook my head at him, closed the door securely, and stood outside.

Soon enough, Master Lancaster arrived upstairs with several bodyguards. "Where is that little bastard? Drag him out here!"

"Grandfather, please calm down." I hurried forward, blocking Master Lancaster’s path. "Just now, Uncle... he tried to force himself on me. I was worried about the baby, so I got scared and ran into the room. Asher was just acting on instinct, protecting his child. I have him to thank... otherwise, the baby..."

My eyes reddened as I broke into tears, my acting skills on full display.

’Master Lancaster knew better than anyone what kind of scoundrel Dylan Lancaster was. I was betting that he valued the heir in my womb more.’

’After all, Asher had been an absolute genius before he went mad. Dylan Lancaster, on the other hand, was mediocre and utterly debauched. If he hadn’t ruined his health with his wild lifestyle when he was younger, he wouldn’t have ended up infertile, unable to produce a viable heir even with in vitro fertilization.’

’If Dylan Lancaster hadn’t been such a disappointment, why else would Master Lancaster have gone to such lengths to secure an heir from a madman?’

Master Lancaster’s expression darkened instantly. "That beast! You there, take him away! Let him reflect on his actions!"

’I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I’d escaped this disaster for the time being.’

"Grandfather, who’s coming to the banquet tonight?" I quickly stepped forward to change the subject. "Please, don’t be angry."

"Hmph. Everyone who’s anyone in Meridia will be here tonight." Master Lancaster snorted, then turned and led me downstairs. "I’ll introduce you around in a bit. From now on, you’re the granddaughter-in-law of the Lancaster family. If you’re fortunate, you’ll give me a grandson without any trouble."

’I grumbled internally. Does this old fossil have a throne that needs inheriting?’

’But then again, considering the Lancaster family’s wealth and their status in Meridia... it seemed they actually did have a throne to pass down.’

"Grandfather..." I began, feigning anxiety. "A naturally conceived child is healthier and grows up to be smarter, but... what if I’m not so lucky and it turns out to be a girl?"

"You’re still young, and this old man is still in good health. There’s no rush. We’ll aim for two in three years. If it’s not a son, you’ll just keep having them until it is," Master Lancaster said lightly.

The corner of my mouth twitched. ’So they really are just treating Silvia Lynch like a breeding tool.’

’But... as long as it’s a girl, Asher will still be valuable to the Lancaster family for the time being.’

’I found myself hoping the baby in my womb would be a girl.’

"Asher... why did he go mad?" I asked in a low voice.

"Asher?" Master Lancaster glanced at me.

I froze for a moment. ’Don’t they call him Asher in the Lancaster family?’

’Sebastian... I suddenly remembered. In the Lancaster family, Asher was known as Sebastian Lancaster.’

"Originally, the boy was bright—a genius, even," Master Lancaster said, his face impassive. "It’s a pity... he suffered a shock."

After a moment of silence, Master Lancaster glanced at me, his guard clearly still up. ’Of course, he wasn’t about to air the family’s dirty laundry to me.’ "You don’t need to worry about these things. Just focus on giving birth to a healthy baby. Nothing is more important than that."

I nodded obediently. "Yes."

’Even though Master Lancaster said nothing, I guessed that Asher’s current state had to be connected to the Lancaster family.’

"Grandfather... I’m a little scared. People outside, and even the maids in the house, are whispering that Asher is a murderer who targets women. Is that true? The doctor told me I should spend more time with the baby’s father, but I’m afraid of him..."

I watched Master Lancaster, trying to gauge his reaction.

"The boy may be a little mad, but he would never kill anyone. I am certain of that. All those outside rumors are baseless. For your safety and the baby’s, it’s wise to limit your contact with him." Master Lancaster was firm in his assertion that Asher was not a killer.

’If Asher isn’t the killer, then why was he at the crime scene? What was he doing there? And what’s his connection to the real murderer?’

...

「The Lancaster Family Banquet.」

The guests Master Lancaster had invited were all top players in the business world. As the family second only to the Lancasters, the Fletchers were naturally expected to attend.

Julian Fletcher was tall and handsome, naturally standing out from the crowd. He arrived with Erin Whittaker, and they immediately became the center of attention.

"President Fletcher’s fiancée is stunning," someone fawned.

"Indeed. Erin Whittaker was the campus belle of Meridia U, after all."

"I thought the campus belle of Meridia U was someone named Cecilia Caldwell?" I said as I walked over with Master Lancaster. In front of Erin Whittaker, I deliberately reached out to shake Julian Fletcher’s hand. "President Fletcher, we meet again."

Julian Fletcher froze for a moment when he saw me, then raised his hand to meet mine.

Erin Whittaker’s face was a mask of displeasure as she watched me warily.

"Is that the wife of the eldest Lancaster grandson? Does she not know... that no one in their circle ever mentions Cecilia Caldwell in front of Julian Fletcher?" someone behind me muttered.

"Julian Fletcher went on a rampage not long ago. Anyone who brings up Cecilia Caldwell in front of him is courting death."

"Mr. Lancaster, this must be your granddaughter-in-law?" Erin Whittaker asked, forcing back her annoyance. She intentionally directed the question to Master Lancaster, then extended a hand toward me for a handshake.

"President Fletcher, I seem to recall your fiancée’s name being Cecilia Caldwell. Is this your mistress?" I said, looking at Erin Whittaker with deliberate provocation and ignoring her outstretched hand.

The gossips behind me started murmuring. For the Lancaster Group’s new granddaughter-in-law to slight Julian Fletcher’s fiancée was a direct insult to Julian Fletcher himself.

But Julian Fletcher didn’t seem angry at all. He just stared at me, his gaze complex.

Erin Whittaker grew even more flustered. Of course she was scared; I look so much like Cecilia Caldwell.

"This is my granddaughter-in-law, Silvia Lynch, the heiress of Lynn Dynamics Group," Master Lancaster announced with a smile.

"Aren’t you going to introduce your companion, President Fletcher? Which family is she the heiress of?" I tilted my head, intentionally trying to embarrass him. ’In their circle, status is everything. Back then, Julian Fletcher had claimed not to care that Erin Whittaker was adopted, putting on a grand show of true love conquering all.’

Julian Fletcher glanced at Erin Whittaker.

Erin Whittaker looked back at him nervously.

’So many people were watching. She was waiting for Julian Fletcher to officially acknowledge her.’

"This is my secretary." However, Julian Fletcher merely said flatly that she was his secretary.

The color drained from Erin Whittaker’s face in an instant. She lowered her head, her eyes turning red. "I’m not feeling well... I’m just going to go sit over there for a moment."

I watched Erin Whittaker with a sardonic expression. ’So, she finally gets a taste of her own medicine.’

’Then again... Julian Fletcher really is the worst kind of scum. He claimed to love Erin Whittaker so much back then that he was willing to kill me for her, but now he won’t even acknowledge her in public?’

’How disgusting.’

Master Lancaster had gone to greet other guests. Julian Fletcher walked up to me and lowered his voice. "Was that explanation to your satisfaction?"

I frowned. "President Fletcher, whatever do you mean? I don’t understand."

"Your name is Silvia Lynch?" He seemed very interested in me.