Chapter 76: What’s In It For You?

I processed his words in silence.

He was right. They were complete worrywarts. If they believed a powerful Alpha was personally sponsoring me, training me, and ensuring I had the resources to survive the preliminary rounds and safely forfeit, it would lift a massive, suffocating weight off their shoulders.

I sighed.

"Fine," I conceded, leaning back slightly. "We can go with that act. You ’like’ me, right? You’re trying to win me over?"

"Win you over?" Edgar repeated, leaning back against the cheap chair with an impossibly confident smirk. "I thought I already did."

I scoffed, my eyes narrowing into razor-sharp slits. "Fake or not, it’s going to take a lot more than words and a few gifts to win me over, Edgar."

A deep, low chuckle vibrated in his chest.

Before he could respond, a sudden curiosity hit me, and I couldn’t stop the question from slipping out. "By the way... if you’re so young, why does Benjamin call you ’Uncle’? Isn’t he like 19?"

Edgar’s smirk withered slightly, replaced by an exasperated roll of his golden eyes. "He’s just used to it. He started doing it out of pure spite when we were younger, and now that’s the only thing he calls me." He let out a weary sigh, shaking his head. "Such a brat."

"You call him nephew too, don’t you?" I asked and he snickered.

"It was a Winwin affair," he said. "And somehow, we went from being cousins to uncle and nephew."

Ah... ahhhhh! I seem to understand something now. I had been wondering how Valentina had been Benjamin’s cousin but her brother called him Nephew. I didn’t think much about it then because it didn’t bother me. But knowing the truth changed everything.

The people of this family were messed up in their own right.

I let out a soft chuckle, shaking my head to let it all pass.

"I’ll set the stage for you, Edgar," I murmured, my voice dropping low as a subtle smirk touched my lips. "You best play your part to perfection,"

"You can count on me."

Turning toward the kitchen doorway, I caught the anxious eyes peeking out from behind the frame and beckoned them forward with a wave of my hand.

"You can come out now," I called out softly. "We’re done talking."

The tension in the air was palpable as my family filed back into the small living room.

Bradford stepped in first, his posture rigid, his protective paternal instincts radiating off him in waves despite his lack of power.

Valerie followed close behind, her observant eyes scanning my face for any sign of distress, while Jayden and Jordan flanked them like sentinels, looking suspiciously at the towering Alpha occupying our squeaky chair.

"Brianna," Bradford began cautiously, his hands clutching the front of his work shirt. "Is... everything alright?"

"Everything is fine, Father," I said, my voice smooth and measured, stepping right into the role. "Edgar was just explaining why he came all the way here today."

I turned my eyes back to Edgar, giving him a small, deliberate nod—the green light.

Edgar rose fluidly from the cheap wooden stool, his towering frame immediately making the room feel half its size. Yet, instead of imposing his suffocating Alpha pressure, he consciously suppressed his aura, lowering himself into a respectful, polite stance that surprised even me.

"Mr. and Mrs. Wells," Edgar spoke, his deep voice dropping into an earnest, reassuring register. "I apologize for dropping in unannounced and causing your family distress. I know who I am in this city, and I know my presence can be... alarming."

Bradford swallowed hard, exchanging a quick, bewildered glance with Valerie.

"I came today because I am sponsoring Brianna for the upcoming Tournament of Power," Edgar continued smoothly, his golden eyes filled with unwavering sincerity. "I know how dangerous the tournament is, and I know how much you worry for her safety. That is why I’ve taken it upon myself to act as her investor—providing her with resources, proper training, and gear to ensure she comes out of those preliminary rounds completely unharmed."

Jordan frowned, stepping forward a fraction. "And why would someone like you do all that for an Omega? What’s in it for you?"

Edgar didn’t flinch at the blunt question. He simply turned his head, his golden gaze settling on me with an unreadable, intense warmth that made my breath catch for a fraction of a second.

"Because I am trying to win her over," Edgar said softly, the words ringing clear in the quiet room. "I admire her resilience, and I care about her well-being. I want to give her every advantage possible—not just to survive, but so you all never have to worry about her safety again."

Valerie gasped quietly, her hand coming up to rest over her heart as she looked between Edgar and me, her protective worry instantly softening into awe.

Romance seems to make any woman go soft.

Even Bradford’s rigid shoulders slowly dropped, the sheer relief of hearing that his daughter had a powerful shield in the dangerous tournament washing over his tired face.

Standing beside Edgar, I maintained my composure, though I couldn’t resist casting a cold, amused glance up at him.

Not bad for an act, investor, I thought, suppressing the quiet flutter in my chest. Not bad at all.

"This..." Bradford stammered, looking at me with wide, disbelieving eyes.

I knew what was coming next; My father expressing how we came from different words, how we were not a fitted match and how I might be dragged into endless schemes.

But I didn’t let them formulate those excuses.

"Honestly, Father, Mother, brothers... he’s been trying to pursue me for a while now," I confessed, forcing a slightly timid yet resolute expression onto my face. "And this morning, he told me he would help to clear our debt."

Bradford and Valerie gasped in unison.

"No, no, we can’t accept something like that!" Bradford blurted out, shaking his head frantically. "That’s far too much, Alpha Morningstar—"

Edgar smoothly rose to his feet, his posture earnest and humble as he held up a hand.

"It’s fine, sir. Please. I want to do this so the family of the girl I like can live safely. Brianna mentioned to me how loan sharks came to your doorstep just a few days ago. It’s far too dangerous. Please, just accept it."

"But... we couldn’t possibly pay you back," Valerie whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

"You don’t have to," Edgar replied instantly, his deep voice rich with sincerity. "I just want you to be safe and sound so that when Brianna returns from the tournament, she will still have her home to return to."

Bradford and Valerie looked at each other skeptically, their eyes shimmering with overwhelmed relief and lingering disbelief.

Gosh, Edgar is such a great actor, I thought, keeping my mouth shut so I wouldn’t ruin the scene. His words are so convincing that even I’m almost convinced.

After a little more back-and-forth conversation, with Edgar patiently reassuring my tearful parents, I finally stepped in to rescue him from their endless grand expressions of gratitude.

I reminded him it was late and offered to walk him out to his car. Edgar bowed politely to my parents, apologizing for not bringing any gifts today and promising to return with proper presents next time.

My family bowed their heads repeatedly, insisting that clearing their life-threatening debt meant he had done far more than enough. How could they ever say he came empty-handed?!