Chapter 58 Tomorrow’s engagement party will be for a different couple
Aaron had never been one to simply obey and conform. His insistence on attending a military academy was so resolute that not even ten oxen could drag him back. Had his brother Leonardo not been injured, Aaron would likely be serving in the military right now.
The fact that Aaron would resort to such defiance was a clear sign of his genuine anger.
Bennett felt both enraged and guilty. He knew Aaron's temper was no small matter, and his own fears crept up on him. If it hadn't been for his previous suspicions...
He wouldn't have rushed to arrange this engagement.
Now, regret gnawed at him from the inside.
"The Thompsons have sent someone over," the butler announced as he entered the room.
Bennett gripped his cane tightly and struck the ground forcefully, saying with a grave voice, "The Thompsons have the nerve to show up here? Don't let them in! Kick them out!"
"Hold on," Aaron stopped the butler. "Let them in. The fault is theirs; we're in the right. I want to hear what they have to say."
Jonah, with Camila in tow, had hastily made their way through the slight rain. In their rush, they failed to manage their umbrella properly, and their clothes were quite drenched.
"Aaron..." Jonah caught sight of Aaron sitting on the leather chair and his expression shifted subtly. "Where's the patriarch?"
At the Quinn household, speaking with the patriarch was always more comfortable than conversing with Aaron.
Aaron took a teacup from the servant, lifted the lid, brushed aside the tea leaves, and gave Jonah a brief glance. "My grandpa's blood pressure is up, and he needed to rest," he said, implying the patriarch had retired to his quarters.
Knowing he was in the wrong and gritting his teeth in frustration, Jonah took a deep breath. "Aaron, I admit I've failed in my parenting, and I've already punished Vincent accordingly. I know it won't appease your anger. You have my word, the Thompson family will make it right with you."
His career was at stake, forcing him to swallow his pride. After all the challenges he faced to reach his current status, he had even greater ambitions. The last thing he wanted was to antagonize the Quinn family—if they decided to make Vincent's scandal public, it could destroy both the Thompson name and his own political future.
Aaron's eyes narrowed slightly.
Camila, unable to hold back her emotions, choked up at the thought of Vincent's permanent disability, which pained her deeply.
Jonah pinched her harshly to silence her.
Aaron seemed oblivious to their subtle exchange and said coldly, "I'm not interested in compensation from the Thompsons."
A flicker of relief passed through Camila.
Jonah knew Aaron was a tough nut to crack; it wasn't that he didn't want compensation, he simply held the Thompsons' offerings in contempt.
But Jonah had nothing of interest to offer Aaron. The Quinns had wealth to spare, except for...
No, that project was meant for the Thompson Corporation.
He discreetly shared ownership with the Thompson brothers, collecting dividends under the radar. The comprehensive health resort project was a sure bet to bring in vast profits and boost the GDP of Nan City.
Everyone loves wealth, and Jonah was extremely reluctant to part with such a lucrative slice of the pie.
"Aaron, I understand you've been wronged," Jonah began, trying to salvage the situation.
There was a sharp click as Aaron tossed his teacup lid back onto the table. "Butler, show them out."
"Aaron, let's discuss this calmly," Jonah said, raising his hand to stop the butler.
"I have nothing to discuss with you." Aaron set down his teacup, stood up, and picked up his phone from the table.
Jonah quickly stepped in his path. "There's a port project overseas that the Thompson Corp is handling. Would that be of interest to you?"
Aaron paused mid-step, and Jonah sensed a glimmer of hope, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Are you trying to buy me off, Mr. Thompson?" Aaron's tone dropped, heavy with implication.
Jonah's heart skipped a beat as he hurriedly explained, "I know it's not gentlemanly to quell your anger in such a manner."
Aaron spoke indifferently, "Butler, what are you waiting for? Mr. Thompson's clothes are wet, send him home to change."
He strode past Jonah, heading toward the side hall with long steps.
"Aaron!" Jonah chased after him again, worried that the situation might escalate if it spread. Tackling The Quinn family's anger swiftly was key to avoiding more complications. "I'm aware that Quinn Corporation is also bidding on the wellness resort project. Thus, I offer you this: as the project manager is my apprentice, I can give Quinn Corporation a green light."
Aaron stopped in his tracks.
His silence held more promise than an outright refusal.
Jonah finally managed to halt his departure, making the rest easier to discuss.
Before leaving, Aaron twirled the Green Diamonds ring between his fingers, his gaze icy and detached.
"I'm sure you're well aware of the other things Vincent has done," he said coldly. "Mr. Thompson's career has a long road ahead, and it would be a shame for it to be tainted."
Jonah was no stranger to reading between the lines; he'd contemplated this on his way over.
After Jonah left, Aaron remarked coolly, "Jonah cares deeply about face value. He’ll surely find a way to get the person out of the country. Then we should arrange for someone to 'take care' of Mr. Thompson's daughter abroad."
Wesley nodded, "Understood."
"And," Aaron turned, a shallow shadow falling upon him, "the drug she slipped into Eleanor's drink at the party—let her have a taste of her own medicine."
That very day, Jonah severed ties with Vincent as her father, casting her out overseas.
Vincent was left to fend for herself in a foreign country and was attacked by a group of vagrants on a street corner that night. Rumor had it that she was found the next day, unconscious and scantily clad by the roadside.
Aaron returned to the Family Ancestral Home that evening. Hearing from the butler that his grandfather hadn't eaten, he set aside his work and entered the inner room.
"All the invitations for tomorrow's engagement have been sent out. The Quinn family has never suffered such a disgrace!" his grandfather leaned against the headboard under a lamp, its dim light aggravating his headache.
"The engagement party will proceed as planned," Aaron said, adjusting his shirt cuffs and brushing off the raindrops.
"Why hold an engagement party if the betrothal has been cancelled?"
He sneered, "The Quinn family's engagements aren't limited to just me."
Bennett looked at him, puzzled. Aaron gave a knowing glance, prompting Wesley to bring up the tablet.
"It was paparazzi who snagged the shots and sold them to the media. Little Miss Quinn is involved, yet not a single outlet would dare to run it. Someone looking to score points sent the photos my way," Aaron said, taking the tablet from Wesley.
Bennett put on his reading glasses and his face went ashen as he scrolled through the pictures. " Natalie ... how could she..."
"Grandfather, as far as I’m aware, Natalie ’s quite fond of him, and he’s an honorable man. Mutual affection between a man and a woman is natural. Rather than faulting her, we might as well fulfill her wishes," Aaron proposed.
Bennett pondered for a moment, then nodded. "It seems we have no choice. We'll change the names on the engagement party to theirs tomorrow. Despite the hasty change, we won't suffer much loss. The Harris family is a suitable match for the Quinn legacy, and it will preserve our family's dignity."
Eleanor was still staying in Ashton’s hospital. The sedative Daniel had administered was potent, and she'd spent the whole day in a daze.
Aaron hadn’t shown up even once. Ashton had mentioned that Vincent’s leg was broken and he’d been sent overseas.
Now, as she awakened, the nurse brought her a bowl of clear porridge and some side dishes. She wasn’t particularly hungry, but the sides seemed appealing, reminiscent of what she had eaten when she last awoke at Aaron’s manor.
But similar dishes can be found anywhere.
After eating most of the porridge, she idly stirred what was left in her bowl, lost in thought, not noticing someone entering the room.
It wasn't until she heard his cool voice that she snapped back to reality: "Not hungry?"
Under the soft glow of the lights, Eleanor saw Aaron approach. Forgoing his usual black overcoat, he was dressed in a crisp suit that accentuated his imposing build. As he drew nearer, his commanding presence filled the room.
Eleanor clenched her spoon tighter. Aaron was shrewd; he probably had already pieced together last night's events.
She stayed silent, bracing for his reprimand.
Instead, Aaron took the spoon from her hand and placed it in the bowl. "You should break that habit."
"Join me at the Quinn family engagement party tomorrow," he stated.
Eleanor was startled. Vincent was taken care of, so it couldn't be Aaron's engagement. Grandpa wouldn't hastily assign just anyone to him.
"Whose engagement?" she asked.
Aaron chuckled softly. "Natalie Quinn and Edward."