Chapter 37 He Will Surely Marry You
Louis had no clue that tonight's family gathering at the old mansion was a bridal affair between the Carnegies and the Sacklers.
Upon arrival, he spotted the Sacklers' vehicles arrayed outside. Instantly, Louis understood this meeting wasn't just a casual encounter with his mother's visit to the villa but a formal affair at Bradley's mansion.
Formal discussions on marriage were clearly on the agenda.
Louis sat in his car, smoking a cigarette. He remained in the car until Sean walked over and opened the door for him.
As they walked toward the mansion, Louis asked, "Sean, can I have a word with Grandpa now?"
Sean glanced at Louis, "Mr. Carnegie, are you thinking of persuading the patriarch to call off this engagement? My advice would be to hold your tongue. If a commitment has been made, it must be honored. The Carnegie family owes a debt of gratitude to the Sacklers; backing out now would be dishonorable and disgraceful. What would our reputation be like?"
The logic was plain, something even Sean could grasp; if Louis couldn't, then he truly had no right to the helm of the family. And yet, the marriage was something Louis earnestly wanted to refuse.
Despite reluctant steps, he eventually entered the grand hall.
There, Bradley occupied the most prestigious seat at the head of the room. On his left sat his daughter-in-law, Louis's mother, Francesca. Facing them were Margaret and Xena.
After approaching, Louis greeted his grandpa first and exchanged pleasantries with Margaret before taking the second seat next to Francesca. They chatted before the meal began.
Xena, because of the day's events, wasn't her usual assertive self. Instead, she sat rather quietly on one side of the room. With Margaret present, Xena's silence wasn't an issue; the conversation had its own momentum.
As Louis watch the scene unfold before him, he felt uncomfortable, but despite his discomfort, no one seemed to take notice.
Bradley, on the other hand, was the picture of warmth.
Bradley chimed in, "The kids have been engaged for quite some time now; both of them are getting to that age where it's about time to set a wedding date. It's high time for a celebration between the Carnegies and the Sacklers, don't you think?"
Margaret beamed, "Absolutely, I'm very fond of Louis myself. I've seen how he and my granddaughter have been caring for each other over the years, both in business and in their personal lives. I have no worries when it comes to entrusting my granddaughter to him."
She went on to emphasize the close partnership and frequent private interactions between Louis and Xena over the years, as if to convince Louis that to everyone else, they were already a pair. Moreover, she was gently nudging Louis to recall that when he was reinstated into the Carnegie fold, still finding his footing, the Sackler family had offered significant support.
Now that Louis had established himself and wielded influence within Hawke Corporation, he ought to make a commitment to the Sackler family. Being a smart man, Louis understood the subtext all too well.
However, at that moment, Louis glanced over at his mother, Francesca, whose stance had always been clear: Louis’s marriage was destined to be a strategic alliance.
The Sackler family wasn't the most illustrious or well-known in Northwind, but they were involved in a number of important enterprises with promising futures. These endeavors piqued Francesca's interest. As the mother of such an illustrious bachelor, Francesca deemed it fit to plot and scheme for her son's benefit.
The Sackler family name hung in the balance with not a single male heir in sight; only Xena Sackler carried the title. The future was clear: there would be no contention for the fortune, which would wholly and unquestionably become Louis's, along with the Sackler Group.
Francesca never considered Xena to be particularly bright, not a threat in the slightest. She could be managed, which, naturally, made Xena the ideal choice for a daughter-in-law.
With these assets in hand, Louis's position was unshakeable, and no matter how much favoritism Bradley showered on his younger son, Raymond, her son would remain unshakeable, indeed.
So, when Louis glanced at Francesca, she offered him a gentle smile before turning to address the Sackler elder, "These kids haven't had it easy, a relationship that has grown over the last five years. Now, with Xena at the right age, the wedding should be on the agenda."
Louis, however, disrupted the moment, standing up somewhat agitatedly, "There's so much happening in the company right now, perhaps the wedding should be postponed..."
Before Louis could finish, the elevator doors slid open, and Charles wheeled out Raymond. Being frank as ever, Raymond didn't wait for permission to speak, "Greetings to everyone. Louis, I'm returning to work on several projects and I can help if the company's workload becomes too heavy. Even though my older brother is no longer with us, I can't watch you put business concerns ahead of your marriage."
As Raymond finished, Charles brought him to a halt next to Bradley’s seat. Louis had never expected Raymond to be in the house. He had recently discovered one of Raymond's villas showed signs of habitation, concluding that after their last encounter at Windrain Tower, Raymond had retreated there.
To find Raymond here was an unforeseen twist Louis would have given anything to avoid, especially had he known, he would have never spoken those words which now seemed to hang, frozen in the air.
Francesca stood, embodying elegance and a poised aristocracy, though she was well into her forties. Anger might have simmered beneath the surface, but her face betrayed none of it. She calmly said to Louis, "Come with me."
With no other option, he followed.
Upstairs and into the room, the door had barely clicked shut behind Louis.
Fuming, Francesca seethed, “How could you say these words? Are you totally oblivious to the fact that you have an uncle who's eyeing your spot every single second? If you haven't realized that, then get the hell out of the family and don't you dare call yourself my son!”
Her eyes blazed as Louis took the scold without a word of complaint, knowing full well he had misspoken. He murmured contritely, “I know I’m wrong, Mom. Please, don’t be mad.”
Francesca inhaled deeply, trying to calm down, “If you don't fight for it, we might as well pack up and leave the family before they kick us out in disgrace. Your grandpa is set on this marriage, and let me tell you, you’d better be willing to marry Xena Sackler. Willing or not, you must bring her into this family.”
Meanwhile, downstairs, Raymond broke the tension, his gaze landing on a worried Xena.
Raymond assured her, “Miss Sackler, don't worry. Louis will marry you, without a doubt!”
