Novel Palace
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 6 Innocence
Everyone in the room was shocked upon hearing the three words “Mr. Sean,” except for Claire!
Robert had spent many years in the business world, but he had only dealt with small-time entrepreneurs. He was accustomed to being fawned over and flattered. Someone like Sean, a top domestic tycoon, was out of his league.
The mention of Sean’s name made him turn pale and stutter. He could barely get out the words. “M-M- Mr. Sean, how did he come?”
Xander pondered momentarily and said, “Mr. Donovan, don’t be nervous. It’s probably because my parents discovered I would break off the engagement with Claire today. Since they’re out of town and can’t come back, they asked the elders in the family to come and oversee things.”
The reason why the Morgans were able to rise to prominence in Silverton was all thanks to Xander’s mother, Evelyn.
Evelyn was not from the main branch of the Vanderbilts, but she was a distant relative from a collateral branch. She could be considered a distant cousin to Sean, who is from the main family’s branch.
Relying on this connection, the Morgans received the protection of the Vanderbilts, making them untouchable in Silverton. That was why Robert and Alice insisted on having Clarissa marry Xander.
Robert took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Then, he patted Xander’s shoulder with a smile. “Alright, alright, I understand. Let’s go. We’ll welcome Mr. Sean together.”
Claire raised an eyebrow, curious about the newcomer who had made Robert lose
his composure.
The person who could frighten Robert to this extent must be someone of great importance. However, this person seemed to be here to help Xander pressure
Claire.
Well …
Whoever he was, Claire wasn’t afraid!
Claire looked at Xander and Alice, then stood up without a word. The four of them quickly walked to the entrance. Claire’s lips were curved in a cold smile, but her expression was calm and unmoved.
At the doorway stood a man in a black tailored suit, his white shirt slightly unbuttoned to reveal a glimpse of his collarbone. He exuded an aura of restraint and abstinence, yet it was hard to resist the urge to unbutton his shirt further, as if uncovering a hidden scenery. Beyond his self-restraint, he emitted a captivating and sensual charm.
The man’s eyes were deep and penetrating, his nose was strong and aquiline, and his lips were thin and firm. All of these features combined to create a
mature and distinctive masculine charm.
Clarissa was completely stunned. She had never seen such a handsome and Content © NôvelDrama.Org 2024.
charismatic man before!
Xander discreetly tugged at her hand and respectfully addressed, “Mr. Vanderbilt.”
Clavicen u
dumbfoundad
Vanderbilt.”
Clarissa was dumbfounded.
Mr. Vanderbilt?
What was going on? Why were they calling him Mr. Vanderbilt?
Alice saw that Clarissa was lost in thought and snapped her out of it with a nudge. Then, along with Robert, she greeted the newcomer fawningly, “Mr.
Sean.”
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Sean responded with an indifferent “Hmm,” lifted his foot, and entered the room. As he passed Claire, he maintained a straight gaze ahead and seated
himself on the spacious sofa.
Although the sofa was large enough for three people, Xander and Robert did
not dare to sit down, not even on the empty sofa next to it. They all stood respectfully to the side, like servants attending to a king who had just taken his throne.
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Claire couldn’t help but smile. The ones who had been menacing just a moment ago were now so timid. Indeed, they were all bullies who preyed on the weak.
But why did this man, whom Xander addressed as “Mr. Vanderbilt,” look so young?
And he was extraordinarily handsome too!
Claire felt like she had seen him somewhere before.
For a while, no one spoke until the housemaid came over and respectfully offered tea to Sean, “Mr. … Mr. Sean, please, have some tea.”
Sean glanced at the teacups on the coffee table, then casually rested his hand on his leg. “Xandy, I’m just here to watch. You can continue.”
Despite his young age, Sean’s voice was surprisingly mature. The way he called Xander “Xandy” showed that he had the bearing of an elder. Even Robert, who was much older and experienced, seemed a generation or two younger in Sean’s presence.
Xander’s expression remained relatively relaxed. He looked at Claire and continued the previous topic, “Claire, when our families arranged the childhood engagement, it was merely a verbal agreement. At
most, there was a token of exchange. Why should I compensate you now that we’re breaking off the engagement?”
While others might fear Sean, Claire certainly didn’t. Even though the man’s aura had filled the entire room, Claire remained unfazed.
“Firstly, the reason our families arranged this childhood engagement was that
my mother saved your mother’s life. A life-saving favor is greater than anything, and if it’s not repaid through marriage, should it be compensated materially?”
Xander’s expression stiffened. He argued with a hint of forcefulness, “Back then, your mother didn’t need any compensation. It was my mother’s guilt that led her to consider using this engagement as compensation. Your mother was kind-hearted. If she were still here, even if we broke off the engagement, she wouldn’t have asked my family for anything!”
His words implied that Claire had malicious intent.
Claire chuckled with exasperation. “Hehe. If my mother were still here, she would surely regret saving your mother all those years ago, seeing how ungrateful and deceitful you’ve become.”
Claire suddenly looked at Xander coldly. “Four years ago, you stopped by my school and offered me a ride home. I had no reason to be suspicious of you, so I drank the coffee you gave me. It made me faint, and when I woke up, I was in a hotel bed. You and the Donovans framed me for that incident. Shouldn’t you compensate me for that?”
Her words hit like a thunderclap, surprising Xander, Robert, and the others.
Everyone had been involved in that incident back then; none dared to claim innocence.
Sean furrowed his brow. He had reviewed the surveillance footage from the –hotel but hadn’t investigated the details. He didn’t expect this to be a
drama involving infidelity, sabotage, and coercion.
Sean glanced at Xander standing beside him, “Xandy, did you really do these
Xander’s face went through shades of blue and red within a few seconds. He opened his mouth, but not a single word came out.
He was truly stuck, unable to lie in front of Sean.
“It seems it’s true.”
Sean lifted the teacup, elegantly blew on the tea leaves floating on the surface, and raised his gaze. His unemotional eyes fell upon Claire’s face, “How do you want him to compensate you?”
Claire fearlessly met his gaze and enunciated each word, “I want ten percent of shares in the Morgan Group.”
“What?” Xander was so infuriated that he nearly jumped in place. “Ten percent of shares in Morgan Group? Claire, why don’t you just rob us!?”
Sean shot him a sharp glare, silencing Xander. Xander stood there like a quail, afraid to utter another word.
Sean then placed the teacup down and nodded, “Agreed.”
Xander’s eyes widened in astonishment. As the eldest son of the Morgans, he only owned eight percent of the shares in the Morgan Group. Yet, Sean was actually agreeing to give Claire ten percent?
With this arrangement, even if he escaped his family’s reprimand, his father would surely thrash him to death!
Robert discreetly tugged at Xander’s sleeve and winked at him, as if asking, “Didn’t you say Mr. Sean came to support you?”
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Robert discreetly tugged at Xander’s sleeve and winked at him, as if asking, “Didn’t you say Mr. Sean came to support you?”
Xander was frustrated and angry. He clenched his teeth and thought about t consequences of breaking off the engagement. His anger boiled over, and he blurted out, “If that’s the case, then I’m not breaking off the engagement. I’m marrying her!”
口
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Chapter 7 Mr. Sean’s Help
Alice glared in exasperation. “Xander!”
She was about to speak when she heard the sound of a teacup lid being lifted. The clear sound was not loud, but it was enough to silence her. Her mouth closed instantly in alarm.
Clarissa looked at Xander with a wounded expression, her eyes welling up with tears. “Xander …”
Although Clarissa knew that love in wealthy families was often fickle, she was still hurt that Xander had so easily switched from talking about marrying her to marrying Claire after they had been together for over a decade. What did she mean to him?
Was she worth less than the ten percent share in the Morgan Group?
Xander was also infuriated, but he didn’t want to be punished by his father or lose his position as heir to the Morgan Group. He clenched his teeth and said, “Claire, fine, I’ll marry you, but forget about the shares!”
“Heh…” Claire sneered. “You want to marry, and I don’t want to.”
“Mr. Vanderbilt!” Xander turned to look at Sean. “You heard it, right? It’s not that I don’t want to marry her. It’s that she doesn’t want to marry me. Now she wants to cancel the marriage. It has nothing to do with me, so there’s no need for compensation.”
Sean raised an eyebrow, his thin lips curling slightly. “Is this how your mother, Evelyn, taught you?”
His voice was light, not exactly a reprimand, but it left Xander dumbfounded.
“You cheated on her own sister, showing disloyalty. You drugged her with coffee and sent her to another man’s bed, acting unjustly. For a disloyal and unjust man like you, which foolish woman would want to marry you?”
Clarissa, “…”
Why did she feel like Mr. Sean was indirectly scolding her?
Mr. Vanderbilt said in a firm voice, “The matter is settled. The engagement is off/ Claire will receive 10% of the Morgan Group’s shares as compensation.”
Sean pronounced the verdict without giving anyone a chance to object.
Although Xander was unwilling and reluctant, he could only grit his teeth and accept it, even if he had to swallow his pride.
Even with his father and mother here, they wouldn’t dare to defy Sean’s words, especially for someone of his generation.
Claire was somewhat surprised. She hadn’t expected Sean to be so reasonable. She had thought Sean was here to support Xander, but he was speaking so logically that she felt a bit embarrassed.
Sean’s gaze landed on Claire’s face once more. “Are you satisfied with this outcome?”
Claire gathered her thoughts and nodded in satisfaction. “Yes, now that it’s been resolved, I consider my issues with the Morgans to be settled. I won’t
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bring up the fact that my mother saved Xander’s mother again.”
As she spoke, Claire suddenly paused, her gaze shifting to Robert. “However, I have another matter.”
Robert knew exactly what Claire was referring to. His face instantly fell. “Claire, I warn you, don’t take it too far!”
Claire said firmly, “Father, Alpha Ventures was founded by my mother. When she passed away, she left a will that divided her 51% share into two parts, 25% for you and 26% for me after I came of age. I am now 23 years old, which means I am an adult. Therefore, you should give me my share of the company.”
Robert’s head was throbbing with anger. The reason he had conspired with Alice to frame Claire was to secure Claire’s portion of the shares for himself. However …
He didn’t want to bring up the past, but he was not going to give Claire the shares easily.
“Mr. Sean,” he said, addressing Sean with respect. “This is a family matter. As you know…”
Robert’s meaning was clear; that he didn’t want Sean involved in his family affairs.
Sean raised an eyebrow, standing upright. “Indeed, this is your family matter, unrelated to the Morgans. There’s no need for me to continue listening.”
A sigh of relief washed over Robert. With Sean leaving, he had ways to deal with Claire without interference.
He walked up with flattery, “Mr. Sean, allow me to escort you.”
As he passed Claire, Sean suddenly stopped in his tracks. “Arguing won’t resolve the matter you mentioned earlier. Not everyone is as reasonable as I am.”
Claire looked at him in surprise. Wasn’t he leaving?
What was the purpose of sharing this with her?
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Observing her stunned expression, Sean pursed his lips and slipped a hand into his pocket. He pulled out a business card and handed it to her. “Since- your mother left a will, the most efficient way to handle this is to consult a lawyer.”
The business card bore the name of a prominent lawyer, along with his contact information. Claire instantly understood. She reached out and accepted it, saying, “Thank you.”””
Robert was frustrated, his teeth grinding. He turned to look at Xander once again, silently asking, “Are you sure Mr. Sean came to support you?”
Why did he feel like ever since Sean entered the scene, he had been helping
Claire?
Robert and even Xander had noticed that this elder was blatantly siding with Claire.
But why was Sean helping Claire so much?
Seeing that Sean was about to leave, Claire stood up. “You’re right. I’ll leave the matter of the will to the lawyer. I won’t stay here to interrupt your romantic discussions.”
She walked over and stood beside Sean. “I’ll walk with you.”
Robert was dumbfounded.
Claire had been missing for four years, and he had finally seized an
opportunity to confront her. Yet now she was leaving like this. When the
lawyer came to find him, she wouldn’t even show up. How would he threaten and intimidate Claire, then?
He became increasingly frantic. He gave signals to Alice and Xander with his
eyes.
Xander didn’t want to let Claire go just yet. He took a few steps towards her, but Sean stood beside her and said, “Alright, let’s go together.”
Xander, “…”
hapter
Robert, “…”
Alice, “…”
Even though they wanted to say something to keep Claire, not a single one of
them dared to make a sound.
Who would dare to cause trouble in front of Mr. Sean?
And who would dare to stay behind with someone who was walking alongside Mr.
Sean? .
They could only watch unwillingly as Claire and Sean walked away right before their eyes.
As soon as they stepped out, Claire couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Haha! I’ve never seen my dad look so defeated before.”
Sean cast a sidelong glance at her, not saying a word, but the corners of his lips subtly curved.
Claire was genuinely delighted. She had expected to face a tough battle when she came here today. They wouldn’t have allowed her to leave so easily if it didn’t escalate to a full-blown confrontation.
Unexpectedly, Sean’s arrival made things progress very smoothly, and she even obtained what she wanted.
After laughing a few times, she lightly patted Sean’s shoulder with her slender hand. “Thank you, Sir.”
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After laughing a few times, she lightly patted Sean’s shoulder with her slender hand. “Thank you, Sir.”
Sir?
Claire had remembered their encounter at the airport that day.
Sean glanced at the small hand on his shoulder, his deep eyes narrowing slightly. “Xander calls me Mr. Vanderbilt. He and you are peers. But don’t you think that’s a bit too informal?”