C96 My Master!

Charlotte Lau was dumbstruck.

He had turned her down out of fear of death.

She had never encountered anyone so unabashedly candid about their own timidity!

Could Westley truly be a Half-step Grandmaster?

It was commonly said that Half-step Grandmasters were exceedingly arrogant.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice Westley had already made his exit from the hotel.

Before he even reached the hotel's main doors, several familiar faces caught his eye.

Among them was the portly Vaden Wang.

After the ordeal he endured at the hands of the shower center's matrons last night, his presence here was nothing short of miraculous.

Yet, he was ashen-faced, breaking out in a cold sweat with each step. His complexion was a sickly green, suggesting he might keel over at any moment.

Then there was Rollen Tang.

He was in no better shape than Vaden.

Suffering from diarrhea since the previous night, he was now feeble, his naturally sullen face looking even more sinister.

Westley found it odd.

After the night they had, neither man should have felt compelled to attend this gathering.

So why were they here?

With this in mind, Westley stealthily moved to the side, staying out of their line of sight.

"Did you dig up everything on that guy?" Rollen whispered.

"Young Mr. Freeman, I've had people on it. There are sixty-two Lin Nans in our city, yet none fit the profile we're looking for," Vaden replied, frustration evident in his clenched jaw.

"Could he have sprung from a stone?" Rollen muttered, vexed.

He was grappling with a dilemma that, unless resolved, would leave a perpetual thorn in his side.

For a man of his pride, that was intolerable.

Yet, he couldn't help but be astonished by Westley's identity.

How had he ended up being his grandfather's lifesaver?

"The real headache now is that he's entangled with the Freeman family," Vaden said, uncertain.

"Indeed, the fellow is quite shrewd."

Rollen let out a cold chuckle, "But we can settle this matter without the Freeman family's influence."

Vaden perked up, leaning in to ask quietly, "Young Mr. Freeman, do tell."

Rollen Tang flashed a knowing smile and inquired, "Who do you think brought us here today?"

"We're obviously here for Young Mr. Valdez! He's the star of the banquet," Vaden Wang stated matter-of-factly.

"You're aware of the favor Young Mr. Valdez asked of me, aren't you?" Rollen said, his smile taking on a darker edge.

"Are you referring to when he had you cut off the supply of raw materials to Olivia's company?"

Vaden looked confused. "And how exactly does that connect to our vendetta against Westley?"

"Young Mr. Valdez is in our debt. Surely you don't think he can just walk away from that?" Rollen said, leisurely straightening his shirt cuff.

A moment later, Vaden slapped his forehead in a sudden epiphany. "I get it now! You're planning to leverage Young Mr. Valdez's influence against Westley!"

"Exactly! That's the plan," Rollen confirmed, his face hardening.

"With Young Mr. Valdez stepping in, the Freeman family will be completely dissociated from the affair. I'm sure your grandfather will have to consider the Valdez family's clout."

Vaden gave a thumbs-up. "Young Mr. Freeman, that's a brilliant move!"

"It's merely making smart use of the resources at hand," Rollen replied humbly, though his expression radiated smug satisfaction.

"But isn't it a bit of an overkill to cash in Young Mr. Valdez's favor just to take down someone as insignificant as Westley?" Vaden wondered aloud.

Rollen let out a chilling laugh. "Not at all! Only with Westley out of the picture can I sleep soundly. I refuse to let him walk this earth."

Seeing Rollen's determination, Vaden joined in with a laugh of his own.

Meanwhile, Westley, hidden nearby and overhearing everything, couldn't help but curve his lips into a sly grin.

He now fully grasped why Olivia had shown up at the Freeman Mansion.

Could such a plot truly be unfolding?

But who was this Li fellow, and why was he targeting Olivia?

And to think, he was the main attraction of the evening's event?

Westley was intent on listening in further, but to his surprise, Vaden and Rollen had already moved inside.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Westley followed suit, sticking to the hall's perimeter to avoid detection.

Vaden Wang and Rollen Tang entered and immediately greeted Charlotte Lau. Charlotte, back to her usual self, warmly welcomed the pair and seated them beside the chairman's position.

Rollen and Vaden were individuals of considerable stature, taking their status very seriously. At a regular banquet, they would've stormed out if seated anywhere but the head table. Yet today, they were not only content but seemed to take pride in their seating—a testament to the caliber of the guests in attendance.

Charlotte composed herself and set out to greet the arrivals at the door. She felt a pang of regret without Westley Lin's assistance, but as a meticulous planner, she always had more than one strategy at her disposal. However, any plan without Westley paled in comparison.

Lost in thought, she made her way to the entrance when a voice halted her steps. "The condition you spoke of earlier, can you still honor it?" Charlotte spun around to find Westley leaning casually against the wall, smoking.

Her expression lit up with surprise. "I thought you had left?"

"I was on my way out, but I've changed my mind," Westley said with a smirk.

"What is it you want to do?" Charlotte asked, genuinely puzzled.

"I want to be of use to you," Westley replied with a nonchalant shrug.

"Do you mean that?" Charlotte was skeptical.

"Absolutely. But first, show me you're sincere," Westley said, his eyes narrowing.

Charlotte caught the look in his eyes and instantly understood. Westley was shrewd—he wouldn't lift a finger for her without a clear benefit. If she couldn't sweeten the deal or convince him of her trustworthiness, she wouldn't be able to lower his guard.

She glided towards him with poise, closing the gap to a mere half-inch. Their faces nearly touched as Charlotte tilted her head and rested it on Westley's shoulder, her subtle yet alluring scent enveloping him.

"How should I prove it to you, my master?" Charlotte teased, tracing a finger across Westley's chest, her voice a playful whine.

Westley's eyes widened in response, a surge of excitement coursing through him.

A searing flame of desire was coaxed from the depths of his heart, swiftly engulfing him in its fiery embrace.

This flame was named desire!

Did she just refer to me as her master?

Such a title carries with it an irresistible allure!