Veridia · Skyline
Skyline occupied a prime corner on The Promenade, facing the Azure River. It was the heart of Veridia's decadent nightlife.
Annelise Valentine and her friends were nestled in a soundproofed, semi-open VIP booth. The location was perfect—it preserved the club's atmosphere without the music being loud enough to make their heads throb.
Zane Patterson, Chloe Fairchild, and Sean Conrad were seated around a sofa. In the middle, Annelise Valentine slammed a glass of hard liquor down on the glass coffee table.
"I'm so pissed! I really don't get why Grandpa had to arrange this stupid marriage! What century are we living in?!"
Chloe Fairchild, sitting to the side with a slender Mint Cigarette between her fingers, exhaled a wisp of pale white smoke and said disdainfully,
"Those people from Aethelgard... To your face, they preach about rules and character, but really, they're the most hypocritical and snobbish bunch. They might as well tattoo 'My family is powerful' on their foreheads. Marrying into a family like that? Just thinking about it is suffocating."
She paused before adding, "But I have heard that Jett Westgate is supposedly quite handsome."
"Handsome, my ass," Zane Patterson, who had been drinking sullenly, immediately shot back, his eyes lifting. He swirled the drink in his hand, the ice cubes clinking.
"Can you live on rumors? If this Jett Westgate was really so drop-dead gorgeous, how come the media has never gotten a single clear shot of his face?"
Zane Patterson pouted, a hint of defiance in his tone. "Besides, let's just say for the sake of argument he is handsome. Could he be more handsome than me?"
As soon as he said that, Sean Conrad, sitting next to him, made a face like he couldn't stand it.
"Dude, you're so full of it you're about to make me puke up last night's dinner. When it comes to charm, 'Veridia's Most Devoted' here obviously comes out on top, okay?"
Zane Patterson jabbed him in the ribs irritably. "Get lost! You have the nerve to call yourself 'devoted' when you go through eight girlfriends a week? Is your devotion measured in hours?"
"That's called appreciating the beauty of different women! What the hell do you know!"
Annelise Valentine slammed her glass on the table again. "Stop! Who's handsome and who's not isn't important right now—the point is, how do I get out of this marriage! Help me think of a way, quick!"
Chloe Fairchild flicked the ash from her cigarette, her beautiful eyes thoughtful as she tried to analyze the situation rationally. "A way? Unless you can convince your dad, or… get the Westgate Family to back out on their own."
"My dad?" Annelise flopped back against the sofa cushions, the picture of despair.
"I just went three hundred rounds with him and was completely defeated. You guys know what he's like. To him, my grandpa's orders are a sacred decree."
Sean Conrad, lounging across from her with his legs crossed, gave her a teasing grin. "Speaking of which, the Valentine and Westgate families go way back. What did Jett Westgate ever do to you? Why are you so against this?"
"I have a million problems with it!" Annelise sat up straight. "He's seven years older than me! In all my years studying abroad, I haven't even seen his shadow. I'm in the prime of my youth, so why would I be crazy enough to jump into the grave of marriage? Besides… you guys must have heard some of the rumors about the Westgate Family, right?"
Chloe Fairchild leaned in closer. "You mean… that thing with him and his younger brother?"
Zane Patterson toyed with a lighter, the flame flickering on and off.
"I heard from my family that back in the day, Jett Westgate and his own brother, Mason Westgate, had a massive falling out. Afterward, he personally sent his brother to a private sanatorium abroad, claiming it was for treatment. But not long after, his brother died in there. After that, Jett Westgate took over the Westgate Family as a matter of course."
It was something of an open secret in their circle. Not many people knew, but those who were supposed to know were all aware of it.
After hearing this, Annelise wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"See? These rich boys from Aethelgard, they all look so proper on the surface, but behind the scenes, each one is more scheming than the last. They'd do anything for power and profit. I'd rather go to the Azure River, pick out a turtle, and marry it than marry someone like that. At least when a turtle bites you, it does it out in the open!"
Sean Conrad gave a wicked smile, swinging his crossed leg. "Anyway, the engagement party is still three days away. All you have to do is stir up some trouble and make him call it off."
Annelise looked as if she'd been struck by a bolt of lightning. "Sean Conrad, that's a great idea! Your brain is actually working today!"
Her gaze swept across her three friends' faces as she said, word by word, "That's right! We can go to Aethelgard, meet this Jett Westgate in person, and find a way to make him back down first!"
Chloe Fairchild looked completely bewildered. "Huh?! Go to Aethelgard?!"
Sean Conrad, however, was calm. "Are you sure? Your dad's watching you like a hawk. He's confiscated your ID and dismantled your plane. The only thing he hasn't done is put an electric fence across the Azure River. How are you going to get there?"
But Zane Patterson suddenly looked up. "Use my plane."
The air fell silent for a moment.
Annelise looked at Zane Patterson, her voice filled with the excitement of finding a co-conspirator. "Zane, you have a way?"
Zane Patterson nodded. "I have a Gulfstream registered under my name. It's managed at the Veridia airport. All it takes is a phone call."
Annelise immediately slammed her hand on the table and shot to her feet, her long hair flying with the movement.
"Then what are we waiting for? Now! Immediately! Right away—let's go!"
"Now?!" Chloe Fairchild was so shocked the Mint Cigarette nearly fell from her fingertips. "Honey, calm down! We're going to Aethelgard, not for a joyride along The Promenade! How are we supposed to find him with no preparation? We can't just storm the Westgate Group building and hold up a sign that says 'Break the Engagement,' can we?"
Annelise surveyed her three friends, her mind racing. "The key to making him back down is to make him realize that I, Annelise Valentine, am from a completely different world than him and his Westgate Family, right?"
"That whole Aethelgard schtick is all about rules, being low-key, stable, and proper, isn't it? Fine. I'll be the exact opposite! I'll do whatever gives him the biggest headache. I'll act in whatever way makes him feel that taking me out is a disaster, a total embarrassment!
He hates people who are flashy and over-the-top, right? Well, I'm going to cement my reputation as 'Veridia's Number One Drama Queen,' weld it to my forehead, and shove it right under his nose so he can get a good, long look!"
The more she spoke, the more brilliant the plan seemed. "In short, there's only one goal: before the engagement party, make Jett Westgate say, out of his own mouth, 'I can't go through with this marriage'!"
Chloe Fairchild's rationality was gradually replaced by a sense of loyalty, the kind that makes you go along with your best friend's crazy plans. She stubbed out her cigarette. "It sounds ridiculous… but it just might work."
Zane Patterson tapped a few times on his phone, then said, "The jet can be ready in an hour. We'll leave from the private airstrip, so your dad's people won't find us. The flight path has already been filed, direct to Aethelgard."
Sean Conrad had a look on his face like the sky was falling, and his voice was several decibels softer.
"Wait, are we really flying? Maybe we should think this over? I was just caught up in the moment and hyping you up, I didn't actually mean it, my lady! Besides, based on the methods he used to get rid of his own brother, how good can his temper be? We're going to his home turf to walk right into the line of fire?"
"Coward!" Chloe Fairchild's eyebrow shot up as she shot him a death glare. "Weren't you running your mouth just fine when you were hyping her up? Say one more word of nonsense, and see if I don't make you give a live demonstration of the 'Fairchild Kick.'"
Sean Conrad flinched back with a WHOOSH, his hands instinctively moving to protect his vitals.
"I'll go, I'll go! I'm going! Chloe, calm down! Put your foot down… The great responsibility of carrying on my family line rests on a single thread here, you can't do this."
Chloe Fairchild scoffed and turned away, casually grabbing a mint candy and tossing it at him. "Pathetic."