CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28: GOTTA WEAR SOMETHING TO DECLARE OWNERSHIP—MY FIANCÉE

Xavier Preston couldn’t help but keep his eyes on Zane Thorne for a while. Although this man appeared laid-back, the indifference and defiance occasionally shown in his eyes and brows told him that he came from a wealthy family.

Indeed, someone who could be engaged to the eldest daughter of the Vaughn Family wouldn’t have a poor family background.

Natalie Vaughn introduced Zane Thorne once more.

"Mr. Spencer is my brother’s friend, and also my senior."

Xavier Preston adjusted his glasses, composed himself, and extended a hand.

"Hello."

Zane found this person interesting. Just a moment ago, there was shock and sadness on his face, but now he looked completely unfazed. If Zane hadn’t seen his initial reaction, he might really have thought this man had no interest in Natalie Vaughn.

He reached out for a casual handshake, just as he was about to let go, he noticed the grip tightened significantly.

Zane lifted his gaze to look at the man in front of him, his eyes carrying a hint of a smile, but more so indifference and disdain.

He remained unfazed, putting some strength into his grip as well.

Theodore Langdon had experienced this before, and he immediately noticed the rivalry between the two.

He first looked at Xavier Preston, then kept staring at Zane Thorne, but neither of the two showed much expression on their faces, leaving him completely unable to discern who had the upper hand.

Eventually, it was Xavier Preston who withdrew his hand first, turning his head to look at Natalie Vaughn.

"Nina, should we continue?"

Natalie Vaughn shook her head.

"Let’s call it a day, Mr. Spencer, I’ll find you for a spar another time."

Xavier Preston had always appreciated Natalie Vaughn’s indefatigable, self-challenging spirit. He still remembered how mundane the daily training had been before Natalie came to the dojo. After she arrived, those monotonous days became much more enjoyable.

Back then, Natalie was still young, with white, delicate skin, and she was plump and soft, like a fragile little doll. Even the stern master was completely smitten, fearing she might get hurt. But Natalie? Under James Vaughn’s guidance, she was diligent and never uttered a word of pain.

Everyone in the dojo loved Natalie Vaughn as their own sister, and Xavier was no exception.

It’s just that he wasn’t great with words; he had always quietly observed from the sidelines. Watching on, in the blink of an eye, Natalie had grown up into a young lady.

So bright, so dazzling.

Xavier Preston adjusted his glasses again, suppressing the emotions roiling inside. This time, without hesitation, he reached out and mussed Natalie’s hair.

"Alright, I’m always ready to spar with you."

Natalie looked up at him, and Xavier Preston smiled as he withdrew his hand.

"Time really flies. The sister I watched grow up is about to start her own family."

Natalie Vaughn’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, then she tilted her head and smiled at Xavier.

"Mr. Spencer, you’d better hurry up, too. My brother is planning to have a kid, you don’t want to fall too far behind."

Xavier Preston just smiled lightly without responding.

Before leaving, his eyes were full of Natalie, not sparing a glance at Zane.

...

Zane said he came to pick up Theodore, but in the end, it was Theodore’s manager who took him away.

Natalie, covered in sweat, took a quick rinse in the dojo, and loosely tied her hair into a bun.

They say a bun tied before showering is the prettiest. As soon as she got into the car, Natalie pulled down the small mirror on the passenger side and admired herself for quite a while.

Zane sat on the side, observing her.

Her face was still flush with a faint pink, and her hair was tied messily, exuding the comfort and ease of post-workout relaxation.

Theodore said it was a pity to miss Natalie’s sparring session, and it indeed was, but not everyone could see Natalie as she was at that moment.

Without makeup, yet her face was as beautiful as peach blossom.

With the sun shining bright, good weather always puts people in a good mood.

Zane kept contemplating the identity Natalie used to introduce him, thinking about it as he started the car.

"Where to?"

Natalie finally stopped admiring herself and put the mirror back.

Zane said nothing, and Natalie didn’t push for answers, knowing it was unlikely he’d sell her off.

Until the car stopped in front of a luxury custom diamond ring store. Natalie’s eyebrows raised, and she looked at Zane in surprise.

"What’s this about?"

Zane smiled, nonchalantly, maybe it was the sunlight making him comfortable, bringing a bit of laziness with it.

"You always need something to declare your sovereignty, so no random person would think of it, right? My fiancée."

Natalie instinctively grabbed the seatbelt, fell silent, her eyes fixed on Zane, and he met her gaze without evading, looking at her with a smile full of playfulness.

After knowing him for this time, Zane finally showed the unruly and domineering side of himself to her.

She didn’t flatter herself into believing Zane wanted to buy her a ring out of affection for her, rather it was the possessiveness sparked after seeing Xavier in the dojo.

Still, she was a bit surprised, especially considering not long ago, Zane portrayed a composed and deep persona, not someone easily provoked.

She heard Yana say, the more arrogant and proud a person is, the higher their possessiveness over what they own. Even before she married in, Zane was already considering declaring his possession, that possessiveness was no small thing.

But, Natalie didn’t see any issue with it.

She was a person with strong possessiveness herself.

She wanted to loudly let everyone know, Zane was her man, and she was the future Mrs. Thorne.

No affection involved, no love involved.

Natalie smiled brightly.

"Then should I also prepare something for you? Hmm? My fiancé."

The last three words, Natalie deliberately slowed down, articulated each word clearly.

A fast trace of amusement flashed through Zane’s deep, dark eyes.

Natalie Vaughn, truly different from other women. It was odd, wasn’t it said the Vaughn Family pampered her endlessly? How did she grow into such a character?

Walking into the store, they each went their own way, with enough distance between them to fit another person. Natalie was dressed in a black casual suit, and Zane, with a vest, a jacket, and loose black pants.

Both looked more casual than the other.

The way they dressed didn’t at all suggest they were here to buy a diamond ring.

If not for the inescapable air about them, the store staff might have just ignored their presence altogether.

Since it was spontaneous, there was no way to get custom designs, Natalie thought an engagement ring needn’t be too complicated, just something simple enough for everyday wear and tastefully picked from the display cases.

Natalie felt like teasing and picked an extravagant and flamboyant design.

She asked Zane.

"How about this one?"

Zane glanced at her, a laugh squeezed out from his chest.

"If you want to wear it, then wear it."

He wouldn’t indulge in it.

Natalie got what he meant.

He won’t take the bait, huh.

Natalie had no liking for such gaudy designs; she preferred things simple and straightforward.

In the end, she chose a simple classic design, just a ring band, decorated with two rows of small diamonds on each side, not flashy, yet dazzling.

The clerk brought out Natalie’s size, and with her eyes smiling and beaming, she looked at Zane, extending her hand.

"Put it on for me."

Zane let his gaze fall, under the shop lights, Natalie’s hand looked astonishingly pale and delicate.