CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 209: HER LIFE IS IN HIS HANDS—ISN’T SHE AFRAID?

Xander watched Julian Lawson slowly getting up over there, a look of sadness in his eyes.

"Do you have any wine?" Xander asked.

Julian did not respond but pressed the bedside bell.

Soon, the housekeeper came over.

"President Lawson."

"Bring a few bottles of wine," Julian said while wiping the still bleeding corner of his mouth, "They’re in the wine cellar."

Xander looked at the housekeeper and mentioned the names of a few types of wine to her.

The housekeeper nodded at Julian and went to fetch them.

Xander watched Julian continually wipe his mouth with the back of his hand, sneered disdainfully, and tossed over a pack of tissues from the table.

The two said nothing as they waited for the wine.

Xander looked out at the large floor-to-ceiling windows, at the beautiful scenery of the courtyard outside.

It seemed very pleasant.

Remembering that this was Serena Sterling and Julian Lawson’s marital home, Xander sneered angrily again.

Why?

Julian Lawson and Silas Hawthorne both could be with her, but he couldn’t!

Thinking about it, sadness welled up in his heart.

The housekeeper had already brought the wine over and left.

Xander took a large sip of red wine and asked, "How long did she recover after you returned to the country that year?"

Julian slightly lowered his eyes, recalling that year’s events.

Serena covered in blood, her face filled with anguish as she cried, his heart ached faintly at the memory.

"More than a month." Finally, Julian said, "Since then, her health hasn’t been good."

Xander nodded, taking another sip.

The room was silent until Xander spoke again.

"Originally, that contract was not supposed to be signed."

Julian furrowed his brows, his eyes dangerously fixed on Xander.

Xander ignored Julian’s gaze and simply poured himself another glass.

"You’ve probably heard of my former personality, and even if your Lawson Corporation broke through technological barriers, so what?"

"Even if you could find other partners, it wouldn’t matter. Globally acknowledged, it’s Linton Family’s technology; other companies are just riffraff."

"Why should we, the established Linton Family, give profits to Lawson, which was just an upstart back then?"

Xander laughed sarcastically, swirling the red wine in his glass, its crimson hue reminiscent of the blood on her that day.

"Many people don’t understand this concept, trying to get things from me through cooperation, deceit, or other means, Julian Lawson, you’re no different."

"Your aim was mutual cooperation, while mine, and the Linton Family behind me, was monopoly. Why let others profit when we can have it all ourselves?"

"So when you went with my assistant to print and confirm the contract, I informed her."

Xander looked up at Julian, whose face was fluctuating between different expressions.

"However, she seemed to have anticipated my temporary act of toying with you, yet her final plan was pretty much made on the spot."

Xander took another sip of wine, his gaze gradually losing focus as he seemed to return to that deep autumn day many years ago in Frelia.

That day, beside the icy pool, there was only Serena and him, and a bunch of his men.

The laws between the two countries were different, and his subordinates there actually had blood on their hands.

And Julian and Serena to show absolute sincerity had their bodyguards fifty meters away; it can be said, she was at an absolute disadvantage at the time.

In such a disadvantageous situation, he told her his plans.

And had the men beside her intimidate her.

It was his usual twisted pleasure, toying with these people, the anger and fear on their faces brought him a perverted thrill.

Indeed, he was just that twisted kind of person.

But she simply smiled, even against the bleak autumn wind, her smile was particularly beautiful.

Like the only bright scene in the faded landscape.

"Young Master Linton, you prepared two contracts, right?" she said calmly.

He didn’t understand what she meant by this, motioned her to continue with a nod.

"One is the contract we discussed, amended, and finalized this time."

"The other is the contract for your prank."

Serena slightly lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes lightly curled, making her appear very beautiful.

"I guess, you wouldn’t miss the expression on Julian’s face when your prank succeeds, so you would let the assistant follow her and print both contracts together."

Back then, she looked at him with a smile saying this, almost identical to his plan.

He wanted to see that expression when the other party is tricked, what’s the fun if you don’t see it with your own eyes?

"So..."

Her face still had an appropriate smile, making it impossible for him to see a hint of panic.

She said, "Young Master Linton, shall we make a bet?"

This was unexpected for him, as usually, the wager was initiated by him.

The usual process was—

The other party negotiates with him, then joyfully goes to print, returns to find they’ve been tricked, gets angry, he offers a bet as a recovery, the other party gains a sliver of hope and agrees to bet with him.

Afterwards, if the other party loses the bet, there are no words, treat them like a dog and drive them out.

If the other party wins, that’s even more interesting, he would break the contract in front of them, then say—"Surprise, interesting, isn’t it?"

At that time, watching their expressions, that was just so fun.

Especially hearing others talk about his "glorious feat" after driving them away, it felt even better.

Only this time, this process was interrupted.

Back then, he asked her, "Oh? Then what do you want to bet?"

But she smiled and said, "This is your arena, Young Master Linton, I propose a bet, you set the terms of the wager, just say, if I win, Young Master Linton must sign the contract we just finalized."

He raised an eyebrow and smiled bloody, said, "Then let’s bet lives."

"Girlie, do you dare?"

He raised his right hand, lifted the gun in his hand, the dark muzzle aimed at her.

Beside him, a dozen desperados also raised their guns, all muzzle aimed at her.

This is Frelia, guns are allowed, so these are real guns, with a strong smell of gunpowder.

As long as he or his subordinates lightly squeezed the trigger, she would have her brains blown out.

"Girlie, you better think carefully, if you don’t bet with me, the most you can’t seal the contract, if you lose, your life will be gone."

"Just like this..."

"Boom!" He used his other hand to mimic a gun firing gesture, grinned simulating the sound of gunfire blasting.

But she showed no fear, her eyes didn’t even dodge the dark muzzles of him and his men.

She just nodded lightly and said, "Alright then, let’s bet lives."

Not afraid at all of the dozen guns present, as if it’s just a common thing.

At that time, he truly looked at the woman in front of him for the first time.

Although she made some brilliant moves during the negotiation process, he didn’t intend to sign the contract, so he didn’t care.

But now, her life was in his hands.

In Frelia, guns are allowed, is she truly unafraid?