CHAPTER 95: CHAPTER 95: ASSERTING SOVEREIGNTY

Holly Crowe looked at the woman, and the woman looked back at her.

She had long golden waves, with deep features that clearly showed some Western ancestry, and her eyes were amber, just like Blake Sinclair’s.

Holly considered herself not short, standing at 167 cm, but compared to her, she was still half a head shorter.

She wore a black dress with a slit up to her thigh, and the gem on her neck matched the one on her earrings, clearly very expensive.

As her gaze drifted downward to that impressive figure, Holly couldn’t help but look down at her own chest, silently straightening her back.

Blake Sinclair introduced her with an indifferent tone, "Yvonne, this is Nancy Irving, the granddaughter of Ivan Irving."

Holly raised an eyebrow.

Just now, Blake Sinclair had mentioned to her that the owner of this small manor had the last name Irving.

Yvonne walked slowly forward in her high heels, her gaze brazenly scanning Holly from head to toe.

As she scanned, she suddenly gave a meaningful smile.

Holly didn’t understand what that smile meant.

Confused, Yvonne was already looking at Blake Sinclair, "Arthur, aren’t you going to introduce this lovely lady?"

Blake Sinclair pulled Holly close to his side with a possessive air: "My wife, Holly Crowe."

"Wow, wife?" Yvonne exaggeratedly blinked and smiled as she greeted Holly.

Holly was about to respond when Yvonne suddenly leaned in, and Holly felt her vision filled with white, her chest almost at Holly’s face.

"Holly, you look beautiful."

"Uh.. thank you, oh, thanks."

Yvonne’s sudden closeness left Holly momentarily stunned, unsure of her intent.

She instinctively backed away a little, "So do you."

Yvonne chuckled at her reaction, poked her dimples, and in halting Chinese said, "Is Arthur good to you? If not, you’re welcome to have an affair with me."

Holly: "...."

That was quite straightforward.

"Yvonne!"

Blake Sinclair’s face darkened. He pulled Holly behind him, shielding her, and warned, "Holly is your sister-in-law."

Yvonne shrugged indifferently, casually flipped her hair, and winked at Holly, "Who cares."

She leaned over, addressing Holly, "Honey, did you know Arthur and I were childhood fiancés?"

As it turned out, word order didn’t affect understanding.

Holly understood.

Blake Sinclair and Yvonne had been betrothed?

But why did he just say they were siblings?

Is it such a complicated upper-class relationship?

Upon hearing her words, Blake Sinclair’s face darkened further.

Just then, someone came over to remind them that the auction was about to start.

Blake Sinclair immediately took Holly back to the VIP room they had been in earlier.

Yvonne waved goodbye from behind, and just as Holly was about to wave back, Blake Sinclair pulled her into the room.

With the door closed, he turned her against the door, "Stay away from her from now on."

Holly lifted her eyes to look at him and intentionally teased, "Why? Are you flustered now that your Mrs. Sinclair and your fiancée are both here?"

Actually, she had already noticed that Yvonne wasn’t interested in Blake Sinclair, but somehow she said it anyway, and even she didn’t realize how jealous her words sounded.

Blake Sinclair sighed helplessly, adopting a humble posture and patiently comforting her, "I have nothing to do with her. Holly, I don’t believe you haven’t noticed she has feelings for you."

Holly snorted and turned her head, "So what? Who wouldn’t like such a beautiful girl? I not only like her, I want to hug her and kiss her..."

"No."

Before she could finish, he interrupted.

Blake Sinclair wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him, "You’re mine!"

"Really?" Holly deliberately elongated her words.

"But I think you and Yvonne, with names like Arthur and Yvonne, sound quite a match."

Blake Sinclair lowered his head, his gaze intense, "But I think iris is the perfect match for me."

He paused, then slowly said, "The beauty is like a rainbow, you only know it when you encounter it."

Hearing his words, Holly’s face heated up.

Iris was her English name, which meant rainbow.

She instinctively wanted to escape his gaze, but Blake Sinclair held her face up, giving her nowhere to hide.

In the amber-colored little mirror, Holly saw her flustered expression and the unwavering desire in his eyes.

Forcing down her emotions, Holly pretended to be indifferent, and pushed him back a bit before walking towards the floor-to-ceiling window.

Downstairs, the first item for auction was a pink gemstone, though not too valuable.

After a glance, Holly withdrew her gaze, her tone cold, "Enough with the Mr. Arthur stuff. I don’t know anything, and here I am, clueless, following you around. Who knows what you have in mind."

Blake Sinclair stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and sat down on the sofa with her, sincerely apologizing, "It’s my fault. I didn’t mean to keep it from you."

He spent a few minutes briefly explaining the reason for bringing Holly Crowe here tonight.

"Ivan Irving is my grandfather."

Upon hearing this, Holly wasn’t too shocked. She had guessed it from his earlier words, "She’s your sister-in-law," and Yvonne’s amber eyes.

Blake continued, "Grandma fell in love with him when she was young, but before they got married, he married someone the family arranged for. Later, Grandma, pregnant with my mother, married the man who nominally became my grandfather."

"Ivan Irving has always claimed how helpless and regretful he was back then, but I can’t see it. He even absurdly wants me to get engaged to Yvonne, so I can return to The Irving Family."

Holly was surprised, "But you and Yvonne are related by blood."

Blake chuckled mockingly, "Yeah, that’s why I said he’s crazy."

"So, what did you come here for today?"

"To retrieve my mother’s painting."

Blake looked towards the entrance of the first-floor hall.

"The floor painting at the entrance is my mother’s last work, and it can appear anywhere but here."

He looked at Holly, "Ivan promised me that if I came today, I could take this painting away. Holly, the reason I brought you here is to let him know that I’m married and have a wife I’ve chosen, and I won’t have any further connections with The Irving Family."

Holly said, "But you could have just told me."

Blake replied, "Talking about such old matters is just depressing. I intended to bring you here to have fun, not to let these things affect your mood."

He hugged Holly, his face full of tenderness.

His Holly didn’t need to know about these matters, it was enough for her to always be cheerful and bright; he could bear all the storms and darkness alone.

Holly snuggled in his arms, then suddenly looked up, pinching his chin and shaking it, "Blake Sinclair, don’t hide things from me in the future. You always say I should tell you everything, so you should do the same. We can share these things together."

Blake felt his heart melt, kissed her forehead, "Okay."

His eyes flickered around, and he smiled slyly.

"However, truth be told, there is indeed one more thing I didn’t honestly tell you today."

Holly took a bite of dessert, not even lifting her head, and asked, "What is it?"

Blake, with a face full of sincerity, said, "Today I brought you here not only for Ivan to give up, but more importantly, to let everyone know you’re my wife."

Hearing his words, Holly’s hand trembled, getting cream on her nose.

Blake took a piece of tissue to wipe it off for her.

"The news of my marriage is no secret in the circle, but it gives some ill-intentioned people an excuse. They’re always trying to catch me in a slip, eager to see me cheat, with rumors spreading endlessly."

"What rumors?"

Blake sighed, with a bit of grievance, "Holly, they privately spread that our marital relationship is not harmonious, saying that I’ve never brought you to public occasions, claiming that our marriage is self-directed and performed by me, and even saying we’ll eventually..."

Holly instinctively finished his sentence, "Get divorced?"

But just after speaking, Blake grabbed her hand and tapped it three times on the wooden table beside them.

He frowned, "Holly, don’t say that again, I can’t bear it."

"Do you really believe in these superstitions?"

"Better believe some of it than not believe it at all."

Holly looked at his aggrieved expression and almost saw drooping dog ears on top of his head. Where did he learn these complaining words from?

"But you brought me here today, right? No one will say anything after that."

"It’s not enough!"

Holly looked at him puzzled, "Then what else do you want? Do I have to call you every time you go out to discuss cooperation, and then visit your company every few days to check if there’s any flamboyant mistress trying to climb into your bed, showing off our love and declaring sovereignty in the process?"

She was just joking casually but saw Blake’s eyes brighten up.

"...Uh, you aren’t serious, are you?" Holly felt a panic in her heart.

Blake thought about her words seriously and replied solemnly, "I think we could. People are presumptuous because they assume you’re not by my side."

Holly: "....."

Thanks for the invitation, but no thanks.

Is it too late to take back what I just said?

But clearly, Blake wasn’t giving her a chance to back out.

That night, the lights in the bathroom stayed on until late into the night.

The sound of water flowed continuously without stopping.

The jasmine scent of the shower gel mixed with the steam, creating a heady and seductive atmosphere.

Holly bit Blake’s shoulder, "I want to sleep."

The arm around her waist tightened, and Blake snuggled against the side of her neck, lowering his voice, "Okay, but will Holly agree or not?"

Holly didn’t respond; she wanted to resist.

But she found no opportunity to voice her refusal.

In the end, Holly, under his half-coaxing and half-tricking, resignedly agreed to go to his company tomorrow to "declare sovereignty."

Hearing her answer, Blake smiled contentedly.

The ambiguity in the air heated up once again.