Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Another Compromise

After spending the night at Anne’s, Sophie Shaw returned to the Kane residence the next morning after breakfast.

She was in her room packing her personal belongings when there was a knock on the door.

It was Joseph Shaw.

Seeing several packing boxes on the floor, Joseph Shaw looked confused. "Sophie, what are you doing?"

"Moving out."

"Moving where?"

Sophie Shaw didn’t answer. She sealed a box with tape and went back to packing other things.

Watching her bustle about, Joseph Shaw’s expression darkened. "Where exactly are you moving? Did you rent a place? Once we meet with the Blackwoods on Saturday, we can set the wedding date. There’s no need for you to move out."

Sophie Shaw didn’t want to hide anything, so she told him the truth. "I’m moving in with Alaric Blackwood. We’ve already registered our marriage. We’re a legally married couple."

"What?"

Joseph Shaw’s eyes widened. "When did you register the marriage?"

"Yesterday."

"Have you lost your mind?"

Joseph Shaw exploded with anger. "How could you do something so huge without discussing it with me? You just went and did it on your own?"

"I’m an adult. I can take responsibility for my own actions. We were going to get the certificate sooner or later anyway, so it doesn’t matter when."

"You’re a fool! Nothing’s been negotiated, the betrothal gift hasn’t been decided, so why were you in such a hurry to go get married?"

"I don’t have a dowry, so why would I expect a betrothal gift?"

"You—"

Joseph Shaw was so angry he gritted his teeth. He put his hands on his hips and paced back and forth in the room.

He knew Sophie Shaw had invested all her savings into Heart of the Ocean. He and Bianca Kane had discussed preparing a small dowry for Sophie when she married; they couldn’t let their daughter marry into her new family empty-handed.

Bianca Kane had always been concerned with appearances. Marrying into a top-tier wealthy family like the Blackwoods, she couldn’t afford to become the subject of gossip. Even if she wasn’t happy about it, she would still make a gesture.

"You, you... what am I going to do with you? You’re twenty-three years old, but you’re completely brainless. You have no sense of propriety."

The more Joseph Shaw thought about it, the angrier he got. Seeing Sophie Shaw still packing, he walked over and grabbed her hand. "Stop packing. I won’t let you move out. You will get married from the Kane residence, do you understand?"

He had talked himself hoarse to finally convince Bianca Kane, and now Sophie had to go and be so disappointing, getting married behind his back.

"How did I end up with such a cheap daughter like you."

First she was planning to elope with a man, now she was rushing to get married, completely disregarding him as a father and hiding everything from him.

Joseph Shaw’s words, spoken in the heat of his anger, were like a sharp blade stabbing Sophie Shaw right in the heart.

Her nose stung with tears. She shook off Joseph Shaw’s hand, her throat tight with a sob. "I’m cheap? What about you? You married into this family, groveling as a live-in son-in-law. You don’t think that’s cheap?"

SLAP—

Joseph Shaw slapped her heavily across the face.

Her left cheek instantly became red and swollen, and tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes.

It was Saturday, so Joel Kane was home from school.

He heard the argument from outside and secretly pushed the door open a crack, just in time to see Sophie Shaw get slapped.

"Dad, don’t hit my sister."

He rushed into the room and spread his arms to shield Sophie Shaw.

The appearance of his son forced Joseph Shaw to suppress his rage.

He closed the door again and implored Sophie Shaw, "Clean up your room. It’s not too late to move after the wedding. Your Mrs. Kane said she wants to marry you off in style. Don’t be so willful anymore. If you make her lose face, your brother and I will be the ones who suffer."

As he spoke, he pulled Joel Kane closer and stroked his son’s head. "Joel is still so young. As his older sister, you need to think more about him in everything you do."

Sophie Shaw held her swollen cheek and sat weakly on the edge of the bed.

She cried silently, her heart a whirlwind of complicated emotions.

Seeing her cry, Joel Kane hesitated for a moment, then walked over to her. His small hand wiped away her tears. "Don’t cry, Sister."

She actually hated how Joseph Shaw was always telling her to ’think of your brother.’ She was even a little jealous that her brother received all of Joseph Shaw’s wholehearted love and affection. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

But whenever she faced her sensible little brother, she couldn’t stay angry. She would even feel that she was being petty, and a sense of guilt would bubble up inside her.

Gazing at Joel Kane’s innocent, childish face, she chose to compromise once again.

’So what if I move out a little later?’

’I’ll just endure it a little longer.’

—

For the next few days, she holed up in her room, barely showing her face except for meals.

The car dealership called to remind her to pick up her car, but she had to postpone it.

「Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye.」

Early that morning, Bianca Kane made a rare appearance in her room, a very high-end, fashionable autumn outfit draped over her arm.

"This was a gift from a brand sponsor to Vianne after she attended a charity gala and made a generous donation for underprivileged children. Try it on, see if it fits."

Bianca Kane tossed the clothes onto the bed. She crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping indifferently over Sophie. "When you meet the Blackwood elders, don’t wear that cheap, unpresentable junk from your closet."

Sophie Shaw said nothing. She picked up the clothes from the bed. It was a tweed-style suit, a rose-pink color that perfectly complemented her fair, cool-toned skin.

Bianca Kane sat down on the edge of the bed and lit a slim cigarette. She turned her face away, not looking at Sophie. Once Sophie had put the clothes on and confirmed the size was right, she said to her, "After your wedding date with Alaric Blackwood is set, don’t worry about the dowry. I’ll take care of it. But you have to promise me that once you’re married into the Blackwood Family, you’ll mention a potential collaboration to Alaric Blackwood."

"What collaboration?"

"The Blackwood Group is interested in acquiring Dragonstone Mall recently. That’s the biggest marketplace for jewelry, and I want a piece of the pie."

Sophie Shaw’s brow furrowed slightly. "For a collaboration, you can just go through the normal negotiation channels. Do I need to get involved?"

"We’re uniting our families through marriage; this relationship makes things easier. You just have to whisper in Alaric Blackwood’s ear. I’ve received word that Yuri, the founder of Diamond Belle Jewelers, is also interested in working with the Blackwood Group. The entire jewelry industry is eyeing this huge cake. We have to strike first."

The Kane Group’s flagship brand was Wynn Jade Jewelry. As a well-known, reputable legacy brand, it had been consistently overshadowed in recent years by Diamond Belle Jewelers, founded by Yuri. Bianca Kane already saw Yuri as her biggest rival in the industry. free𝑤ebnovel.com

"Are you even listening to me?"

Bianca Kane’s tone grew heavier.

Sophie Shaw hesitated for a long time before saying flatly, "I’ll try."

"Try?"

Bianca Kane sneered. "I don’t want you to ’try.’ I want you to succeed. Otherwise, why would I give you a dowry for free?"

She, Bianca Kane, wouldn’t do anything that didn’t benefit her.

"I can do without the dowry." Sophie Shaw’s attitude hardened. "However, we can negotiate the terms."

"What terms?"

"You help me get Heart of the Ocean back, and I’ll whisper in Alaric Blackwood’s ear for you."

"Heart of the Ocean?"

Bianca Kane laughed in exasperation. "All this for that little broken-down company with no future? Is it really worth it to you?"

"If you don’t agree, then forget it. You won’t get so much as a crumb of the Dragonstone Mall cake. Speaking of which, Yuri is a senior of mine from school. I don’t know him well, but I know of him. If you don’t help me, then I’ll spend my nights singing Yuri’s praises into Alaric Blackwood’s ear."

Bianca Kane’s face instantly paled. "You’ve grown some wings, have you? You dare to threaten me?"