"Okay," I answered softly, not daring to refuse him.
The moment we stepped out of the hall, every pair of eyes from the Anderson relatives followed us. Well, of course, they all watched Captian's every movement. He was the one who held all the power.
Only when I finally stepped outside and breathed fresh air did my shoulders truly relax.
"You don't like it?" Captian lowered his head to look at me, his eyes examining.
I nodded so fast it was almost ridiculous. I'd learned to fear this so-called "family gathering."
"Not at all. Everyone here is strange. And… they all have this sense of superiority. I feel like they're all looking down on me."
"Looking down on you?" he repeated. His brows drew together, elegant yet cold. "You don't need to care about them. They're just irrelevant people."
I was stunned.
The entire Anderson family… just "irrelevant people"?
Then what was I?
Someone important?
That thought startled me so much I slapped my own cheeks lightly to stop myself from thinking nonsense.
We walked along the corridor. The old Anderson manor was huge and ancient, the architecture full of historical weight. Ahead was an arched stone gate, with slender green bamboo planted on one side. The wind blew through the leaves, creating a rustling sound that carried an earthy scent, making the whole manor feel almost mystical.
I didn't like this place, but… I had to admit it was beautiful.
Before I knew it, we had wandered through the corridor and entered the back garden. Flowers bloomed everywhere, vines and shrubs thriving in rich clusters.
And in the middle of that garden sat a young woman dressed in white. In front of her was an easel. She was painting, her brush moving with serene concentration. A rose in full bloom took shape on the canvas, vivid as if it were alive.
I couldn't help staring.
The girl was stunning. Soft, delicate, with a gentle grace that made her seem like a fragile blossom.
A breeze blew. Her light chestnut curls fluttered over her shoulders like a watercolor stroke. Just a glance, and she felt like some Tuscan spring drizzle, soft, luminous, ethereal.
She was beautiful. And to appear here, she must come from quite a background.
I glanced at Captian… but his expression stayed as cold and indifferent as ever. He looked at her as if she were invisible.
That didn't feel quite right…
A woman this beautiful, and he wasn't even remotely impressed?
I sneaked a few more glances at him, no reaction at all.
Then the girl put her brush down and lifted her head. Her eyes were crystal clear beneath the sunlight, gentle like a stream in Tuscany.
I sucked in a breath.
Wow.
She was the kind of gentle woman I'd never met before.
Captian tugged my arm, turning to leave but at that moment, the girl finally noticed us.
She curved her lips and called softly, "Brother Captian, you came and you're leaving already?"
Captian stopped, his voice cold. "Why are you here?"
My eyes flickered.
They knew each other?
The girl, Wendy, picked up her skirt lightly and walked over.
"Grandma Anderson invited me. I felt it wasn't appropriate since this is a family banquet, but she insisted. I couldn't refuse her… Brother Captian, you aren't upset with me, are you?"
Captian gave her a single look and let out a faint, mocking laugh as if he were ridiculing something.
Wendy stiffened. Her fingers tightened on her dress. Only then did she seem to notice me. She widened her eyes, studying me.
A very beautiful and young girl, me. My features bright and vivid, the small mole under my eye especially striking. I probably looked like a European oil painting under the sunlight.
Standing next to me, Wendy felt almost plain.
Her expression shifted, though only for a second.
Then she smiled sweetly. "So this is my sister-in-law, right?"
Captian said nothing. Completely ignoring her.
I also didn't speak, just quietly watched her monologue.
"Hello, sister-in-law. I'm Wendy William. I grew up with Brother Captian."
Wendy smiled at me softly, like a gentle Tuscan portrait.
The words "grew up together" hit me like a bucket of cold water.
Ah.
So this was her, the legendary Miss William. The one Ryder mentioned, the one relatives mentioned, the one Grandma Jessica obviously had in mind.
She was beautiful, elegant, educated, everything that matched Captian's status.
"Hello. I'm Rosy Bailey," I said politely.
Wendy smiled sweetly. "Sister-in-law is truly beautiful."
"You too." I meant it. After that, I fell silent again.
Wendy inhaled, then turned back to Captian. "Brother Captian, can I speak to you alone for a moment?"
His face didn't move. "No."
Wendy froze. Her expression stiffened completely. She couldn't even step down gracefully.
He didn't give her so much as a glance.
Her lips tightened, disappointment flashing across her lovely face.
The atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Caught between them, I wanted to escape so badly I could've run.
Perhaps sensing it, Captian pulled me around and walked away without hesitation.
Wendy stood frozen, staring at our backs as we left. Her lips pressed tightly, a faint redness gathering around her eyes.
I followed behind Captian, and soon we were back in the main hall.
The moment Captian entered, an uneasy hush washed through the room again.
This place… really had terrible energy.
I sat beside him on the sofa. "Mr. Anderson… when are we going home?"
Judging by the time, I hadn't been here that long, but it felt like an eternity. Honestly, staying at the mansion with the devil himself was better than staying here.
"Then we'll go now," Captian said simply.
He stood up and pulled me along with him.
I blinked, stunned. "Mr. Anderson… what did you say? We can leave now?"