*****Several guests nodded subconsciously at Mason’s words; after all, to them, although they were harsh, many felt they weren't entirely wrong.One was the heir of a family on the verge of entering the B-rank, while the other…They glanced at the casually dressed Nicholas.He was completely unknown, someone they had never heard of until today.The difference between them was like heaven and earth… at least, that was what everyone believed.Meanwhile, after saying those words, Mason slowly sized Nicholas up from head to toe, his gaze dragging over him with naked contempt.The disgust in his eyes wasn't even concealed."But honestly," he said after a moment, a cold smile tugging at his lips, "it's been a long time since I've met someone as daring as you."The atmosphere in the hall tightened instantly.Finished speaking, Mason suddenly took a bold, oppressive step forward.The movement wasn't particularly violent… but the intent behind it was obvious.He was trying to overwhelm Nichol

*****Mason didn’t pay either of Palmers any attention again after speakingInstead, he turned and stormed toward the exit, his expression remaining terrifying.However, just before reaching Nicholas, he suddenly stopped, and instantly, the hall fell silent again.Slowly, Mason turned until he was staring directly at Nicholas. The iciness in his eyes was enough to freeze water.“Not only did you dare set your sights on my woman,” he growled, the murderous intent in his voice becoming almost tangible. “Yet you still dared to humiliate me.”His teeth ground together so violently that it was a wonder they didn't shatter.“You?” He laughed coldly. “A mere ant I could crush beneath my foot as long as I desire?”The disbelief and humiliation in his voice were so intense that for a moment, his body trembled… nearly losing all composure again.But then he drew in a long, heavy breath.When he spoke again, his voice had become calmer, yet somehow… that calmness felt even more dangerous.“Well

*****Nicholas turned to Kelly and simply stared at her for several seconds, showing no flicker of expression.From the outside, the woman appeared strong, independent, and unbreakable… like a warrior who had spent years fighting alone against the world.But strangely enough, the more Nicholas saw her tonight, the less he believed that image.It wasn't that she was weak. Rather, she looked emotionally exhausted… like someone who had spent years carrying burdens she was never meant to carry alone.Once again, Nicholas found himself recalling everything he had witnessed at the banquet.The Matriarch's coldness, Oliver's vicious hostility, Oakley's relentless mockery, and Maggie's smiling manipulation. Even the guards at the estate had looked down on her.The more he thought about it, the stranger he felt, and before long, an inexplicable emotion lingered inside him… one he couldn't quite identify.Then, deciding that thinking too deeply wasn't his specialty, he stretched lazily against

*****She nearly screamed internally from embarrassment, realizing that she had just stood there staring like some foolish teenage girl who had never seen a man before.The thought alone was enough to make her want to disappear on the spot.She immediately glanced toward Nicholas, expecting the worst.Given his personality, she fully expected him to be grinning from ear to ear now. Perhaps he would make some shameless comment or tease her mercilessly.Yet when she looked at him, she froze.Nicholas wasn't smirking, laughing, or acting smug as she had believed he would. Instead, he was simply staring at her with genuine concern.Seeing this, Kelly blinked twice.‘He... didn't notice?’The possibility stunned her to the extent that for a second, she almost couldn't believe it.Just then, Nicholas frowned slightly.“Are you okay?” he asked again, this time sounding even more concerned than before.The concern in his voice instantly hit Kelly harder than it should have. She immediately lo

*****‘Work?’The word echoed strangely in Nicholas’s mind, sounding as though he had never heard it before.And why wouldn’t it?He had only returned to Ironstone City this time to recover and locate Red. That was all.Work had never been part of the plan; after all, he had already earned enough money to retire several lifetimes over.Even if he spent recklessly every single day, he doubted he would finish exhausting his wealth before growing old.Yet now, somehow, Kelly was standing here trying to help him find employment. The situation felt so absurd that he almost laughed.Still, he focused on Kelly again, only to find her staring directly at him. There was already the faintest trace of irritation lurking at the corners of her eyes.The expression practically screamed her thoughts.‘You think you can be a big-mouthed slacker around me?’Nicholas instantly understood. However, he didn’t bother explaining anything to her, knowing fully well that unless he intended to reveal everythi