In the study, Quentin personally poured a cup of tea and set it before Derrick. He asked calmly, "What brings you all the way to my house?"
Derrick didn't even glance at the tea. Instead, he tossed a thick stack of documents onto the desk. "The contract isn't even signed yet, and your man is already trying to walk all over me!"
Quentin leisurely took a sip of tea before picking up the file. Its contents were exactly what he had expected. He didn't even bother to frown. "So? Did you actually let him?"
Derrick narrowed his eyes, a predatory smirk playing on his lips. "Do you really want me to take action? He is your biological nephew, after all." He leaned in, his voice turning gloomy. "Aren't you afraid I'll kill him?"
He watched Quentin's face closely, searching for a flicker of emotion. He found nothing.
Quentin lowered his eyes, hiding the coldness within them. "That's between you and Javier. It has nothing to do with me."
Quentin had only just leaked the news of his cooperation with the Kent Enterprise when Javier tried to undermine the foundation of the deal. Quentin had promised his father he would spare Javier's life, but if Javier went looking for trouble with someone as volatile as Derrick, his survival was no longer Quentin's responsibility.
Derrick suddenly burst out laughing—a cold, hollow sound that echoed creepily in the room. "If you had just listened to me and cleared out those eyesores years ago, we wouldn't be wasting time on this mess!"
Quentin frowned at the blatant bloodlust in Derrick's words, but his voice remained smooth. "So, are you saying you don't want to cooperate?"
Derrick shrugged. "No wonder people say it's impossible to take advantage of you."
Derrick wasn't stupid. He knew Quentin was using him to get a foothold in the Northern City, but the opportunity was too lucrative to pass up. As for Javier? Even if there were ten Javiers, Derrick would cut them down one by one if they touched his profits.
Quentin hid a satisfied smile. This was exactly why he had chosen Derrick. If he couldn't personally deal with Javier due to family ties, he would let Derrick handle the "dirty work." As long as Derrick was involved, Javier wouldn't stand a chance of destroying the project. While Derrick dealt with the chaos, Quentin would have more time to spend with Amanda.
Derrick, sensing he was being used as a shield, sneered. "If you want to use me as your sword, Quentin, you'd better make sure you can handle the weight. No one plots against me and gets away with it."
Quentin remained unbothered by the threat. Derrick, realizing his intimidation wasn't working, changed the subject. "Javier is obsessed with taking you down. By the way, how is that little wife of yours?"
Quentin's face darkened instantly. "I haven't seen you in a while, Derrick. Where did you learn to gossip like a neighborhood auntie?"
"Can you blame me?" Derrick laughed. "In this world, nothing stays secret forever." The scandal of Quentin marrying his nephew's ex-girlfriend—a girl ten years his junior—was a delicious piece of information, even if the Harris family tried to bury it.
Derrick grinned, feeling he had finally found Quentin's weakness.
"Don't be so smug," Quentin replied nonchalantly. "Maybe one day you'll end up with a girl even younger than mine."
Derrick scoffed at the idea. "I don't have your 'hobbies,' you old fool!"
In the back garden, Amanda led Winter to a balcony overlooking a stunning landscape. A small tea table was set with cakes and tea. Amanda handed Winter a small paper bag.
"This is an ointment for burns and scars. Apply it twice a day, and it will heal much faster."
Winter beamed. "Thank you, Ms. Amanda."
Amanda took Winter's arm, inspecting the wound. Her heart sank when she saw the inch-long burn mark. "I don't even know how to thank you. If something like this happens again, you have to look out for yourself first, okay?"
She would rather have the burn on her own skin than feel the guilt of someone else suffering for her.
"I'm fine, Ms. Amanda," Winter said, squeezing Amanda's hand reassuringly. "I couldn't just stand there and watch that iron fall on you."
Winter remembered how aggressive Amanda used to be toward her, but she never held a grudge. She knew Amanda's old personality was just a shield for her insecurities. Besides, Amanda was the only one who had taken her in when she was lost.
Amanda pouted and poked Winter's forehead. "Since when did you become so eloquent?"
Winter giggled, covering her forehead.
"And why are you even here today?" Amanda asked. "I told you to stay home and rest! You didn't even tell me you were coming; you just sat there waiting all morning with that... that man!"
If Derrick had eaten you alive, what would I have done? Amanda thought.
"I tried to call," Winter whispered. "But you didn't answer. I took the liberty of coming anyway."
Amanda checked her phone. Sure enough, there were three missed calls—two from the middle of the night and one from this morning.
"Ah... about that..." Amanda felt her face heat up. She remembered exactly what she had been doing when those calls came in and suddenly felt like finding a hole to hide in.