Chapter 7 Is It Really Impressive?
Selena's POV
"Oh my god, is she crazy? Does she know who she's talking to?"
"This is going to be good. The Sterling family's young master isn't exactly known for his good temper."
I listened to the whispers around me and sneered inwardly.
Royce Sterling?
So what?
In my eyes, he was nothing but a spoiled, self-righteous jerk.
A man who didn't even understand basic respect—even if he was the empire's number one bachelor, I had zero interest in dancing with him.
Royce's expression went from initial shock to complete coldness.
He probably had never been rejected so bluntly in his entire life, especially not in such a public setting.
"Do you know what you're saying?"
"Of course." I elegantly raised my glass and toasted him from a distance.
"I said I need to work. Now, if you don't mind, Mr. Sterling, I'll excuse myself."
With that, I stopped looking at his increasingly dark expression, turned around, and walked steadily through the crowd.
Tonight, I was Astraea—a mysterious, proud designer that no one could reach.
That was my persona.
Walking out of the banquet hall, the cool evening breeze hit my face, and I finally let out a long breath.
Dealing with these fake social events was more exhausting than spending a day down in the mines.
Getting into the car, I immediately kicked off my heels.
Astraea's mask could come off now. I was Selena again.
--
Royce's POV
When I got home, I could still feel a ball of fire burning in my chest.
I yanked off my tie and threw it hard onto the sofa, then headed straight for the liquor cabinet and poured myself a full glass of whiskey.
The ice cubes clinked against the glass, but it couldn't put out the irritation inside me.
This feeling of being completely ignored made me even angrier than being slapped in the face.
But what made me even angrier was that besides the anger, there was also a damn trace of... excitement.
I had to admit, this woman had successfully caught my interest.
"You still have the nerve to come back?"
A stern voice rang in my ears, instantly interrupting my thoughts.
I turned around to see my father standing at the study door, his face as dark as a coming storm.
"Why wouldn't I have the nerve to come back?" I took a big gulp of whiskey, the burning liquid sliding down my throat, calming me down a bit.
"What did you do tonight! I told you to apologize to Miss Hart, and what did you do? You went and asked some random designer to dance! You've completely embarrassed the Sterling family!"
"Random? Father, you better watch your words. Astraea is one of the top jewelry designers today. One of her pieces could buy you half a gallery's worth of art. And she's ten thousand times more interesting than whatever Hart girl you're talking about."
"Interesting?! Do you want interesting, or the family's future?! I've told you how important this alliance with the Hart family is to us! Their agricultural technology and biotech are the key to our entry into the new energy sector! And you want to destroy all of this for some so-called 'interesting' woman?"
The same old speech again.
Business, interests, family.
I was sick of it.
"I won't marry some country girl I've never even met."
I slammed my glass down on the table. "This marriage, I don't agree to it. If you want to work with the Hart family, find another way yourself."
"You—"
Father raised his hand, as if to slap me, but ultimately held back.
He took several deep breaths and spoke in an almost pleading tone: "Royce, I'm begging you. Just meet her once, just once. I've already promised Mr. Hart that you absolutely won't stand her up this time. Just go, be polite to her, and I'll handle the rest."
"Meet once?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Fine. But let me make this clear—this is the last time. If she bores me, I'm walking out right then and there. Don't blame me for not giving you face."
--
Selena's POV
When I got back to the farm, it was close to midnight.
The villa was brightly lit. As soon as I walked in, I saw my parents and Uncle Jonathan sitting in the living room with serious expressions, like they were holding a three-way trial.
"What's going on?"
"Sweetheart, you're finally back!"
Mom saw me and immediately rushed over to grab my hands, looking me up and down.
"Come here for a minute."
"Okay." I smiled and changed out of my shoes.
Dad sighed first, then his tone softened. "Selena, just now, Mr. Sterling called personally."
"What did he call for?" Mom immediately became alert.
"He apologized very sincerely for Royce standing you up at the restaurant. He said Royce was in a bad state, that something tricky came up at the company, so... Anyway, he hopes we can give Royce another chance."
"Chance? What chance?" I frowned.
"He wants you two to... meet again. You can choose the time and place. He said this time, he guarantees Royce will be there three hours early, waiting."
I almost laughed from anger.
Did everyone in the Sterling family have problems?
I had a mining site worth billions waiting for me to save, and they were still pestering me to meet that egomaniac?
"No."
I refused flatly. "Tell him I don't have time. Let him play these boring games with someone else."
I was truly fed up.
The name Royce Sterling was now synonymous with "trouble" to me.
However, just as I was about to get up and go pack for my flight to Nevada, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
He looked down on Selena, but was deeply interested in Astraea.
If... if he found out that the Astraea he was trying so hard to conquer was the same fiancée Selena he had discarded like trash... that scene would be spectacular.
A wicked plan, filled with the pleasure of revenge, slowly took shape in my mind.
I stopped and slowly turned around.
Meeting my parents' surprised gazes, I said, "Since Mr. Sterling is so sincere, I'll give his son another chance."
"Just one meeting."