Chapter58 Why Accept His Help
Hearing this, Caius raised his eyebrows subtly.
As the head of a family at the very top of the elite pyramid, Caius naturally didn't need to remember small families like the Knights or Clairs that weren't in the top tier.
Even Brock's name he'd only managed to remember because he heard Linnea muttering, "That bearded feudal patriarch Brock is so disgusting he makes me sick..."
He hadn't known before that Linnea's last name just "happened" to be the same as the Knight family's late wife.
Katherine was still pointing at Brock's nose, scolding him with flying spittle:
"Brock, what are you pretending for? When I resigned from the CEO position at Sterling Pharmaceuticals, you were still following Miss Laurel around like sticky gum, begging her for what was just a little to her but a fortune to you in 'startup capital,' right?"
"But at the same time? Whose bed were you climbing into at night to father your beloved bastard son?"
At these words, mocking laughter erupted around them.
The beard on Brock's face trembled. But since Katherine was an invited honored guest, he had to play dumb: "Miss Katherine, this is all a misunderstanding..."
"Misunderstanding?"
"You think I came to this party for no reason? It's because I was helped by Miss Laurel. Unfortunately, I was doing research abroad while she was alive and couldn't find time to come back and see her. I came to this party hoping to meet her excellent daughter, but somehow I only see two bastard children bullying my student!"
Her neck flushed red with anger. Linnea and Soren rushed over to bring her water and help her calm down.
Even though the guests all had business ties with the Knight family and tried hard to hide their expressions, there was no doubt that for a long time after this, the Knight family would become the most interesting dinner conversation for every family.
"Linnea, don't be afraid." Katherine gripped her hand tightly. "The wrongs you've suffered, I'll help you settle. Was it that vicious boy who bullied you? Jax... Jax, get over here right now."
Jax stood frozen. Vivienne twisted his arm hard: "Go over there and apologize to Miss Katherine!"
"Why should I apologize? How was I supposed to know..."
"Why?" Caius laughed. He turned to Linnea and said, "So, do you want to hold the Knight family members accountable for slandering you?"
Linnea smiled understandingly: "Forget it."
Of course it couldn't go to court. Otherwise, wouldn't her real identity be completely exposed?
Caius assumed she was just being lenient. He let out a cold laugh from his nose.
Katherine sighed: "Linnea, you're still so kind. That's why this playboy Soren has been chasing you for years. But today you must get closure, otherwise Jax will definitely walk all over you in the future!"
Jax looked around and found not a single person supported him. Finally, he had to bow his head: "I was wrong."
"Wrong about what?" Linnea asked softly. "Be specific."
"You... don't push it too far! I'll get you back for this eventually."
Linnea pretended to be nervous and pressed against Caius: "Boss, I'm just an ordinary secretary. I'm scared of being taught a lesson by the powerful Knight family. Maybe we should just drop it..."
Caius grabbed Linnea's wrist. "With me as your incredibly powerful boss here, what are you afraid of? But since you won't punish him, I'll do it for you."
He said to Jax in a tone like discussing the weather: "A grand piano costs $500,000. Not too much, right?"
That was several months of Jax's allowance!
But under Caius's bloodthirsty cold stare, Jax was like prey locked in a snake's gaze, not daring to move his neck even slightly.
"No, no problem." Jax trembled as he wrote Linnea a check for $500,000.
Caius nodded with satisfaction: "We'll settle the rest of the punishment later."
Seeing the matter resolved, Katherine left early, afraid of being contaminated by filth.
Linnea wanted to leave too, but the Knight family members shamelessly tried to make them stay, especially Vivienne who'd been hiding to the side: "Caius, you and Miss Linnea have been frightened today. I very much hope you'll rest fully. Please follow my servants to the rooms prepared for you both."
But this had nothing to do with Linnea and Caius anymore.
Finally, Caius half dragged her by the hand, leading her step by step down the hallway, past her rest room.
"I'm here, Caius. See you later..."
"Who gave you permission to say 'see you later'?"
A slight pulling pain came from her wrist. Caius dragged her stumbling forward a few more steps, swiped his room card, and shoved her through the crack of his room door.
Slam! The door was slapped shut hard.
Caius's firm palm locked around Linnea's waist again: "Linnea, I'm very unsatisfied with your performance today."
"When will you stop being so critical of me?" Linnea wouldn't back down.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Caius locked his hand around her neck.
"Mmm... Caius, let go! You maniac!"
"Why did you accept Soren's help? Isn't my protection enough?" Caius pressed his forehead against hers, madness brewing in his eyes. "Or are you saying you didn't take my previous promise to heart at all?"
"You're the one who wouldn't protect me, so I had no choice but to find someone else!"
"You didn't show sincerity either, you lying little cat. That excuse about the photo being fine as long as it fooled the Knight family... did you really think you could fool me?"
Linnea suddenly deflated: "Fine, then we're even. Besides, I didn't think you'd create conflict with the Knight family for my sake."
"You think the Knight family is more important than you?" Caius sounded like he'd heard the biggest joke.
"Is there any other possibility?"
"Of course the Knight family isn't as important as you."
"What?"
"Otherwise, when you were in my bed last night, wrapped tight around my thing, shaking your ass and begging me to swap that antique watch for a ridiculous fake, why would I agree?" His hot fingertips slid down from the blood vessels in her throat, trailing all the way to the swelling wrapped in silk. "If the Knight family were more important than you, I should've stuffed that fake watch inside your body and given you a good warning not to try competing for my favor."
"But two months ago..."
"Still holding a grudge?" Caius irritably pinched her breast. "Linnea, you're such a petty person. I've given you so many things, isn't that enough to make up for the 'hurt' you suffered from me back then?"
"Of course not." Linnea muttered. "I gave you my priceless sincerity."
As she finished speaking, Linnea's lying heart skipped a beat.
But Caius didn't pursue this topic further.
He stroked her lips, thinking about something interesting:
"Speaking of which, you're an outstanding graduate of Laurentian University. According to Soren, you had excellent grades and were charming."
"So when you were in college, how many men like Soren were entangled with you?"
"There weren't any." Linnea's lips pressed tight.
"Lying again."
Of course she had to lie! From Caius's tone, it sounded like for every new name she revealed, he'd land a slap on her breasts!
Caius shrugged his shoulders and reminded her in a kind tone: "You'd better come clean."
"If you're not honest about this too, you'll really need to receive a proper 'education.'"