Chapter 420

Chapter 420

The living room was filled with the delicate aroma of tea. Marcus, wearing a wool coat, tried to warm his frozen hands.

"Why are you dressed so lightly?" Aria asked, noticing his shivering.

"I didn't expect Lumaria to be this cold," Marcus replied with a smile. "This is actually my thickest coat."

Aria chuckled. "Have some tea to warm up."

The butler handed over a plate of pastries. "Breakfast will be ready soon, Mrs. Windsor. Have a little something to tide you over."

Marcus looked slightly surprised. "You haven't gotten up yet?"

Aria nodded. "In Lumaria, we follow the sun. It's winter now, so the sun rises late, and so do we."

"I really enjoy listening to you talk. There's a poetic quality to the way you Lumarians speak."

Aria was momentarily taken aback, then realized Marcus was probably referring to her comment about the late sunrise. She shook her head with a smile, about to respond, when footsteps sounded behind her.

It was Lewis.

With no need to go to the office, he was dressed simply in a white sweater and black casual pants. He looked less imposing and more relaxed.

"Why are you up so early today?" Lewis asked, touching Aria's slightly cool fingertips.

He asked the butler for a blanket and draped it over Aria before turning his attention to Marcus. He raised an eyebrow slightly, then nodded in greeting.

Yesterday, with others around, Lewis had to put on a show. Today, there was no need.

Marcus could clearly see Lewis's lack of welcome. He sighed, setting down his cup. "Mr. Windsor, there's no need for this. I'm here to discuss business, not to cause any trouble."

Lewis scoffed.

Marcus's intentions were too obvious. Now he was trying to play the good guy. Where was this attitude before?

Aria, sensing the tension, patted Lewis, signaling him to relax. "What business are you here for? Is it about your brother?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

Marcus quickly laughed, shaking his head. "My good-for-nothing brother has caused you both enough trouble. I'm here to apologize, not to discuss him."

Aria and Lewis exchanged glances, understanding each other perfectly.

Derek had been completely abandoned.

This was good news for them. They no longer had to worry about someone targeting Alvin.

Marcus seemed oblivious to their expressions, or perhaps he just didn't care.

The Griffith family was large. They wouldn't waste time on a useless member.

A thin contract was placed on the table and pushed towards Lewis. "Mr. Windsor, Ms. York, care to take a look?"

Not "A," but "Ms. York." A gesture of respect.

Lewis's expression softened a bit as he reached for the contract.

Aria occasionally reached out to turn a page.

The contract was a draft, with only preliminary plans for cooperation in place. It wasn't long, taking just about ten minutes to read through.

"You want exclusive trading rights for the coastal area?"

The living room was filled with the delicate aroma of tea. Marcus, wearing a wool coat, tried to warm his frozen hands.

"Why are you dressed so lightly?" Aria asked, noticing his shivering.

"I didn't expect Lumaria to be this cold," Marcus replied with a smile. "This is actually my thickest coat."

Aria chuckled. "Have some tea to warm up."

The butler handed over a plate of pastries. "Breakfast will be ready soon, Mrs. Windsor. Have a little something to tide you over."

Marcus looked slightly surprised. "You haven't gotten up yet?"

Aria nodded. "In Lumaria, we follow the sun. It's winter now, so the sun rises late, and so do we."

"I really enjoy listening to you talk. There's a poetic quality to the way you Lumarians speak."

Aria was momentarily taken aback, then realized Marcus was probably referring to her comment about the late sunrise. She shook her head with a smile, about to respond, when footsteps sounded behind her.

It was Lewis.

With no need to go to the office, he was dressed simply in a white sweater and black casual pants. He looked less imposing and more relaxed.

"Why are you up so early today?" Lewis asked, touching Aria's slightly cool fingertips.

He asked the butler for a blanket and draped it over Aria before turning his attention to Marcus. He raised an eyebrow slightly, then nodded in greeting.

Yesterday, with others around, Lewis had to put on a show. Today, there was no need.

Marcus could clearly see Lewis's lack of welcome. He sighed, setting down his cup. "Mr. Windsor, there's no need for this. I'm here to discuss business, not to cause any trouble."

Lewis scoffed.

Marcus's intentions were too obvious. Now he was trying to play the good guy. Where was this attitude before?

Aria, sensing the tension, patted Lewis, signaling him to relax. "What business are you here for? Is it about your brother?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

Marcus quickly laughed, shaking his head. "My good-for-nothing brother has caused you both enough trouble. I'm here to apologize, not to discuss him."

Aria and Lewis exchanged glances, understanding each other perfectly.

Derek had been completely abandoned.

This was good news for them. They no longer had to worry about someone targeting Alvin.

Marcus seemed oblivious to their expressions, or perhaps he just didn't care.

The Griffith family was large. They wouldn't waste time on a useless member.

A thin contract was placed on the table and pushed towards Lewis. "Mr. Windsor, Ms. York, care to take a look?"

Not "A," but "Ms. York." A gesture of respect.

Lewis's expression softened a bit as he reached for the contract.

Aria occasionally reached out to turn a page.

The contract was a draft, with only preliminary plans for cooperation. It wasn't long, taking just about ten minutes to read through.

"You want exclusive trading rights for the coastal area?"

"Lumaria's traditional crafts are always in high demand. We've wanted to do business here for a long time, but lacked the connections. Now that the previous group has left and you're looking to develop the economic zone, it's the perfect opportunity. I assure you, the Griffith family won't disappoint."

"Your words make me wonder if you had a hand in pushing them out."

"Not yet," Marcus admitted candidly, not seeing anything wrong with it. "Business is all about competition. I did consider it, but didn't get the chance. I heard Sons of God had internal issues, so they pulled out in a hurry."

"Marcus, you know about Sons of God?"

"Of course. Sons of God is a major player in the overseas market, almost a commercial empire. But their cohesion is based on faith, not pure profit."

"Faith," Lewis scoffed. "The most fragile thing."

When he dealt with the Sons of God, he used methods to change their faith. It was laughably easy.

"Their faith isn't pure. If it were, they wouldn't be so easy to manipulate." Marcus smiled at Lewis. "Mr. Windsor, interested in a partnership?"

Sons of God had monopolized the market for too long. It was time for a change.

The unspoken words were clear to everyone present.

Lewis accepted the contract, standing up. "Shall we discuss this further elsewhere?"

If Marcus wasn't interested in his wife, Lewis was more than willing to work with such a smart man.

Marcus smiled and bowed slightly. "Lead the way."

By the time others arrived at the Windsor Mansion, Lewis and Marcus had been in the study for nearly two hours.

Justin and Marcus's secretary arrived just in time, rushing in.

Garrett watched Aria sip her chicken soup leisurely and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you worried they might fight?"

"They won't. They have a common goal now."

Garrett was puzzled. What common goal could two rivals have?

Aria just smiled.

When Lewis emerged from the study with Marcus, it was almost noon.

The once-empty living room was now full.

Including Aria, five people with ten eyes were all focused on the two men.

Marcus remained silent.

Despite being surrounded by social elites, he couldn't shake the feeling that the Windsor Mansion was like a daycare.

Suppressing the odd thought, he smiled and greeted everyone. "Good morning."

Lewis, used to this, calmly walked through the stares and sat next to Aria, pulling her into his arms.

"All done?"

"Almost. Justin will handle the details."

Aria nodded. Simon, having overheard their conversation, widened his eyes slightly. "You're making money behind our backs!"

Lewis paused, then scoffed lightly.

"So you admit it."

Lewis set his cup down. "Simon, you're spending my money. Should I take it back?"

Simon immediately fell silent.

Fine, let Lewis make money. He wouldn't be shortchanged anyway.

Marcus, who had watched the whole exchange, couldn't help but laugh. "You all have such a great dynamic."

Garrett's expression was pained. "We all have dirt on each other. If we fall out, it's over."

Marcus was puzzled.