"I’m not sure, but keeping my distance from all the ladies seems like the right move," Romeo said, then looked up at Chasel and asked, "Chasel, what brings you here?"
"Rose said she wanted to take a walk alone, and I couldn’t just sit still, so I came to check on her."
"Same here."
"Are you really not interested in Serena at all?" Chasel asked as they walked on. "If Rose hadn’t come back to this family, would you have married Serena?"
"No way," Romeo’s voice was firm. "Actually, I even considered calling off the engagement before."
Not only had he considered it, he had actually almost done it. But then he found out that his betrothed was Rose, so he changed his mind at the last minute.
Hearing this, Chasel was taken aback. "Do you realize what calling off the engagement at the last minute would mean for our two families?"
"I’m aware."
It would mean a total fallout between the two families. It would mean he and David could no longer be brothers. It would mean he’d have a formidable competitor in the business world. It would mean accusations from his family, a loss of the elder’s dignity, and the reputation of the McMillan family being completely tarnished.
"But I can’t commit to a lifetime with someone I don’t love, and I believe you guys wouldn’t want your beloved one being neglected by me either."
Chasel was puzzled. "Is Serena really that bad? Over all these years, hasn’t she attracted you at all?"
"I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Chasel, but ever since Rose came back home, Serena hasn’t exactly been friendly to her," Romeo pointed out. "Including deliberately provoking and testing Rose at the dinner table and her inappropriate behavior."
"Romeo, Serena is my sister!"
These words were hard to swallow. Before Serena’s true identity was revealed, every member of the Collins family had doted on her for eighteen years. Not only Kenneth and Louisa, but all five brothers treated her like a princess, catering to her every need and protecting her at all costs.
This princess, whom they’ve watched grow up, might be a bit haughty, but surely she’s not as bad as Romeo painted her to be? Chasel was having a hard time hearing someone speak ill of his sister in front of him.
Romeo understood. After all, who would suspect their innocent sister of having ulterior motives? Just like he wouldn’t suspect his family of being bad people without reason, right?
"She’s been the princess for eighteen years, and suddenly everything she had no longer belongs to her. It’s normal for her to feel left out and try to draw attention. It’s just girly stuff as long as she doesn’t hurt Rose."
Just as Chasel finished, Romeo asked, "And if she causes trouble for Rose, would you stand by and do nothing?"
"If she intentionally targets Rose, I’ll stop her once I notice."
"And if it happens where you can’t see? Or if you can’t do anything about it?"
"Romeo," Chasel looked at Romeo, seemingly dissatisfied. "Is Serena really that bad in your eyes?"
Seeing Chasel deep in thought, Romeo knew he’d at least taken some of it to heart. It seemed he hadn’t been blinded by family ties. In front of her family, Serena wouldn’t make Rose’s life difficult. It seemed that behind the scenes, it was time for her true colors to show.
On the other side, a small knife was pressed against a short-haired girl’s throat.
Rosemary, holding the knife, asked coldly, "Who are you?"
She’d felt watched ever since she got home in the afternoon. But her minions reported that no one was staking out her house. She decided to take another look, and sure enough, her own skills led her to a shady figure.
The short-haired girl wore a mask, revealing only a pair of beautiful eyes that looked somewhat displeased. Judging by her eyes, she seemed only a year or two older than Rosemary. A trained assassin from who-knows-where? So young?
"And who are you?" The short-haired girl was irked. If she hadn’t been caught off guard, how could she have been found out by Rosemary, let alone threatened with a knife? Rosemary’s minions hadn’t spotted her. She thought her stealth skills were top-notch.
"I’m the one asking questions!" Rosemary’s knife moved a little closer. Her voice was cold as ice. "Who sent you? Or do you have your own agenda? If you don’t spill it, you won’t be speaking anymore."
"Hmph!" This little girl was too arrogant! Her words were full of contempt. The short-haired girl was evidently more annoyed.
"Do you dare kill me at the doorstep of the Collins family?" The short-haired girl squinted her eyes, apparently disbelieving, and said, "If you have the guts, do it now!"
This girl was quite brave.

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