His Sweet Mate

Chapter 9

THIRD PERSON'S POV

According to their custom, when they bury someone, they have to include a few things in the coffin. They could be any things deemed important to the deceased such as pieces of jewelry, weapons, and other things that are believed to help the dead in the afterlife. In addition, they would also put a coin called Charon's obol. They put it in the mouth of the deceased because it is believed that the dead are going to use it to pay the ferryman named Charon who would guide the soul across the river to the underworld.

Adriana looked at the grinning Reagan. A Charon's obol in the box. Did he intend to pay respect to her deceased mother? Or was he trying to curse Katherine by giving her the coin--a close symbol of death? She couldn't tell. With the mask on his face, it was hard to read him.

Katherine was still on the floor, clutching her bleeding hand. She was healing slowly. The guests were all quiet and watched the whole thing. None of them dared to let out even a whisper. Meve and her grandma stood frozen at what happened in front of them. None of them dared to move. None of them dared to protest. It was as if Reagan marched and set the rules. Rules they could not dare to disobey.

Harris, on the other hand, showed a little courage, but his voice trembled as he said, "Marshal Reagan, I think there's been a mistake, just like Lady Racquela said, Lady Katherine is the Lady of the House Roseinhart. You're looking at the right person."

Reagan angled his head and eyed Harris and then Katherine. "Interesting," he said.

Adriana was quiet in the distance, watching Reagan. Looking at him now, she could definitely tell that he is very different compared to when they were both on the ship.

"Lord Roseinhart," Reagan said, casually putting his gun on a nearby short table and continuing to clean his nails with the knife. "I call you Lord Roseinhart out of respect for you being Lady Adriana Roseinhart's biological father. Don't forget that you married into the Roseinhart family. Does the woman you brought in even deserve to be called the Lady of this House? Such as messed up situation you have here, isn't it?" Reagan smirked.

Adriana couldn't help but wonder just how much does this man know. Just how much does he know about her family? But considering his high position, Adriana shouldn't be surprised that he knows a lot. Especially about her family.

"Except for Lady Adriana, none of you here are real Roseinharts, am I right?"

"Tyler!" Reagan called and one of his Gamma immediately appeared.

"Yes, Marshal Reagan." The man named Tyler quickly nodded, scanned the surroundings, and raised her voice, "This morning, on his way to this city, Marshal Reagan was attacked by the riverside. It was Lady Adriana Roseinhart who saved him. Marshal Reagan owes Lady Adriana his life, and from now on, she will be under the protection of Marshal Reagan's household. Our Marshal's residence will only recognize Lady Adriana as the head of the Roseinhart family and the late Jacinda Roseinhart as the previous Lady of the Roseinhart family.

"Today is the anniversary of the late Lady Jacinda Roseinhart's death. Marshal Reagan has come to present gifts and pay his respects. If any lowly and despicable people dare to have other intentions, they will be killed without mercy!"

With a gesture from Reagan, all the soldiers stood at attention, aimed their guns at the sky, and fired a volley. The sound of gunfire silenced the guests in the hall, and everyone shrank back, holding their breath as if they were afraid that the next bullet would land on them.

After the gunfire, Reagan continued to order his men around. White lilies were laid out, white candles were lit, and flour and fruits were offered. Racquela Roseinhart's birthday banquet was transformed into a memorial hall for the deceased.

Adriana could not believe what she was seeing. How can this man command so much power? He may be an illegitimate son but he has made a name for himself and did not live under the shadow of his strong family. In fact, he made himself stronger than his family combined.

Julian trembled slightly, his face pale, and his eyes fell on Adriana and she looked cold as ice. Julian started speculating that this show is done by both Adriana and Reagan. What had this woman been doing during her three years of disappearance, and how could she have saved Reagan?

Meanwhile, Adriana is boiling mad. She glared in Reagan's direction. Did he intentionally mention that she saved his life so she could be a target for Julian and others? She couldn't help but bristle.

This man is not thinking! She screamed internally.

But she's got to admit that what Reagan said also made the rest of her family nervous and it was quite satisfying.

"Brother," Julian took a step forward. "Did you come here intentionally to sabotage my imminent marriage alliance with the Roseinhart family?"

"I know, you've been jealous of me since we were kids, but what do you have against me? Why did you come to the Roseinhart house to make a scene? What do you think of the Roseinhart family? What do you think of our family? Brother, you haven't had much education or culture, but you should at least know some basic manners, right? This isn't a battlefield where you can trample on lives at will!"

He spoke with self-righteousness, but every sentence was meant to provoke Reagan. Reagan, having left the Terranova family at a young age and with his notorious reputation, could not compare to Julian, who had always been well-liked in the Aerilon pack. Some people even dared to say that he indeed didn't know any manners, acted arrogantly and recklessly, and disregarded brotherly feelings. However, he didn't even bat an eye. Reagan lost his care a long time ago.

Adriana noticed that the large dagger in his hand seemed to possess an elegant dexterity... Her heart stirred slightly, and she couldn't help but speak up for him. She walked to the center and said, "Julian, your words are not fair. Marshal Reagan has been fighting on the front lines, repelling enemies, and defending our territory. How can you say he's trampling on lives?"

Before Julian could respond, she continued, "That's right, you've always lived in the Aerilon pack, a sheltered young master. How could you know that the peace and stability of the Aerilon pack were bought with the blood and sweat of people like Marshal Reagan?

"However, Marshal Reagan has already made it clear just now that he came here in gratitude for my life-saving favor, and knowing today is the anniversary of my mother's death, he came to pay his respects. It was Lady Katherine who acted ignorantly, wanting to take even the burial coins, which provoked Marshal Reagan's punishment. Yet, you accuse him of targeting you, aren't you deliberately bullying an honest person?"

The last sentence successfully made Reagan pause in his actions. Was Reagan an honest person? Well, if the little girl said he was an honest person, then he was an honest person! He put the dagger back and said to Adriana, "Lady Adriana seems to truly understand my intentions. May I look at you closely, if it's not too rude?"

Adriana turned her head, met his deep gaze, and subconsciously wanted to back away, "What...are you going to do?" She didn't dare to approach him easily, as his temperament was hard to fathom.

"I see that your sharp words come from your anger at Julian betraying you for..." his gaze landed on Maeve before he continued, "...an illegitimate child. " Reagan said, with a hint of a teasing smile in the corner of his mouth, full of seductive charm. Even though she knew it wasn't good to be too close to Reagan in front of everyone, Adriana couldn't help but take a step forward.

Just as she stood in front of Reagan, he grabbed her hand, startling her into retreating half a step. She tried to break free, but he held on tightly. "What are you hiding from? We've been closer than this before, have we not?"

Her cheeks flushed at what he was trying to say and the scene of them on that boat, with her grinding on top of him suddenly flashed inside her head.

"Knowing that you returned home, I went to see Father, Julian is blind not to see that you're better than Maeve Roseinhart, insisting on marrying that illegitimate child. The engagement between you two naturally needs to be dissolved." He played his tongue inside his mouth.

"In two days, go to the Terranova mansion with the original token and in return, you will get back the silver medal of the Roseinhart family. It is my family that owes you an apology. They will compensate you with the Bay Wharf as your private property. Here are the relevant deeds and certificates; keep them well."

Having said that, he placed several deeds with seals in Adriana's hands.

It was rare for Reagan to say so much in one breath, even rarer that his words carried goodwill toward others.

This surprised the few Gammas who came with him.

Julian, however, widened his eyes, "Reagan, what did you say? You actually gave away Bay Wharf? Are you out of your mind?"

He never really wanted to return the Roseinhart family's jewelry store and pawnshop, and the Bay Wharf had been his and his mother's biggest reliance in recent years. Reagan had caused him heavy losses as soon as he returned!

"Julian, I'm your elder brother. It's only right that I help you take care of some things at the expense of my dignity."

Reagan's gaze finally fell on Julian, and went on, "However, you don't have to be polite with me. If my younger brother has a bit of 'goodwill' towards me, I'll certainly return it doubly to him."

Others may not understand this, but Julian and Adriana did.

This was his revenge on Julian for hiring killers to kill him.

Adriana immediately put away those things.

Why not take advantage of something that could make Julian suffer a loss?

Julian's face turned ashen with anger, gritting his teeth and saying, "Fine, you really are my 'good' elder brother! But I hope this is really Father's intention, otherwise, you're going to pay a hefty price."

"Ah well. Let's see how this goes then." Reagan grinned and did not wait for Julian to say something. "With things settled, it's time for me to go." Reagan's gaze swept around, leisurely taking back the gun from the short table and turning to leave.

As he passed by Adriana, he lowered his head and whispered in a voice only she could hear, "Little flower, you don't have to thank me too much. Leave the door open for me tonight. I'll come see you."

Adriana's heart skipped a beat.

He was coming to see her tonight?

Her human intuition said it was madness but her wolf side is skipping in excitement.