Silly Bride

Chapter 290

folder, and you’ll learn how much they’re worth.”“Oh?” Xavier casually picked up the contracts and chuckled as he flipped open the first page. “I’ll have to take a look, then.”“Of course. Feel free to do so.” Wilhelm gestured for Xavier to go ahead with a half-smile.Xavier nodded in response before going through the documents carefully.Wilhelm looked over Xavier’s head at the camera in the corner as soon as the latter began paying attention to the contracts.He raised his eyebrows provocatively at the camera, of which Winnie and Emily were on the other side.The two women were well aware of everything that happened between Xavier and Wilhelm, as well as their conversation.Emily could not help but get worried when Xavier began to go through the documents.“Why is Mr. Fairchild reading the contracts? Winnie, is he someone who values money and his career a lot? Does he think they’re even more important than family?”“No, he doesn’t.” Winnie stared at the computer screen as she casually sipped her coffee.She was confident that Wilhelm’s contracts would not be able to buy Xavier off.However, she wondered about the authenticity of Wilhelm’s offer. “Are the contracts Wilhelm presented to Xavier real? If Xavier were to end up signing them, would Wilhelm really live up to his promise?”Emily shook her head in response to the question. “I’m afraid a deal that generous simply doesn’t exist in this world. If Mr. Fairchild were to choose the offer over you, I don’t think Wilhelm would let him get away that easily. Mr. Fairchild would have to pay for his lies and greed. Don’t you agree?”Winnie nodded before taking another sip of her coffee. “I suppose so.” If Xavier chooses to sign the contracts, Wilhelm won’t even have to do a thing because I’ll be the first to make Xavier pay! I’ll make him wish he was never born!Staring at Xavier on the screen, Winnie hoped he would not let her down. Otherwise, she would do everything in her power to make the man regret ever meeting her.Meanwhile, in the conference room, Xavier quickly flipped through the three documents before slowly tearing them to pieces right in front of Wilhelm.Then he looked straight at Wilhelm and said, “Mr. Speiser, I know you’re not married, but I’m not sure if you have a girlfriend. In my opinion, some things like love simply can’t be measured with money. I’ve already gone through the contracts, and I must say that they are very enticing for a businessman. However, Mr. Speiser, I have the resources, the connections, the ingenuity, and the time to continue my journey as a businessman. It’s true that I’d attain success much quicker if I were to take the deal, but I’d much rather work my up with my own two hands, even if it takes me five years, ten years, twenty years, or even more. Like the relationship between Winnie and me, some things just don’t happen overnight; they take time and effort. I have to say, Mr. Speiser, not only did you insult me, but you also insulted the love and trust Winnie had placed in me. I won’t tell her what happened today; I’ll pretend as if none of this happened.”With that, Xavier pushed his chair away and rose to his feet. “I still look forward to the day when I greet you, Winnie’s brother, as her husband. Sorry, but I’ll have to take my leave now.”Wilhelm said not a word but clenched his pen so hard that his knuckles turned pale.After Xavier turned around and left, the cap of Wilhelm’s pen popped out like bullets from a gun.On the other side, Emily could not help but nod approvingly at the screen. “This Mr. Fairchild is not half bad after all. Not only does he respect the relationship you two have, but he’s also a very sensible businessman. To tell you the truth, Winnie”—Emily fluttered her eyelashes at Winnie—“I believe Wilhelm’s three contracts are flawed. Mr. Fairchild knew he would face a great loss if he were to take a shortcut like that to attain success. Still, he showed himself to be a dependable man who’s not easily swayed by promises of quick success.”“Of course,” voiced Winnie with pride in her eyes. “After all, he’s the man I’ve chosen for myself. I’d never settle for someone lesser.”“You’re right to think like that. The fact that I chose to marry your grandfather all those years ago shows that I, too, have a good eye for men.”Emily and Winnie began chatting casually, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became more relaxed.However, that was quickly interrupted by Wilhelm, who stormed in with a grim face.Emily immediately lowered her voice when she saw how upset Wilhelm was.“I think he’s angry, and if I have to guess, it’s because of the contracts. Besides Mr. Fairchild, nobody has ever dared to tear his documents in front of him like that,” whispered Emily to Winnie.After glancing at Wilhelm, Winnie responded to Emily in a volume that she was sure only her grandmother could hear. “Wilhelm’s always been so proud. It’s time someone humbles him.”“My goodness! I think he gets enough humbling from you. If your husband’s anything like you, Wilhelm will lose it!” stated Emily with a chuckle.Even though Wilhelm could not clearly hear what Winnie and Emily were saying, he was sure that they were talking about him.With displeasure written all over his face, Wilhelm sat down across Winnie. “How do you like the result of your little test, my dear brother? As I said, Xavier doesn’t have an ulterior motive for being with me. You may find this hard to believe, but he fell for the broke, innocent woman I pretended to be at the beginning. Then he fell for the real me. None of that has anything to do with my identity as a Speiser,” said Winnie while leaning back in her chair.Wilhelm knew Winnie was right since the same thing happened to him.He, too, doted on the innocent and warm woman Winnie had pretended to be, and as time went by, he learned to love the real her.Although Wilhelm believed what Winnie said, it did not mean that his test for Xavier was over.He reached out to tap Winnie’s phone on the table and ordered with an uncompromising attitude, “Send Xavier a message.”“What kind of message?” asked Winnie, furrowing her eyebrows.“Send him your condominium address and have him meet you there,” replied Wilhelm.From Wilhelm’s tone, Winnie could tell that he was not finished, so she knitted her eyebrows even tighter. “And then what? I can go home afterward?”“Of course not. You’re going to tell him that you’re home, but you won’t actually be there.”“But why? Why do I have to lie to him like that?”“Because I’ve only tempted him with money. Who’s to say he’ll be just as adamant when tempted by beautiful women? I have to continue with my tests.”“Do you really think that’s necessary, Wilhelm?” inquired Winnie somewhat helplessly. “With his status, he can get almost any woman he wants in Chanaea. If you don’t mind me saying, I think this test of yours is pretty dumb. As Xavier said just now, not only are you insulting him, but you’re also insulting me.”“Winnie!” Wilhelm’s face darkened. “That’s such a harsh word; I’m not trying to insult you. As I said, this is just a test. You saw it yourself. He’s been nothing but courteous from the moment he entered the