Chapter 8: Bearing The Dragon Mark

Words : 1766 Updated : Jun 12th, 2025

"You're not allowed in my daughter's room. If you need to use the bathroom, go outside! And you can't sleep on the couch at night. You'll have to sleep on the floor!" "If the Larson family can get through this mess, marrying my daughter might be possible, but only if you meet four conditions!" "A dowry of a million, a villa, a Maybach, and a wedding that will make the whole city talk!" Sarah shot Aiden a look of contempt. "Well? What do you say?" She intentionally made things hard for Aiden, trying to force him out or at least scare him off. But Aiden stayed calm, nodded, and said, "No problem." "Mom, what are you talking about?" Amelia looked at her mother, annoyed, grabbed Aiden's hand, and said, "Come on, I need to talk to you." They entered a room, and Amelia closed the door behind them. Sarah knocked on the door from outside. "My foolish girl, don't be alone with him!" "You're the Larson family's precious girl! You have to save yourself for marriage!" Ignoring Sarah, Amelia said seriously to Aiden, "Like I said before, thanks for saving my grandpa. Your medical skills are impressive, but that's as far as it goes." "You want to call off the engagement, right?" Aiden looked at her calmly. Amelia gave a bitter smile. "What choice do I have if we don't end it? I know exactly what I'm facing tonight with William Fallon." She sighed deeply, her face full of sadness. Amelia knew that William would do something terrible to her tonight. The thought made her shudder, and tears started rolling down her cheeks. Seeing her beautiful face full of sadness, Aiden reached out to wipe away her tears. Amelia instinctively pulled back and quickly wiped away her tears. "I'm sorry you had to see me like this," she said. "You want to break off the engagement? No problem. Let's talk about it after tonight, okay?" Aiden said calmly. Amelia nodded. She looked at Aiden's outfit and then pulled out a suit. "This was my dad's when he was young. Try it on." "Wear this tonight when we meet William." As Aiden took off his shirt, Amelia's eyes widened in surprise. His old shirt had been loose, hiding his build. Now, his muscles were on full display. He looked strong. But the dragon-shaped mark on Aiden's back caught Amelia's eye. "Is that a tattoo on your back?" Aiden put the shirt on and said, "That's not a tattoo. It's a birthmark. I was born with this dragon mark." "A dragon mark? There's a birthmark like that? That's so weird!" Amelia said, surprised. Aiden smiled faintly and said, "That's also why they broke my bones when I was five." Amelia was even more curious. "Who would do something so cruel to a five-year-old? What kind of grudge could they possibly have?" "Can you tell me what happened?" Just as Aiden was about to answer, Amelia's phone rang. Dustin reminded her to negotiate at the Fallon residence right after dinner. He also informed her that the family's bodyguard, Greg Warner, the Larson family's martial arts expert, would accompany her. Greg was a disciple of the Shaolin Temple, having practiced martial arts for over twenty years. He was capable of breaking bricks and stones with ease. After hanging up, Amelia breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she might escape tonight's ordeal with Greg and the somewhat skilled Aiden by her side. She went to the dressing room to change. Aiden moved to the living room and sat quietly on the couch. The more Sarah looked at Aiden, the less she liked him, constantly mocking him. "Honey, give it a rest. Aiden entering our home is a stroke of fate, whether or not he becomes our son-in-law," Zack couldn't help but interject. "Fate, my foot!" Sarah's eyes widened, and she spat at Zack's face. "Is this your place to speak? Go cook!" Zack dared not retort and sheepishly headed to the kitchen. Aiden glanced at Sarah and said calmly, "Mrs. Sarah, your poodle ate its poop, and you kissed him. Within three days, you'll have an ulcer." "When it gets severe, you won't be able to speak, and even drinking water will be difficult." Hearing this, Sarah exploded in anger. "What do you mean? My poodle is well-behaved. How could it eat poop?" "What nonsense are you spouting?" "I say a few words to you, and you curse me? Are you even a man?" The poodle in Sarah's arms also barked furiously at Aiden, both dog and woman exuding arrogance. Aiden merely squinted slightly, and the poodle immediately tucked its tail between its legs, burying its head in Sarah's arms and trembling. "My dear boy, don't be scared. Mommy didn't scold you." Aiden was speechless. How could Amelia have such a mother? Perhaps Sarah had taken too many brainless pills in her youth. He wondered if Sarah would be as arrogant once her mouth was too painful to speak. Not long after, Zack finished cooking dinner. "Aiden, I didn't know you before, but you saved my father-in-law and stood up to Carlos Gray for our family. I respect you as a man!" Zack said, wiping his hands with his apron, smiling broadly. Sarah snorted, glaring at him. Zack's smile faded instantly, and he ate in silence, reluctantly putting back the bottle of wine he had taken out, not daring to drink. Amelia wasn't in the mood to eat. Sarah only had a small bowl of porridge, and Zack didn't eat much either. As the meal seemed destined to be wasted, Aiden picked up his cutlery and, like a whirlwind, devoured everything on the table. Sarah was livid. Just then, a friend called, and Sarah, dressed nicely, left with her poodle to play poker. She showed no concern for her daughter's upcoming negotiation with the Fallon family. Zack pulled Aiden aside, speaking earnestly, "I'm entrusting Amelia to you tonight. You must protect her." "She's my only daughter, my entire hope. I'm begging you." As Zack spoke, he was about to bow to Aiden. Aiden stopped him. "Mr. Larson, please don't do this." "Rest assured, no one will harm your daughter." "I'll add one more thing. Your twenty-year marriage is nearing its end. In about a month, you'll meet your soulmate." Zack was taken aback. "Josiah at Greenwood Temple once told my fortune, saying Sarah wasn't my soulmate. Our relationship would end after twenty years." "Aiden's fortune-telling matched Josiah's, even predicting when my soulmate would appear. Could he be even better at fortune-telling than Josiah?" Zack was filled with astonishment, muttering to himself. Before he could ask further, Aiden and Amelia had already left for the Fallon family negotiations.

Chapter 8: Bearing The Dragon Mark

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