Chapter 4: Tori Lynch: I Won't Marry!

Words : 2358 Updated : Oct 23rd, 2025

Hearing Diego Santee's bold vow, Nathan Santee seemed to shed years, letting out a hearty laugh. "Good. You're truly my grandson. As long as you've got that fire in you, these old bones will back you all the way." "Win or lose, you're the pride of the Santee family." Nathan spoke with solemn conviction-even though, deep down, he doubted Diego could actually pull it off. Back in the day, the Santee family might have had that kind of standing across Ninos. Now, it was just a pipe dream. As grandfather and grandson talked, spirits high and full of hope for the future, a flicker of sadness crossed Persephone Shadboult's eyes. She couldn't even tell if bringing Diego home was the right move. She'd never met Diego before today-only heard bits and pieces of his story. Seeing him in person, her worry deepened. Once, the Santee family could have sheltered him; now, the family had fallen. What could their lost heir possibly do? "Grandpa, your health isn't great. Please sit down." While Persephone fretted, Diego helped Nathan onto the sofa and gently checked his pulse. "I picked up some medical skills in prison. Let me take a look at you." Nathan's expression softened. "I'm old and don't have much time left. If I can hand the company to you myself, I'll be at peace. In this family, we don't fear life or death." He said it calmly, almost with a sense of pride. Diego's nose tingled; he was on the verge of tears. "Don't talk like that. You haven't seen me married or holding your great-grandchild yet. You can't die yet." "As long as I'm here, you'll live to a hundred." He focused on Nathan's pulse. Within seconds, his face changed-his grandfather's condition was dire. Years of relentless work and bottled-up grief had left his body in shambles. A chill swept through Diego. If he'd come back a few days later, he might really have missed his last chance. Thankfully, there was still time. Diego steadied himself. "Grandpa, don't go out for the next few days. Get some proper rest. Leave the group's business to my sister-in-law, and I'll help too." "I'll go buy some medicine soon. Take it on time, and you'll get better fast." Nathan chuckled, about to reply. Beep, beep, beep! Persephone's phone chimed. She glanced at the screen. A message from her secretary. "Manager, the unpaid-wages issue is being whipped up by bad actors. Hundreds of frontline employees are protesting in the streets for their pay. The group's stock price is plunging. Our partners are firing off angry messages, demanding answers." "Now staff at headquarters are panicking. What should we do?" Three years ago, when the Santee family's scandal broke, Persephone had cut ties with her clan and joined Junos Group as general manager. In recent years, she'd worked herself to the bone, securing deal after deal and keeping things afloat. But the news of Nathan's illness had spread too fast. Whatever trust they had left collapsed. The frontline workers grew anxious and began demanding their pay. Cash flow dried up. Persephone had even gone back to the Shadboult family twice to borrow money, but it still didn't cover the shortfall. Now that the wage protest was out in the open, it would be even harder to contain. "Grandpa, there's a problem." Persephone turned to Nathan. "People are fanning the flames over unpaid wages. The stock price is tanking. Our partners are getting skittish." "We need solutions. Fast." Nathan nodded right away. "As long as we have funds, this can be fixed." He made a snap decision. "How much is left in our accounts? Keep enough to keep the lights on, and use the rest to pay the workers." Persephone shook her head helplessly. "There's less than a million dollars left. Even if we use all of it, we can't make payroll." Nathan fell silent. Junos Group was the Santee family's lifeblood for generations. Was it going to fall apart in his hands? How could he face his ancestors? Persephone sighed, as if steeling herself. "What if I go back to my family again?" "No. You've already borrowed plenty from your family for the Santees." Nathan shook his head. "We can't always ask you to find a way. The Santee family owes you too much already." Persephone gave a wry little smile. If she didn't find a way, who would? Just let Junos Group collapse? "I have an idea." While the two of them worried, Diego spoke up. "How much are we short? Would ten million dollars do it?" They both stared at him. It sounded way too easy. Ten million doesn't grow on trees. Persephone shook her head inwardly. Diego might be good in a fight, but running a business isn't about who has the bigger fists. She'd never expected him to bring any financial hope. "Diego, ten million is a lot. You-" Nathan caught himself. He wanted to know where the money would come from, but he didn't want to crush Diego's confidence. "I can't come up with it myself," Diego said with a grin. "But there's always the Lynch family. They're one of Easton's Eight Great Families, and they've got deep pockets." "Ten million from them shouldn't be a problem, right?" Before his third mentor went to prison, the man had been a heavyweight in finance and had already transferred his assets to Diego. Diego had only just gotten out and hadn't had time to take control of it. Ten million was pocket change in that world, but borrowing from the Lynch family would be faster. Tori Lynch was their heiress and Diego's fiancée; they'd grown up together. Diego had taken the fall for her younger brother, Marcelo Lynch, and served five years in prison. By any measure, the Lynch family owed him that much. "Ever since you went to prison, the Lynch family has ignored the Santees for five years. You think they'll lend you money?" Persephone's brows knit. She didn't want to dash his hopes, but his plan seemed far-fetched. Even at the funeral for Malcolm Santee and the two others, not a single Lynch showed up. As for the fiancée, her romantic escapades were countless; she'd already become a well-known socialite in Easton. Hoping to borrow money now was wishful thinking. "Sister-in-law, you don't know." Diego's tone softened with nostalgia. "Tori and I were childhood sweethearts. She used to sneak out to play with me and got scolded plenty for it." "Even though ten million is a lot, I believe in what we have. She'll help me." Persephone didn't bother arguing. "Times have changed. Five years ago you were the Santee heir, standing tall, with plenty of people trying to get close to you." "What about now?" The question landed with a thud. Diego paused, then answered coolly, "Whether it works or not, I have to try." He asked Nathan where the marriage contract was and then left. "Hopeless," Persephone muttered, shaking her head. After just a few exchanges, she had Diego pegged: simple, all muscle. "Persephone, the road ahead will be hard for that boy," Nathan sighed. "I know you don't think much of him. If Diego really isn't up to it, when I'm gone, whatever's left of Junos Group, leave him a portion so he can live out his days without worry." "As for the rest, use it as you see fit." "Grandpa, I can't accept that." Persephone's face tightened. "That's not why I married into the Santee family." She hurried to explain, afraid of being misunderstood. Her marriage to Malcolm Santee had been arranged by their families. She'd barely met the legendary War God a few times, let alone developed any feelings. She stayed to help Nathan because, at the funeral, surrounded by guests, the old man didn't shed a single tear-his eyes were filled with nothing but pride. "In this family, we don't fear life or death." That was the only thing Nathan said during the entire service. When the guests left, he clutched the three memorial tablets and broke down in tears. That scene moved Persephone deeply. Besides, the Santee family had done a lot for the Shadboults. So she chose to step up and support a fallen house. "I know you don't care about material things," Nathan murmured. "It's just that I feel I've let you down. These are all the Santee family can offer as compensation." Persephone's eyes flashed; she made up her mind. "Grandpa, don't think like that. The Santee family won't collapse on my watch. I promise." … "Madam, a young man named Diego Santee is here to see Miss Tori." At the Lynch family villa, the steward Harvey addressed the silver-haired matriarch in the soaring central hall. At his words, the Lynch relatives turned to look at a girl in a blue dress, poised and elegant. "Diego Santee?" Tori Lynch's brows furrowed. There was no delight, no longing-only the barest trace of disgust. "Grandma, don't let him in." Tori's voice rose in urgent protest, as if even being near Diego might stain her. "The family's been working toward the Laver Project, and lately, things have been going well with Tian. I don't want anything to do with Diego." "With Tian's help, we have a real shot at the project. If I get mixed up with Diego now, what will Tian think of me?" The matriarch seemed to consider, prayer beads turning slowly in her hand. After a moment, she spoke. "Since he's here, let him in."

Chapter 4: Tori Lynch: I Won't Marry!

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