Night Monarch's Cannon Fodder Bride-Chapter 27: The Price of Rejection

Knowing that a big shot was coming, the owner of The Xing had personally arrived to welcome them.

Derik Xing was only twenty-seven years old, but the pressure of harsh business realities had forced him to grow up faster than most.

Thus, when he saw a young girl being led in by Assistant Samuel, he showed no trace of disdain or disrespect.

Among the upper echelon, it wasn’t uncommon for children of influential families to manage small companies as part of their training. Any profit or loss from such ventures was negligible to them.

The thought that his father’s lifelong treasure was merely a plaything for the rich forced a bitter smile onto his face.

Samuel stood beside Severine as he introduced them to each other while subtly giving Derik a once-over.

Hmm. Just as rumours say. Lovely like honey and sunlight. The assistant thought with pity. That pretty face must have caused too much trouble for Derik.

Unaware of the glance filled with pity, Derik greeted with a polite smile. "Assistant Samuel. Miss Vale."

Severine accepted the handshake and went straight to the matter they needed to discuss.

As they toured the company, she was impressed by its strict internal management. Everything was orderly, efficient, and too clean for a company on the verge of collapse.

Sure enough, the signs of deliberate sabotage were everywhere.

"The products should have been well received," she said, her gaze fixed on the tall man.

Derik gave a wry smile. "That’s my fault, honestly. I offended someone I shouldn’t have."

It had made selling the company difficult, let alone the products themselves.

"Who?" Severine asked.

The question wasn’t out of place. As a potential buyer, she had the right to assess all possible risks. After all, she might not want to offend the same person.

Thinking this, Derik wiped the smile from his face. His expression turned serious.

"Someone from the D’Arden family. Not easy to deal with."

Severine paused for a second. Her eyes narrowed as she asked, "Who?"

"Roselle D’Arden. The eldest son of Marcus D’Arden."

Marcus was Emmett’s father. And Roselle was his elder brother.

If she remembered correctly, Roselle was also a minor villain in the story. One who fully deserved the title.

From sexual harassment scandals to embezzlement, he had committed them all.

Perhaps fearful that young Emmett might one day compete for leadership, Roselle had tightened his grip on everyone around him. Ironically, it only accelerated his downfall.

Roselle wasn’t a kind man, nor a capable leader.

In the end, the entire D’Arden empire fell into Emmett’s hands.

Not by luck, but because he had been pulling strings from the shadows all along.

To think I will hear about such a prominent figure so soon...

"What did you do?" Severine leaned forward slightly. "Or rather... what did you refuse?"

Staring into her serene gray gaze, Derik felt embarrassment wash over him.

"I—I... um..." His cheeks flushed as he stammered, "I rejected his pursuit."

Even Samuel—accustomed to maintaining a professional expression—felt his lips twitch.

As the one responsible for the background check, he already knew. He simply hadn’t found the chance to report it yet.

Both he and Severine looked at Derik again, arriving at the same conclusion.

Roselle is blinded by beauty.

Derik’s tall frame leaned toward the slender side, and the gentle curves of his features gave him a soft, approachable air.

Severine—who usually kept people at arm’s length—had found herself at ease enough to pry into his private affairs.

"Ah... I apologize for asking," she said, regaining her composure.

Derik laughed softly. "It’s alright. It’s not a secret anymore."

"What are your plans now?"

In the original timeline, Damien would buy The Xing for Liam four years later.

By then, Derik was nowhere in the plot.

"I’ll leave this place and settle elsewhere," Derik replied. "My father will stay behind for now."

He didn’t specify where, which was understandable. No one would disclose such details with an obsessive predator lurking nearby.

He also had no real hope of selling the company. That was why his father had to stay there.

"I see."

Buying The Xing would invite hostility from Roselle and, by extension, House D’Arden.

With her position in Vale Enterprise still unstable, Severine couldn’t afford such a confrontation. Worse still, if her mother discovered it, another storm would follow.

Her temples throbbed as countless thoughts swirled through her mind.

"It’s alright," Derik sighed softly, "I understand."

It wasn’t the first rejection he’d faced. Her silence had already given him the answer.

"If there’s anything you want from here, feel free to say so. I’ll have it packed."

It was a courteous farewell.

Severine met his eyes again. They were soft, calm, entirely free of resentment.

His patience and self-restraint were evident in how he handled everything.

"May I speak with your father?" she asked all of a sudden.

Derik blinked. "My father?"

"Yes. I’d like to discuss a few matters with him before the acquisition of The Xing. And I’d prefer that you continue as general manager."

The sheer amount of information in that sentence froze Derik in place.

His lips parted in disbelief, and the sight faintly amused Severine.

A subtle smile flickered in her eyes as she motioned for Samuel to hand over the documents.

A dazzling smile appeared on Derik’s face as he took the papers with trembling hands.

—

[The junk factory Damien Rhodes acquired at a rock-bottom price has generated hundreds of millions in profit. The young heir has demonstrated exceptional ability, leaving his peers far behind.]

Such headlines had flooded every screen when Damien made his move, securing his foothold in the business world.

Let’s see how you’ll obtain The Xing and Liam Tollkien now, Young Master Damien.

Just like that, Severine quietly snatched away two of Damien’s lucky pots while he was still confined to a hospital bed.

Samuel arranged the meeting with Mr. Xing before finalising a few more details with Derik.

Satisfied with the outcome of her visit, Severine left. She was unaware that the moment she departed, another familiar figure with wine-red eyes stepped into the same factory.