Chapter 5 The Salvatore Manor

After bidding farewell to Lorenzo's family, Yulian sat in Selena's car, gazing at the rows of willow trees outside the window, feeling a mixture of emotions in his heart. Tiger had left, his departure so winding, so mundane, even bordering on bleakness. Even the once valiant heroes were in such a state, let alone the fate of over a hundred brothers from Astral Clan, which remained uncertain! Yulian took a deep breath. He clenched his fists tightly, his rugged face showing seriousness and determination. I swear I will definitely uncover the traitor in the battle by the border and make sure he pays the price! “Yulian.” Just then, a pleasant female voice interrupted Yulian's thoughts. He instinctively turned his head and realized Selena had been silently watching him all along. She seemed to gracefully extend her hand, but her beautiful eyes flickered with a hint of nervousness and constraint. “You're Yulian Lazzari, right? I'm Selena Salvatore, your...” “Fiancée, I know.” Yulian smiled calmly, causing the beauty to hurriedly turn her head. A fleeting blush appeared on her cheeks, captivating yet fleeting. Yulian felt somewhat helpless about this marriage. The day he left the clan, the old man who was revered as the legendary don directly slapped a marriage contract in front of him, saying, “You little rascal, I've arranged a marriage for you. This is the granddaughter of my old comrade. She's not only beautiful and wealthy but also has good fortune that others can only dream of. You can just hide under your blanket and enjoy yourself. Haha!” Naturally, Yulian vehemently opposed the old man's reckless matchmaking. He had yet to avenge the Astral Clan, and he was constantly in potential danger. How could he possibly involve an innocent girl in this? Even though Yulian was stubborn, and the old man was even more so. With a fierce glare and a slap on the table, he roared, “Your exit agreement is right here in my hands. If you agree, get lost and leave. If you don't, don't even think about leaving for the rest of your life!” Left with no other choice, Yulian reluctantly agreed for the time being. Initially, he had thought that this so-called marriage was just the old man's whimsical idea. However, he never expected that his fiancée would turn out to be someone extraordinary. She was the heiress to Salvatore Group, a conglomerate worth nearly hundreds of billion, and the granddaughter of Winston, the wealthiest man in Hofcaster. With the identity of the Salvatore family's son-in-law, Yulian practically had control over Hofcaster. Even the big shots in Yarwood would hesitate to make any moves against him. It was evident how much the old man cared for him. In his heart, Yulian felt gratitude toward the domineering and overbearing old man. At the same time, he carefully assessed the woman standing before him, his fiancée, whose exquisite figure was so perfect that even angels would be envious. Beautiful women were always pleasing to the eye. That reduced most of the negative emotions in Yulian's heart. “Thank you,” Yulian said sincerely. “Thank you for helping me out in Evergreen Village, driving away those people from Invictus Realty, and allowing me to safely send off my buddy.” “Oh, it's nothing,” Selena said in surprise, then quickly waved her hand. “Besides, with your strength, you didn't even need my help.” “The brotherly affection between you moved me deeply,” Selena continued. “Grandpa told me that you used to be a mobster, and he was your comrade?” Selena blinked. She was curious about the mysterious man in front of her. “Yes, we spent five years together in battle.” Yulian recalled the various past events in Astral Clan, feeling quite emotional. “I have many comrades just like him.” “I envy you. Although I have thousands of employees under me and seem to have great power, I don't have anyone I can trust. Nobody can guarantee that a partner who was friendly to you one moment won't stab you in the back the next.” Selena let out a deep sigh, a touch of self-mockery and loneliness rising on her beautiful face. It was a sight that would evoke pity. “The business world is heartless.” Yulian felt a stirring in his heart. He quickly grasped the soft, yet icy hand of the beautiful woman, his voice steady and deep. “From today onward, you won't be this tired anymore. You have me.” Selena's heart skipped a beat as she gazed at the resolute and radiant smile of the man before her. It seemed as if the gloom in her heart was gradually dissipating. Her hand also began to warm up, thanks to the unique masculine aura of the man. “T-Thank you.” “You're welcome. It's nothing much.” Yulian laughed heartily. Having joined the mafia for many years, he subconsciously reached out to pat the woman's shoulder in encouragement, but perhaps his strength was too light, or Selena's skin was too smooth. His hand slipped directly—onto her chest. The incredibly soft and firm sensation lingered in his palm, leaving both of them stunned. “Ah!” This was followed by a piercing scream that startled the birds into flight. “Uh, I didn't mean to do that. It was a mistake.” Yulian's face was filled with embarrassment as he kept apologizing. Even though she was his fiancée, he felt extremely guilty for making such a move the first time they met. “Shameless, rogue, scoundrel!” Selena's face was flushed red as she spat out these words through gritted teeth. “Stop the car, stop the car!” As the car was about to reach the building, Selena hastily called for it to stop. Her beautiful eyes, cold as ice, glared at Yulian. Then, with an air of indignation, she hurriedly stormed off in her high heels, her departure marked by the slamming of the door in a flurry of embarrassed anger. The perfect image she had carefully maintained earlier was instantly shattered. “D*mn, I've really messed up this time.” Yulian touched his nose, feeling somewhat frustrated. At this moment, the driver, a square-faced bodyguard, burst into laughter. “I say, that was hasty of you. Ms. Salvatore will be yours sooner or later. Why rush it? Moreover, Ms. Salvatore has never had a boyfriend before, let alone suddenly having an unmarried fiancé. You have to give her time to adapt and take it step by step. Rome wasn't built in a day.” Yulian was taken aback. “She's never had a boyfriend?” This was unexpected. Although Selena seemed cold and intimidating, wealthy and powerful, it was unlikely she hadn't attracted any suitors. The line of young scions pursuing her should have stretched all the way to Yarwood. “There have been many suitors, but none of them caught Ms. Salvatore's eye,” the bodyguard said proudly, then looked at Yulian curiously. “But you're different, buddy. You were appointed by Old Mr. Salvatore himself, and I can see that Ms. Salvatore treats you differently from those gentlemen. You have a great chance.” Yulian smiled and took out a cigarette from his pocket, handing it over. “Thanks for your kind words, buddy. What's your name?” The bodyguard, flattered, accepted the cigarette and quickly said, “You can just call me David, Mr. Yulian.” “David, there's no need to be so formal. Just call me Yulian. We're equals,” Yulian said. “Yulian, you're a straightforward guy. Actually, Ms. Salvatore may seem cold and distant, but she's really kind-hearted inside. She treats us employees well. Don't worry, she won't be mad at you for this small matter. She's just a bit spoiled.” David and Yulian got along. Along the way, David chatted with Yulian about Selena, revealing many unknown adorable aspects of her. In the process, Yulian also gained a general understanding of the big shots, local customs, and powerful companies that had emerged in Hofcaster over the past few years. This knowledge proved to be greatly beneficial to Yulian. After a two-hour journey, the car came to a halt at a grand and imposing modern manor. From a distance, the scene was one of sheer opulence, rivaling that of foreign palaces. David introduced, “Yulian, this is the Salvatore manor. You can rest here for a while. Ms. Salvatore will be back as soon as he's done with company matters.” Yulian nodded. Just as he walked through the gates of the manor, a woman in her fifties with a kind face approached, looking at Yulian with joy and satisfaction. “Oh, you must be Mr. Yulian. I'm Ms. Salvatore's housekeeper, Wendy. I've been eagerly waiting for you to arrive. You truly are a talent, handsome and talented.” David smiled. “Wendy may be a servant of the Salvatore family, but she practically raised Ms. Salvatore. She and Ms. Salvatore have a mother-daughter relationship. Wendy, please show Yulian around. I have work to attend to and won't be able to accompany you.” “Sure, David. Since you're busy, we'll catch up for a drink sometime.” Yulian grinned and then turned to Wendy, “Wendy, nice to meet you. Thank you for your help.” “It's no trouble at all. I'm glad someone is here to keep Ms. Salvatore company. Mr. Yulian, it's still early in the day. Would you like me to show you around?” Yulian figured that since he had nothing else to do, it wouldn't hurt to take a casual stroll and familiarize himself with the surroundings. Thus, he agreed. This tour turned out to be quite stunning for Yulian. The Salvatore family estate was massive, covering nearly ten thousand square meters. It predominantly featured a vintage architectural style, exuding a sense of profound heritage. The buildings, plants, and decorations were all meticulously crafted and carefully laid out, including some antique treasures worth millions. The style of the garden architecture hinted at the grand ambitions of its owner to dominate the world. Such a garden could no longer be measured merely in terms of money. It was more akin to a work of art, a priceless treasure that embodied the wisdom and painstaking efforts of people from hundreds of years ago. Having traveled far and wide for years, Yulian had seen many grand estates and gardens, but most were merely façades, seemingly magnificent and luxurious but lacking in depth. The style of the Salvatore family estate, with its grandeur and depth, was rare to come by. Yulian couldn't help but feel curious. This grand and majestic estate didn't seem like Selena's home. Although she had a strong presence, she couldn't possibly have such profound heritage and grace at her age. “Wendy, do only you and Selena live in such a big estate? What about Selena's other relatives?” At this, Wendy sighed and said, “Mr. Yulian, to be honest, this place used to be the ancestral home of the Salvatore family. Every plant and every tree here was personally designed by Old Mr. Salvatore.” Old Mr. Salvatore? The richest man in Hofcaster, Winston Salvatore! Yulian's eyes lit up. Feeling the majestic and commanding aura emanating from every corner of the garden, he nodded in admiration inwardly. No wonder it had such grandeur. But then again, anyone who could be on familiar terms with that old man in the gang couldn't be an ordinary person. His title as the leading figure of Hofcaster's business world was well-deserved.