Secret Scion

"Do you have a boyfriend, Layla?" Asher asked nonchalantly.

Layla gave Asher a look and chastised him, "Whether I have a boyfriend or not has nothing to do with you. Are you that much of a perv that you won't even show your own cousin some mercy?"

Asher hurriedly denied it with a wave of his hand. "I'm just saying. You're not young anymore. Are you going to end up in spinsterhood?"

Layla was about to explode from anger. Her refined features were marred by rage as her breaths grew rapid and her eyes spat fire.

"It has nothing to do with you even if I don't marry. How difficult can it be to find a man with conditions like mine?"

"It can be quite difficult to do so but that doesn't mean you won't get your chance. This is just a kind reminder. There's nothing more to it. "Asher could not help but burst into laughter. It had always been Layla who spat feathers at him. He felt satisfied that he got a few words in. "Asher...! You must be tired of living!" Layla was enraged. Her chest rose and fell, which was particularly eye-catching.

Asher caught a peek of it but wisely chose to stay silent.

After a long time, Layla's emotions gradually stabilized and she regained her senses. What's wrong with me today? I've always been the one taking advantage of the situation and yet how could I be the one being so angered by Asher?

"How could a grown-up man like you be such a glib talker?" Layla said with a huff.

"Thank you for your praise. It's an improvement from when you called me a useless bum two years ago," Asher said indifferently.

"It seems like you've grown more shameless in two years."

"It's pretty good." Asher finally deigned to ask when Layla revved up the car. "Where are we going?"

"You're going to see Hunter Larson, aren't you?"

He was stunned in place by her words. How did Layla find out?

Layla was finally able to salvage bits of her dignity when she saw Asher's puzzled expression. "I've not been around in Rollinsford for long but I still have some grasp of the situation here. Among the four major households, Garrett has managed to reel the Leonards and Hoffmans to his side. The Sullivans continue to remain neutral, and you are left with the Yaegers. The Yaegers are a powerful bunch but they aren't enough to go against the Leonards and the Hoffmans on their own. Garrett has also been going around recruiting second and third-rate households for his campaign. Things aren't looking good for you. If you can't even deal with Garrett, I don't see you returning to the Capital City after you get disgraced."

Asher, of course, knew Garrett would not be staying idle, coercing and enticing the lower ranked households to his side. In just ten days, Garrett had assembled almost half of Rollinsford's forces.

Most of the households, however, were not sincere in their cooperation with Garrett. To put it bluntly, it was just to make up the number. They might not be of any help when the true battle began.

"He's no match for me," Asher said indifferently.

Layla bristled. "You shouldn't toot your own horn. Garrett is no longer the same man he was two years ago. Do you think Garrett is a bum despite Xavier Schmidt grooming him to be the next head of his household?"

Asher smiled wryly. "Let's make a bet since you don't believe me."

"What are we betting?" Layla gave Asher a look.

"If I lose, I'll agree to any one condition you give me. And if I win, you'll help me with something." "What thing?"

Asher shook his head. "I haven't thought about it."

"Alright. Let's do this." Layla seemed to have thought of something at that moment. "Oh yeah, let me tell you some bad news. Phoebe Webb has also come to Rollinsford. You know what her temper is like. If you don't give her a satisfactory explanation, she's not going to let you or your wife, Noelle Steward, go."

Even Asher had to frown at that.

Hunter Larson was already waiting by the door as Layla pulled up in front of the clubhouse. When he noticed Asher getting out of the car, Hunter hurried to greet him and called out respectfully, "Mr. Crawford."

Asher walked straight into the clubhouse. "Let's get down to business. What time does the election start?"

"Six in the evening at the Grand Skyscraper Hotel. Everyone who holds prestige within the circle will be there, including Master Ford himself," Hunter was quick to answer.

"You'll participate in the election as usual tonight. I'll take care of the rest." Asher then looked back at Layla. "Do you have anything to eat? We haven't had a meal yet."

"There is. The dining area is on the third floor. This way please, Mr. Crawford." Hunter felt much more at ease. Everything should fall into place now that Asher had spoken.

Layla muttered, disgruntled, "Is this what you mean by doing your duty as a host?"

"It's still food no matter where you go. And, you don't have to spend a dime here. Just eat," Asher said, grinning from ear to ear.

Layla rolled her eyes. Never had she met such a miserly man.

When Asher checked for the time after the meal, the clock had just struck one.

After leaving the clubhouse, Layla could not help but chime in, "Did you actually come out here just for a meal?"

"Pretty much. There's no reason to ignore a free meal when I'm helping him out." Asher lit a cigarette. "Everything I've had to say has already been said. You should be on your way as well. I'll contact you again when this is all over."

"It's not going to be that easy to get rid of me. Aren't you trying to help Hunter Larson get the leader's position? I want to see just how you're going to help him," Layla said in full confidence. "Are you sure?"

Seeing Layla firmly nodding, Asher had no choice but to say, "Then don't regret it."

Ford Cook was one of the individuals from the earliest group of people who came out to make a go at it during an era where the legal system was far from sound with the law and order being relatively chaotic. It was a time when anyone who had a modicum of intelligence and fists hard enough would live a good life.

Ford was one of the best who had walked up step by agonizing step to become ruler to the underground world. He was only in his early thirties when it happened.

But as he grew older, he soon lost his courage. There had been times where he did not appear before anyone but would stay behind the scenes.

Now that Ford had a grandson, he no longer wanted to get involved in the past, and thus decided to retire.

People who ventured here had offended many in their lifetime. There were no guarantees that their enemies would not turn up at their doorstep. Ford planned to pledge his support to Hunter to take over as the leader after taking everything into account. After all, Hunter was someone he had groomed. Only when Hunter had taken his place as the head honcho could Ford ensure he would stay safe and sound for the rest of his life.

Hunter, however, was not the only candidate for the position. He had a formidable enemy- Winston Ziegler.

Winston's boss was a man named Mateo Hildebrand. Mateo and Ford were good friends from the early days. He was known to all as Master Mateo and was likewise an infamous figure in Rollinsford's underground world.

In addition to this relationship, very few people know that Winston was the god-grandson of Hallberg Leonard, the head of the Leonards.

That was why Ford could not guarantee Hunter's ascension as head honcho.

Asher made no contact with any of the major households in Rollinsford in the recent days and instead used his time to look into the relationship between the people involved. He concluded that although Hallberg was Winston's god-grandfather, he was not likely to interfere. The biggest problem at present was Mateo.

Hunter was guaranteed to take his place as head if Mateo were to stop supporting Winston. "Where are we going now?" Layla gave Asher a look when they got into the car. He looked calm, as if everything was under his control.

A man with a pretty face was not to be feared. What was to be feared was a man who was not only handsome but full of confidence.

For a moment, Layla truly felt that Asher had changed a lot. Two years ago, he was arrogant and domineering, with ignorance written all over his face. Now, he seemed to have smoothened out the edges two years later.

Seeing that Asher did not speak, Layla could not help but bristled, "It's unnecessary for you to

act cool in front of me. I'm asking you where you're going, Mr. Crawford!"

Layla was really a little depressed. How did she end up becoming Asher's chauffeur?

"Fortune Springs Retreat."

Layla asked casually, "Why are you going there?"

"It's a place where the rich live."

According to Asher's investigation, Mateo's wife had passed on early, leaving no descendants behind. He had countless women by his side but the relationships were short-lived. Only this woman had managed to stay by his side for nearly three years.

The woman was called Callista Lane. She was young and beautiful. Mateo greatly adored the woman and even bought her a villa in Fortune Springs. Callista was Mateo's greatest weakness.

In a luxurious villa in Fortune Springs Retreat.

"Congratulations, Winston. You'll soon be head of Rollinsford. Master Mateo and I will be in your care in the future." The one who spoke was a young, beautiful and well-proportioned woman. She was Callista Lane.

Callista was only wearing a nightgown as thin as a cicada's wings, showing her exquisite figure to the fullest.

"What you're saying isn't quite right. I wouldn't be standing here today if not for Master Mateo. Mateo is like a parent that I'd lost. It's only natural that I honor him." Winston was around thirty years of age. He had tanned skin and hair that was slightly long. He looked rather eye-catching.

Callista rolled her eyes at Winston in anger. "If he's your father, does that not mean I'm your mother? I'm only 28. I don't have a son as old as you." Saying that, she leaned lazily on the sofa with her right leg drooping over her left. No one knew whether it was intentional as her nightgown slipped down...