A Warm Marriage After Rebirth

"You need money earned through legitimate channels. I can get you the biggest profits in the shortest amount of time, using the simplest methods! In return, as the Young Master of the Underground, you must guarantee that no shady characters or riff-raff will come looking for trouble with me or get in my way!"

"So, you need the Winters Family as your shield, while you lead the way? You want the Winters Family to be your bodyguards? You’ve got some nerve!" Ronan Winters poured himself a cup of chrysanthemum tea as well, sipping it slowly, his long eyelashes masking his expression.

"What I can give you is more than enough to cover the protection fee!" Seraphina Sterling replied calmly, not the least bit discouraged by Ronan Winters’s taunt. "I am confident that, other than me, no one can deliver on those three points. You can think it over carefully."

Seraphina Sterling left the decision to Ronan Winters, exerting no pressure whatsoever.

This take-it-or-leave-it attitude only intensified the initial flicker of interest Ronan Winters felt. He watched Seraphina Sterling leisurely sip her tea as wisps of white steam curled slowly upward. Her composed demeanor earned his further admiration.

"Tell me your plan. You’re just a high school student who hasn’t even graduated. Even if you are Terrence Grant’s student, that has little to do with business! I’m very curious how exactly you plan to get me the biggest profits in the shortest amount of time, using the simplest method!"

Ronan Winters was finally caving. Seraphina was elated. ’I’ve piqued his interest and convinced him to hear me out. That’s half the battle won!’

"The method is actually very simple. Two words: stock trading! You provide the capital, and I’ll manage it for you. The profits are all yours! Any losses are on me!"

Ronan Winters narrowed his eyes. "Stock trading... It’s true that’s a quick way to make money. I’ve tried it many times myself, but I always lost more than I gained. Do you think you’re some kind of stock market guru who can guarantee a profit every time? Aren’t you oversimplifying things?"

Ronan Winters sounded somewhat discouraged. "While stocks can make money fast, it’s also a high-risk business. One wrong move and you could lose everything, be completely wiped out! People jump off buildings every day because they failed at the stock market! This is a field that requires a great deal of skill!"

Seraphina Sterling had anticipated his hesitation. "Don’t worry about that," she said. "Didn’t I already tell you? Profits are yours, losses are mine."

Despite her assurances, Ronan Winters was still wavering.

Seraphina Sterling continued, "Or is it that the great Young Master of the Underground is too scared to set foot in this industry again because of a few past failures? Mr. Winters, can you no longer afford to play, or have you just lost your nerve?"

Seraphina Sterling’s slender eyebrows arched slightly, her bright eyes glinting with provocation. A hint of disdain laced her soft voice, and every word grated on Ronan Winters’s nerves.

He knew perfectly well that Seraphina Sterling was using a goading tactic, that she was deliberately provoking him, but Ronan Winters couldn’t stop himself from agreeing!

"Then it’s a deal. I’ll be waiting to see your results, Miss Sterling! I just hope you’re not the one jumping off a building in the end!"

A bright smile graced Seraphina Sterling’s lips. "You shouldn’t worry about that. Something like that will absolutely never happen to me! Just wait for the money to roll in! Of course, I hope I won’t be having any more thugs coming after me. I’ll have to trouble you with that! If you can’t keep your subordinates in line, don’t blame me for docking your profits!"

’This was the plan I came up with from the start. I can’t be here, toiling away to make money for Ronan Winters, only to get cornered one day and threatened the next! What would be the point of this deal then?!’