Chapter 7: A Public Proposal?
On the night of the banquet, the Adams Estate hall was brilliantly lit.
Crystal chandelier light poured down on hundreds of Harbor City's top elite.
In the hall, business tycoons, politicians, and heirs from prominent families mingled with their wine glasses.
Caesar stood at the edge of the banquet in a well-tailored black suit, holding a glass of champagne.
He took in everyone's behavior—this was an instinct honed over ten years.
In the left corner, three middle-aged businessmen quietly discussed dock shipping prices.
By the right balcony, two politicians exchanged business cards, one man's hand casually brushing against the other's pocket.
That was a signal—there would be a private deal later.
At the main table straight ahead, the mayor and an energy company CEO were shaking hands for photos, the flash going off three times.
Everyone's identity and relationships formed a clear intelligence network in Caesar's mind.
He even noticed four plainclothes security guards in the second-floor corridor, the bulges at their waists revealing their gun positions.
Ten years had passed, and now looking at these so-called elites again, he found them childish and ridiculous.
"Caesar, why are you standing here all alone?"
Rebecca walked over with a wine glass, her face wearing an enthusiastic smile.
She wore a deep purple evening gown tonight, looking ten years younger than her actual age.
"Mom." Caesar nodded slightly, using a polite form of address.
Rebecca's smile grew even brighter.
After spending these past few days together, she had completely accepted Caesar as family.
A Caesar who could take down a dozen elite guards with his bare hands and miraculously wake her daughter—he was clearly a gift from God.
"Come, let me introduce you to some of Harbor City's senior figures." Rebecca reached out to take his arm. "Mr. Black over there is in import-export trade, he's had years of cooperation with your father... with Job, and there's Mr. White..."
"Mom." Caesar didn't move, just gently interrupted her.
Rebecca paused, following his gaze toward Job's direction.
Job was chatting and laughing with several guests, but when Rebecca looked over, he happened to turn his head.
Their eyes met in midair. Job's gaze darkened slightly, and he shook his head almost imperceptibly.
The meaning was clear: Don't bring him over.
Rebecca's smile froze for a moment.
"Today's main character should be Sia," Caesar said flatly. "I shouldn't steal the spotlight."
Rebecca opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but finally just sighed.
After a long moment, she patted the back of his hand. "Then don't stand too long. If you get tired, go rest in the lounge."
With that, she turned and walked back to Job's side.
Caesar watched her retreating figure, his gaze calm.
He didn't blame Rebecca.
This woman's kindness was real, and so was her weakness.
When faced with Job and family interests, she would always choose the latter.
Hadn't his parents been the same way?
Thinking of his parents, a trace of coldness flashed through Caesar's eyes.
He raised his champagne glass and took a sip.
Good wine—Lafite Rothschild 1982 reserve, market price fifty thousand dollars a bottle.
The Adams family certainly knew how to put on a show.
But compared to what he'd drunk at The Holy Fleet's victory banquet, it still fell a bit short.
As the banquet reached its midpoint, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.
Job stood in the center of the hall, surrounded by Harbor City's most important figures.
He chatted and laughed freely, constantly raising his glass to toast with others, playing the perfect host.
From beginning to end, he didn't glance at Caesar once.
He had even deliberately postponed the part where he would introduce Caesar.
The guests present were all smart people—they quickly sensed something was off.
"Is that the Adams family's new member?" a woman in a red evening gown whispered to her companion.
"Shh, keep it down. I heard he's a castoff from the Julius family, banished overseas for ten years, then forced to come back and take on this burden."
"A castoff? So basically a waste?"
"Exactly. The Adams family originally wanted him to trade his life for Ms. Sia Adams, but who knew Ms. Adams would wake up on her own? Now it's awkward. He married a woman in a vegetative state, but then she woke up, and they can't just kick him out."
"Tsk tsk, a low-status son-in-law. How pitiful."
Whispered conversations rose and fell like buzzing mosquitoes.
"Well, well, if it isn't Caesar?"
A flippant voice came from behind.
Caesar slowly turned around to see a slick-looking young man surrounded by seven or eight rich kids walking over.
The young man wore a custom white suit with a rose-gold pocket square, a playful smile on his lips.
Someone recognized him and whispered in surprise: "The Locke family's youngest son is here too?"
The Locke family was Harbor City's wealthiest, and though not one of the nine great families, their business empire commanded respect from any prominent household.
This young man was Mr. Locke's most beloved youngest son—Alvin Locke.
Alvin walked up to Caesar and looked him up and down. "So you're the Julius castoff who joined the Adams family?"
"You do look the part, I'll give you that. No wonder Ms. Sia Adams fell for you."
His gaze fell on the champagne glass in Caesar's hand, and he suddenly laughed. "A son-in-law is still just a son-in-law—you don't even know the rules for drinking. At this level of banquet, holding a glass without drinking is disrespectful to the host. Did you know that?"
He shifted to the side, pointing toward Job, who was conversing with others nearby. "See that? The Adams family's master, Mr. Adams, is over there entertaining guests."
"Shouldn't you go offer him a toast?"
"Oh, I forgot—you probably don't even have the right to offer a toast, do you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, low laughter rippled through the surrounding crowd.
Caesar still said nothing, just quietly looked at Alvin.
That look was like watching a child throwing a tantrum.
This dismissive attitude infuriated Alvin more than any retort could have.
"What, cat got your tongue?" Alvin extended his foot, his leather shoe gleaming under the lights, and said mockingly, "My shoe's dirty. Come on, clean it for me."
He lifted his foot and planted his shoe on the low table in front of Caesar.
The entire hall fell silent, all eyes drawn to this scene.
Some people suppressed laughter, others wore expressions ready to watch the show, and some whispered: "The Locke family—you can't mess with them."
Job stood not far away, making no move to intervene, even a slight smile playing at his lips.
This was exactly the effect he wanted!
Caesar looked down at Alvin's shoe on the low table.
Then he raised his head, those deep eyes showing no emotion, still looking at him like a misbehaving child.
Alvin felt uncomfortable under that gaze and snapped in embarrassment: "Are you deaf? I told you to clean my shoe!"
"Mr. Locke, I suggest you take your foot back."
A cool female voice came from inside the hall.
Everyone looked toward the sound.
Sia descended the spiral staircase in a deep blue evening gown.
Her face was still somewhat pale, but her blue eyes were bright and sharp, like two unsheathed blades.
The crowd automatically parted to make way for her.
Sia walked to Caesar's side, her gaze falling on Alvin's shoe planted on the low table.
"If your shoe is dirty, you should find a servant. This is my husband, not your house slave."
At those words, Alvin's expression froze—or rather, everyone at the banquet froze.
The Adams family's Sia publicly acknowledged that waste as her husband?
Job's face instantly turned dark.
"Ms. Adams." Alvin withdrew his foot, forcing a smile to save face. "I was just joking. Why take it so seriously?"
"A joke?" Sia looked at him and said coldly, "Publicly humiliating my husband—is this the Locke family's idea of manners?"
Alvin's face flushed red, but he didn't lose his temper.
Because looking at Sia before him—those blue eyes, that cold, beautiful face, that perfectly tailored evening gown.
This woman was too beautiful, beautiful enough to make his heart itch.
Alvin suddenly smiled.
"Ms. Adams is joking." He straightened his collar and said with a smile, "How could I insult your... husband?"
He emphasized the word "husband" heavily, as if chewing on a joke.
Then he turned and strode toward Job. "Mr. Job Adams!"
Every eye in the hall followed his movement.
Job frowned. "What can I do for you, Mr. Locke?"
Alvin stopped and, in front of all the guests, declared loudly: "I, Alvin Locke, on behalf of the Locke family, formally propose marriage to the Adams family."
A wave of gasps swept through the hall.
"I wish to marry Ms. Sia Adams, offering one-third of the Locke family fortune as the bride price. As for that person beside her..."
He turned his head, glancing at Caesar from the corner of his eye, a contemptuous smile curving his lips.
"As for that waste beside Ms. Adams, I'll give him severance pay and send him back to wherever he came from."
