If it was another time, Milan would laugh at the easy payday. However, he had a feeling that Martin was trying to be an asshole to him right now. Giving money during the funeral was rude, but if the money was this huge, who would get mad? Moreover, the face the man was making… Did he think Milan would fall for his feigned condolence?
Milan only kept his smile on his lips. He didn’t say anything about the money and thanked the man again. If he thought Milan would be shaken by this amount, then he should have seen how much Milan made for every show. This amount would only make him smile.
Of course, Martin didn’t do anything else. Whether he was waiting for something or not, he just left it for someone else to catch. He walked back to his family, frowning at the fact that Aliyah and Esperanza didn’t say anything. With a tug on his jacket, he spoke to them for a moment before ushering them to sit down for a few minutes to show condolence.
“…that’s quite a big amount. What are you hoping to do with that?” The city mayor suddenly asked Milan. “Not that I intrude in your decisions, but… I don’t think spending that here would make sense. The food here is pretty cheap, and it’s not like you can buy all you like.”
“Are you asking me if I’m going to take Florence away and spend this money elsewhere?” Milan lifted his brow in curiosity.
This city mayor only looked expensive in that suit, but he was the same as everyone else in this town. He was more of a representative for what the government would drop at Lasair Village. Most of the time, it was not even enough for his little village.
“There are rumors, especially when you are collecting her papers. Everyone who came from the mainland would return and take their family away.” The city mayor hummed and glanced at the faraway trio. “Florence had been living her all her life, and the mainland was too different. She might not be able to adjust really well.”
“It’s fine. I can hire all the professionals that we would need to fix it.” Milan only gave a smile. He then waved the thick envelope. “She’s all set because of Mr. Clifford’s generosity.”
“…I mean Lasair… but all right…” The city mayor ended up patting Milan’s shoulder. “Mr. Sheppard.”
Milan got up as well to see off the city mayor. He then realized how Boris and Corbin followed the city mayor as if his guards. However, Corbin said he would be back later after working hours. The young man walked in the family room again, but he stopped by the door since Esperanza was looking at Roma from the glass. Her hands were even on the casket.
She then pursed her lips and walked toward the other door that led to the kitchen. That was why Milan didn’t enter the family room to follow the woman who sneaked away through the backdoor. Since she caught Milan following her in the garden, she stopped and spun around to face him. With her arms on her sides, she lifted her chin.
“Are you hoping to extort more money from my father? He already gave you a lot.”
“I came because you sneaked out here. Who cares about your father’s money?” Milan lifted a brow.
Esperanza growled and clicked her tongue to the side. She then turned to him again. “How old are you this year? I keep on hearing you grew up here and left.”
Doubting the need to talk with her, Milan just sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t grow up here. I was barely six when my father took me away, and I just came back after twenty-two years. Barely anything from Lasair was brought with me when we left.”
For some reason, her eyes shone at those words. She then bit her lip. “When are you leaving again? Are you staying here?”
“Are you hoping I would take you away so you wouldn’t have to be wed to Lasair?” Milan sneered and watched as the woman huffed in anger.
“Why does everyone think I want to be wed to a monster? Do you even know what Lasair is? Which maiden wants to be married to some entity in the woods?” Esperanza growled. She then began pointing fingers at Milan. “You and your people are sick! You think this is a blessing! No one in the right mind wants to lose their freedom that way!”
Milan only kept his smile. He knew what this maiden was saying, but he just turned away as if eyeing the shed. “You shoehorned yourself into a small village with a god of their own and replaced him with money. If this is not divine tribulation against your insolent human family, then why are you even selected? That’s just how I see it.”
Esperanza gasped and lowered her hand. She then gazed at the backdoor before looking at the profile of that young man who had the beauty of a woman. “No, I can’t just ask Daddy to leave Lasair. He already invested a lot of things here. I… There should be another way.”
With that, she glared at Milan. “Sacrificing me has always been out of the question! I won’t make Daddy run away from something imaginary, either! You’ll see! I will—”
“Why are you swearing at me?” Milan faced the woman again, his brow lifted in annoyance. “I am not Lasair. If you want your threats to sound proper, find a shrine or something. There should be one on this island since everyone else prayed to him.”
“…you’re lucky we don’t have a reason to kill you, or else your pretty head would have flown off your shoulders!” Esperanza growled in anger. She ended up taking out her frustrations on Milan.
“Keep on saying that.” Milan only laughed as he changed into a lazy stance. “I’m pretty sure Lasair cursed you enough to not let you get things your way. Now go back and come up with a sound plan. The ritual has been long delayed. They might just end up tying you down, instead.”
The woman just ran back to the house. Milan sighed and turned to follow Esperanza with his gaze, but he saw how she ran into Owen on her way. However, she didn’t fall or even stay to apologize. She just kept on running. It was Milan who walked closer to check up on Owen.
Milan lifted his brows. “I hope her horns didn’t leave a tear on your clothes.”
“Don’t worry, this is authentic leather.” Owen gestured at his leather jacket.
At that, both of them laughed.