Ross took a quick peek at Shaun. After a brief pause, he smiled and said, "You and Nana can have a photo shoot of your latest costume if you want to promote your cosplaying. Nana is incredible at designing. I heard you were helping her make weapons."
When Shaun heard this, his eyes widened dramatically. The sprout of execration in his chest suddenly fades away.
"Are you serious, brother?" Shaun's voice was brimming with joy as he inquired.
Ross nodded in confirmation. He said, "Nana will be our brand ambassador and promote our companies. Furthermore, it would not be bad for you to shoot together when she needs a partner."
"COOL!" Shaun dashed and hugged his brother tightly, beaming as he said, "I know it! You are the best in the world, brother."
Ross patted his brother's back, squeezing a smile as he met his father's scrutinizing stare.
Beginning today, he must gradually accept that he cannot covet Yonah. So, if anyone should win her over, why not his brother?
He does not trust his cousins, but Shaun is an exception. Thus, he'll give way to his younger brother.
Since his father wanted him to train Shaun to be Yonah's ideal spouse, he accepted this challenging role despite how his heart ached from jealousy.
However, of course, performing such a task is conditional. He refused to give up the Villegas fortune. Shaun is weak, so he would never leave the management to his brother.
Ross has confidence that he is the only one who can manage their wealth—no one else can!
Besides, the CEO position at St. Michaels Group of Companies will allow him to provide better protection for Yonah. Therefore, he agreed to become her manager and, at the same time, her legal guardian after her parents returned to the United States.
"I want to know the full details of what happened," he asked briefly.
Shaun let go of Ross and replied, "Brother, we asked Nana to tell us what happened, and she fought with Celia. However, the doctor forbade her from speaking excessively. The cuts were on both of her cheeks, with one being slightly deeper and oozing a lot of blood earlier."
"Come again, Shaun? Nana had cuts on both cheeks." Ross asked with gritted teeth. He clenched his jaw as he imagined the pain Nana had endured. Soon enough, his demeanor hardened as if he wanted to beat someone into a pulp. "Why did she have those severe wounds in the first place?"
Ross looked sidelong at Shaun, curious about his brother's whereabouts and why Yonah was alone.
He knew his brother would never leave Yonah's side, but he witnessed how clingy he was, so he couldn't fully grasp the incident.
'Where are the bodyguards, dammit?'
Ross regrets being left out of the blue. When Nana needed protection, he was not there for her.
On the other hand, Shaun sensed Ross' accusing glare and realized he was also at fault. He should've accompanied Yonah around!
But Yonah told him she would head to the ladies' room, so he stayed behind and listened to his dad and future father-in-law discuss their companies, thinking it was a perfect opportunity for him to get active and learn how to manage them.
It was very unfortunate that Celia happened to be present on that particular day.
Shaun suspected Celia came to the restaurant because she heard Ross would have dined there today.
There have been instances in which Celia bribed a server to inform her whenever Ross visited the restaurant so that she could get her chance to seduce his brother.
But Celia made a grave mistake. She should not hurt Yonah! Now, both the Villegas and Varga families are after them.
"You should review the surveillance camera in the restaurant, Ross," Brandon suggested.
Ross nodded, saying, "I am on it, Dad. I'll send someone to investigate today's occurrence."
"Make sure not to let off that family!" Tony clenched his teeth in rage. He spoiled his youngest more than his older daughter. Not that he was unfairly treating Shenna.
His eldest daughter was independent and loved to explore the world, even being alone, so she was way more mature, whereas Yonah spent more time with him and was very attentive to accompanying her mom. As a result, everyone around her lavished her with attention.
"I promised to make the Johnston family pay for it, Uncle Tony." Ross would absolutely make anyone who dares to touch Yonah pay for it. "Dad, Uncle Tony… I want to see the doctor and explain what treatment Nana needs."
"Alright. Go ahead, son. We have to start the treatment as soon as possible. This is our top priority," said Brandon.
Ross nodded, then excused himself and went to the doctor's office to ask questions. The doctor noted that the cuts might take a while to heal.
"How long would this be, Doctor Sevilla?"
The female doctor fell silent momentarily. "The wounds will heal in two weeks, but expect a scar to be left unless you consult an expert dermatologist and plastic surgeon. Our technology can now create miracles. Do you have someone in mind to consult? If you don't have anyone in mind, I will introduce my friends to you."
It was Ross, who was silent this time, pondering. After careful thought, he nodded. "Please, do so."
Nana has a major event two weeks away. She was supposed to be in Singapore a week before to join briefings from the organizers and meetings with her co-hosts.
'No wonder she was crying so hard.' He understood why Yonah was in great grief. The fear of not being able to attend such a global event consumed her thoughts.
Nana's face was why giant entertainment agencies wanted to sign her as young as ten. Only Tony was against it, as he doted on his daughter and feared she would be exploited.
Now that Yonah is sixteen, the worth of her face has become tenfold.
~
After half an hour, Ross went back to Yonah's ward. As he approached the VIP ward living room, he could hear his mother's voice rise fiercely, demanding something from his father. As he peeked at the glass window, he noticed his father was attempting to calm her down, but he could also tell he was in a dilemma.
His father's face was marked with a mix of frustration and concern. As he listened more intently, he understood they were talking about their prospective daughter-in-law, and Ross's heart fell as he heard them mention the likelihood of a scar on her face.
The doctor introduces numerous plastic surgeons, none of whom he trusts to handle Yonah's situation. Even so, he will give it a shot.
"Mom, Dad…"
"Ross, thank God you're here now!" Keira grabbed Ross' arm and demanded. "Come with me. We should visit the Johnstons and sue them for what they did to Yonah! This is unforgivable! I want that Celia girl to go to prison! How dare she hurt Yonah? That poor girl…"
Ross exchanged glances with his father. Brandon immediately soothed her.
"Honey, let Ross handle this, okay? Our son knew what to do."
"No! I will retaliate! I want to slap that woman a hundred times until her face is unrecognizable! I knew it well! With just one look, I knew she was bad news for our family! I was not pleased when her elders discussed arranging a marriage between Ross and Celia! She is not qualified to be the wife of a Varga! Besides, I knew she had an unpleasant personality! Thus, I never liked her!"
Keira paused, stared at her eldest son, and then declared, "I'm glad you didn't fall for that woman's seduction, which disgusts me!"
Ross pursed his lips in embarrassment. He was not a cheap person to choose Celia as his lover! She never met the standard he was hoping for.
'She couldn't hold a candle against Yonah. How much more so compared to Shenna?'
Shenna accomplished so much at a young age, while Celia only knows how to shop. Though Johnston Enterprise is doing well in the industry, he needs to be taught a lesson soon.
"Mom, I never liked her!" Ross despises explaining things, yet he needs to defend himself. "You can see how I avoided getting close to her or any of the Johnston family. I am only pushed to dialogue with them because of our collaboration. I was aware of how the older Johnston purposefully scheduled a dinner appointment to assist her daughter in seducing me. And so I never fall for their scheme."
"Hah! The nerve of that family! I want to end our collaboration with them right now," Keira demanded firmly, her tone laced with finality. As a business expert, she was unconcerned about whether the Zobel family would lose a significant profit. What matters to her most is that she can exact revenge on behalf of her future daughter-in-law!
After all, the Villegas are far more powerful than the Johnston family. There is no reason to feel bad about losing them! Not so worth it!
"Let's do that, of course." Brandon agreed with and supported his wife's suggestions.
Ross witnessed how his parents worked together, and he admired their shrewdness when someone challenged their formidable status in high society.
It is why he imprinted in his mind growing up that the wife he should have had should have been as business-minded as his mom. But now that he is an adult, he realizes it doesn't matter anymore because Yonah is an exemption, and if he ever ends up marrying Shenna, she will be outstanding in her own field.
"Alright. Before I leave to meet my legal team at the restaurant, I'd like to speak with Yonah first," he declared.
Ross knocked on the patient's chamber door. Tony promptly opened the door and welcomed Ross inside. Not long after, they left and joined Keira and Brandon for coffee.
"Nana… How are you?"
Upon seeing him, tears raced like waterfalls in Yonah's eyes.
Ross rushed to her side and pulled her into his arms. "Hush now… I'm sorry. I should not have left!"