Victoria didn't sleep all night, sitting out on the balcony of her room.
In the past few days, Nathan's condition hadn't improved. Though Aaron had tactfully kept her around to prevent any potential leaks, she still used her phone to inform her brother about the situation at the estate.
Her brother's response was clear: As long as Nathan remains the CEO of the Tino family, the marriage alliance will proceed as planned.
The weight of her responsibility as the eldest daughter of the Jark family pressed heavily on her heart. To both Nathan and her brother, marrying her symbolized goodwill and allegiance. No one had ever asked for her opinion, nor did anyone care about her aversion to physical contact with men.
Yes, she had this condition since childhood—whenever she touched a man, she'd break out in a rash, even with her father and brother. Only close family members knew this secret. Her father had even reassured her, saying it was normal for a proper lady to dislike being touched casually by men.
She couldn't imagine how her future husband would react on their wedding night upon discovering her condition. But it didn't matter. Her value lay only in the symbolic gesture of goodwill, a fate she could not escape.
As the morning sun spilled over the horizon, Victoria squinted and noticed the Eastern maid leaving with luggage in hand. A tangle of suspicion formed in her mind. She approached Nathan's door, hesitating whether to wake him. Nathan seemed to care about the young maid, but disturbing him was no small matter.
She thought it better to wake Aaron, but just as she reached for the doorknob, the slightly ajar door creaked open. Her eyes were immediately drawn to clothes scattered all over the floor.
The scene before her spoke plainly of last night's debauchery.
Victoria quietly stepped into the room. Sure enough, only Nathan lay on the bed. Judging by his exposed chest hair, he was naked beneath the sheets.
In that instant, an idea formed in her mind.
She slowly undressed, carefully climbed into the bed beside him, and lay stiffly at his side. Her skin began to itch as a rash spread across it, but she gritted her teeth and waited for him to wake.
When Nathan woke, he instantly noticed the woman lying beside him—a woman who was completely naked. The memories of last night rushed back to him. So, it wasn't a dream after all!
Shaking his head to clear the fog in his mind, he frowned and asked, "Who are you?"
Victoria started to sob softly.
Nathan furrowed his brows. "Victoria?" A twinge of regret stirred in his chest. Why?
"Mm," Victoria murmured, her gaze downcast, avoiding his blind eyes despite knowing he couldn't see her. She timidly added, "Last night…"
Hungover and sleep-deprived, Nathan impatiently waved her off. "I know." His head felt like it was stuffed with lead. Something was off; he couldn't recall everything clearly. He only remembered drinking heavily, and then—
"Sophie?"
Victoria flinched, stammering, "I... I don't know…" She broke into quiet sobs, dodging his probing questions.
If Nathan could see, he'd have noticed her guilty expression. But he couldn't.
Nathan reached out to comfort Victoria, but when his hand touched her bare shoulder, he felt her tremble.
"I'm sorry. I'll take responsibility." Marrying Victoria to consolidate the Jark family's vineyard business had always been part of his long-term plans, even if he hadn't actively pursued it. Yet, why did he feel this faint sense of regret?
Regret, yes. Although last night was a blur, he vaguely remembered her supposed passion...
Well, Victoria was a noblewoman, after all. She still had her dignity. If their bodies were so compatible, marrying her wouldn't be too much of a sacrifice.
Her continued sobbing made Nathan run a hand through his hair in frustration. "If you don't mind, I'd like to sleep a bit longer." His pounding headache left him unwilling to even muster basic courtesy.
Relieved, Victoria clumsily got dressed, grateful he couldn't see her disarray.
Nathan's sharp ears caught her fumbling movements but turned away, convincing himself: She's just shy. Remember her enthusiasm last night.
As Victoria reached the door, Nathan suddenly said, "When I wake up, I want to see Sophie." His last memory of the previous night was repeatedly calling Sophie to bring him wine. Perhaps she could explain why Victoria had ended up in his bed.
Victoria froze, murmuring, "I'll let Aaron know."
Before closing the door, she glanced back at the figure on the bed and reminded herself: This is the right thing to do. The marriage alliance with the Tino family is Father's greatest wish and my responsibility.
Bordeaux, Tino Winery Headquarters
"President." Zola Carl softly called out to the distracted Nathan.
Nathan turned to his trusted assistant, Zola—the winery's marketing director. "Go on."
Clearing his throat, Zola reported, "Based on our evaluation, we've identified several target countries in Asia. Their wine distributors are highly interested in securing exclusive rights to our products. Mainland Tang has a large market, though the government is more conservative. They offer substantial incentives for foreign businesses, but we must consider potential changes in political stability.
HK, being heavily influenced by British culture, has a strong track record in wine sales. As for Taiwan, its distributors have rich marketing experience, and its wine culture is flourishing."
TWAN
Nathan rose and walked to the wall of curtains, gazing at the sprawling wine cellar stretching for miles beneath his feet.
He had inherited the Tino Winery and elevated it to greater heights. In terms of the influence Tino wines had over people, the territory Nathan conquered far surpassed that of Charlemagne.
In Europe, the Americas, and Australia—regions considered the cradle of civilization—Tino wines had become a household staple. Consumers chose either premium or popular lines based on their financial means, but regardless of the choice, they always turned to Tino.
Now, he was determined to penetrate the Asian market. It was a decision that should have been implemented three years ago. Were it not for his sudden temporary blindness, it wouldn't have been delayed until now.
Nathan gently touched the side of his eyes. After half a month of blindness, his vision had miraculously recovered. Yet, one mystery lingered: the maid's abrupt disappearance. Normally, he wouldn't concern himself with the comings and goings of servants, but for some reason, she came to mind now.
"TWAN."
Zola was slightly startled. TWAN hadn't been identified as the most suitable market in their evaluations. In fact, during the initial assessment three years ago, it hadn't even made the list.
"President…"
Nathan turned and declared firmly, "It will be TWAN."
Zola nodded. "I'll notify TWAN's wine distributors immediately and invite them to France to sign the contract."
"No, I will personally travel to TWAN to sign it," Nathan announced, once again surprising Zola with his decision.
Turning his back to Zola's puzzled expression, Nathan muttered inwardly: TWAN—a very intriguing place.
France's Last Baron is Coming to Taiwan!
This republican era has preserved only one noble title, a legacy from the 18th century. Back then, Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II visited France and was so impressed by a wine presented by the Lord of the Tino estate that he bestowed upon him the title of "Baron." This title has since been inherited by Nathan Tino.
Though it no longer holds any real power, the title of Baron Tino remains a widely recognized honor.
Nathan Tino, the Baron of Tino, is the CEO of Tino Winery and the wealthiest Frenchman in the world. Ranked second on the global billionaire list with a net worth of $50 billion, he trails the richest person by a narrow margin. In fact, financial experts estimate that when including his vast Tino estate, which spans tens of thousands of hectares, and his massive collection of rare and valuable jewels, Nathan Tino could very well be the wealthiest individual on Earth.
Unfortunately, the baron seems indifferent to fame and has no intention of publicly displaying the priceless antiques and jewelry housed in his castle. As a result, people can only speculate about the value of his collection from historical records, which suggest it exceeds $10 billion.
Among his family's treasures are many pieces that have been coveted by collectors for centuries. The most famous is the wedding ring of Lady Ye, Nathan's mother. This legendary diamond ring was originally used by an Austrian duke in the 15th century to win the heart of Burgundy Princess Mary of France. It established the enduring tradition of proposing with diamond rings, which has symbolized eternal love for over five centuries.
This ring eventually passed through various noble marriages before becoming the Tino family's heirloom.
Nathan himself is no less remarkable than his illustrious background. Within a few short years, Tino Winery has captured 70% of the global wine market. People also marvel at his striking appearance.
It is said that Nathan is of mixed Chinese and French heritage, with his great-grandfather on his maternal side being a Qing Dynasty prince.
With his sharp features, magnetic allure, decisive nature, and unrestrained charisma, Nathan has earned the nickname "The Wicked Lion."
Sophie gently traced the image of this famous man on the cover of a magazine. Her fingers lingered on his brow as if trying to smooth out his furrowed expression, then softly brushed over his eyes, which still seemed so piercing and alive.
It had been three years since she returned to TWAN. She thought that by staying far away and avoiding his gaze, she could forget him. Yet the longing in her heart refused to be denied. During these years, she clung to magazine articles about him to soothe her restless thoughts.
That's how she learned that his eyes recovered not long after she left. He even appeared in a magazine interview, dispelling rumors of his blindness.
She didn't know how news of his injury had leaked but was relieved that he had recovered quickly and presented himself in good health to the world. Otherwise, it could have caused an uproar.
This issue of the magazine carried news of his upcoming visit to TWAN.
After years of evaluation, Tino Winery had decided to grant exclusive distribution rights for the Asian market to a Taiwanese wine distributor. Nathan was coming to TWAN to finalize the agreement and bolster publicity.
He was finally coming to TWAN!
Sophie never imagined she'd have the chance to breathe the same air as him again.
His arrival forced her to confront a truth she had long denied: she had never stopped loving him.
She thought that by returning to distant TWAN, she could sever her longing. Yet her heart refused to obey, constantly thinking and yearning for him.
To love secretly is a bittersweet torment—a pain born from silence and helplessness.
Ava entered her room and saw Sophie gazing wistfully at the magazine cover. She sighed softly.
"Sister-in-law!" Sophie scrambled to hide the magazine in embarrassment.
Ava placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. I won't laugh at you."
Ava's gentle reassurance made Sophie's nose sting with emotion. "I'm so foolish, aren't I?"