Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Woody Wants to Meet New Friends

Night.9406 Crest Drive.The study."A spoiled little girl. How should I put it? I feel like I was pretty much the same way before," Milo said softly into the phone, comfortably reclined in his office chair with his legs propped up on the white marble desk.It was late at night. After returning from the InterContinental Hotel, Wendy had told him that Plymouth wanted him to call home. Milo made the call, and his grandfather answered."…Very resistant, too emotional. Not a suitable marriage partner.""Does it have to be an Adams?"After receiving a confirming answer, Milo looked out the floor-to-ceiling window at the Hollywood nightscape.The neon lights flickered, dazzling and seductive, making him feel as if he were part of high society.He shrugged and said softly into the receiver, "Alright, I understand. But… the Mellons have thousands of members. Surely the Adamses have more than just this one option?"After receiving a satisfactory reply, Milo continued with a smile, "Then I have no objections. Good night, Grandfather."He waited for his grandfather to hang up first before placing the receiver back on the phone.He walked to the large window and stared blankly at the Hollywood nightscape.Clearly, Haley's sudden visit with Peggy Adams was a form of "matchmaking."While America didn't have the tradition of formal arranged marriages, unions between powerful families were common practice.For example, Paladin and Haley's marriage was a union with the prominent Harrison family.The Harrisons… to put it simply, they had produced two presidents of the United States: the ninth and twenty-third presidents, both named Harrison.Their ancestors were among the Founding Fathers, signatories of the Declaration of Independence.The current head of the Morgan family was even born to a Harrison daughter.They simply weren't as internationally renowned as families like the Adamses, Franklins, or Washingtons.Joseph and Robin's marriage was another example. Robin was a member of the Bush family.When they married, the Bushes were still rising stars on the East Coast.Even now, though the Bushes had become synonymous with Texas, they were still generally considered part of the East Coast establishment.Then there was Milo and Paladin's grandmother, whose maiden name was Wilson. She had passed away.The reason why the original Milo hadn't gravitated towards New York, the preferred destination for East Coast elites, and instead chose the West Coast, which was looked down upon by old money, was because of his grandmother's Wilson lineage.This pattern had repeated for three generations. Now that Paladin was gone, Milo couldn't avoid the inevitable outcome of a strategic marriage.And Peggy Audrey Adams was from that Adams family.However, the Adamses were no longer the royal dynasty they once were.After more than two centuries, they were similar to the Mellons: numerous, gradually fading from the public eye and drifting away from the core of American power.But thanks to their ancestral prestige and various intermarriages with other powerful families, they still held considerable influence.Peggy Audrey Adams was named after her great-aunt.Her great-aunt, after marrying into the Rockefeller family, became Peggy Rockefeller. Her maiden name had been Adams.Essentially, any influential American family with a history spanning over fifty years, after carefully tracing their connections, would discover intertwined familial ties throughout the upper echelons of American society.Much like the aristocratic families of the Wei and Jin dynasties in ancient China.Except with even longer histories, more entrenched power, and fewer opportunities for those from lower social strata to rise.During his conversation with his grandfather, Milo was informed that his future spouse would most likely come from the Adams family.This decision was based on practical considerations.While Peggy was the primary target, other options existed.Peggy was chosen because her father was the current head of the Massachusetts National Guard branch, and her grandfather was the former chairman of Raytheon.But with the Adams family being so large, there were over a dozen other eligible cousins to choose from."A marriage is just a marriage," Milo shrugged. At worst, they would lead separate lives or divorce after producing an heir.As long as there was a shared heir to connect them and practical benefits to maintain the alliance, even a divorce wouldn't sever the bond.Coming to terms with this, he left the study.Milo intended to return to the master bedroom for a shower, but he saw Zeta-Jones in the hallway."Waiting for me?"He approached her with a smile."Yes." Zeta-Jones smiled coyly, biting her lip. She walked over and looked up at him. "Let's go for a swim?""At this hour?"Milo was surprised. It was almost midnight."Yes."She responded and suddenly lowered her voice, whispering something in his ear."Oh? You don't mind? Or are you testing me?" Milo asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.She shrugged this time. "I figured, if I wasn't here, at least one of them would have climbed into your bed tonight. Maybe even both of them!""That's them, not me," Milo said righteously.Zeta-Jones raised her slender eyebrows. "It's your decision. If you're willing, go wait by the pool."Five minutes later, Milo arrived at the villa's infinity pool.He quickly stripped off his clothes and leaned against the ergonomically designed edge of the pool, soaking in the Hollywood night view.After about fifteen minutes, as Milo began to grow slightly bored, he heard soft footsteps behind him.Zeta-Jones, her golden hair loose, walked over barefoot, wearing a revealing coffee-colored bikini."Swimming in the pool at midnight, drinking red wine… it's a whole new experience," Julie Delpy said with a playful laugh behind Zeta-Jones.Julie was also wearing a bikini, but in the colors of the American flag.Beside her, Cate Blanchett was similarly dressed in white.Three beautiful Hollywood actresses walked towards him.Two maids followed behind, carrying red wine and glasses."Splash!" x3.The sound of entering the water echoed as Milo watched their alluring figures, some curvaceous, some slender, displaying themselves in the pool."Splash~"Zeta-Jones swam over and surfaced in front of him, giving him a gentle smile.Milo laughed and pulled her closer, the two embracing and kissing in front of Julie and Blanchett, who were also swimming closer."Hey, you guys are making us feel like we're intruding. You should just go have fun yourselves. We might as well go back to our rooms and sleep!" Julie Delpy complained from the side.A few seconds later, Zeta-Jones, slightly breathless, pulled away and raised an eyebrow at her friend. "Should I leave him to you?""Uh…"Julie Delpy gave a forced smile, then defiantly said, "If Milo's willing, I have no problem!""Heh~"Zeta-Jones chuckled, her expression unreadable, then turned and swam back into the pool."She's always like that~" Julie said to Milo, who was watching her.Milo narrowed his eyes, looking at her toned, tall, and curvaceous figure.From the start, he hadn't intended to play the innocent.But he wasn't in a rush either. After locking eyes with Julie and seeing her lick her lips, Milo chuckled.He patted the spot beside him. "Want a drink?"Julie looked back at Blanchett and Zeta-Jones, who were swimming in the pool."Sure!"She sat down beside Milo as a maid poured her a glass of red wine.After they both finished a glass, Julie saw Milo suddenly grin, bracing himself on the edge of the pool with his arms behind him. He leaned down and said,"Want to find someone articulate, someone who can charm you with their words? I think Miss Delpy might be just the person. I wonder about her eloquence. Why don't you two have a chat?"Julie Delpy paused, confused about who he was talking to.Then Milo looked up, smiled, and pointed down, saying to Julie Delpy:"Let me introduce you. This is my Woody. He's my closest comrade. Come on, say hello!"Julie Delpy was even more baffled. But after hearing Milo's words and looking down at where he was pointing, she understood and burst into laughter, shaking with mirth. "Hahaha… Is that how you get Catherine to help you? Hi, Woody, do you need me to call Catherine back so you can chat?"She playfully reached out and greeted Woody.Milo raised his eyebrows, pretending to listen to Woody, then translated for Julie Delpy:"Woody says he's very familiar with Catherine. He wants to meet new friends, wants to chat with them, wants to know how eloquent they are.""Then… Woody," Julie Delpy said, her eyes sparkling with playful light, "aren't you afraid Catherine will get angry? She's right over there.""Woody isn't afraid. He's only afraid of not meeting new friends."