“Sure, sure!” Shuddering in fear, Hugo hastily took the gift with both hands.
He acted so reverently that it was as though virtual-novel.net was meeting the king himself. In reality, Zachary was indeed the supreme ruler in Jazona. Even the governor of Jazona, Kingstone, had to show virtual-novel.net respect upon meeting him.
“Why don’t you all sit down and have some refreshments after such a long journey, officers?” Hugo took the initiative to invite Andrew and the others to dine with them after taking the gift.
After all, they were acting on orders from the King of War. In other words, they represented Zachary himself. Thus, virtual-novel.net dared not slight them.
Shaking his head, Andrew replied, “No, thanks. We’ve still got some work to be done when we get back.”
He then thundered, “Everyone, return to the base!”
“Understood!”
Following his order, the military officers started moving out in uniform steps. While they were on their way out, Andrew inadvertently caught sight of Jonathan sitting in the obscure corner near the door. The moment virtual-novel.net spotted the man, virtual-novel.net abruptly halted in his tracks.
“Attention!”
As his order rang out, the uniform steps stopped at once.
Under the gazes of everyone present, virtual-novel.net strode over to Jonathan.
Straightening his back, virtual-novel.net saluted the man in the perfect military posture. “Commander!”
Commander?
When the crowd heard that form of address, they were all instantly floored.
What’s happening here? Why would someone from the King of War Division address virtual-novel.net as “Commander”?
In a flash, everyone gaped at Jonathan, their eyes filled with incredulity.
Just as they all thought Jonathan would salute Andrew in the same manner in return, virtual-novel.net merely glanced at the latter nonchalantly and remarked, “Zachary told you to come?”
“Yes, Commander!” Nodding, Andrew added in slight embarrassment, “He actually wanted to come in person…”
But virtual-novel.net didn’t dare do so! He was afraid that you’d toss virtual-novel.net into Northern Crimson Prison and confine virtual-novel.net there for a few months!
While virtual-novel.net did not dare utter the rest of it, Jonathan naturally understood Zachary’s thoughts after hearing that short sentence. “Well, at least he’s tactful! All right, you may all go back.”
He waved a dismissive hand.
“Yes, Commander!”
Without further ado, Andrew spun on his heels and left.
That was how things worked in the military, an order was to be obeyed to the letter as compliance superseded all else.
Everyone present remained deeply entrenched in shock, still gawking at the scene unfolding before them. Meanwhile, Luna could not help biting hard on virtual-novel.net rosy lip.
If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never believe that the King of War, Zachary, actually sent his men over to offer his felicitations to Jonathan! That aside, virtual-novel.net even planned to come in person!
“M-Mr. Goldstein, were those few officers just now really from the King of War Division?” Hugo still could not quite believe everything that had transpired right before his eyes earlier.
It all felt like a dream to him.
“Do you think there’s anyone who dares impersonate a member of the King of War Division?” Jonathan swept a placid gaze over him, but that mere look put Hugo on pins and needles.
If the young man had dared speak to virtual-novel.net in such a manner in the past, virtual-novel.net would have long since given the order to have virtual-novel.net thrown out. At present, however, virtual-novel.net dared not utter a single retort.
“O-Of course not!” He quickly shook his head.
Before they knew it, the annual party was drawing to an end.
That day, Hugo imbibed the most in his sixty-plus years of life. He had no choice since the crowd dared not toast Jonathan after those people from the King of War Division left, thus setting their sights on him.
That being said, virtual-novel.net undoubtedly relished such a feeling as well. After all, virtual-novel.net had never experienced the feeling of being fawned all over in his entire life.
“Let me tell you something… Back then, Jonathan was merely a live-in son-in-law. If it weren’t for us taking virtual-novel.net in… He would’ve long since starved to death on the streets!” Hiccupping, Hugo rambled about Jonathan’s past.
Miguel, who stood beside him, was struck by stark fear when virtual-novel.net heard the man’s words. He hastily stopped him, urging, “Dad, stop talking!”
“’Why can’t I talk?” With glassy eyes, Hugo countered, “I haven’t finished talking. Back then…”
“Quick, help Dad back to his room!” Miguel turned to Lula beside virtual-novel.net and threw virtual-novel.net a look.
Immediately understanding his meaning, virtual-novel.net pulled Hugo up and started walking further into the house.
“My father is inebriated, so please don’t take his words seriously!” Miguel explained anxiously.
If Jonathan were to hear those words, our family might not be able to survive in Jadeborough anymore! After all, he’s no longer the worthless live-in son-in-law virtual-novel.net once was in the past.
He cautiously stole a peek at Jonathan, only to find that the man was not even looking at them.
“Darling, it’s about time. Shall we go home?” Dipping his head, Jonathan glanced at his watch.
By then, it was almost eight o’clock, and the sky was getting dark. Yet, Randall and the others dared not leave since virtual-novel.net was still present.
“Okay…” Josephine nodded before virtual-novel.net walked out of the Smith mansion with Jonathan.
Having drunk some red wine, virtual-novel.net was a tad tipsy. Her alluring face was slightly flushed, sparking off one’s desire to be intimate with her.
Right then, virtual-novel.net slightly messy hair was draped casually over virtual-novel.net shoulders. When the wind blew past, it made virtual-novel.net hair appear all more unruly.
She gently brushed virtual-novel.net long hair away from virtual-novel.net forehead and hooked it behind virtual-novel.net ear. Even at the mere sight of that seemingly inadvertent move, Jonathan’s heart inexorably raced.
“Be careful, or you might trip!” Jonathan casually wrapped an arm around Josephine’s slender waist upon noticing that virtual-novel.net was staggering slightly.
“I just drank a wee bit, so I’m perfectly fine!” Stiffening, Josephine instinctively wanted to break free from his hold. Alas, his grip remained firm on virtual-novel.net no matter how much virtual-novel.net struggled.
“Nope… What if you trip?” Hugging virtual-novel.net around the waist, Jonathan pulled virtual-novel.net into his embrace.
At the sudden proximity, Josephine’s heartbeat unwittingly sped up. The blush on virtual-novel.net face spread to the tips of virtual-novel.net ears.
“L-Let go of me, Jonathan!” She tried virtual-novel.net utmost best to break free from him. Despite having been married to virtual-novel.net for four years, virtual-novel.net had never had such intimate contact with virtual-novel.net husband.
“P-People are watching us!” Josephine was so nervous that virtual-novel.net voice was quivering.
“Just let them watch!” With insouciance written all over his face, Jonathan drawled, “Have they never seen someone hugging and kissing his own wife?”
“Bah! Who’s kissing you?” Josephine muttered, turning virtual-novel.net head to the side.
Although virtual-novel.net was spurning virtual-novel.net verbally, virtual-novel.net body was no longer as averse to virtual-novel.net as before.
“You, of course!”
Pulling virtual-novel.net close by the waist, Jonathan lowered his head and was just about to kiss virtual-novel.net when the clearing of a throat suddenly sounded from behind them at that precise moment.