Chapter 582


    Ryder sat on the ground after being beaten with one leg slightly bending, blood trickled down from


    the corner of his mouth.


    Valeria had been outside the door, hearing themotion, she barged in immediately.


    She saw the two guys, one standing with knuckles clenched, the bandage on his hand turned


    crimson red, blood dripped on the floor, pretty hard to miss. The other one sat on the floor, though


    he’d been punched, his naturally aloof demeanor didn’t make him look disheveled.


    Ryder’s face was always that indifferent, almost fearless expression.


    Valeria went over to Ryder first, helped him up, “You knew he was ticked off, yet you still came to poke


    the bear, are you alright?”


    Ryder wiped the blood from his mouth, got up, “I’ve said my bit, consider this punch a payback for


    your past teachings and grooming, from now on, I won’t regard him as my uncle or my elder, let’s


    each mind our own business.”


    And with that, Ryder made his exit, the room suddenly fell quiet.


    Jared seemed to have finally cooled off, what remained was a bone–chilling cold.


    Valeria sighed, pulled Jared down to sit, and fetched the first–aid kit again, “You’re not the Jared I know


    right now, the Jared I know wouldn’t be this impulsive, bing a ve to his emotions, your nephew


    was clearly baiting you. The moment you hit him, you lost the first battle. He’s your protege, there’s no


    way you didn’t know that his real aim was to rile you up.”


    Jared’s gaze fell on his blood–soaked hand.


    His brows knitted together, his eyes were somewhat vacant, he didn’t utter a word, who knows what he


    was thinking.


    Valeria bandaged up Jared’s wound again, and said, “The dumbest people in this world are those who


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    hurt themselves to get anything, emotions included, and yet, you ended up empty–handed, if you want


    to beat your nephew, you need to y the long game.”


    But Jared suddenly smirked, almost self–mockingly said, “I’ve already lost, and lost miserably, three


    years, he hid it from me for three whole years.”


    Jared’sstugh was loaded with emotion.


    Valeria had never seen this man so despairing.-


    Valería was silent for a moment, “Now that Agnes has shown up, do you want to reconsider the


    engagement?”


    They’d been discussing getting engaged, that’s true.


    Apart from being the CEO of the Thomas Group, Valeria had been running a vineyard in France these


    years, the biggest investor of which were the Count and Countess Alexandra. Whenever she needed a


    plus one for various events, she’d ask Jared for help. Over time, Count Alexandra mistook Jared as her


    boyfriend.


    This wasn’t a big deal actually.


    The problem was, the grape harvest had been poor due to weather in recent years, so the products


    were not up to par. Plus the pressure frompetitors, the Alexandras started thinking about pulling


    their investment. Valeria had been negotiating with them for a while.


    Finally, they came up with a unique condition, if Mr. Whitfield would marry her, they’d continue their


    investment, and even hand over their other wine distribution rights to her.


    It seemed like a joke at the time, but the implication was deep.


    Firstly, the Alexandras believed harmonious family rtions would help long–term business growth.


    Secondly, they were more interested in the support from the Tim Group, which Jared was affiliated


    with.


    Now, the Tim Group was also delving into the wine business.


    If Jared and Valeria join forces, the potential for the vineyard was incalcble.