Chapter 44
The young man didn’t even spare Finn Taylor a glance and simply walked into the hotel after putting away his sunglasses.
Finn Taylor took a look at the Audi A6 before walking into the hotel without saying a word.
“Hello, Yvette, Clarine.” This young man seemed to know Yvette Larson and Clarine Landon well. He immediately greeted them after entering.
“Wow! Joshua Sanders, you’re back?” Clarine Landon was so shocked that she cupped her mouth.
That young man named Joshua Sanders stretched out his arms to hug Clarine Landon. Then, he turned to look at Yvette Larson.
He stretched out his arms yet again, but she took a few steps backward.
“I-I’m married. It’s inappropriate.” Yvette Larson ran her fingers through her hair.
Just then, Finn Taylor walked over. He stood behind his wife, identifying himself.
Joshua Sanders’s gaze was cold as he scanned Finn Taylor up and down with hostility. “Yvette, I’ve been back for three days. My mom told me about your marriage. He must be that piece of trash, right? Why didn’t you wait for me? Who in the Larson family would dare to bully you when I’m around?”
Joshua Sanders shoved Finn Taylor aside, wanting to pull Yvette Larson over.
However, she took a few more steps backward. “Joshua, it’s Clarine’s birthday today. I don’t want to ruin this happy occasion. Please mind your behavior.”
With that, she put her hand in her husband’s, interlocking their fingers.
Joshua Sanders’s pupils widened, his eyes full of murderous intent. “Okay, okay! I won’t make trouble, but I’ll make myself clear. I will definitely get back whatever I lost.”
With that, he turned to leave.
Finn Taylor’s gaze remained firmly on Joshua Sanders as he left.
“Don’t you want to know who he is?” Yvette Larson whispered in her husband’s ear.
Finn Taylor didn’t reply to her. ‘If she’s willing to tell me, I will listen. If she isn’t willing to tell me, I have my own way of finding out anyway.’
Finn Taylor didn’t think much of Joshua Sanders.
“His name is Joshua Sanders. He’s the Young Master of San Francisco’s Sanders family. The Sanders family is one of San Francisco’s four most prominent families. In the past, the Larson family was just a vassal to the Sanders family. It was only after the late Old Master—Hugo Larson—returned that the Larson family rose up and broke free of the Sanders family. While the Larson family was still under the Sanders family, the Sanders family’s Old Master wanted me to marry Joshua Sanders to be his mistress!” Yvette Larson explained her family’s past to her husband.
Clarine Landon—who was standing by the side—added, “The late Old Master was a good man. The Landon family and some other families were initially vassals to the Sanders family as well. The Sanders family had the final say over who the children and grandchildren of our families would marry. It was the late Old Master who freed our families from the Sanders family.”
“Although Joshua Sanders was mischievous as a young boy, it’s true that he protected Yvette and me. But as he grew up under his family’s protection, he grew terribly arrogant. Eventually, he left for Europe. I never expected him to come back, much less try to lay his hands on Yvette.”
Finn Taylor had gained a rough understanding of the situation from his wife and Clarine Landon. What they had described wasn’t too different from what he already knew.
The Larson family’s late Old Master, Hugo Larson, was ‘White Crane’ of Peregrine Hall.
It was indeed true that his family had been a vassal to another family at that time. When he returned, he used Peregrine Hall’s power to force that family to let the Larson family off.
This meant that it had been the Sanders family who had held them captive.
‘Heh! I hadn’t expected another love rival to appear out of the blue.’ Finn Taylor stroked his nose. “Huh? Why are you guys explaining all of this to me?”
Clarine Landon waved her hand. “Tch, you’re right. Why are we explaining it to you?”
She then brought her best friend to meet her parents.
“Hello, Uncle and Auntie.”
Clarine Landon’s father was Kenneth Landon, who was rather well-known in San Francisco. Her mother, Cassandra Campbell, was an impressive woman.
Kenneth Landon was a rather indecisive person. As such, it was Cassandra Campbell who made most of the major decisions in the company.
Although she didn’t hold an official position in the company, everyone in Landon Corporation respected her.
She had the domineering air of an empress.
Spotting Finn Taylor behind Yvette Larson, Cassandra Campbell couldn’t help but frown.
“Come, Yvette. Have a seat.” Cassandra Campbell was very warm and quickly sat Yvette Larson at the host’s table, but she didn’t even make a mention of Finn Taylor.
“Auntie, I came together with my husband.” Of course, Yvette Larson naturally noticed Cassandra Campbell’s attitude.
It didn’t matter that others treated her husband in this manner, but this was Cassandra Campbell they were talking about.
This made Yvette Larson feel uncomfortable. ‘No matter what, it’s only because of our Larson family that your Landon family was able to become independent. What right do you have to look down on my husband?’
Clarine Landon thought that it was wrong too. It was weird for only one person to sit at the host’s table when they had clearly come as a couple.
“Finn Taylor, sit next to Yvette.”
Cassandra Campbell’s frown deepened. “Hold on. I won’t allow just any Tom, Dick, or Harry to take a seat at the host’s table. Yvette, I watched you grow up. You’re the most sensible girl I know. You’re clearer than I am about the kind of person Finn Taylor is. He doesn’t even have the right to sit at the host’s table at the Larson family’s events. Does he think he deserves to sit here now?”
Clarine Landon cut in. “Mom…”
Kenneth Landon spoke up as well. “It’s supposed to be a joyful occasion today. It’s such a rare opportunity for us to be gathered. Isn’t it just a seat?”
He was trying to defuse the tense situation, but Cassandra Campbell refused to back down. “It’s easy for you to say that it’s just a seat. Anyone with a good family background or anyone who has talent or abilities is welcome to sit at the host’s table. As for anyone else, they’d better take a seat at the other tables for guests; it’s only right. I’m already being kind by not chasing out a cheater like you, who snuck their way in!”
Yvette Larson could no longer stand Cassandra Campbell’s words. She slammed the table. “Auntie Cassandra, I respect you as an elder and didn’t want to offend you, but Finn Taylor is my husband. If you continue scolding and insulting him, you will be insulting me too.”
“Yvette Larson, don’t spout nonsense. I’m not scolding you; I’m just lecturing you on behalf of your family’s elders. Don’t you know what day it is today? It’s my daughter—your best friend, Clarine Landon’s birthday. Why did you bring this piece of trash here? Do you think that the Landon family can’t compare to the Larson family and that you can insult us like that? I heard that it was this piece of trash that angered your Old Master so much that he had to be hospitalized. It seems like you still haven’t learned your lesson.”
“Yvette Larson, if you chase this piece of trash out today, I’ll treat it as though nothing happened. Otherwise, I’ll have to reconsider your friendship with Clarine.”