Chapter 131

“I haven’t had time to notify anyone yet,” Asher replied, glancing at his watch. “It’s getting late. I need to retrieve these documents and leave immediately.”

Lady Blackwood’s brow creased with displeasure. Her tone became reproachful. “Stay for dinner and go afterward. If there’s any problem, I’ll handle the consequences.”

“That’s hardly appropriate,” Asher maintained his air of indifference. “You alone can’t represent the company. Just wait—you’ll be receiving a call about an emergency board meeting any minute now.”

With that, Asher left the hall and went upstairs, ignoring the gathering. Downstairs, the Fitzgerald family exchanged bewildered looks.

Professor Fitzgerald spoke first: “Lady Blackwood, doesn’t your grandson know that today’s dinner was arranged for him to formally meet Alice?” He addressed her respectfully, despite being two years her senior, due to her status and position. His question was diplomatically phrased.

Camilla, however, made no attempt to hide her displeasure. “Lady Blackwood, what exactly does this mean? Alice was standing right in front of him, and he didn’t even greet her. Is he pretending not to know what this dinner signifies, or is he genuinely unaware?”

Grace lowered her head, concealing the mockery in her eyes. Who does your granddaughter think she is, expecting my brother to acknowledge her? she thought. So desperate to get married, are you?

Publicly slighted by her grandson, Lady Blackwood was displeased. However, facing the Fitzgeralds’ questioning, she maintained a forced smile. “You misunderstand. My grandson was likely in such a hurry to retrieve something from the study that he forgot to greet everyone. When he comes back downstairs, I’ll formally introduce Alice to him.”

Camilla was about to respond, but her husband silenced her with a look. Grace, seated beside Lady Blackwood, inadvertently met Alice’s gaze. Alice offered a polite smile, but Grace, consumed with jealousy, coldly averted her eyes. Alice’s smile faltered, unable to understand the inexplicable hostility.

In the study, Asher made a phone call. Ten minutes later, Lady Blackwood and Andrew downstairs received calls informing them of an emergency board meeting at Blackwood Industries. Andrew knew exactly what was happening—this was his son’s doing. Lord Blackwood Sr. had already transferred the family’s leadership to Asher, and Andrew, following his father’s instructions, had handed over the company’s operations as well. Asher was now the most influential figure in Blackwood Industries.

Lady Blackwood hung up, her face ashen. She seemed to have lost control over her grandson. Camilla, noticing her expression, asked, “Lady Blackwood, is something wrong?”

Lady Blackwood composed herself, though her face remained cold. She could choose not to attend—she wasn’t particularly concerned about corporate projects. Her primary concern was Asher’s future marriage. However, this call had given Asher the perfect excuse to avoid the matchmaking arrangement.

Lady Blackwood replied, “It’s nothing serious. It seems there genuinely is an urgent matter at the company, as Asher mentioned. I’ve just received the call.”

Professor and Camilla Fitzgerald exchanged glances before saying, “Well…” Alice’s expression stiffened. Was the matchmaking meeting going to fall through?

As they spoke, Asher returned downstairs with the documents and headed straight for the door, ignoring everyone.

“Asher, stop right there,” Lady Blackwood commanded sternly.

Asher turned, waving the document folder. “Grandmother, you received the call too, didn’t you? I wasn’t lying—there’s genuinely an urgent matter.”

Lady Blackwood snapped, “Don’t think I don’t know you arranged that call. Stop playing ignorant. You will stay for dinner today!”

Asher stood his ground, looking at his grandmother with perfect composure. “Fine, then I won’t pretend anymore.” He turned to Alice, his tone cold. “Hello, I’m Asher Blackwood. I apologize, but I have no interest in matchmaking. I wasn’t informed about this arrangement beforehand. I currently have no plans for dating or marriage, so please don’t waste your time on me.”

Alice’s face paled. Having spoken, Asher left, unconcerned about the reactions behind him.

“You—you stop right there! Asher!” Lady Blackwood shouted furiously. Asher didn’t pause, quickly disappearing from sight. The Fitzgerald family was livid.

Professor Fitzgerald’s chest heaved with anger. “However powerful the Blackwood family may be, this is no way to treat people. Our granddaughter is hardly without suitors. You invited us here and proposed this match, and now it seems as though we’re the ones desperately seeking a connection with your family!”

Lady Blackwood, having completely lost her composure, was thoroughly exasperated. Catherine, Asher’s mother, stepped forward to apologize: “This is entirely Asher’s fault. We’re truly sorry. Please don’t be upset.”

The Fitzgerald family continued to express their outrage until Lady Blackwood offered substantial compensation to appease them. It wasn’t that the Blackwoods particularly cared about the Fitzgeralds’ feelings, but Lady Blackwood valued her reputation. The fault clearly lay with the Blackwoods, and for the sake of her dignity, she had to apologize—otherwise, word would spread, causing her to lose face.

She had thought that by ambushing Asher with this arrangement, he would have no choice but to participate. She never expected that he would refuse to even go through the motions.

After seeing the Fitzgeralds off, Lady Blackwood went to complain to Lord Blackwood Sr. “Look at what your grandson has done. He wouldn’t even give me the slightest consideration in front of all those people.”

The elderly gentleman sat at his desk reading a newspaper, not even bothering to look up. “I told you not to rush into arranging matches for Asher so soon after breaking his engagement with the Winters girl. You refused to listen.”

“How can I not be anxious? Asher will soon be twenty-nine. Men his age already have children running around.”

Lord Blackwood Sr. calmly turned a page. “Is that so? As I recall, those closest to Asher—young Darwin and Quinn—are still unmarried, aren’t they?”

Lady Blackwood, displeased, gave her husband a sharp look. “Always comparing with the wrong examples. Look at the Johnsons and the Montgomerys—their great-grandchildren are already calling them great-grandmother.”

Lord Blackwood Sr. smiled wearily. “Why are you worrying unnecessarily? Asher knows what he’s doing. I favor his match with the Winters girl. Once he resolves the matter with Tom Malfoy, it would be best if they found their way back to each other.”

Lady Blackwood shook her head. “Absolutely not. I don’t like that Winters girl. Solicitors are too sharp-tongued. She’s contradicted me several times. Where’s her respect for elders?”

The elderly gentleman gave her a cool glance. “If I may say so, why are you, as an elder, quibbling with the younger generation?”

Lady Blackwood continued to argue incessantly, determined to make her case. Lord Blackwood Sr., thoroughly annoyed and unable to dismiss her, simply stood up and walked out.