Chapter 341
Back at the Salvador Corporation, Justin sat quietly in his office, lost in thought as he stared at the computer screen. With each
click of the mouse, a new photo appeared, featuring a single protagonist-a beautiful woman with a radiant smile and an elegant
demeanor-Bella.
These photos were the result of Ian’s surveillance of Bella over the past few days. Originally, he intended to gather intelligence
from the KS Group, but Bella’s side proved to be exceptionally secretive. Ian only managed to capture these everyday scenes.
As Justin repeatedly browsed through the photos, his gaze deepened. It was as if, by looking at them multiple times, the figures
in the pictures would come to life. If they were on paper, they would probably have developed a vintage charm.
Suddenly, his phone on the table vibrated consecutively. Justin finally snapped back to reality, picked up the phone, and focused
on the screen.
Seeing the messages, Justin felt his heart drop. He abruptly stood up from his leather chair, grabbing his suit jacket before
rushing out the door.
*
Ralph and Bella arrived at the barbecue restaurant.
It had been a long time since Bella had met with Ralph, and the siblings had plenty to catch up on along with drinks.
After three rounds of drinks, Bella’s eyes were slightly glazed. She suddenly leaned in and asked, “Ralph, spill it. When are you
going to bring back a sister-in-law for me?”
“Ugh, not you too! My mom is already nagging me about this. Besides, my job is so tiring and dangerous. Why would I want to
find someone in the same line of work? We both need to live a good life, right?” Ralph looked nonchalant, quietly pouring out the
leftover alcohol in front of Bella and replacing it with mineral water.
Bella pouted in frustration. “What’s with the men in our family? None of you are settling down. It’s annoying! I don’t even have a
sister-in-law to care for or a nephew to play with. It’s so frustrating!”
Hearing this, Ralph teased Bella. “With so many brothers doting on you, aren’t you content? Aren’t you afraid that if your brothers
get married, we won’t have as much energy to pamper you?”
“Stop pampering me so much! It’s because of you guys that I didn’t have a boyfriend until after I graduated from college! During
school, you knew I liked chocolate, so you bought all the chocolates in the campus supermarket every day and waited for me at
the school gates after class. Every boy in our school thought you guys were my boyfriend! Because of you guys, I still haven’t
had a proper first love!” Bella’s cheeks turned red. When she drank too much, she tended to bring up old times. It was a
Thompson family trait.
“Because of the chocolates I got for you, my mom thought I was dating someone in school. She sent people to stop me at the
school gates and claimed that she caught me red-handed. Then she gave me a good beating when I got home!” Ralph winced at
the memory.
Bella blinked in surprise. “Did that happen? I have no memory of it.”
She continued, “Why didn’t you explain to your mom? You could have told her that those snacks were for me!”
“That was right before the college entrance exam. She even went to the school to meet with the principal and my homeroom
teacher, asking them to keep a close eye on me so that I wouldn’t get distracted during my exams.”
Ralph smirked. “I’m clearly innocent, but my mom thinks that I’m a playboy. Don’t you think it’s unfair?”
Bella teased him. “Well, you don’t exactly look innocent.”
“Around that time, the school did a poll on the best-looking students. I don’t know who put my picture up, but I ended up winning
first place. Suddenly, I was surrounded by those infatuated girls everywhere I went, and my locker was either filled with gifts or
love letters. It was so damn annoying!” Ralph complained.
He smiled and continued, “So, I just went with the flow. With my mom’s controlling nature, she cleared the path for me.”
4
huh?”
“So, you used me as a shield to ward off your love troubles? You’ve got some nerve, Bella furrowed her eyebrows and lightly
flicked his forehead with her fingertip.
Ralph playfully stuck out his tongue. “Anyway, I don’t want to get married. With my current career, anyone marrying me would
basically be a widow. That’ll be a miserable life for them.”
Bella nodded in agreement. “Yeah, same here.”
“You should get married, though. The last time Christopher came to our house, he seemed quite interested in you. That night, his
eyes were practically glued to you. Why not consider him?”
Suddenly, Ralph leaned close to her ear and said mysteriously, “But I noticed how pale his complexion is. Do you think he’s
sick?”
Bella was left speechless upon hearing this.
“To be honest, money isn’t something we lack in our family, but you must find a healthy partner with excellent genetics, someone
who can carry on the legacy of the Thompson family,” Ralph said with utmost seriousness.
“I don’t care if he’s sick, as long as he’s not sick in the head.
])
Bella smiled. Whether it was embarrassment or the effects of drinking too much, her rosy cheeks flushed even more.
As Ralph and Bella exited the restaurant, Steven had already parked the car at the entrance.
Seeing Bella leaning on Ralph with a flushed face, Steven hurriedly came over to assist her.
“Don’t touch her.”
Ralph’s right arm tightened around Bella’s shoulders as his left arm forcefully kept Steven at bay. He spoke coldly, “I’ve got this.
You don’t have to touch her.” Steven stood frozen and pressed his lips together in embarrassment.