"So, Miss Apel is vacationing here at the Ikanobin Wine Resort? What a coincidence…" said the man, whose small eyes and short, stout fra made him look like a grotesque stump. He raised an eyebrow, and a lecherous glint flashed in his eyes. "I am Aso Naijiro of the Japanese Asou Clan. Miss Apel, I am your most loyal fan, utterly captivated by your peerless beauty. It seems fate, or perhaps God himself, has brought us together today. May I, Aso Naijiro, have the honor of dining with the beautiful Miss Apel tonight in this romantic setting?"
"The Japanese Asou Clan?" Upon hearing those words, the composure Apel had just regained vanished, and a hint of panic returned to her eyes.
With her current standing and achievents in the global fashion and film industries, she had so limited exposure to the world's top-tier social circles. The most prominent examples she knew were Italy's own Brad Family, Saint Laurent Family, and Sicilian Family.
And the Japanese Asou Clan… she had certainly heard of them. Their influence in Japan was so imnse they were often called the 'Sicilian Family of Japan.' They were one of the four largest and most formidable international financial dynasties in the country, their power extending into every domain outside of the governnt.
Their business empire, Aso Comrce Co., Ltd., had amassed a fortune of sixty to seventy billion U.S. dollars and was even ranked by Global *Fortune* magazine as one of the world's top 100 most powerful companies. The sheer power and influence of such a clan were staggering.
Apel couldn't believe that this short, stout Japanese man who had appeared out of nowhere was connected to such a powerful family. But she could also feel the ill intentions in his gaze. Her brow furrowed again as she refused him without hesitation. "I'm sorry, Mr. Aso Naijiro, but I'm currently on vacation. Besides, I already have plans for this evening."
"Hmm?" At her words, Aso Naijiro's round, pig-like face turned livid. He was clearly furious that this woman would dare to refuse him, even after he had revealed his prestigious identity. What a show of disrespect.
He shot a sullen, silent glare at the tall, pale-skinned Italian man standing beside him.
"Well then, it seems I, Gary, will have to intervene personally. Ah, Miss Apel, why must you make things difficult?" The tall Italian shrugged, his own hawkish eyes, filled with a lecherous light, brazenly scanning Apel's body with growing interest. "Truly God's perfect masterpiece."
The man who called himself Gary sighed lazily, his gaze still locked on Apel's flawless, infinitely tempting curves. He affected a gentlemanly air, but his tone was dripping with arrogance. "Beautiful Miss Apel, allow to introduce myself. I am Gary, an Earl from the Sicilian Family on Sicily Island. Mr. Aso here is a distinguished guest of our Sicilian Family. If you refuse Mr. Naijiro, you are disrespecting , Gary, and by extension, our entire Sicilian Family."
"The Sic-Sicilian Family? You're from the Sicilian Family?"
Hearing this, the color drained from Apel's exquisite face, and her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief and panic. In monts, even her enchantingly smooth voice began to tremble with fear.
As an Italian, especially one who had touched the fringes of society's highest echelons, she knew that the most powerful entities in Italy today were not the governnt, but the three ancient noble families: the Brad, the Saint Laurent, and the Sicilian. Although the Sicilian Family ranked third among them, the power they wielded and their formidable strength were beyond the imagination of any ordinary person.
Even the President of Italy would not dare to provoke the Sicilian Family, let alone a so-called superstar like her. Aside from one unique, dream-like experience in her past, she was just an ordinary Italian woman who grew up with stories about Sicily being the birthplace of the Mafia. How could she not be terrified now?
"I-I'm sorry, esteed Earl Gary, esteed Mr. Aso Naijiro. It's not that I an to be disrespectful, it's just that I really do have plans tonight," Apel said, trying her best to calm herself, but her voice still trembled.
"Oh, beautiful Miss Apel, isn't it a bit unwise to still be saying such things? I assu you've heard of the Aso Family? Oh, and by the way, Mr. Naijiro here is the only son of Mr. Aso Sazai, the current Clan Leader of the Aso Family. Now you should understand how to choose, shouldn't you? Wealth, fa, power… anything you desire, Mr. Naijiro can give you!"
At this, Earl Gary offered a sinister smirk. He glanced at Aso Naijiro, who was puffing up with pride from the flattery, and added, "I am correct, am I not, esteed Mr. Naijiro?"
"Of course, of course." Aso Naijiro squinted at Apel, his voice thick with arrogance. "Wealth, fa, power… these things are trivial for the Aso Family. And I am willing to present all of these wonderful things to you, beautiful Miss Apel. What do you say?"
His final question was not an inquiry, but a demand. He was forcing her to submit obediently.
"I… I…"
Apel, of course, heard the coercion in his words. The color drained from her lovely face, and she could no longer maintain her feigned composure as panic flooded her eyes.
Seeing the helpless, frantic expression finally appear on her face, both Earl Gary and Aso Naijiro curled their lips into a triumphant smile. The Earl then spoke with a casual but unyielding tone, "Miss Apel, shall we? Our patience is limited. If I were you, I'd be thinking about how to please Mr. Naijiro while stark naked, not wasting ti hesitating like this."
"Well said, Earl Gary, well said indeed. Heh heh…" Hearing the Earl's words, especially the phrase 'stark naked,' the smug smile on Aso Naijiro's face deepened, and a lecherous gleam in his eyes made him look utterly repulsive.
In truth, given his status as the sole heir of the current Clan Leader of the esteed Aso Family, he was never short of beautiful won. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he'd seen every kind of beauty the world had to offer. But a woman like Apel was an exception. She was the alluring angel in the eyes of most n, a dream goddess, a supergirl who had received the highest honor at the 'Angel's Night' event. What man wouldn't want to possess and control such perfection? Besides, what an accomplishnt it would be for his reputation to win over a woman of such flawless, exquisite beauty. At their level, wasn't life all about prestige?
More importantly, with his current status, it was doubtful any woman on Earth would refuse him. More likely, they wouldn't dare. Just like this global superstar, Apel Rizzo, who now stood before him, unable to utter another word of defiance. She could only lower her head in panic, her beautiful face trembling and pale… Hahaha, this feeling of being high above it all, of holding everything in the palm of his hand, was simply marvelous.
But just as he was lost in his self-indulgent fantasy, a young voice, unhurried and carrying a distinct chill, cut in from their side. "Oh, is that so? Coincidentally, my patience is also limited. So, if you two eyesores would kindly get lost, that would be great. Otherwise, you'll have to face the consequences."
"Who goes there!?"
The burly bodyguards behind Earl Gary imdiately charged forward, surrounding the young man who had suddenly appeared, their faces twisted into nacing scowls. At the sa ti, they drew their guns, the black barrels of the custom-made firearms glinting ominously.
"Chen… Chen… Chen… What are you doing here?" Witnessing this shocking scene, Apel's heart pounded in her chest. Her face went white and her body trembled. Those are guns! I'm just a woman, how could I not be scared?
However, as she finally processed why the young man's voice sounded so familiar, she looked toward its source and saw a face that had been haunting her dreams recently—a face she loathed. She froze, completely stunned.
He… he… how could he possibly be here? Is this a dream? No… it can't be…
"My Apel is being bullied. How could I not show up?" Chen Fei smiled as he looked into her wide, stunned eyes, which were now welling up with tears. He reached out, gently ruffling her smooth, brownish-black hair, before letting his hand slide down to affectionately pinch her cheek. He grinned, as if in admiration. "It's been a while. You're still just as beautiful and captivating as ever. You haven't changed a bit."
Even he hadn't expected to run into Apel here, especially not like this.
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