Ryan ignored Gregory's taunts and took a deep breath, his large hand holding Carrie's hand tightly. It trembled slightly as he
declared, "I love Carrie. I won't marry anyone else but her. I will make her the happiest woman in the world."
As he spoke, he turned to look at Carrie. His teary eyes were filled with deep emotion. "Please... Let Carrie marry me."
A shy blush spread across Carrie's face, feeling warmth in her heart.
Bethany clenched her jaw as she watched them flaunt their love in front of her. Her expression twisted with a dark sense of
longing, as though she were about to expose her hidden feelings and turn into a resentful creature.
"Heh..." Upon hearing this, Gregory let out a bitter and mocking laugh at Ryan. "Mr. Hoffman, as you are right now, you're not
even qualified to stand in front of me. The fact that I'm even talking to you is already going above and beyond. Yet, you have the
nerve to ask for my daughter's hand in marriage?
"Don't you remember how you acted at the last party? You were making it pretty obvious that you wanted to separate yourself
from the Salvador family and show that we could never get along. I can see you showing a lot of interest in Bella Thompson.
Maybe you should seek out Chairman Thompson instead of coming to me. Heh, I wonder what Justin would feel about that."
Ryan's temples throbbed with irritation as every word seemed to hit him hard. He felt so angry and frustrated, pushing his
patience to the edge.
It was okay if Gregory only humiliated him. But dragging Justin and Bella into it felt like a direct personal attack. The anger that
he had been holding back in his chest was about to explode, his fists tightly clenched.
Carrie's slim figure tensed up, every limb and bone feeling as cold as ice.
"Chairman Salvador, if you're upset with me, just let it out on me. You can criticize me, and I won't argue back." Ryan's intense
gaze briefly flashed with a fiery red hue.
"But please don't drag my best friend and his partner into this. I'm responsible for my own affairs, and it has nothing to do with
them. Don't disrespect Justin and Bella like that!"
The air in the huge living room was cold and tense.
Paul glanced at Carrie. He felt like his heart was about to burst out of his chest as Ryan and Gregory were on the verge of a
major fallout.
Ryan was a good man who valued friendship and loyalty, but sometimes he let his emotions get the better of him, often
jeopardizing important matters.
Gregory was the kind of person who could be swayed by gentleness but not by aggression. If Ryan owned up to his mistake,
apologized, and showed respect, there might still be a chance to negotiate.
But Ryan was also accustomed to being pampered and spoiled. Today might be the most frustrated and helpless he has ever
been. Of course, Ryan could not stand it. Any guy with self-respect would find it difficult to endure.
"Mr. Hoffman, since the conversation has reached this point, there's no need for me to be polite anymore." Gregory's playful
demeanor vanished, replaced by a sudden chilling expression.
"Keep dreaming of marrying Carrie! Iwill never allow my daughter to marry someone who betrayed the Salvador family. What's
the difference between that and keeping a potential threat beside me? If you end up marrying Carrie, you'll be my son-in-law. But
if my son-in-law is always ready to go against his father-in-law during important moments, how could I accept such a person into
the Salvador family?"
Ryan was shocked and furious, as if he had been hit hard in the chest, feeling an inexplicable pain coursing through his entire
body.
"I let you off the hook because of your childhood friendship with Justin, but it seems like that just made you more cocky,"
Gregorysaid, raising his chin in a way the net added to his already scornful took. "I've made myself very clear. I will never agree
to this marriage!"
He added, "Leave Carrie here and get out of Tideview Manor right now. It would be best if you never showed your face here
again!"