Indeed, there had been no need for Han to secure a photo of Victor’s future bride. They could have simply googled last century movie posters featuring that 90s-era actress. She was her famous mother’s spitting image with long black hair, a heart-shaped face, and small, dainty features. She was exquisite. Simply exquisite.

Victor could almost hear his cousin silently cursing. He had definitely lost the bet.

“I will leave you alone to talk,” Kuang told them.

The daughter nodded deferentially to her father before he departed from the room. After he left, she didn’t take the seat he’d vacated, but one slightly to the right of it on the couch. As if she were concerned about insulting Kuang, even in his absence.

“Would you like anything else to drink?” she asked Victor in perfect CSL.

“You sign?” Victor asked after a moment of hesitation. It had been so long since he had been anything but silent during one of these meetings that it took a moment for him to start signing as well.

“Yes, my father put me in classes as soon as you two struck your first deal. Almost ten years ago. He said he had a good feeling about you. Such a good feeling, I had to beg him to let me finish my education.”

For the first time, it occurred to Victor to ask, “What did you study?”

“Economics at Cambridge,” she answered, spelling out the school’s name. “But then I decided to go further in grad school and earn an MBA. Father told me I was being silly. But I wanted to be of use to my family. I will graduate in June from the Geneva Institute of Finance in Switzerland.”

June. That was also when Dawn was officially scheduled to graduate from RhIDS, Victor noted with a pang of guilt. But he pushed that senseless emotion away.

This woman was younger than Dawn. By eight years. Smart, and obviously at a prime age to start a family. Any Chinese bachelor would consider her an ideal candidate for marriage.

Also, his relationship with Dawn was purely about revenge. That was what he had told himself. What he needed to be true. So he ignored the guilt twisting his stomach and signed, “You are very smart. And I’m sure you will be a very valuable asset to your family. The 24K and soon The Silent Triad.”

A shadow fell over her eyes at his words. But before Victor could analyze it, she smiled and signed, “I believe this union has much potential. Should we call my father in for a toast? We bought several bottles of a vintage Dom Perignon just for this occasion.”

A silent beat passed, tense and expectant. He could sense Han and Phantom holding their collective breath.

There was no need for them to worry. Victor was clear now. Clearer than he’d been in ten years.