The Ancient Genes

"This is certainly a bit different than I imagined it to be.." Max muttered with a little surprise as he looked around. He had honestly thought that the place would be a little too stiff for him as it was related to nobles, but from the looks of it, it wasn't like that.

There were only young people around, and it might be because of it that no one seemed to be putting too much of a stiff attitude that they usually had in parties in upper society.

"It doesn't seem like they are here, I bet they must have gone to the upper floors," Synthia said as she gave the place a scan. The lower floor didn't have much facilities for enjoyment. It was just a place to check in, and have casual talk in a calm environment with drinks being served.

"Let's go.." Synthia wrapped her hand around Max's arm, and commanded.

Max gave her a look, and then just shook his head as they moved ahead.

…

Third Floor, Noble's Palace…

"Hahaa!!! Splendid! I knew no one could beat you Brother Preston!!" Travis was full of praise for the future fiance of his Half Sister. It was obvious that he was licking boots. After all, Talia had asked him to build a good relationship with Preston.

Erina was also present here sitting to the side as she watched them gamble. The third floor was actually gambling house. It was very common among nobles to gamble. It wasn't that they needed money, in fact it was the opposite. They just had too much of it. To them, gambling was just a method of enjoyment even if they lost money. Of course, this was in consideration, they didn't lose their entire fortune.

Preston obviously understood Travis's intentions, but he didn't mind it. After all, he didn't think there was anything wrong with it. If this guy wanted to lick his boot, then his boot was indeed worthy of it.

After all, Prston was not some ordinary guy.

As for these people? How could a mere Noble House compare to him?

If it was not for the fact that he was asked to get into this marriage, he wouldn't even have taken a glance at this remote place. As for why he had received such an order, Preston had no idea.

But, he had to admit one thing, he didn't expect the girl to be a beauty. Even within the Ancient Families, she was top tier. Hence, he didn't mind it at all. The Ancient Family had the tradition of polygamy, it wasn't like that in the outer world where people looked down on such practice that it had almost gone extinct.

It was all good up to here. But, there was one problem. And, that was Erina's attitude. Every time he looked at her, she had a look of disinterest on her face. Even now as he continued to win, she didn't even give as much of a glance to him.

This sure was pissing him off.

He had kept the appearance, and attitude of a gentleman from their first meeting, and yet this girl wouldn't even spare him a glance. It was either she was too arrogant, and didn't put him in her eyes or she had another man in her heart.

To Preston, the chances of it being the first was non-existent. After all, what right did she have to be arrogant in front of him, and thinking of the second possibility only made Preston's face to turn even more gloomy.

He didn't want this engagement to fail. If it did, he wouldn't know how to reply.

At this moment, a voice came from a feet away.

"This is surprising…I didn't expect to see you guys here.."

The moment it entered everyone's ear, they had a change in their expression as all of them recognized it.

Erina's eyes obviously lit up. She realized that she finally had a way out of this torture. On the other side, Travis's face turned ugly. At this point, it is obvious that the guy hated Max to his core, even more than Wilson probably.

Preston too had a little frown on his face when he noticed Max, and that too with his sister, Synthia. This sure was an odd combo to him. But, his expression turned for the worse when he noticed how Erina's face seemed to have lit up in Max's presence.

He surely hadn't seen her like that in his presence.

Unknowingly, his gaze towards Max had turned a little cold. He was already suspecting something here. And, the fact that Max was staying at the Scarlet Mansion, was like an oil being added to flame in the situation.

"What are you guys doing here?" Synthia struck up a conversation with a smile as she approached Erina. Max had already told her what he wanted, and she obviously knew that her job was to be with Erina so that these guys would not bug her.

"We were just here to have some fun…would you like to join?" Travis asked with a smile. Even though he didn't want to invite Max, how could he ignore Synthia's presence. She was Preston's sister as well.

Travis was obviously a fool, and he had no idea about the relationship between these siblings.

"Sure..I think it will be more fun with all of us together.." Synthia was all ready to stay even if they weren't invited, and now that she received such an invitation, how could she reject it.

"Since, we all are here…why don't we play a little game?" Preston asked with a smile as he looked at Max, and tapped his finger on the table.

'Gambling?' Max looked at the guy, and then at the table. To him, all of this was very childish. He was the guy who didn't gamble with his money, but his own life. If he didn't feel this was childish, then who would?

As Max was planning to refuse, Synthia had already spoken out, "This is interesting…"

She then turned her head towards Max with a crafty smile on her face, "Shall we?"