Chapter 4 A Shocking Blackmail!

• As the Winters listened to the recitation of the gift list, they were left stunned and speechless.
• Who could have sent such extravagant engagement gifts?
• It was way beyond anything they had expected!
• "The total value of the engagement gifts was 78 million dollars. Could someone from the Winters please accept the gift list and verify it?" Cole concluded.
• After Cole finished speaking, Rose exclaimed a few times, trembling as she took the gift list and weakly asked, "Sir, who sent these extravagant gifts?"
• Cole glanced at Mike, then replied, "They're from Nation's Protector."
• "What?!"
• Rose was utterly shocked!
• The entire family was taken aback!
• But quickly, Tony became extremely excited. "Grandma, Nation's Protector is the leader of the Four Great Protectors of Lorrenvia, with a prestigious status. By becoming the in-laws of Nation's Protector, our family is set to thrive and reach new heights!"
• "Yeah!"
• Rose nodded vigorously, her excitement causing her frail body to tremble. "Sir, I have several granddaughters. May I ask which one has caught the eye of Nation's Protector?"
• Cole replied, "Nation's Protector wants to give her a surprise, so it's not convenient to disclose. You're all invited to Royal One this Saturday night to attend Nation's Protector's wedding, and everything will be revealed then."
• With that, Cole and his entourage departed.
• As soon as he left, Rose held the gift list, tears of joy streaming down her face.
• "Our family has risen from the ashes!"
• At that moment, Tony opened one of the boxes.
• "Whoa!"
• A chorus of gasps filled the room.
• It was packed with gold bars.
• Before long, every box was opened up.
• There were ten crates of gold, ten filled with cash, and another one stuffed with all sorts of jewellery and property certificates.
• "We're hitting the jackpot!"
• The excitement rippled through the Winters, everyone shaking with joy.
• Even Luna was taken aback!
• It was the first time she had ever seen such a huge amount of gold and cash!
• "Grandma, which one of our girls do you think Nation's Protector is eyeing?" Tony asked.
• Rose shook her head in disbelief.
• Hannah boasted, "I think Nation's Protector wants to marry me."
• "You're shameless!" Lana shot her a glare. "Luna is the prettiest. It only makes sense for him to marry her!"
• "You're the one who's shameless!" Hannah shot back. "There are only three girls in our family: me, Luna, and Helena.
• "I'm twenty-four, still single. Luna is twenty-five and married. And Helena, she's just seventeen. Nation's Protector wouldn't be interested in her, so I have the best chance.
• "Two years ago when our university visited the barracks, I tripped, and this handsome soldier helped me up. He even smiled and asked for my name. When I told him it was Hannah, he said it was a beautiful name.
• "If I'm guessing right, that soldier must be Nation's Protector. Ever since he helped me up that day, he's probably had a crush on me. Maybe he was busy with missions back then, but now that he's got some free time, he wants to marry me and surprise me. It's gotta be like that!"
• Tony exclaimed excitedly, "Is that true?"
• Hannah nodded vigorously. "I'm not kidding!"
• "Hannah, I love you so much. Hearing you say that, I also think Nation's Protector must be marrying you. With over 70 million in engagement gifts, it's all ours!" Gwen Landon, Hannah's mother, snatched the gift list from Rose's hands, filled with excitement.
• Lana said, "Let Mom hold onto the gift list. What if Nation's Protector decides to marry our Luna? If you spend all the engagement gifts, who will I turn to then?"
• Gwen scoffed. "Don't you realise Luna is already married? Do you honestly think someone as high-profile as Nation's Protector would settle for second best?"
• "Well … "
• Lana was at a loss for words.
• Then she turned to scold Mike, "This is all your fault! If you hadn't ruined Luna, Nation's Protector would have chosen her over Hannah! Luna is even more beautiful than Hannah!"
• She was close to tears, feeling like she had lost a fortune.
• "Mom, calm down. Nation's Protector will marry Luna, not Hannah," said Mike.
• He then addressed Gwen's family, "Aunt Gwen, you better not touch these engagement gifts, or else you won't be able to afford the consequences."
• He wanted to give Luna a surprise on the wedding day, so he didn't let Cole say it was from him.
• Tony snapped back, "Who are you to interfere? Do you have the right to meddle in our affairs?"
• Mike immediately fired back, "The engagement gifts are for Luna. How do I not have the right?"
• "That's enough, Mike!" Luna interjected. "I've never even met a military officer. Nation's Protector couldn't possibly marry me. Don't deceive yourself.
• "Besides, you're happy about the prospect of me being married off to Nation's Protector, aren't you?"
• Mike gave her a gentle smile. "I wouldn't want to see you getting married off to someone else."
• "Well, what are we waiting for then? Let's head back home. I've been starving for days."
• Luna tugged Mike along.
• But just as they took a few steps, a figure rushed in, dropping to their knees in front of Luna, crying out, "Ms. Winters, please forgive my son's actions. I beg you, please help save Skyhill Media!"
• Luna looked bewildered.
• Tony hurried over, looking puzzled. "Mr. Gray, weren't you just threatening Mike earlier? Why are you here now, pleading with Luna for help?"
• Ethan Gray sobbed, "Not long after I hung up the call with your grandma, multiple government departments launched an investigation into Skyhill Media. I found out through my contacts that it was because of how my son treated Ms. Winters. He angered Nation's Protector, who then ordered the investigation.
• "Which company can handle that kind of investigation? If this keeps up, Skyhill Media is doomed. Please, Ms. Winters, ask Nation's Protector to spare me!"
• Luna was stunned!
• Nation's Protector is standing up for me?
• "Haha!" Lana exclaimed, "Did you hear that? Luna was bullied by that jerk Jason, and even Nation's Protector couldn't stand it. He wants to bring down Skyhill Media to seek justice for her.
• "Nation's Protector must be feeling sorry for Luna, that's why he sent the engagement gifts. So, these gifts are for Luna, not for Hannah!
• The Winters exchanged looks.
• At this moment, Hannah snorted, "Are you stupid? I told you, Nation's Protector won't marry a divorced woman. Why are you trying to glorify your daughter?"
• "Then how do you explain the investigation into Skyhill Media ordered by Nation's Protector?" countered Lana.
• Hannah crossed her arms and smiled coyly. "Because Nation's Protector wants to marry me. Luna is my cousin, which makes her Nation's Protector's cousin-in-law. It's only natural for my man to stand up for, isn't it?"
• Ugh!
• Mike felt nauseous.
• "Could you please stop being so shameless? Who is your man?"
• Hannah was ready to retort when Ethan, visibly excited, interrupted. "Wait, Nation's Protector wants to marry you?"
• "Yeah," Hannah replied with a nod, gesturing towards the engagement gifts.
• "He sent these to me."
• Ethan was visibly trembling with excitement. "Ms. Winters, I heard from Jason that you and Luna don't get along. If you can convince Nation's Protector not to interfere with Skyhill Media, I'll spill all the dirt about Luna. It's some juicy stuff, and I'm sure you'd be very interested!"
• With these words, Luna trembled, clearly at a loss.
• Mike grabbed Ethan's collar, asking sternly, "Spill it! What's this dirt you're talking about?"