Chapter 5

Samuel truly excelled in everything, and he always received immense attention from the Moore family. If not for the car accident that cost him a leg and his removal as heir to the family by his grandfather, Yuvan Moore, he wouldn't be here at this birthday party today. Moreover, the accident was closely linked to Aaron. Owen didn't want Shirley to get involved in such a complex and dangerous family affair. Rachel sighed regretfully, but Owen said, "Let's check out the others." At that moment, a slender young woman was at the window. Her gaze was fixed on the young man standing under the magnolia tree, and her eyes were sparkling with excitement. He was here! Shirley couldn't believe it. The young man who had made her heart race and stunned her for the past two years was actually at her birthday party. Seeing him standing under the tree, Shirley felt her heart might leap out of her chest. This was probably what it was like to have a crush! It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling. On the first day of high school, he ran toward her in his white gym clothes. Ever since then, this feeling had stayed with her. From that day on, the basketball court became her daily stop. Sadly, after the accident took his leg, Shirley never saw him at the basketball court again. It wasn't until the SATs that he appeared at the school in a wheelchair. He was accepted into Elderstone College. Though he wasn't in the same high school as Shirley anymore, she never missed any news about him. The guests had all arrived, so Owen and Rachel took Shirley downstairs. It was worth mentioning that Shirley was quite well known in Elderstone. People said that on the morning she was born, all the flowers in the hospital bloomed, and the entire place was bathed in a golden glow. The building resembled a gold bar from afar. At that time, the famous fortune teller, Adrian Ashford, happened to be recovering in the same hospital. Before his friends and relatives who were visiting him, he said, "The Weisses' daughter is born with great fortune. The Weiss family is about to undergo a major change." Back then, the Weiss family only had a small, insignificant business. But in the years that followed, the rise of the Weiss family proved Adrian's words to be true. After Shirley's birth, it took Weiss Group only a short few years to transform from an unknown company into one of the top enterprises in the city. The Weiss family thrived. The young men at today's birthday party were all handpicked youths from various families. However, none of them were heirs to their families' fortunes. The young man chosen by Owen and Rachel today would eventually marry into the Weiss family. Essentially, he would become a son-in-law who could live off his wife's family. Rachel mentioned a few youths' names to Shirley, but Shirley couldn't care less about them since none of them was Samuel. Rachel steered Shirley around the room, then left her to enjoy the party with her friends. Shirley was easygoing and sociable, and she had plenty of friends. The young men, of course, took the chance to flatter her. The young lady of the Weiss family wasn't only from a prestigious family, but she was also beautiful. Among these young men, some were more than willing to marry into the Weiss family just based on those criteria. "You should also go!" Melanie Smith noticed the young man beside her hadn't reacted and grew anxious. "Benjamin, if Ms. Weiss chooses you, you might get your father out of prison earlier with Owen's connections." The cold-faced man finally showed a hint of interest. Melanie continued, "You're the most outstanding among everyone here today. Ms. Weiss will surely pick you. Do it for your father!" Benjamin glanced at Shirley, who was being treated like a princess by everyone. A faint smirk appeared on his lips, and he straightened up before walking toward her. Melanie couldn't help but smile as she watched Benjamin's slender and tall figure walk away. Since Benjamin's father was imprisoned, the Blackwood family had fallen into decline, only getting worse after each year. If Shirley chose Benjamin, the entire Blackwood family would benefit from their relationship. "Hello, Ms. Weiss. I'm Benjamin Blackwood, and I'm from Elderstone College—" Shirley had finally escaped the constant attention from the young men around, and her mind was set on rushing over to the magnolia tree. She was too preoccupied to deal with Benjamin. She saw the young man beneath the tree about to leave, so she hastily interrupted Benjamin, "Sorry. You're in my way." At this age, Shirley was a proud and arrogant young woman. She didn't even glance at Benjamin as she walked around him. Benjamin stared at his outstretched hand for a few seconds before slowly retracting it. Around him, the people were whispering and mocking. "Isn't the Blackwood family just an insignificant family?" "Look at him. Doesn't he know his place?" They laughed at his foolishness for thinking he could stand out. However, Benjamin didn't seem to care at all. He turned to look at Shirley's retreating figure, then calmly turned his gaze away. There was no anger or sorrow—just a cold indifference. It was as if nothing in this vast world could affect his emotions. Just as he was about to leave, voices from the crowd cut through the air. "Is that him, Benjamin Blackwood? The son of the porn star, Lilian Abbott?" "That's him. Lilian really brought this on herself. She married but couldn't stay faithful, always chasing after men. She got caught by her husband in the end, and the husband killed her lover in a fit of rage. Harvey Blackwood ruined his own life and landed himself in prison by doing that." "I don't get why Harvey only killed Lilian's lover. If it were me, I would have killed Lilian first." Words like "porn star", "lover", and "wretch" were like sharp daggers, each word digging deeper into Benjamin's heart. The usually cold, indifferent young man finally showered a flicker of emotion. Shirley caught the words behind her, and she stopped in her tracks. She frowned and turned her gaze back to the young man she had just brushed past. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and the color had drained from his face. His eyes were bloodshot, and his whole body seemed to radiate a murderous fury. He looked like a devil that had crawled up from hell to claim vengeance. A thought suddenly came to mind—the young man must have loved his mother more than anything. As Benjamin walked away, he passed by Shirley, and his gaze flickered over her face. When his eyes passed over her, Shirley felt as if the blood in her veins had frozen. A chill washed over her, and even breathing felt painful. After Benjamin left, it took a long time for Shirley to recover from the fear. That young man had to be a devil! The incident ended as quickly as it started. No one really paid any attention to it. Once Benjamin was gone, all eyes were back on Shirley. She was the reason they were all here today. Meanwhile, the beautiful and proud young woman had rejected every young man in her path. She walked with a purpose directly toward the young man under the magnolia tree. So, everyone knew who she had chosen. But… she actually chose a crippled? Shirley walked toward the young man with determination. This was the boldest thing she had ever done in her life, and the first time she had openly defied her parents. "I choose him." Samuel watched as Shirley walked toward him, her every step steady under the crowd's incredulous gaze. There was also disbelief, disdain, and jealousy mixed in the crowd's eyes, and his hands slowly clenched tighter. "Why me?" "Because I like you!" Shirley said with a carefree smile, her eyes sparkling brightly. Shirley was a beautiful woman. She had a delicate appearance, and her gaze was pure, sincere, and brave.