The Villain Who Stole Hearts
Chapter 124: Sierra’s Guess

Chapter 124: Sierra’s Guess

Pure, unfiltered pride.

Sierra huffed smugly to herself. Maybe Veil wasn’t entirely worthless after all—at least the man had a shred of discernment.

That Madison woman? Please. She thought she could posture in front of her?

She clearly had no idea who she was dealing with.

Credit where credit’s due—Veil actually had taste.

"You got mad, didn’t you?" Sierra asked, clearly in a good mood.

Veil didn’t even bother turning around. He let out a cold snort. "Are you blind? Couldn’t tell?"

The words nearly choked Sierra. She fumbled for a response, then tried again. "You were getting along just fine with her earlier. I mean, she did have a decent figure. What happened? Why the sudden change?"

Veil still didn’t look back, though he was perfectly aware of what was going on.

Why was Sierra suddenly so chatty?

Because she was worried about him?

Not a chance.

He knew better than to kid himself. They weren’t anywhere near that stage. This was something else entirely—this was a woman reveling in victory. She had won the little war for his attention, and now she was circling back, eager to tally up her spoils.

All she wanted was to hear it from his own lips—that he’d turned cold on Madison because of her.

It was the satisfaction of dominance. The kind of pleasure that came from knowing you were the last one standing.

But Veil wasn’t about to give her that satisfaction.

He said nothing. Just breathed slowly, in and out, trying to settle his mood.

Sierra stood off to the side, awkward and unsure of whether to leave or stay. And the fact that she didn’t get the response she wanted? That only annoyed her more.

A long silence followed—until Veil finally broke it.

"I heard your father’s been showing up at the company less and less lately. Is he unhappy with the way things are going? Or is he planning to walk away from Davenport Group altogether?"

"Who the hell’s been spreading that crap?" Sierra snapped, irritated.

There was no way Veil, who hadn’t stepped foot in the company, could’ve known that. Clearly, the board members were still crawling over themselves trying to curry favor with him.

Veil gave her a sharp look over his shoulder, brow furrowed. "I asked you a question. Not interested in hearing your complaints."

Sierra muttered an "ugh" under her breath and rolled her eyes. "It’s not true. Just people talking out of their ass.

If my dad had really given up on Davenport Group, do you think I’d still be here, jumping through your hoops?"

She bit her tongue before she added the rest.

If it weren’t for her father—if that company weren’t the product of his life’s work—there was no way she’d be subjecting herself to this. No way she’d be humbling herself like some maid in front of Veil.

"..."

Worried he’d start forming the wrong idea, Sierra laid out her father’s recent schedule in detail.

Apparently, an old acquaintance from Luxhaven City—a real estate mogul—had been discussing a potential investment deal with him.

Veil feigned ignorance. "Real estate, huh? Coincidence—I’ve been looking to expand into that sector. And from the sound of it, your father’s hesitating because of limited capital. Maybe he’d be open to working with me?"

---

The Next Afternoon — Veyport City, upscale teahouse.

Inside a private room, Joseph Davenport wore a strained expression.

"Mr. Lancaster, before your guest arrives, allow me to be candid. Real estate has certainly boomed in recent years, but you should know—Veyport City is already highly developed. At this point, the market doesn’t lack properties."

He sighed. "In fact, the flood of new investors has led to an excess of projects. Sooner or later, that’ll backfire. We’re looking at an oversupply problem. And while prices may not crash overnight, the room for appreciation will be limited. There’s no guarantee you’ll even find buyers."

His tone was polite, but his message was clear—Veil was playing with fire.

Money didn’t grow on trees. A lot of people thought they were ahead of the game, but all it took was a bad read on the market to go down in flames.

Sierra sat nearby, quietly toying with her teacup, shooting her father occasional glances.

If Veil weren’t sitting right there, she would’ve covered her father’s mouth herself.

Seriously, stop talking.

Let him dig his own grave. If Veil wanted to throw himself at the real estate beast, let him. If he ended up choking on the first bite and cracking a few teeth in the process—well, tough luck.

What the hell was her father doing, trying to warn him?

If he knew half of what she’d endured under Veil lately, he wouldn’t be in such a hurry to hand out friendly advice.

"Joseph, I really appreciate the insight, and I’ll definitely take your advice into account," Veil replied with a respectful nod, all poise and humility.

"But I’ve done my homework. I’m fairly confident in my direction."

"When it’s convenient, I’m Joseph Davenport. When it’s not, suddenly I’m ’Uncle Joseph.’" Sierra muttered under her breath, scoffing quietly.

"Sierra!" her father snapped, turning around with a glare. Then he faced Veil again and gave an awkward chuckle. "Apologies, Mr. Lancaster. She’s always been spoiled—doesn’t know when to keep her mouth shut."

Veil smiled and shook his head, unconcerned. He pulled out a Marrow Cleansing Pill—a diluted version, about a third of the original strength—and handed it to Joseph.

"Uncle Joseph, that chronic issue of yours still hasn’t cleared up, has it? I happen to have one of these with me today. Go ahead and take it."

"This... it’s far too valuable!"

Joseph stared at the pill resting in his palm, momentarily dazed. The last time he’d taken one, the results had been nothing short of miraculous. He’d felt like a new man—lighter, clearer, stronger.

And now, another one?

It burned in his hand like it weighed a thousand pounds.

He no longer felt like he had the right to accept a second gift from Veil—not something of this caliber.

"Promotion bonus—buy one, get one free. Just take it," Veil said with a grin, trying to put him at ease. As he spoke, he shot a quick glance at Sierra.

She caught on instantly and chimed in, "Dad, Veil’s just being kind. You should take it. It’s not some fancy luxury item—it’s medicine. Life-saving stuff."

Joseph let out a long sigh. "Alright then... thank you." His voice was low, his expression conflicted. He didn’t want to owe anyone, but with his health on the line, he had no choice but to accept.

Unable to offer anything in return, he simply gave Veil a look filled with quiet gratitude.

"You’re making it sound too formal, Uncle Joseph," Veil said with a light chuckle.

The truth was, Joseph had already paid enough for the first pill. This second one? By all rights, it was already his. Giving it back now cost Veil nothing—and in return, he’d just earned himself a mountain of goodwill.

Even Veil had to admit: sometimes, he was a damn good businessman.

Sierra, watching the easy conversation between Veil and her father, felt momentarily out of place.

Was the sun rising in the west today?

What was going on with Veil?

He was acting like a completely different person.

Last night, he’d ripped Madison apart—for her.

And now, without asking for anything in return, he was offering her father an incredibly rare Marrow Cleansing Pill like it was no big deal.

Veil... could he actually like her?

Knock knock!

A crisp knock at the door broke Sierra out of her spiraling thoughts.

A middle-aged man, neatly dressed and well-groomed, stepped inside, followed closely by a female assistant in a black skirt suit and sheer stockings.

"Apologies," the man said, looking slightly embarrassed. "I ran into some delays on the way—sorry for being late."

"Not at all, we only just arrived ourselves. Come, have a seat," Joseph replied warmly, waving off the apology. He signaled the server for a fresh pot of tea, then glanced across at Caspian and teased, "You haven’t changed a bit. Unlike me—I’m already an old man."

It was a polite jest, but there was truth to it. Despite being only a year or two apart in age, Joseph and Caspian looked like they belonged to different generations. Caspian had sharp, symmetrical features and had clearly taken good care of himself. He looked years younger than he was.

Veil gave Caspian a faint glance and thought to himself: They say daughters resemble their fathers, but judging by Blood Mandala and Caspian... maybe not. Odds are she takes after her mother.

After a round of introductions—Joseph kindly helping bridge the gap—Caspian’s demeanor toward Veil shifted immediately. He started initiating conversation, subtly trying to curry favor without being too obvious.

"I heard from Uncle Joseph that you’re looking to sell off that new residential development you’re building in Veyport City?" Veil asked casually, smiling. "What’s the story there?"

Caspian’s face tightened with a bitter smile. "Not gonna lie, young master Lancaster—my family’s business division has run into some liquidity issues lately. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be in such a rush to unload the project. I’ve crossed paths with Joseph a few times in Luxhaven City, so I brought it up with him when we reconnected."

He was clearly being cautious. Though Caspian wasn’t a direct heir of his family, he wielded significant influence through his wife’s side of the family. That alone gave him insider access to certain information—and he was smart enough to understand what a legitimate heir like Veil represented.

There was no room for arrogance here. He wouldn’t dare lie to someone like Veil.

The truth? The problem wasn’t the family—it was his section of the business that had sprung a financial leak. And in a family where he was already considered secondary, plenty of people were waiting to see him fall.

He’d worked hard to maintain stability for years. No way was he going to let one mistake take him down now. Even if it meant liquidating personal assets—he was going to plug the hole and survive.

Veil nodded. "Business is all about timing. Real estate’s definitely a high-profit game, but if you’re looking for fast cash, you’re not going to have the luxury of waiting out the market. I am interested in expanding into that sector, but your asking price is a bit... optimistic. Fifteen billion?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Sure, the land footprint is decent, but if I’m not mistaken, only one building has even reached structural completion so far. With current market values, that price point doesn’t leave much room for return."

He pulled out a document and handed it over.

Joseph had helped him prepare it—a thorough valuation report on the property. It showed the fair market value hovering just above twelve billion.

Caspian’s assistant began reviewing the documents. After a while, she looked up and gave her boss a small, confirming nod.

Caspian let out a tired sigh. "You’re right, young master Lancaster. The price is high. But that’s how negotiations work, isn’t it? I’ve reviewed your evaluation, and I’ll be honest—it’s accurate. And I am in a hurry to sell. If you’re serious about buying, twelve billion will do."

"Perfect. Since you’re being so straightforward, Uncle Caspian, I won’t haggle further. Twelve billion it is. I’ll partner with Uncle Joseph on this one—we’ll buy it together."

Joseph, who had been quietly drinking tea, almost choked.

Partner?

Where was the partnership in this?

This was daylight robbery.

Twelve billion. Most of his liquid capital had already been reinvested into the company. What little he had left was now about to be drained by Veil’s so-called collaboration.

The bitterness in his chest was hard to describe—but he didn’t refuse.

After all, converting cash to fixed assets wasn’t a loss in itself. There might still be a profit later. And more importantly, it wasn’t like he had the option to say no—not to Veil.

Once the deal was agreed upon, both parties called in their respective teams to start drafting contracts and arranging for a notary. Discussions about deposits and payment schedules dragged on into the late afternoon.

They settled on a fifty-percent down payment—six billion upfront. Veil and Joseph each contributed three billion, with the remaining six to be paid off in installments over the next six months.

After receiving the transfer confirmation from the bank, Caspian offered Veil a flattering smile.

"As expected from a top-tier heir—pulling together that kind of cash in half a day? Truly impressive."

With a few more pleasantries exchanged, he gathered his people and left.

Sierra watched them walk out, then muttered with a scowl, "What a coward. Shows up surrounded by bodyguards like he’s royalty. What’s he so scared of?"

She hadn’t liked Caspian from the start—and after what she’d been through with the board, her tolerance for smug older men was at an all-time low.

Especially him. When he was talking to her father, it was all condescension. But the moment he faced Veil? Groveling. Like a dog wagging its tail when there’s a bone to chase.

"Sierra!" Joseph snapped, giving her a disapproving look. He turned to Veil with a forced smile. "Young master Lancaster, this project isn’t exactly a loss... but if you’re looking for short-term profits, I’m afraid that’s going to be difficult.

Housing prices in Veyport City have stabilized. I suggest we put a hold on sales—wait until the market turns before we release the units."

Joseph did have some business acumen. It was better to hold assets than to dump them in a buyer’s market.

Veil gave him a calm smile. "Sell the units? Uncle Joseph, I think you’ve misunderstood. I didn’t buy the development to sell to individual homeowners."

"...Huh?"

Joseph stared at him, stunned.

If the buildings weren’t meant for private sale... then what?

It wasn’t a commercial tower you could lease out floor-by-floor.

"Don’t worry, Uncle Joseph. I have plans," Veil said casually. He offered no further explanation and left without another word.

Leaving Joseph and Sierra standing in place, wide-eyed and unsure.

"Dad, head home first. I’m going to get some answers out of Veil," Sierra said, biting her lip. After reassuring her father, she stormed out—fuming—as she made her way toward Veil’s house.