Chapter 2 The Black and White Jade Pendant

Sidney stood up unhurriedly and followed Howard into Linda’s room. A woman with white hair lay on a velvet princess bed in the luxurious bedroom. Her face was sickly, with dry and peeling lips, indicating that she had not had water for a long time. “Old Mrs. Pierce, Miss Morgan and Mr. Pierce have arrived,” announced Howard. Although Linda felt dizzy and disoriented, she immediately looked over with anticipation upon hearing those words. When she saw the plain yet beautiful girl, she could not help but feel excited. She wanted to get out of bed, but her body weakened due to a prolonged lack of food. As a result, she almost stumbled and fell. Christine hurried over to support her. “Careful.” Hearing the crisp and gentle voice of the young girl, Linda felt a sense of relief, as if she had taken a miracle medicine. Sidney also walked over to assist, but she instinctively avoided his touch. So, he retracted his hands awkwardly. At that moment, she was focused wholeheartedly on the young lady before her. She held her hand and asked incessantly, “You… You’re Christine?” “Yes, Christine Morgan.” Linda smiled with joy upon seeing her. “I saw you when you were a child. It’s been eighteen years, and you’ve grown up so beautifully. I wonder if you still remember me.” She looked at her expectantly as her words fell, waiting for a response. However, the girl’s voice came again. “I don’t.” Linda was dumbfounded. Similarly, the servants were shocked at how she did not give Linda any face. However, Linda simply waved her hand, unconcerned. “It’s alright. That’s inevitable. After all, it has been so many years. But you should be acquainted with Sidney during your journey after getting off the plane, right?” Christine fluttered her clear eyes and looked at the man beside her, enveloped in a cold atmosphere. “Madam Pierce, I’ve only met Mr. Pierce for less than ten minutes.” Suddenly, Linda’s benevolent and gentle expression changed. She turned to him and sternly scolded, “Didn’t I tell you to pick up Christine personally? What have you been doing all morning?” He furrowed his brow, his eyes filled with helplessness. “Grandma, I’m busy with work and can’t free up my schedule. I arranged for a few people to pick her up from the airport. Besides, it doesn’t matter who picks her up. But if I don’t keep an eye on things at the company, it will fall into chaos.” Pierce Corporation, built over several generations, had become one of the world’s leading conglomerates. However, strangely, various inexplicable incidents happened in recent months. For example, when Ryan was on his way to deliver a contract worth billions, he was pulled into the river by someone who accidentally fell in, causing him to miss the signing deadline. Besides that, Mr. Charles, who was in charge of haute couture, ended up burning several holes in the pre-designed dresses while smoking. Such strange incidents kept occurring so much that it gave Sidney a headache. Although Pierce Corporation was vast, these minor losses would not have much impact, but even ants can devour an elephant given enough time. And now, during such chaotic times, an unfamiliar woman had arrived. Hearing his words, Linda became even angrier. “Do you not understand the importance of the situation? Will the company collapse without you? Christine is your fiancée, and I repeatedly urged and instructed you to pick her up personally. How can you be so negligent?” Sidney was attacked by the deafening waves of her voice. His displeasure was evident in his sinister gaze. “Grandma, what era are we living in? Are you still playing this matchmaking game? Not to mention fortune tellers, they’re all frauds, especially those who like to deceive superstitious elderly people like you.” He expressed dissatisfaction with this arranged marriage, indicating his unwillingness to accept Christine. She happily went along with his words, her voice clear as a spring. “Madam Pierce, he’s right. Young people nowadays don’t like arranged marriages. I’m the same. How about we simply cancel the engagement and part ways amicably?” Her gaze was sincere and natural while Sidney pursed his thin lips, his eyes dark. Does this woman sincerely think this way, or is she using retreat as a strategy? At that, Linda immediately became anxious, her pale face turning red. “Don’t be foolish! You two are destined to be together! If it weren’t for Christine’s grandmother’s incredible calculations saving your life back then, you would’ve been long gone. Now, Christine has gone through great hardships to come and save you, and you’re putting on an icy face for everyone to see!” She pounded her cane on the ground, her voice getting louder. She felt that Sidney had gone too far, which was why Christine would say such things. He restrained himself, his cold voice tinged with helplessness. “Grandma, no one can save another person’s destiny. Have you been reading too many novels lately?” Linda sighed deeply, seeing that he still did not believe her. “Do you each have half of a black and white jade pendant? Take them out.” The black and white jade pendant was used to ward off evil and bring peace. It was divided into black and white parts; the female had the black half, while the male had the white half. Christine took out a black jade pendant from her bag upon hearing this, and Sidney also decisively pulled out the white jade pendant from around his neck. He cast a skeptical look at her as he handed it to Linda. That was the jade pendant he had been wearing since childhood, so how did she also have a similar half? Linda took the two jade pendants with a reverent expression and brought them close together in front of them, witnessing a magical scene. The two jade pendants seemed drawn toward each other from the depths of destiny and snapped together. “This marriage is destined by heaven. Oh, this marriage is destined by heaven. Everything is predetermined in the mysterious workings of fate.” Christine’s calm eyes were filled with astonishment instantly. This half of the jade pendant had been by her side since she could remember. However, her grandmother never told her this jade pendant was a token of their childhood engagement. Meanwhile, ripples of emotions were also stirred in Sidney’s dark eyes.