When Samuel Peary saw Yancy Hastings approaching, he frowned instantly. "Yancy, what do you think you’re doing, bringing so many men here this late?" These juniors, one after another, no longer held him in any regard. Yancy Hastings’ hawk-like eyes narrowed as he glanced at the men in black who had been blocking Nia Mitchell. "I’ve come to take her away." He stated his purpose directly. Yancy Hastings had no time to beat around the bush with him. "Hmph! Was it Maxwell who sent you?" Samuel didn’t even need to ask; he knew Maxwell Peary and Yancy Hastings had never lost contact. The only person who could persuade Yancy Hastings to come out so late was Maxwell Peary. "That’s right," Yancy Hastings nodded. "Tell Maxwell Peary I’m keeping Nia Mitchell at the old residence for a few days." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✦𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✦𝓷𝓮𝓽 Samuel Peary decisively refused. Even if Maxwell Peary himself came today, he could forget about taking Nia Mitchell. "I’m not here to negotiate with you; I’m here to take her. Or do you think I’m incapable of that?" Yancy Hastings was growing impatient. He still had military matters to attend to and couldn’t afford to waste too much time here. "Nia Mitchell, let’s go!" Nia Mitchell, standing to one side, clearly hadn’t expected Yancy Hastings to come. Hearing Yancy Hastings’ dominant words, she silently gave him a thumbs-up in her heart. No wonder he’s Uncle’s friend. He’s just as awesome as Uncle Peary! She quickly jogged over to Yancy Hastings’ side. Although she’d had some unfavorable impressions of him earlier that night at the Lotus Residence, at this moment, she had to admit that this Yancy Hastings made her feel quite secure. "Yancy Hastings! Even your old man would have to show me some deference if he were here! How dare you act so presumptuously before me?!" Samuel Peary’s voice rose in anger, full of vigor. Yancy Hastings turned to look at Samuel Peary. He found it impossible to respect such a middle-aged man. "I am definitely taking Nia Mitchell with me." His words allowed no refusal. Samuel Peary nodded sharply, his face filled with intense ferocity. "Fine. Very good. Very good! None of you ever give me any peace! Do you think you can still marry Evelyn Peary after what you’ve done today?" Samuel Peary’s words made Yancy Hastings pause. His expression turned even more unpleasant, as if a raw nerve had been touched. Few people had ever seen Yancy Hastings , and many couldn’t quite tell if he was angry or something else. But his reaction at least showed that Evelyn Peary held significant importance to him. Seeing this, Samuel Peary assumed Yancy Hastings genuinely liked Evelyn Peary and therefore wouldn’t dare to oppose him further. "Rest assured, I’m not an unfeeling person. As long as you don’t meddle in other people’s business today, you can come to the Peary Clan to propose for Evelyn another day. I will still betroth her to you." Samuel Peary wasn’t a fool. The Peary Clan was in business, and the Hastings Family was in politics. While the two families couldn’t be called old hereditary friends, their ties were not shallow. Evelyn had to marry someone eventually. Since Yancy Hastings was interested, why shouldn’t Samuel do him a favor? "Samuel Peary, do you think you’re qualified to make this decision for Evelyn?" Yancy Hastings sneered, looking at Samuel Peary with ridicule. How could a man who has never fulfilled his responsibilities as a father have the right to treat her like a commodity to be traded? Such a profit-obsessed person is unworthy of being Evelyn Peary’s father. Samuel Peary hadn’t expected Yancy Hastings to say such a thing. He was so angry that his heart began to ache. "Why can’t I make the decision? I’m her father!"