After so many days, Savannah was still annoyed at Dylan or at herself. She hanged her head and said dryly, "nothing, we met in the garden. He helped me when I tripped."

Dylan frowned. Each time the little woman needed help, Lionel happened to be with her, and then she could enjoy his care as a matter of course.

What a coincidence! Dylan laughed sarcastically. Was that mean they were brought together by fate?

The atmosphere among the three became even tense. Fortunately, at this moment, Emma came back in a hurry with a coat in hand. Seeing that Dylan and Lionel were there, she stopped startled, "Mr. Sterling, Mr. Rowe..."

The two men stood there like two wild beasts ready to attack each other; Mr. Sterling looked madly ferocious and Rowe calm and self-possessed.

Between the two men stood Savannah, the little game between two wild beasts.

The atmosphere became a little relaxed when Emma broke the silence.

"Why did you leave Miss Schultz here all by herself?" asked Dylan coldly.

"I... I went into the house to get Miss Schultz her coat." Emma stammered.

"Miss Schultz's never to be left alone, especially when there are other people in the house," Dylan ordered sharply, ignoring Lionel's face.

Savannah didn't want to face Dylan or involved Emma. She went up to Emma, took her arm, and whispered, "let's go."

Emma took a look at Dylan, swallowed, and draped the coat on Savannah. With Dylan's implicit consent, she helped Savannah leave the garden.

"It's getting late. Please tell uncle Sterling I've to go first. I'll call again sometime." Lionel said dryly as Savannah's back disappeared at the end of the path.

Call again? Dylan stared at Lionel coldly.

Lionel knew that the way he treated Savannah had already pushed Dylan's anger to the limit. If it were not for the contracts of those stars from Zagreb Film, Dylan would have kicked him out of this house. He paused and added, "you know, I don't really have anything to do with Miss Schultz. We've just met a couple of times, and I care about her because I think she's such a nice girl."

Dylan sneered. There are so many nice girls in the world. Why don't you care about them?

He believed that Lionel explained to him because he really had a purpose.

Why else did a man show concern to a woman?

Dylan gave him a cold look of suspicion and said menacingly, "I never knew you're so idle, Mr. Rowe. If you've too much spare time in LA, I don't mind help you to make your life a little busier."

He sounded so threatening. If Lionel kept closing in with Savannah, he would make trouble for him in the business.

Lionel squinted. It seemed that Dylan was really angry. Well, if what he had done could let Dylan pay more attention to Savannah and admit his feelings to her, maybe Dylan would marry her. As long as Savannah could have a better life and be happy, all that he had to face was worthwhile. However, he should not overdo it, lest Dylan would really annoy Savannah and embarrass her.

"Mr. Sterling, you really misunderstood us. It's getting late today, so I'll go first." Lionel said and walked away.

When he walked out of the garden and reached the gate, Dylan called behind him, "just a moment."

Lionel stopped and turned to him.

Dylan made a gesture. Several servants came out of the house carrying bags and boxes.

"These are gifts from you during this period of time. Please take them all back. Savannah has no lack of these things. I'll give her better ones," Dylan said and then waved to the servants, "take them to Mr. Rowe's car."

"Yes, sir." Carrying the bags and boxes in hands, the servants quickly headed for Lionel's car out of the gate.

Lionel looked surprised. Dylan was so possessive of Savannah that he did not even allow her to receive gifts from another man.

Dylan watched as the servants put the boxes in the trunk of Lionel's car. After Lionel got in and drove away, he turned and walked back to the house.

At the doorstep, old Sterling glanced in the direction of Lionel's car and then gave Dylan a meaningful look. Of course, he saw what had just happened between the two young men.

Dylan felt a little annoyed when he saw his father – he should have driven Lionel away for him instead of looking on.

"Oh, you drive your rival away?" Old Sterling asked, his eyes dancing with humor.

"Well," Dylan scoffed, "thanks for inviting him in."

Old Sterling laughed disapprovingly. "I feel confident in my son, so I let him come," he said, "Why are you so discouraged? Are you so afraid Savannah will be seduced by Lionel?"

Dylan tried to walk around his father to enter the house, failing to hide his exasperation.

"You got a minute, Dylan?" Old Sterling suddenly stopped him, and he's all seriousness now.

Dylan paused, looking at his father quietly.

In the moonlight, old Sterling walked slowly down the steps with his hands behind his back, approaching a tall tree in the middle of the yard. He stretched his fingers toward the tree trunk and murmured, "this acacia confusa has grown so big."

Dylan glanced at the tall tree next to his father. Of course, he knew that this acacia confusa was planted by his parents when they were just married. After her mother left them, his father took good care of it as if he projected all his feelings for his wife on it. A few decades had passed, and now it became such a big green tree.

historical

"This acacia tree was still a thin sapling when you were a baby. I was too busy at that time, struggling all day in the business circle. I didn't have much time to take good care of the tree, and your mother always worried that we couldn't grow it. Later, your mother passed away, and then I slowly put off the company and finally had time and energy to nurture the tree. If only your mother were still alive and could see it now."