An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2461

“Gentlemen, you certainly have a good sense of humor,” Jovian said, taking another sip of tea. “But I’m not very brave. I startle easily, so I would appreciate it if you kept the jokes to a minimum.”

“Of course,” Huxley replied with a smile and a nod.

“Just some light banter to break the ice. If we’ve offended you, I apologize on behalf of Mr. Prescott. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Jovian relaxed a little at that.

He had the courage to attend this tricky dinner, so he wasn’t afraid of a few threats. He was open to sharing information if they were willing to have a real conversation. But they had tried to intimidate him. Their words were full of hidden threats and demands, as if they thought they could push him around.

That didn’t sit well with him, but he kept his feelings to himself—for now.

“There’s no need to apologize. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way,” Jovian said flatly. He stood up, feeling that continuing the conversation was pointless.

“Hold on.” Huxley quickly got up to stop him.

“Since you’re already here, why not make yourself comfortable? We’ve barely talked, and we haven’t even finished our tea. People might think we’re poor hosts if you leave now,” he said with a warm smile, guiding Jovian back to his seat.

Unlike Warrick, who was tough and aggressive, Huxley knew when to change his approach. If force didn’t work, maybe charm would. After all, there always had to be a good cop to balance out the bad.

“Do you have anything else to ask, gentlemen?” Jovian’s voice remained indifferent. Even though he sat down again, he wasn’t going to pretend to be friendly.

for secrets; we just want to know where Lord Austin stands. This is important for everyone in Oakvale.”

Huxley dropped the friendly tone and got straight to the point. “Things have been chaotic in Oakvale. We need to know what side Lord Austin is on, or if he has other plans.”

This was no longer a subtle hint; it was a clear demand. Jovian knew he couldn’t pretend to be clueless anymore.

“If you’d just asked me directly, Sir Thatcher, I would have understood right away. There’s no need for all this roundabout talk,” Jovian replied, his voice steady.

Huxley leaned in closer, urgency in his voice. “So, did Lord Austin say anything to you?”

Percival and Warrick were both watching closely, eager for an answer.

“I understand your concerns, but honestly, Lord Austin didn’t tell me anything,” Jovian said with a shake of his head.

“That’s hard to believe. You were with him for hours. You expect us to think you only talked about personal matters?” Percival questioned, frowning.

“That’s right, Mr. Jovian. We agreed to be honest. Keeping secrets is not fair,” Huxley said, narrowing his eyes in displeasure.

Warrick didn’t speak, but his face showed he was about to lose his temper.

“I assure you, I’m telling the truth,” Jovian said firmly. “I did ask Lord Austin about these issues, but he didn’t respond. So, I have nothing more to share.”

“Do you think we’re fools? Do you really expect us to believe that?” Warrick shouted, slamming his fist on the table in frustration.

“Mr. Prescott, please calm down,” Huxley said quickly, trying to keep the situation from escalating.

Then, he turned back to Jovian, forcing a smile. “Mr. Jovian, we’re not looking for secrets; we just need to know where Lord Austin stands. This matters for everyone in Oakvale.”

“Here’s the deal: tell us the truth, and the three of us will owe you a favor. No matter what trouble you face in the future, we’ll have your back.”

Huxley thought this was a generous offer. Three important officials were ready to support Jovian, which was worth much more than gold or jewels.

“That’s a tempting offer,” Jovian replied calmly.

He continued, “If I had any information, I would share it. But the truth is, I don’t know anything. Lord Austin invited me to the castle, but all we did was eat, drink, and talk about family matters. He never mentioned politics. You can ask Boston; he’ll back me up.”

“You two are in on this together. Of course, he’d cover for you,” Percival shot back.

“Then let’s go ask Lord Austin together. You can see for yourselves whether I’m lying,” Jovian countered.

Percival hesitated, momentarily speechless.

Confronting Austin directly could backfire. If Austin found out they had threatened Jovian, he would be furious.

“I’ve said all I can and cooperated as much as possible. If you still don’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can do,” Jovian said coolly.

A heavy silence filled the room.

They were unsure if Jovian was lying or if they were willing to take the risk of thinking he was.