Chess had a long history in America, yet they were now being defeated by other countries.

Jessica Daimler had always been sore about this as the American Chess Association's president. Although she had beat all the other female chess players in the world, she still trailed behind the male players.

But now, there was someone in America who could win a match against her! While it was humiliating for her, she now saw a glimmer of hope for the country's chess community.

Jessica Daimler thought that this young man would definitely accede to her request since she was already humbling herself by bowing down to him as the American Chess Association's president.

Never in a million years would she have expected to see Finn Taylor wave her off. "I'm not part of your chess community, and I have no interest in participating in some chess competition."

Rejection! She had been rejected!

Everyone was shell-shocked. 'Jessica Daimler had gone as far as to bow before him, yet he had rejected her! This young man is too arrogant! Didn't he just win a match? What's the big deal?'

But these indignant people had never once stopped to consider that in the chess world, winners were masters.

Since Finn Taylor had won against Jessica Daimler, he had the absolute right to be this arrogant. Besides, he wasn't even being cocky. He simply didn't want to expose himself nor participate in that competition.

Jessica Daimler spoke up once again. "Sir, the American chess community has fallen behind in recent years, and we've been constantly beaten by other countries. I hope that you'll be able to represent us."

Nonetheless, Finn Taylor waved her off once again, expressing his refusal.

Afraid of making a din, Finn Taylor simply left. Anyway, he had already accomplished his mission of the day.

Once he left, Jessica Daimler turned to her disciple. "You'd better stay and handle this guy. Don't even think of coming home if you don't manage to convince him to represent us in the competition."

Since Jessica Daimler had lost the match and taken a hit to her reputation, she naturally didn't want to remain in San Francisco any longer. However, she didn't want to lose such a talent like Finn Taylor either.

As such, she left her disciple here.

Megan Daimler was stunned, but she dared not go against her master's orders.

"Carl Gillies, you should be clear of the situation the chess community here is in. You seem familiar with that young man earlier. Don't hide him all to yourself. You must introduce him to me."

Of course, Carl Gillies didn't refuse. His feud with Jessica Daimler was a personal one, but against foreigners, both of them were in the same camp.

…

As soon as Finn Taylor left the chess association, he bumped into someone who he had least expected to meet—Maximus Brugel.

'This person is an elder of Peregrine Hall. Why's he in San Francisco?'

"Come with me." Maximus Brugel said only three words, but Finn Taylor dared not disobey him.

Since he was young, Maximus Brugel had imparted a great deal of knowledge and skills to Finn Taylor. It was very much thanks to the former that the latter had gotten this far.

The former led Finn Taylor to a hotel.

On the top floor.

The pair stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down toward the whole San Francisco.

"San Francisco is big, but it's also small at the same time," Maximus Brugel said vaguely.

"Master."

"Do you really still acknowledge me as your master?"

"Master, my feud with the Taylor family has nothing to do with you."

"But I'm still part of Peregrine Hall."

"Master, did they send you here?"

"It was your grandma—Frida Cameron."

"No, I don't have a grandma. What does she want?"

"She wants you to return home to take over Peregrine Hall and become the next Master Peregrine under Donovan Taylor's name."

Finn Taylor's eyes were full of fiery hatred. 'Why? I have already left the Taylor family and Peregrine Hall. I have already told myself never to cross paths with them again. Why aren't they willing to let me go? Now, I'm not even allowed to have my own name. We are biological brothers—twins—yet our treatment in the Taylor family is like night and day. Was I born just to be that person's shadow?'

Maximus Brugel pointed at the drawer by the bed. "There's a telescope in there."

Finn Taylor walked over and took it out.

"Look over there."

He picked up the telescope and looked in the direction Maximus Brugel was pointing in.

Through the telescope, Finn Taylor could see Yvette Larson and Clarine Landon laughing while they sat by the window in a Starbucks outlet.

Just then, a chilling gaze flashed past Finn Taylor's eyes.

That's right. He had seen a man in black walk past his wife and her best friend, and on that man's clothes was the clear embroidery of Peregrine Hall's logo.

"Master?" Finn Taylor clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his expression extremely sour.

"Don't worry. Nothing will happen to them, but take this as a warning from your grandma. You have only a week to decide whether to return. Make your choice."

The anger on Finn Taylor's face gradually dissipated. He put the telescope down and chose to take his leave after bowing to Maximus Brugel. 'Frida Cameron, why are you still so biased? Donovan Taylor is your grandson, but am I not? It's obvious that he went missing because he offended too many people, thinking Peregrine Hall had his back. People are probably after him, so he has no choice but to go undercover and lie low. But why do you want me to live under his name? Do you really want me dead? As long as I'm dead, Donovan Taylor's enemies will probably think that he's dead and forget all about their feud.'

'Good plan—what a great plan. I'm his twin, and nobody can tell us apart. More importantly, you've never liked me, so I've never attended any of the Taylor family's parties. Apart from those closest to us, nobody even knows about my existence. Great, it makes perfect sense. To achieve your goal, you're going as far as using my wife to threaten me.'

Thoughts flooded Finn Taylor's mind as he headed home. Eventually, he decided that he had to make the trip to Chicago to meet his so-called grandma, Frida Cameron.

Just as Finn Taylor arrived home, his wife did as well.

"Did you go to Starbucks?"

Yvette Larson stared at her husband. "Were you following me?"

"No, I'm asking if you went to Starbucks."

"Yes, I did. So what if I did? At least it's better than going to La Feria Club, right?"

"Was it peaceful in Starbucks? Was anyone fighting? Did you get hurt?"

"Finn Taylor, what do you mean by that? Do you hope that I was hurt?"

"I'll be going to Chicago for the next few days. Before I come back, stay at home. Don't go anywhere—not even the office."

Yvette Larson smiled. "What are you trying to do? Are you trying to restrict my freedom?"

Finn Taylor knew that he wouldn't be able to convince her. 'Alright, I'll just have to get the four guardians to protect her 24/7.'

Just then, he heard someone outside ask, "Is Mr. Taylor at home?"