Isabella leaned in and asked, "But what?""Nothing." Isaiah thought for a moment and decided not to say anything.Isabella looked puzzled.He wanted to mention that their parents might suggest her settling down with Luther in Nexuria, but they probably would not, considering Luther's role as the Neal Group's president."How are you going to get a girlfriend if you never finish your sentence?" Isabella huffed.Isaiah calmly retorted, "Are you also talking about Uncle Joshua?"Isabella sighed, deciding not to argue with Isaiah. The car continued to drive forward. An hour later, Isaiah and Isabella arrived at the home where Cynthia and Matthew now lived.As soon as they got out of the car, Isabella hugged Cynthia, saying, "Mommy!"Cynthia affectionately stroked her head. Matthew stood next to Cynthia, interrupting their reunion. He teased, "People with boyfriends shouldn't casually hug other people's wives.""Mr. Quier, can you be just a little less possessive? Mommy is a pe
"Don't you both know him quite well? You even praised him before," Isabella continued, her gaze shifting between her parents."Earlier praise was for his exceptional abilities as he was a rare young talent," Matthew smoothly responded. He was equally good at tricking his own daughter. "Now, we're withholding judgment because he's transitioning from an outsider to family."For Matthew and Cynthia, Isabella's partner's family background was unimportant as long as he had good values and no criminal record. However, as parents, they still wanted to assess whether he was worthy of being with Isabella. After all, marriage is a lifelong commitment, and since they could not accompany Isabella throughout her life, they would be sure to pick through her partner."Mommy," Isabella playfully appealed to Cynthia.Sharing Matthew's stance, Cynthia did not give in just because Isabella was pouting. "Be patient and wait until tomorrow."Isabella then turned to Isaiah, hoping he would support he
"You'll find out tomorrow. Your dad and I won't be too demanding," Cynthia said, circling around the topic. "As long as he treats you well, we have no objections.""He treats me very well!" Isabella spoke up for Luther.Cynthia reasoned with her, "You like him, so naturally, you have your rose-tinted glasses on. We still need to see whether he's genuinely good or not, before drawing conclusions.""Mommy..." Isabella continued to act coquettishly. Cynthia gently rubbed her head, saying, "Be good and listen to us.""Okay..." Isabella did not press further, but inevitably, her mind would wander.Meanwhile, in the study downstairs, Matthew and Isaiah sat face to face. Matthew asked, "Do you know something we don't?""About Luther?" "Yes.""No, I don't." Isaiah did not betray Isabella. Understanding their dynamics, Matthew just wanted to be responsible for his daughter's future. "When your mom asked why you disapproved of their relationship this afternoon, Isabella seemed ner
"I don't know. But they've always loved you, so they shouldn't want to upset you." Understanding their parents' thoughts was no easy task.Isabella looked a bit troubled. Initially, she believed her parents would support her relationship with Luther. Yet, she felt a bit nervous the closer to the meeting day it became."Mommy should be manageable. Dad's the tricky one," Isabella uttered, looking worried. Despite Matthew being generally easygoing, treating them like friends most of the time, few could stand up to him when he decided to assert his authority."Instead of worrying about this, you might as well break up with Luther in advance," Isaiah quipped.Isabella retorted, "If you have nothing nice to say, then don't speak."Isaiah glanced at her and stayed silent.Early the next morning, Luther arrived with Joshua. Matthew and Cynthia were slightly surprised to see the latter. They invited them in and exchanged polite greetings. Initially, everyone engaged in small talk abou
Isaiah hinted through his gaze that if Luther could not answer that, there was no need for Isabella to be with him. Isaiah understood why Matthew brought up these topics. If Luther could not confront these issues, they would highly likely divorce in the future. Divorce was a significant difference between marriage and dating, and it would be challenging to walk out of the pain unless she encountered someone who could heal her. However, finding such a person was incredibly difficult."I'll respect your decision. But I'll also strive to be outstanding, to the point where you can overlook the gap in our family backgrounds," Luther said as if he had suddenly gained clarity.Isabella was somewhat surprised by his response. "We have only one daughter, and we hate to see her marry someone from afar. Have you considered marrying into our family instead?"Isabella rolled her eyes. Why was he speaking as if she was his only child? Luther looked at Isabella, thought it over, and answered
However, Luther still wanted to approach this with sincerity. Without saying much to Joshua, he earnestly and straightforwardly told Matthew, "Uncle Joshua was just joking. Jiverton is the root of the Neal Group, and the headquarters can't be moved elsewhere. However, I'll strive to balance my work and relationship with Isabella. Please rest assured.""Let's discuss the details upstairs," Matthew said. In truth, he was already satisfied with Luther's sincere response, especially after Joshua's subtle cue. It was no wonder that Isabella liked Luther so much. "Let's go together, Dad," Isabella cautiously suggested. "No need.""If you get thirsty from talking, I can serve tea.""I have hands."Isabella sighed in frustration. Worried that Matthew might bully Luther, she pressed, "Then let Mom accompany you. Luther is here to meet both parents, not just you." "They can handle it," Cynthia chimed in. She had no intention of going upstairs as they had decided the night before tha
At that time, Luther hated himself. Matthew's expression remained unchanged. Knowing Luther sought treatment for excessive control and possessiveness, he anticipated that much. After all, ordinary control and possessiveness would not require medical attention."Why didn't you act on these thoughts?" Matthew asked, getting to the core of why he posed the question in the first place."I don't know. Perhaps I didn't want to see her frightened or crying, or maybe she's too wonderful, and I couldn't bear to treat her that way," Luther admitted. Luther did not have a clear answer to the specific reasons, only that each time he contemplated extreme actions, a strong sense of condemnation arose within him. It was these fluctuating emotions that led to his increasing emotional instability and the decision to consult a doctor."And now?" Matthew inquired."Now, there are still some emotions in that regard, but I can control them. More importantly, I want to make her happy," Luther reveal
Isabella wanted to confidently declare that she was better at winning Cynthia over, but considering her parents' relationship, she found it hard to say it out loud.Hence, she tossed the question to Cynthia, "Mommy, am I better at making you happy than Dad?"Cynthia nodded. "Mmhmm."Isabella immediately looked proud and asked Matthew, "Did you hear that?"Matthew casually remarked, "She just doesn't want to embarrass you."Isabella was frustrated! Nonetheless, even though Matthew was annoying, he was right. Besides Matthew, Isabella could not find anyone else who put so much effort into making Cynthia happy. Many couples experienced a lull in their relationship in middle age, but Matthew and Cynthia seemed as love-struck as ever. Anyone who saw them would envy their sweet romance.Shifting the topic, Isabella stood beside Luther and asked, "What did you and Luther talk about? Did my dad give you a hard time?"Luther felt that Isabella's family was exceptionally kind. "No. Mr.