Everyone had gotten on Liam's nerves that entire day, and this was the last straw!The idea of Yafe and Sherah marrying his precious Celena off to another man was the final straw that broke the camel's back. Rage surged in Liam's entire being, and every last cell of his body began buzzing with fury. Liam's entire demeanor changed, and it scared Kayson so much that he instinctively took a step back in fear. "What are you trying to do? I didn't do anything wrong, did I? You have nothing to offer Celena, whereas she'll become the heiress of the Wheeler family once she marries me, and the same goes for Jovie. What do you have to offer them?" he said, trying to stand up for himself.Liam furrowed his brows at this. Before anyone could realize what was happening, Liam lunged forward and grabbed hold of Kayson by the collar. "The Wheelers, eh? Who do you think you are? How dare you show off your wealth and power to me? How dare you lay a finger on my woman and daughter?"The color drained
Sherah immediately screamed when she heard Liam wanted to come along, "What? What do you mean you want to go as well? What's the point? What does this have anything to do with you?""No, no, he can come if he wants! That way, he'll finally realize just how little he has on me and that he can't even compete against me!" Kayson said, sneering. He was already beginning to formulate a plan in his head. He would teach Liam a lesson once they arrived at their lunch venue later, and Liam would finally realize just how little he had compared against Kayson and give up trying to resist!When that happened, Celena would become his once and for all!The thought of the most beautiful woman in the entire Drunham City becoming his wife, the person he would spend countless nights with, made Kayson shudder with ecstasy. Upon hearing this, Sherah stifled her displeasure and forced out a meek smile. "Very well then, Mr. Wheeler. Since you've allowed him to, we shall bring him along to our lunch!"
Kayson stepped out of his Porsche and tossed the keys to the valet, then sauntered over to Celena's side and offered her his hand. "Celena, I've purposely booked a private room in the Quintessence Grill for you! This restaurant is known for its team of Michelin five-star chefs who cook only with the freshest ingredients flown in by air every single day! A private room here requires a minimum spend of fifty thousand dollars and has a waiting list that's subject to availability. I do hope that the food here will suit your fancy!"As he said this, Kayson glanced at Liam out of the corner of his eye and even deliberately raised his voice to make Liam realize just how rich he was and hopefully leave out of insecurity.To his surprise, Liam replied calmly, "Just fifty thousand dollars? That's not even that much."Kayson froze at this, then sneered and said, "What? Just fifty thousand dollars? Come on, Liam, you're already in your thirties, so stop acting like a child. Don't lie about thin
Celena stood off to the side, clad in a flowing white dress, cradling Jovie in her arms. They seemed to glow with an otherworldly charm, turning heads as they went. Celena, worried Liam might lose his composure, kept shooting him warning glances."Liam, please, keep it down. I know you can't stand the guy, and neither can I, but my folks... Let's just get through this meal quietly and head home, okay?" Celena murmured, her face etched with discomfort.Liam caught Celena's gaze, then shot a look at Kayson, who was smugly smirking and throwing challenging glances his way. He let out a heavy sigh, quelling the fire in his chest, and gave a slight nod."Fine, your call."Liam's composure made Kayson think he had backed down, which only made Kayson's sneer grow wider. With a snide chuckle, he strutted into the restaurant ahead of everyone else.Trailing behind were Sherah and Yafe with their trio, followed by Liam and Celena's little family. The sight of a family bringing their son-in-
Kayson always aimed to impress Celena with his gentlemanly charm, so he did not plop down in a seat right away when they entered the private room. Instead, he gave Yafe and Sherah a warm, inviting look, waving them over with a smile. "Go ahead, take a seat! Feel right at home!"Sherah's smile stretched from ear to ear, and she eagerly responded, "Mr. Wheeler, you're too much! So courteous and such a catch. If you were my son-in-law, I'd be over the moon!"While Kayson helped Yafe and Sherah get comfortable, Qemal wandered around the room, curiously inspecting everything. Kayson did not bother to call him over, and he outright ignored Liam.Sherah sank into a chair, her face lighting up with delight. "Oh, this chair is like sitting on a cloud! It's gotta be pricey, huh?""You bet. Each one's a grand, and they swap them out daily. Bet there are folks who couldn't even dream of affording a chair like this!" Kayson boasted, puffing up with pride. His tone was lofty, as if he owned ever
Kayson then looked at Liam as if he was doing him a huge favor for Celena's sake. "I'll pull some strings and get you in. How's nine hundred a month sound? That's more than what many office workers make in Drunham City!"What he left unsaid was clear: Liam should be thankful for that opportunity, considering he would be hard-pressed to find anything better.Sherah spoke up quickly, "Liam, what are you waiting for? Go on, thank Mr. Wheeler! And wipe that frown off your face. You know you can't just coast on your wife's coattails forever, right? Jovie's just a kid now, but what about when she's older and in school? You're gonna lean on Celena then, too?""Yeah, I've never seen anyone as brazen as you, getting hooked on being a freeloader?" Qemal chimed in, his voice dripping with contempt.Celena's face turned a sickly shade of pale. Since they had arrived at Quintessence Grill, Kayson had not stopped putting Liam down, and it was getting worse by the minute. Then her own parents wer
Sherah shot Liam a withering look and added, "Liam, don't take it to heart. We all see what's going on; nobody's making up stories about you!"Celena's scowl deepened as Sherah pushed her back into her seat with an iron grip. One hand clamped down on Celena's arm, the other pinching so hard it drew a pained gasp from her.The mood in the private dining room turned awkward. Kayson, noticing the tension, hit the service bell. The door swung open, and in glided a woman in a striking blue and white uniform, balancing a tray with the grace of a dancer, a waiter with a cart of dishes trailing behind her.Each dish was a testament to freshness, flown in that very day and crafted with care by the renowned Mr. Waine. They were as much a feast for the eyes as for the palate, luxurious and artfully presented.As the feast unfolded before them, Qemal and Sherah could hardly contain their excitement, their eyes wide, their mouths watering.Kayson watched, a smug smile playing on his lips as he
She could understand what they were saying, but she could not grasp why the Stones just could not stand her. Why did her grandparents and uncle have such a dislike for her?With that in mind, Jovie turned to Liam, her voice quivering as if she were about to cry. "Daddy, please don't be mad. I won't eat anymore. I'm not hungry..."Liam saw the hurt in Jovie's eyes, her brave attempt to hold back tears, and her mature statement. His heart ached for her, and he wrapped her in a comforting embrace.Celena was torn apart inside. Caught between her own family and her daughter and husband, Jovie's distress twisted her heart even more. She shot Qemal a fierce look and demanded, "Qemal, what are you trying to do? Jovie's just a child. How can you be so cruel? She's my daughter. What's the big deal if she has a bite to eat? Didn't you all ask me to come to dinner?"Perhaps Celena's words were too sharp. Sherah could not take it any longer. She threw her silverware down on the table, her face