The voice came from none other than Luther’s father, Hugh.
Hugh entered the room alongside his wife, Marie, just in time to hear Georgia’s doubts about Luther. Their arrival was perfectly timed to resolve the brewing tension.
Clapping Luther on the shoulder, Hugh laughed heartily and said, “Son, how could you keep such a big thing as your engagement from your mother and me? Really, you make us worry! Hiding something like this from your father-it’s enough to make anyone upset.”
This performance was perfectly staged to pacify Georgia. It successfully shifted all suspicion away from Luther and made it seem like he was innocent and uninvolved.
Luther, clearly flustered, tried to explain, but Hugh interrupted him.
“If Scarlett hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t even know the engagement was already finalized! Son, you must remember to tell your father about things like this in the future. Don’t keep me on edge all the time. I was still worried about how things were going for you here in Hiphia!”
With those words, all the responsibility was conveniently shifted to Scarlett, leaving Luther entirely in the clear. At that moment, Luther looked utterly blameless.
Marie nudged Hugh lightly and said, “Oh, stop it. The boy was probably trying to surprise us! My son has always been like that-always full of surprises for his parents. But, son, for something as important as marriage, you must tell us in advance. This isn’t a joke! If we’re not present, how could it even be called an engagement party?”
Marie then turned to Georgia, stepping closer and gently holding her hand. With a kind and warm demeanor, she said, “Georgia, are you happy with today’s arrangements? There’s $28. 88 million in cash, a house in the capital, and an $8 million Bentley. It’s just a small token of our sincerity. If it’s not enough, don’t hesitate to tell us.”
Georgia stood frozen, completely taken aback, unsure how to respond.
Marie, noticing Georgia’s dazed expression, sighed with apparent affection. “Oh, you poor child. You’ve had such a hard life, and yet you’re still so stubborn. Don’t worry. From now on, I will treat you like my own daughter. As long as you’re part of the Falcon family, I will give you all the love and care you deserve. I’ll make sure you’re the happiest daughter-in-law.”
Marie’s role as the loving mother-in-law was flawless. But behind her smile lurked venomous hatred. If it weren’t for her son’s future, did Georgia really think she’d have a chance to marry into the Falcon family? Into a wealthy family? It was a dream that Georgia would never have even dared to entertain.
Though Marie didn’t know why their family had been instructed to proceed this way, for the sake of her son, she wasn’t about to question it.
Realizing that her mother was behind all of this, Georgia immediately dropped her suspicions toward Luther. She said stiffly, “It’s enough, Marie. Thank you.”
Her words were curt, but they showed that Georgia had taken the first step toward acceptance.
Marie gasped dramatically and said, “Oh, dear, there’s no need for thank-yous between us. We’re family now! Don’t worry; our family is harmonious.”
Hugh then turned to Luther and said, “By the way, your grandmother is here too. I’ll go get her.”
“What? Grandma is here too?” Luther asked, feigning surprise.
Hugh chuckled. “Of course she’s here. How could your grandmother miss your engagement? And not just her-your aunts, uncles, and cousins have all come as well.”
“This is all part of the surprise we had planned for you!”
A surprise, indeed. For Georgia, it was more like a nightmare.
With that, Hugh and Marie walked toward a group seated on the left side of the stage. About a dozen people were gathered there, clearly Luther’s relatives.
Once Hugh was out of earshot, Luther quickly turned to Georgia. “Georgia, I’m so sorry! I had no idea this would happen. I swear I didn’t invite so many people-just a few friends. I had no idea it would turn into such a spectacle. But don’t worry, I’ll explain everything to them afterward. I’ll set things straight, I promise.”
Georgia looked at Luther’s innocent expression. She wasn’t unreasonable; she knew that all of this was orchestrated by her mother. The company’s business partners, the elaborate arrangements, Luther’s parents and relatives-it was all Scarlett’s doing. Even the extravagant dowry on the stage was part of her mother’s relentless pursuit of vanity.
Georgia saw through it all and placed the blame squarely on her mother.
“This isn’t your fault. It’s my mom,” Georgia said with a tone of despair. “I never should have told her about this. My mom would do anything to save face. Now I understand why she’s been so quiet the past few days-she was planning all of this.”
“Georgia, it’s still my fault. Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything to my parents,” Luther said anxiously, clearly worried about Georgia’s feelings. He made it clear that he would never force her into anything.
Georgia looked at him and sighed. “At this point, we’ll just have to take it one step at a time. Honestly, you’re the biggest victim in all of this.”
As she finished speaking, a deep sense of hopelessness washed over her.
“Luther! Luther!”
Suddenly, an elderly woman’s voice broke through the crowd.
An old lady with a head full of white hair walked toward them, leaning on a cane. Seeing her, Luther immediately called out, “Grandma.”
The old woman responded with a warm “Ah,” exchanged a few pleasantries, and then turned her attention to Georgia. Her face lit up with approval.
“Oh, what a beautiful girl! Such elegant brows, bright eyes, and such delicate features. Wonderful, just wonderful!”
She smiled and gestured for one of her attendants to step forward. The servant brought out a box and opened it to reveal a golden jade bracelet.
“This bracelet has been passed down through our family for generations. Today, I’m giving it to you,” the old woman said warmly.
Marie’s eyes lit up as she exclaimed, “Oh my, such a generous gift!” She looked at the bracelet with barely concealed greed.
Then, with a teasing tone, she added, “Mom, weren’t you being unfair? You didn’t give me this when I married your son. This is your most precious heirloom!”
Another younger relative chimed in from the back, clearly unhappy. “Yes, Grandma. Giving her this means she’ll inherit your position in the family. She’ll be in charge of everything that belongs to the Falcon family. That’s favoritism!”
“No!”
A voice suddenly rang out, cutting through the commotion.