Ava stood at the entrance, bending over to hand them their shoes, brand-new men’s slippers, clearly prepared especially for the occasion.
“This is Ava,” Isabella introduced with a beaming smile. She then whispered in Ava’s ear, “He’s Asher’s father.”
Ava nodded quickly, her face filled with a loving smile. She had only seen Andrew once at the hospital after Isabella gave birth to Asher. She never expected this unemployed wanderer to transform into a billionaire; it was quite surprising.
“Ava, hello,” Andrew greeted politely and gently.
“Hello, please come in,” Ava said, somewhat flustered, looking at the handsome Andrew with great satisfaction.
“Ava, why are you blocking the door? Invite the guests in. You’re so uncivilized,” Charlotte’s voice suddenly rang out, her tone clearly showing her status as the hostess.
Feeling embarrassed, Ava quickly stepped aside. Isabella frowned slightly, but didn’t show her displeasure. “The gifts Andrew brought are still in the trunk. Please Aunt Charlotte arrange someone bring them in.”
Isabella’s tone was cheerful, but her attitude was no different from ordering a servant.
“Mr. Andrew is too polite. We’re all family; there’s no need for such formalities,” David said. As he spoke, he stood up from the sofa, subconsciously straightened his suit, and walked over to the door to shake hands with Andrew.
“Mr. David,” Andrew responded with a smile, politeness masking a hint of distance.
David personally led Andrew into the living room, acting like an office worker receiving a VIP, introducing everyone in the house one by one. After introducing everyone, seeing Charlotte still sitting there, he impatiently ordered, “Why haven’t you arrange maids bring in the gifts Mr. Andrew brought? Check if the kitchen is ready; as all the guests have arrived, serve the meal.”
“Yes, alright,” Charlotte responded, somewhat embarrassed, stood up from her seat, and quickly walked towards the door.
Soon after, gift boxes of various sizes were brought in one after another by the servants. The gifts were all top-notch, dazzling everyone.
Mrs. Ada’s eyes almost popped out looking at the exquisite gift boxes.
Charlotte busied herself with the gifts, then went to supervise in the kitchen. She personally watched the servants set the exquisite dishes on the table and then warmly invited the guests to take their seats.
David respectfully invited Andrew to the main seat, but after exchanging a few polite words, Andrew pulled Isabella to sit in the main seat.
David and Mrs. Ada both retreated to the side, their faces full of flattery.
During the meal, Andrew only played with his fork symbolically, clearly not interested in the food. David and Caleb tried to flatter him with conversation.
Andrew was very polite and didn’t put on any airs, but he couldn’t hide his inherent nobility.
He chatted and laughed with David, Caleb, and others, covering various topics from business to politics, and economics, handling everything with ease.
As David was talking, he brought up the upcoming elections. Andrew chatted with him for a while but kept avoiding the topic. David never got a chance to bring it up again.
Caleb was smarter than David, not rushing things and steadily building goodwill.
Almost only the men were talking at the table, and the women became mere accessories. Victoria and Emily kept refilling their respective boyfriends’ glasses and dishes. Charlotte transformed into a dutiful daughter-in-law, attending to Mrs. Ada and David.
Aria sat quietly beside Mrs. Ada, glancing at Andrew and then at Caleb, her eyes filled with sorrow.
Isabella wasn’t interested in the men’s conversation and wasn’t worried about Andrew. He could handle such a small gathering.
There were a few dishes on the table that suited her taste, and Isabella was focused on eating. Charlotte tried to strike up a conversation with her, but she responded dismissively.
Andrew occasionally glanced at her. The little girl was busy eating as if she hadn’t eaten for days. His lips unconsciously curled up into a smile, and his brows softened with warmth.
After dinner, Andrew took his leave. As the CEO, he had a lot to handle, and no one dared to detain him.
Everyone came out to see him off, sending Andrew and Isabella off to the car with utmost respect and courtesy.
Andrew opened the car door and helped Isabella into the passenger seat before walking around the front of the car to get in himself.
As the car slowly pulled out of the villa, she leaned her arm on the car window, watching the figures of the people in the rearview mirror shrink into tiny dots, a mocking smile curling her lips.
“Thanks to Mr. Andrew, I’ve lived in this family for over twenty years, and it’s the first time I’ve been treated so warmly.”
His hands casually rested on the steering wheel, and he gave a faint smile. “This family, everyone has their own thoughts and schemes; fundamentally, they are all selfish. But getting along harmoniously is indeed rare. And you, you’re the odd one out.”
She listened, supporting her chin with her hand as she looked at him. His gaze was deep, seemingly able to see through everything.
…
Meanwhile, in the Harris family.
After Andrew left, everyone was not at peace.
In Mrs. Ada’s room, Aria held a tea cup with a face full of sorrow, giving a faint bitter smile, “Isabella is so lucky. Mr. Andrew is so talented and wealthy.”
Looking at herself, Aria was married to a villain, suffered physical abuse leading to miscarriage, and Idris’s family had not shown their faces. She was uncertain about her future.
Aria was lost.
If she didn’t divorce, she would spend the rest of her life being mistreated in the Hayes family. But if she divorced, it would be difficult for her to marry a man of the same high status.
Mrs. Ada sighed along, though Andrew’s gifts filled her room, she couldn’t be happy.
“Isabella may seem naive, but she’s calculative. She’s seduced Mr. Andrew and will live a life of luxury and prosperity.”
Mrs. Ada held her granddaughter’s hand, her heart aching, tears almost falling. “My poor Aria, if you had Isabella’s background and married Mr. Andrew, you would be the one enjoying luxury and prosperity.”
“Grandma, please don’t say that. I’m not destined for such fortune,” Aria couldn’t help but cry.
Mrs. Ada wiped her tears, comforting her, “Now that Isabella has married up, it might benefit you too. Who wouldn’t want to be associated with Mr. Andrew.”
“Yes,” Aria nodded with a sniffle.
Next to Mrs. Ada’s room was Victoria’s chamber.
Inside the room, Victoria and Caleb were embracing.
“We really missed out this time. Mr. Andrew is quite serious about your sister,” Caleb’s arm was around Victoria’s waist, their bodies close, his lips moving along her neck.
“Oh? How can you tell?” Victoria asked with a silky smile.
“I’m a man; naturally, I understand men better. The way Andrew looks at her is how a man looks at the woman he loves, so tenderly. I’m a bit surprised; I didn’t expect him to like someone as innocent and lovely as Isabella, who has no similarities with his ex-fiancee.”