Inside the Bugatti Veyron.
Erik Irvine glanced cautiously at Shane Lockwood in the rearview mirror. "It’s getting late. Isn’t it a bit dangerous to kick the Mistress out of the car by herself?"
Shane Lockwood’s eyelids lifted. "So concerned about her?"
Erik Irvine imdiately shut his mouth.
Shane Lockwood snorted and closed his eyes.
...
Eliza Sutton took out her phone, intending to call a car.
The stadium was quite a distance from Seacliff Manor, but before she could even open the app, her phone died and shut down automatically.
Left with no other choice, Eliza Sutton stood by the side of the road to hail a cab.
But as luck would have it, several taxis in a row were already full.
Just as Eliza Sutton was about to look for a nearby hotel for the night, a flashy red Ferrari pulled up in front of her.
The window rolled down, revealing a handso, boyish face.
Ivan Willow asked, "Isla, what are you doing standing here?"
"Oh, I’m waiting for a ride."
Ivan Willow’s spirits lifted. "Then hurry up and get in! I’ll take you wherever you want to go."
"Don’t worry about it. A friend is coming to pick up soon."
"Look what ti it is! Your friend isn’t here yet. Sounds unreliable to . Just get in. A gorgeous woman like you standing on the side of the road... are you trying to tempt people into committing a cri?"
"Always talking nonsense." A rebuke ca from the back seat, and the rear window promptly rolled down, revealing a kindly face. "Granddaughter-in-law, don’t listen to this brat’s gibberish."
Eliza Sutton was very surprised to see Master Willow. "Sir, what are you doing in the car?"
"I was visiting a couple of old friends," Master Willow said. "Granddaughter-in-law, don’t just stand out there. Get in the car. Don’t worry, with here, this brat Ivan Willow wouldn’t dare try anything."
Ivan Willow rolled his eyes and said petulantly, "As if I could do anything, given Isla’s Combat Power."
Hearing this, Master Willow was half-dead with anger. "Just shut up! You troubleso grandson!"
Ivan Willow retorted cheekily, "What grandson isn’t troubleso? It’s because I have a grandpa, after all."
Seeing Master Willow glare at him, Ivan Willow quickly got out of the car and opened the door for her himself. "Isla, please do the honor. Give a chance to drive you ho. Otherwise, when we get back, my grandpa will skin alive. Mostly because he’ll think I’m too useless to win you over."
With Ivan Willow putting it like that, Eliza Sutton couldn’t very well refuse any longer.
She didn’t notice that the black Bugatti Veyron had slowly driven back and parked in a spot not far away.
Seeing Eliza Sutton get into the Willow family’s car, Erik Irvine couldn’t help but ask, "President Lockwood, should I go stop the Mistress? She’d be thrilled to know you ca back for her."
"Stay put." Shane Lockwood stopped Erik Irvine just as he was about to push the car door open. He then asked abruptly, "Have I been paying too much attention to Eliza Sutton?"
The answer was yes.
She was just a bride ant to bring good luck, soone who shouldn’t have warranted a second glance from him. Yet, lately, he found himself frequently paying attention to her.
He suddenly couldn’t recall when it had started.
’Perhaps it was that day at the family dinner, when she stood in front of , protecting .’
’The second branch of the family has never hidden their ambitions. Just like them, my second aunt, Florence Young, has never known when to hold her tongue. My mother is gentle-natured, my sister is young, and it wasn’t my place as a man to argue back. I could only let Florence spout her nonsense, slandering and defaming .’
In truth, Shane Lockwood didn’t mind.
’To , Florence Young is just a loser. She’s not even worthy of my attention.’
’But on that perfectly ordinary day, during that all-too-familiar scene, Eliza Sutton stood up.’
’Her words were powerful and resonant, leaving my domineering aunt speechless.’
’Or maybe it was even earlier. Back when Emtt, because of this woman, constantly tested the limits of my patience as his father. That made curious. I was curious what kind of magic this woman possessed to make my impossibly proud son care so much. That was when I started to pay her a little more mind.’
’I just kept watching, and it seems to have beco a habit.’
Shane Lockwood let out a small laugh, suppressing all the emotions welling up inside him. "Let’s go," he said faintly.
Erik Irvine grunted in acknowledgnt, turned the steering wheel, and the car silently turned around, disappearing into the vast night.
Back in the car.
"Granddaughter-in-law."
"Grandpa," Eliza Sutton said quickly. "Since you know who I am, you must also know that I’m already married. That ’granddaughter-in-law’..."
"Yes, you’re married, so calling you ’granddaughter-in-law’ isn’t quite appropriate anymore." Master Willow sighed, lanting dramatically, "My poor grandson. He’s been frail since he was a child. He finally ets a suitable girl, and you’re already married. Such a bitter fate."
"Grandpa..." Ivan Willow chid in woefully, "I’ll be okay."
"..." Eliza Sutton thought that if the two of them weren’t sitting where they were, they’d probably be clinging to each other, weeping and wailing miserably.
Eliza Sutton said, "How about I get out of the car first and give you two so space to have a good cry together?"
"As expected of the granddaughter-in-law I chose. So considerate." Master Willow looked at Eliza Sutton approvingly. "I know the marriage between you and Ivan probably won’t happen now, but we can’t just sever our connection. I’ve been thinking it over, and I’ve decided to adopt you as my goddaughter."
"Goddaughter?"
It wasn’t just Eliza Sutton who was stunned; Ivan Willow was utterly shocked too.
Ivan Willow shouted, "Grandpa, if you make Isla your goddaughter, wouldn’t she beco my aunt? I’d have to call her ’Auntie’!"
"Exactly. ’Auntie,’ ’Auntie’... an aunt is like a mother. In the future, if you misbehave, it’ll be perfectly natural for Eliza to discipline you." Master Willow looked at Eliza Sutton with hopeful eyes. "My good daughter, you won’t refuse , will you?"
Eliza Sutton was speechless. "..."
’I haven’t even said anything yet, and he’s already calling his ’good daughter.’ He clearly has no intention of letting refuse.’
Ivan Willow loudly protested, "No way! I object! If she’s just Isla, I can still flirt a little, but if she becos my aunt, won’t I have to be on my best behavior?"
But no one paid any attention to his squawking.
Master Willow looked expectantly at Eliza Sutton. "My good daughter, how about we plan an adoption ceremony? We can invite all the reporters."
"I object! I object!"
Master Willow turned a deaf ear. "My good daughter, if you beco my daughter, not only will you be perfectly justified in beating up Ivan Willow whenever you want, but even if the Sutton Family starts running their mouths at you, you can have them thrown out. The Willow family line is thin; we haven’t had a girl since my generation. And this useless grandson, Ivan Willow, probably won’t be able to produce a precious daughter either. Since he’s so useless, I, an old man, have to step up and find myself a sweet, caring daughter. My good daughter, you must not refuse . If you refuse this old man, I... I..."
Master Willow clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain, looking as if he might faint at any mont.
Accompanied by Ivan Willow’s theatrical wails, the scene took on a rather tragicomic air.
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