Selene felt awkward, but pressing a smile, she said, "Nothing specific. I just ant that since you ca here to et and surprise us, I thought you had even brought us gifts. Did you not?"
Morgan nodded. "I did bring gifts. But ..."
"But?"
"But those are not for you," he said, before turning to look back at Arwen. "Those are for her."
"For her?" Selene asked, clearly frowning. Her fingers clenched. "Why only for her, Grandpa Winslow? Don’t you love and Aiden? I rember you once said you really liked ."
Morgan laughed. "Haha ... Of course, you have always been a sensible kid, and I have liked you as well. But liking a friend’s granddaughter is different from liking your one and only granddaughter-in-law. I have to be biased toward her. She is family —a kin who will represent and carry forward our legacy. How can I not favour her?"
His words were heartwarming, and they made Arwen smile and feel belonged. This was her first ti eting him, yet it felt as though the old man had known her for years.
Did he?
Selene wasn’t craving gifts —she was a Martin. Luxury danced to her fingertips. But the way Morgan refused her, so directly and without flinching, stung her more than she expected. She has just been called an outsider —and worse, she was expected to smile and accept it.
"William!" Morgan called out softly, and the man, a few years younger than him, who had been standing discreetly behind, stepped forward.
"Yes, sir?"
The old man turned his shoulder slightly and gestured. "What are you still waiting for? I have t my granddaughter-in-law already. Now, it’s ti for to give her the gifts. Bring them out."
William nodded with a stoic expression. He turned and lifted a tray that had apparently been there the whole ti, unnoticed. As he stepped forward with it, every gaze in the room followed him.
While Aiden’s expression remained cool and nonchalant, Arwen’s brows arched a little in surprise when she saw the tray.
Several red leather-bound booklets were stacked neatly on it.
"This ..."
Morgan smiled and explained, "These are for you. The gifts that I should have given you the day you entered our family."
He paused and then flicked a glance at William, who stepped further forward and set the tray gently on the centre table.
"These are a few of the best properties I own around the world. I have been saving them for you —just so I don’t fall behind in showing my love and acceptance. However ..." his gaze shifted, sharp and pointed towards Aiden. "Even though I tried my best, I don’t think I have managed to match soone."
Arwen paused at those words. Her gaze instinctively followed Grandpa Winslow’s line of sight until it landed on Aiden.
She blinked.
She didn’t understand what he ant when he said that, but she could tell he was comparing himself to Aiden.
But wait ...
Her gaze dropped to the tray.
She hadn’t opened the docunts, but even at a glance, she could tell these deeds represented a fortune —enough to sustain ten generations in luxury.
How could they still fall short of matching one mall? The mall Aiden had gifted her in Cralens ...
She wasn’t comparing. Not really. But sothing about the mont sent a ripple down her chest —an instinctive sense that sothing deeper was at play. Sothing that Aiden hadn’t told her.
As she looked up, Aiden t her gaze, calm and unwavering.
"You can keep them," he said softly.
Arwen blinked, confused for a mont. Reading it in her eyes, he nodded subtly toward the tray.
"They are all in good locations and hold great market value. You won’t be at a loss taking them. And in future, there would be more."
She realized he was giving her the reasons to accept the gifts without guilt.
Like really? What was he even thinking?
She wanted to pinch him so badly —but she held the urge back.
Instead, she turned to Grandpa Winslow and smiled. "Grandpa, thank you. These are already more than enough. I have never received so many gifts before. So, trust , no one — absolutely no one —can beat you."
Morgan’s brows twitched slightly in suspicion when he heard her say that. He turned to look at his grandson, as though trying to confirm sothing.
Aiden didn’t react. His expression remained cool. The old man watched him for a mont longer, realization dawning.
So ... she didn’t know yet.
This brat ...
He had gone frenzy acquiring so much over the years, earning each and every thing with his hard work, one at a ti .... all for her. Yet, even after naming all his sincerity to her, he hasn’t even revealed it to her.
How did his grandson end up being so love-minded?
He shook his head internally at his grandson, weighing whether he should reveal it or let it be for Arwen to discover later.
But before he could speak, Selene’s voice interrupted.
"Of course, Grandpa Winslow," she chid, her voice light and sweet, but laced with poison. "You shouldn’t compare yourself. Didn’t you just hear that she never received such a fortune before? This must already be dazzling to her."
The soft taunt was clear in her words, and Arwen heard it well. She turned to look at Selene.
The answer was right on her tip.
However, before she could let them roll out, Aiden’s voice cut through the air, cold. "Why is there a need for her to receive it when she owns it already?" His tone was old enough to freeze one’s soul. "One who owns the stars doesn’t go looking for little lights."
Selene stiffened. She could hear the warning in his tone, but her defiant side got her best. "Aiden, I didn’t an to insult. I was just stating the truth so that Grandpa Winslow doesn’t feel less. And I am sure, Arwen would have understood my intention well. She wouldn’t have felt bad for a little truth. You don’t have to lie to make her —"
"Lie?" Aiden repeated, his gaze nancing. "Did you take my words as a lie?"
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