Beal and Johanna looked at each other and nodded in silent gesture. Lila returned to her room, depressed.
Beal and Johanna looked at each other and nodded in silent gesture. Lila returned to her room, depressed.
Johanna quickly followed upstairs.
“What’s the matter, Mom?” Lila’s face softened. She couldn’t help but wonder if her mother had noticed her displeasure. Was Johanna here to comfort her? Johanna entered Lila’s room and closed the door behind her.
“Lila, I have chosen a guy for you.”
Lila was feeling a bit disappointed. Johanna didn’t even bother saying anything nice to comfort her. Feeling frustrated, Lila sat on the edge of the bed, fiddling with the helm of her lace dress.
Johanna went over and sat next to Lila. She said in a friendly tone, “I think that even though you’re still young, you can consider seeing somebody seriously. What do you think about that, Lila?”
Lila had no idea what to say to that. Because of Natalie, she was beginning to feel more and more uncomfortable living in the
White family’s house. If she could get married to a good man, it would be good to have her own family. Lila bit her bottom lip and asked, “Who is this guy you’re talking about?”
Seeing that Lila didn’t turn her down, Johanna immediately pulled out her phone, clicked on the album, and began to introduce a suitor in detail. “He’s the son of the Gray family. They export fruit and they have been running chain stores for many years now.”
Lila had already heard of the Gray family. She even made fun of them once with her best friends that they were simply a bunch of bumpkins who sold fruits.
Seeing that Lila was not answering, Johanna went on to say, “They’re not a big family. Even though they’re not a powerful family, they’re still a rich one. The family members are simple folks, so they won’t be fighting for wealth as the rich and powerful families usually do. This guy we’re talking about is the second child in the family, and he’s an excellent engineer. He’s good-
looking and gentle, and he won’t flirt with other women like many men in rich families do.”
Johanna had watched Lila growing up. She knew full well that sometimes Lila could be domineering, so a tolerant husband would be the most suitable to her. Lila had been spoiled by her and Beal since she was young. She knew that Lila didn’t have any people’s smarts.
If she married into a rich family who had internal conflict, she would only be bullied again and again. Johanna also knew Lila was unwilling to say sorry even though she was wrong. What worried Johanna most was that Lila’s personality would be the reason people mistreated her. When she heard this, Lila felt a little disappointed in her heart.
The Gray family in Barnes happened to be a family selling fruits. If she married into this family, she would become a laughing stock. This family happened to be very different from Lila’s ideal husband’s family background. She thought even if she would marry into a less rich family, it wouldn’t be a small family like the Grays.
As expected, Johanna found her biological daughter, so she wasn’t taking Lila seriously and arranged such a shabby marriage for her. At the same time, Lila couldn’t say it out loud directly.
“Is this something you want? Do you really want me to get married, Mom?” Lila’s eyes reddened.
Johanna initially thought that Lila was afraid of getting married because she didn’t want to leave them so soon.
“He’s also in Barnes. If you want to head home to see us, you can ask the driver to take you back at any time. I carefully selected this suitor for you. Your father also thinks that the second child of the Gray family is a very good man.” Johanna happened to think that the Gray family was very suitable for Lila.
After all, everyone now knew Lila wasn’t their biological daughter. If Lila married into a rich and powerful family that was equal to the White family, she might be looked down upon by others and even get bullied.
It was true that the Gray family was not as good as the White family in terms of family background. But they were honest, good people.
Besides, the Gray family and the White family were cooperating with each other. If Lila married this man, she wouldn’t be bullied by her husband’s family at all, for they were counting on the Whites to look after their fruit business. Lila was only good at having fun and she didn’t have much ability or talents.
She wasn’t good nor capable enough to become a wife of a rich and powerful family. It was better for her to marry into a simple family and live a stable life for the rest of her life. Johanna caressed Lila’s hair and said, “It’s only natural that girls get married. Look at Natalie. She’s so happy after she got married. Now, Dad and Mom are worried about you the most. You’re not a little girl anymore. You can’t live with us for the rest of your life like this.
If you go through with this marriage, you can become a full-time wife for the Gray family. Also, your life will be as good as your current life now.”
Lila pinched her hands and a touch of frostiness danced through her eyes. She never expected Johanna to be so cruel. Natalie happened to marry Brandon Larson, a legend of Seacisco. No woman who could marry a better man than Natalie. Lila felt enraged and couldn’t get rid of her anger. Seeing Johanna pretending to act considerate toward her, Lila felt even angrier and more dissatisfied in her heart.
“What do you think? If it’s not to your liking, I can refuse the Gray family.”
Noticing that Lila was being hesitant, Johanna let out a long sigh.
“Aren’t you satisfied with the family I chose for you?”.
Lila indeed wasn’t satisfied with this arrangement, but she didn’t dare to voice her thoughts. She wanted to leave a good impression on both Johanna and Beal. If Johanna had arranged for her to marry into a well-known rich family in Barnes to enjoy the rest of her life, Lila wouldn’t be so angry.
Natalie had married Brandon, a billionaire, nonetheless. As her elder sister, Lila was arranged to marry a man from a medium family. How could Lila accept this? Lila’s face immediately turned pale and tears were building up behind her eyes.
“I didn’t mean that, Mom. The Gray family sounds like a good family. You’re right. Natalie already got married. It’s my turn now to tie the knot.”
Lila couldn’t directly say that she didn’t like the marriage her mother had arranged, so she hesitated and said, “I haven’t seen the man yet and I have no idea what kind of person he is. I’m afraid it won’t be appropriate to agree right away.”
Johanna studied Lila quietly. She had been in the business world for so many years and dealt with all kinds of people, so she could easily see right through Lila.
If Lila liked something, she would never have such a reluctant expression on her face. When the Gray family offered this proposal, Beal hesitated for a good while. After all, there was a huge gap between these two families in regard to social status and wealth. It was understandable that Lila didn’t want to marry beneath herself.
Of course, Johanna had mulled it over in her head. However, other than that she was the daughter of the White family, Lila had no other advantages. She had an ordinary education background and her beauty wasn’t too outstanding among the rich ladies.
Those who could marry into the top rich and powerful families could never be simple women.
Lila was simple-minded and wasn’t outstanding in any degree. Furthermore, she was spoiled and pampered at the same time.
Even if she married into one of the rich and powerful families in Barnes and became a wealthy housewife, she would most likely have a difficult time surviving. Johanna knew that Lila wasn’t happy with this marriage arrangement. However, she also knew clearly that those who had grandiose aims but puny abilities wouldn’t have a good ending. But she couldn’t say straight to her face that those families with high social rank were beyond Lila’s reach. Johanna could only sigh that Lila was too blind to see her situation clearly.
Johanna smiled and said, “In that case, how about I create a chance for the two of you to meet? You can get to know him and then make your decision afterward. What do you think about that?”
Now, Johanna could only hope that Lila would be satisfied with the man after meeting him. If that was the case, everyone would be happy and her efforts wouldn’t be for nothing. In fact, Lila wasn’t happy about this at all, but she had no reason to turn her mother down.
She could only force out a smile and said, “Well, I’ll listen to you, Mom.”
Over the weekend, Johanna organized a simple party at their house. Johanna liked gardening. It was now early spring. The garden was filled with blooming peonies and roses, altogether looking very beautiful. Lila picked out a dress for the party rather casually.
Johanna straightened out her dress and reminded her in a gentle voice, “Remember to greet the Grays when they come and make sure to be polite. Their whole family’s coming tonight. You should make a good impression with these people.” Lila nodded stiffly at her mother. She was the daughter of the White family and from an early age, others had always taken care to fawn over her. Since when was she reduced to humbling herself in front of others? Just then, the doorbell sounded out. As the door was opened, several people walked into their home. A man in his late twenties was among them.