Chapter 27
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Isabella froze for a moment, surprised by how approachable Samuel’s mother was. Instantly, she felt a bit more at ease.
Composing herself, she stepped forward respectfully and said, “Hello, Mrs. Howerton.”
Gwenna frowned slightly. “Mrs. Howerton? You two are already married, so why not just call me Gwenna?”
“Uh…” Isabella’s face flushed instantly. Samuel smirked, glancing down at her. “Just call her Gwenna.”
Isabella stiffened slightly, and under Gwenna’s eager gaze, she softly murmured, “Gwenna..
“Yes!” Gwenna responded cheerfully.
Isabella handed over the gift she had prepared. “This is a gift I brought for you. I hope you like it.”
Her tone was naturally more formal than usual, given it was her first time meeting Samuel’s parents.
Gwenna accepted the gift with delight. “How thoughtful of you! You didn’t need to bring anything. Having you here is gift enough
She patted the spot beside her on the sofa with a warm smile. ‘Come, sit next to me.
Gwenna continued to gaze at Isabella with growing fondness, clearly taken by her elegance and beauty, Isabella smiled and sat down beside her.
Gwenna’s expression then shifted slightly, and she turned to glare at Samuel, who was still standing a few steps away. “Why are you just standing there? Go to my room and bring me the item I left on the cabinet.
Samuel remained calm, saying nothing as he turned and headed toward Gwenna’s room.
Isabella couldn’t help but smile at the contrast–how the usually dignified and composed Samuel became just a regular. slightly exasperated son in front of his mother.
Gwenna took Isabella’s hand in hers, gently patting the back of it. In a soft voice, she said, “Bella, if that brat Samuel bullies you, don’t hesitate to tell me. I’ll give him a good scolding for you!”
She had waited so long for this day, to finally meet the woman her son had chosen. The more she looked at Isabella, the more she liked her
Isabella hadn’t expected Gwenna to be so kind and down–to–earth, without a hint of arrogance.
When Samuel had told her his mother was easy to get along with, she had thought he was just trying to ease her nerves. But now she realized he hadn’t been exaggerating.
Isabella shook her head gently and smiled at Gwenna. “He’s been very good to me. He hasn’t bullied me.
Though their marriage was still new, she found it comfortable being around Samuel. Most people assumed Samuel would be difficult to deal with, but she found him quite pleasant–despite his cold exterior.
Gwenna’s joy only deepened upon hearing Isabella defend Samuel. She felt more and more that her new daughter–in–law was truly wonderful.
Smiling warmly, Gwenna asked softly, “Getting a marriage certificate is not enough. When do you plan to have the wedding?” She had been preparing for Samuel’s wedding for a long time.
Isabella’s face flushed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. This was something she hadn’t even considered before, as she knew. their marriage was more of a symbolic arrangement.
Gwenna, noticing Isabella’s shy smile and silence, simply assumed she was feeling bashful. With a laugh, Gwenna continued, “We should decide soon and start planning. Your wedding must be grand!”
Seeing how eager Gwenna was to organize a wedding. Isabella waved her hands quickly, flustered. “No, Mrs. Howerton, there’s no rush. We can take our time with this.” Her hands instinctively clasped together in nervousness.
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At that moment, someone entered the room, and Isabella glanced toward the door. It was a man in his sixties, strikingly similar to Samuel, with sharp brows and a stern expression. His presence commanded authority without even needing to speak.
He wore a well–tailored suit, and despite his age, he still carried an air of dignity and strength. This man was Samuel’s father, Hoy Howerton.
Gwenna’s face lit up when she saw Hoy enter. She pulled Isabella forward a couple of steps, introducing her with a smile. “Hoy, this is Samuel’s wife, Isabella Stout.”
She then turned to Isabella and introduced her to him, “This is Samuel’s father, Hoy.”
Isabella quickly set down her cup and stood up, greeting him respectfully. “Hello, Hoy.. Calling Hoy’s name made her feel awkward, especially since it was their first meeting,
She had assumed Hoy would be as welcoming as Gwenna, but to her surprise, his brows furrowed, and he gave her a displeased look. “Ms. Stout, we aren’t that close, he said in a low, stern voice.
The room’s atmosphere turned cold instantly. Isabella froze, realizing Hoy didn’t seem to like her. But that was something out of her control, and not something she should concern about. She decided to leave this situation for Samuel to handle.
Gwenna immediately shot Hoy a fierce glare. “Hoy, what did you just say?”
Her displeasure was evident, and Hoy pressed his lips together without responding.
Turning to Isabella with a smile, Gwenna quickly tried to smooth things over. “He’s just meeting you for the first time. Maybe he’s a little nervous. Don’t take it to heart
Gwenna was clearly worried that Hoy’s attitude might scare Isabella away. But Isabella only nodded slightly and lowered her gaze without saying a word.
Hoy walked straight to the main sofa and sat down, surveying the room with a serious expression. “Where’s Samuel?” he asked sternly.
Although Gwenna was upset with Hoy, she still glanced toward her bedroom and replied, “I sent him to fetch something for
- me.
Hoy said nothing more and paid no attention to Isabella at all.
Sensing that Isabella might feel uncomfortable, Gwenna turned to her and quickly changed the subject. “Bella, do you like
She was trying to lighten the mood, afraid that Isabella’s first visit to the house would be too overwhelming. Isabella. understood Gwenna’s intentions and smiled politely as she nodded. “Yes, I do
However, she couldn’t help but glance upstairs, wondering why Samuel hadn’t returned yet. Gwenna, still smiling, took Isabella’s hand. “Come, let me show you some of my favorite teas,”
She quickened her pace, eager to lead Isabella away from the tension–filled living room.
Hoy lifted his eyes slightly, his cold gaze settling on Isabella. His expression remained frosty,
Having investigated Isabella’s background, he knew she was the daughter abandoned by the Stout family, and he firmly believed she was not good enough for Samuel.
The tea room was much quieter than the living room.
To the right of the tea table was a window carved with intricate floral and bird designs. Through the window, the view of an artificial lake outside could be seen.
A soft breeze gently swayed the floating lanterns on the lake, creating a peaceful, almost poetic atmosphere–perfect for enjoying tea.
Gwenna retrieved some tea leaves from a cabinet and sat down. As she did, she noticed Isabella’s bright eyes looking at her
Chapter 27
intently. Isabella softly began, “Gwenna, if you…”
But before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly hesitated.
SEND GIFT
