551Chapter550N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Jenkinswapletelybaffledbythesewords.


    “Whatcar?”


    Asshepondered,sheheardSusansay,“Atthatmoment,youwereallthatwasonhismind.Peoplecansummongreaterstrengthunderextremeconditions.”


    ThosewordsdeeplytouchedPeter.


    HewantedtoreachoutandholdSusan’shand,toexpresshissentiment,butashestretchedouthishand,herealizedhewasholdingallthosebags.


    Petercouldonlysheepishlywithdrawhishandandenteredthebridalshopwithhishandsfull.


    Meanwhile,KeirahadalsoarrivedatScott’stemporaryresidenceinnce,


    Althoughitwassaidtobetemporary,theceturnedouttobeamanor,fullyfurnishedandclearlywell–maintainedallyearround.


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    Andbythelooksofthebutlerattheentrance,<b>it</b>couldbediscernedthatthiswasindeedtheMartinfamily’sproperty.


    WhileKeiraandthebutlerwereheadinginside,ScottandErincameouttogreether.


    Asthetwoofthemcameoutthedoor,Scottsmiled.“Ifshe’swillingtehere,shemustfancymealittle.”


    Erinrolledhereyes.“You’reoverthinkingit.Ithinkshe’sevenmoreinterestedinmethan


    you.”


    Scottsaid,“Howcouldthatbe?She’snotintowomen!”


    Erinsaid,“ButIfeellikeshecameforVera.Didn’tsheaskifVerawasherebeforeshecame?”


    Scottsaid,“That’sjustherbeingpolite,knowingthatIchoseVeratoavoidthisarrangedmarriage…”


    Erinwasspeechless.


    Thetwoweretalkingastheygreetedtheguests,andthey immediatelyspotted“Keera”andLewisbyher


    side.


    ThejoyousexpressiononScott’sfacesuddenlystiffened.


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    Hetwitchedthecornersofhismouthandthensteppedforward,extendinghishandtoKeira.“MissOlsen,weetomyhouse!”


    KeirawasgoingtotakehishandoutofpolitenesswhenLewisabruptlysteppedforward,blockingherpath,andfirmlyshookScott’shand.“Mr.Martin,Ihopeyoudon’tmindmyuninvitedvisit.Today,IammerelyMissOlsen’sdriver.”


    Aftersayingthat,hedeliberatelyncedatKeira.


    Keiradidn’tknowwhattosay.


    Thisguycouldn’twaittostakehisim.


    ShethenlookedtowardErin.


    Erinimmediatelylinkedarmswithher.“Keera,you’re


    here!Comeonin!Bytheway…”


    Erinasked,“Didn’tCharleewithyou?”


    Keirareplied,“He’sstitschool.Hehadssestoday.”


    Erinjustsaid,“Isee,”andasked,“Whichuniversitydoesheattend?”


    “TsipinUniversity.”


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    Erin’seyeslitup.“Howimpressive!Didhegetonhisown,ordidyourfamilyhavetopullsomestrings?”


    Keirasaid,“Hegotinonhisown.”


    TheOlsenfamily’schildrenweretraineddifferentlythanthoseofotherfamilies.AtleastUncle Olsen


    didn’tspoilthem.


    Whethertheywantedtogoabroadorapplyfordomestolleges,theyabidebythelocalrulesstrictlywithoutexception.


    Despitehisnaiveappearanceandtendencytobedeceived,Charleswasintoscience.Hedevotedallhisbrainpowertochemistryandwasn’tadeptatinterpersonalrtionships.


    Erin’seyesshoneevenbrighter.“So,hemustbevery


    smart.”


    “Quite.”


    Erinsmiled.“That’sgood.Mychildrenwillbesmart,


    too…”


    Keirawasperplexed.


    Shethought,“Holdon,youguysjusthaddinnerthatnightright?Nothingelsehappened.Whyarevou


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    talkingaboutchildrenalready?”


    ShehesitantlyncedatErin.SeeingErin’slookofuttercontentment,Keirasuddenlyfeltaheavier


    burden.


    ShouldshetalktoCharles?


    Youngmenshouldprotectthemselveswhentheywereawayfromhome!


    ThisthoughtstruckKeira,andevenshewastaken


    aback.


    Shehadneverbeenomeddle,buttoday,hersubconsciousconcernforCharlesmeantshetrulysawhimasayoungerbrother…


    Hergazedropped,andshefollowedthetwointothelivingroom.


    Justastheyentered,theysawanelderlymanin hissixtiesorseventiessittingonthesofa.Hisheadwasfullofwhitehair,hisbackwasstraight,andhisfacehadafewwrinkles.Onecouldvaguelyseethehandsomefeaturesofhisyouth.


    Besidehimsatayoungwoman.


    Keira’sgazefellonher.Theyoungwomanhada


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    well–definedbonestructureandwasincrediblygorgeousandpoised.Herbig,deep–seteyeswerefilledwithscrutinyuponseeingKeira.


    HergazewasfirmlyfixedonKeira,filledwithhostility


    andcaution.


    Withoutanyintroduction,Keiraknewthishadtobe


    ScottandErin’scousin,Vera.


    HersurnamewasSouth.


    Inotherwords,shemightbeFox!


    KeirawithdrewhergazeandlookedtowardoldMr.Martin,only toseetheoldmanwithasternfacealsosizingherup.Keiraapproached andwasabouttogreethimwhensheheardtheelderspeak,“KeeraOlsen?”


    Keirawasslightlystartled,butshenodded.


    Theelderimmediatelyloweredhiseyes.“Doyouwanttomarrymygrandson?”


    Scott’sfaceturnedredinstantly,andheimmediatelysaid,“Grandfather,whatareyoutalkingabout?MissOlsenisjusthereforavisittoday”


    Buttheoldmandidn’tpayhimanyheedandwasstill


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    staringatKeira.“Doyouwanttomarrymygrandson?”


    Hisexpressionwasresolute,withaninexplicablesenseofrighteousnessthatsurprisinglymadeKeirafebitgratified.


    Hedidn’tseemtobeataroundthebush.


    Hesaidwhathehadonhismind.


    KeirathenturnedtolookatLewis,havingthoughthewouldcertainlyasserthisdominanceagain,buthewassuddenlyveryquietatthismoment.


    Keirawaspuzzled.


    ButLewisncedather,tellingherwithhiseyesthatsheshoulddecideforherself.


    Keiraimmediatelyunderstood.


    Lewishadalsorealizedthatthisoldmandidn’tlikebeatingaroundthebush,sohenolongerwantedtomakedecisionsfor her.


    JodieSouthwasstillwiththeSouthfamily,andifKeiradidn’pletethetaskquicklyandreturntotheSouthfamily,shecouldn’tguaranteethathermotherwouldremainsafe.


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    Thefastestwaytpletethetaskwasthroughanalliancebymarriage.


    Keiraloweredhereyesandsaid,“No.”


    Theoldmanimmediatelyasked,“Thenwhatareyoudoinghere?”


    KeirancedatVera,whowassittingnexttotheoldman,andsawVerasneer.“Keera,Mr.MartinknowstheSouthfamily.Youdon’thavetobeataroundthebush.Justspeakfrankly.”


    TheSouthfamily!


    Keira’spupilsshrankimmediately.Shedidn’texpectVeratoadmitheridentitysoopenly!


    ShelookedatVeracoldly,thinkingoftheidentsthathadhappenedtothepeoplearoundhermultipletimes,andafiercelooksparkedinhereyes.


    Shesneered,andbeforeshecouldspeak,Erinsaid,“Vera,whyareyouinsuchahurry?Iknowourfamilieswantanalliance,butthathasnothingtodowithMissOlsen.Besides,Idon’tthink youevenlikemybrother,andanarrangedmarriageseemspointless.Wouldn’titbebettertofindsomeonewe actuallylike?”


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    “No.”


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    Veraimmediatelyanswered,“ThepurposeofmingtoCreraistomarryyourbrother.”


    Erinsaid,“Butmybrotherdoesn’tlikeyou!”


    “Thatdoesn’tmatter.Wecandevelopfeelingsaftermarriage.”


    “Whatifmybrotherneverlikesyou?”


    “Thenwe’llworkonitforalifetime.”


    Erinwasspeechless.“Whyareyousostubborn?Mybrotherreallydoesn’tlikeyou.Helikessomeoneelse…”


    VeralookedatKeira.“That’sKeera’sproblemthen.WillyoumarryScottorLewis?”


    Afterthat,Vera’sgazndedonLewis.“Mr.Horton,right?Areyouwillingtolethergoandlethermarry


    Scott?”


    Lewispursedhislipsanddidn’tsayaword.


    ButoldMr.Martínturnedhis gazetowardLewisuponhearingthis,hiseyebrowsslightlyfurrowed,but he


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    alsodidn’tsayanythingandshiftedhisgazeaway.


    Scottwastheonewhospokeupimmediately.“Vera,MissOlsenisjustvisitingtoday.Don’ttalkaboutthesenonsensicalthingshere!”


    NosoonerhadhesaidthatthanoldMr.Martinsaid,


    “Scott,yousaidyouhavesomeoneyouadored,andI’mwillingtoeptthat.That’swhywehavethismeetingtoday.”


    OldMr.MartinlookeddirectlyatKeira.“Sincemygrandsonlikesyou,I’lljustaskyouonequestion.Willyoumarrymygrandsonornot?”


    Keirasaidinresignation,“Mr.Martin,Icameheretodaytodiscusswithyouandseeifthereisanypossibilityofcooperationbetweenourtwofamilies.”


    “There’snopossibility.TheMartinfamilyhasalwaysbeenindependentandwon’tcooperatewithanyenterprise.”


    OldMr.Martinrejectedherpropositionandthenslowlysaid,“I’lljustaskyouonesimplequestion.Willyoumarrymygrandsonornot?IhavetochooseadaughterfromtheSouthfamilytobemy


    daughter–inw,andforme,itdoesn’tmatterwhoit


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    <ol>


    <li>is.Ifyouwon’tmarryScott,thenI’rrangeScottand</li>


    </ol>


    Vera’sengagementpartytomorrow!Justmakesureyouwon’tregretit.”


    Keirawasdumbfounded.