Ch. 971..980

Chapter 971

'Tristan, did you just say I'm being unreasonable?" Michaela shouted furiously.

The line went dead from the other end.

Michaela, still seething, hurled her phone across the room, shattering it. Yet, even this violent act couldn't quell her anger.

She fell deeply disrespected by both Elio and Tristan. Now, even Mila and Jasper had kept her in the dark. The thought that everyone closest to her was drifting away because of Candice's marriage filled her with profound disappointment.

Picking up the two shattered phones, Josie approached and sat beside Michaela, gently consoling her, "Mrs. Hoffis, don't be upset. You must take care of your health. We can address Leo's marriage gradually."

*Josie, do you have any suggestions?" Michaela asked, her voice edged with desperation. Josie shook her head, looking equally frustrated.

Just then, Mila walked briskly into the room, her voice calm and soothing. "Nothing will work." Hearing her voice, both women turned to look at Mila.

She entered gracefully with a lunchbox in her hand, her smile gentle. "Don't waste your effort. Elio has already signed over half his assets to Candice. If they divorce, the family business will be affected.'

Michaela who was always protective of power and assets, erupted, "Who let him do that? He had lost his mind!"

Although bedridden, her domineering presence was palpable, trembling with rage.

Mila was now less concerned about Michaela's outburst. In fact, she was more worried that Josie would continue to stir trouble.

Setting down the lunchbox, Mila faced Josie with a sweet yet barbed smile. "Ms. Hudson, I'm impressed by your persistence. But now that Elio and Candice are married, I hope you'll value yourself and maintain your dignity. Don't harbor any more illusions about Elio."

Josie hurriedly explained, "Mrs. Morrison, you've misunderstood. Elio and I..."

Mila laughed coldly, "You know it best whether I misunderstand or not. Spare me the fake explanations."

Josie stood there, both awkward and mortified.

Mila's expression remained stem. "Ms. Hudson, it's my duty as a daughter to take care of my mother. With me around, you don't need to visit as often.

*Please inform Ms. Fenna Hudson that I don't wish to see her. Tell her to stay away and don't ruin my mood whenever I'm in the hospital.

Michaela scowled, "Chubs, that's too much."

Josie's face darkened, deeply embarrassed.

Mila snapped, "They had the nerve to drug Ello with an aphrodisiac! if that's not disgusting. what is? Don't you think being with such people tarnishes your values?

Michaela was stunned, a wave of anger surging to her chest. She never expected Mila to speak to her like this. 'How dare you talk to me like this? Do you still see me your mother?"

Mila tapped the lunchbox and said, "Here's some soup and food, though it probably won't taste as good as Fenna's cooking.

'Enjoy your meal. I won't be joining."

Michaela clutched her chest in pain, shouting, 'Chubs, you're driving me up the wall!

Mila walked toward the door and suddenly paused. Without turning around, she remarked, "If you don't want to end up old and alone, with children who resent you and a husband who doesn't care about you, you should probably reassess your position.

"Think carefully about what you should and shouldn't be doing.

With that, she walked out of the ward.

Chapter 972

It was six months later that Nathan returned to Phoenicia from the frontier.

He and Mila had been living apart for more than half a year, and countless times, he had asked Mila when she would return to the frontier and the lab. Even after years of marriage, he was still as attached to her as ever.

Mila replied, "I need to stay in Phoenicia to handle something important." However, she never specified what it was.

Now, he finally understood—it was to settle old scores and new grievances together.

Philip had been reported for embezzlement and bribery, leading to his downfall. Fenna herself was arrested for involving in kidnapping abroad, committing crimes against Candice, and taking bribes. The couple ended up behind bars.

During these six months, Michaela, who was still bedridden, learned of the events and felt shocked. She was grateful that Josie had not married into their family. Otherwise, their business could have been implicated.

There was another major event, which was Elio and Candice's grand wedding.

The wealthiest man in the country got married on the most beautiful island in Norvania. Several flights flew guests to the romantic island.

The once plain beach transformed into a sea of flowers, with petals carpeting the ground. The decorations, costing tens of millions of dollars, were complemented by the most luxurious food and wine.

At the wedding, Candice, like everyone else, witnessed the most beautiful wedding scene of her life. The air was filled with the scent of flowers, and everywhere she looked was just screaming "romance".

Dressed in a million-dollar wedding gown and adorned with jewelry worth tens of millions, Candice walked on the exquisite carpet toward the center stage, where the charming and elegant-looking Elio awaited.

The guests filled the seats, all smiling warmly.

Tears of happiness welled up in Candice's eyes and a sweet smile graced her lips, as she saw her parents, uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters-in-law who had loved and spoiled her for over 20 years.

She felt incredibly blessed. Marrying the man she loved now made her life feel complete.

They exchanged vows and rings, sealing their promises with a kiss amidst the blessings of everyone present.

Michaela attended the wedding too. Although she had been reluctant to acknowledge Candice’s status despite them getting the marriage certificate. It wasn’t until the incident with Fenna and Philip had made her reconsidered her stance.

As applause filled the air, everyone rejoiced. One person, however, quietly wiped away tears. It was Daniel, the steadfast and resilient anti-drug force supervisor, also Candice’s father.

The latter part of the wedding was a musical party.

Candice slipped out of her wedding gown and into an elegant evening dress, strolling through the wedding venue with Elio by her side. They mingled with friends and family, raising glasses in celebration amidst lively conversations.

The venue was overflowed with beautiful melodies and delicious delicacies. The tempting aroma of the cuisine lured Candice away from Elio to a secluded corner for a private moment of indulgence.

Just then, Mervyn approached.

"Candice, congratulations on your wedding," he said.

Candice looked up, exchanged a glance with Mervyn, and offered a faint smile. She clinked glasses with him and replied. "Thank you."

Mervyn, after having a decent amount of wine, revealed his emotions through his flushed face and moist eyes. Beneath his smile, bitterness and sadness were palpable.

Seeing Candice and Elio's marriage making headlines, he realized his chance had slipped away before it even began. He had never had the opportunity to confess his admiration to Candice.

"Promise me you'll be happy." Mervyn murmured, forcing a smile.

"I will. I hope you find your other half soon and be happy." Candice responded with warmth.

Mervyn tightened his lips, bowed his head in contemplation for a moment, and summoned his courage to continue, "Candice, there's something I've been holding in my heart. If..."

"Just keep it to yourself," a sudden voice interrupted.

They turned to see Elio approaching.

He gently took Candice's hand, his demeanor calm yet his gaze cool and resolute as he addressed Mervyn. "There's no need for questions and words. It's pointless, isn't it?"

Mervyn's smile hardened with bitterness.

Candice was left perplexed.

Chapter 973

Mervyn nodded. "Yeah, it doesn't matter anymore."

"What are you talking about?" Candice asked, confused. "Why don't I understand?"

Elio smiled gently and whispered, "You don't need to understand. Come on, let's have a drink with Mom and Dad."

"Okay." Candice picked up her glass of juice, waved goodbye to Mervyn, and walked toward Michaela and Tristan.

Mervyn watched as they walked away, unable to resist taking another big gulp of his drink.

Michaela was sitting gracefully in her wheelchair, maintaining her usual elegance.

Elio and Candice approached and greeted politely, "Mom, Dad, let's toast."

Michaela forced a smile, her gaze on Candice was affectionate yet lacking genuine approval and admiration. Deep down, she believed Candice wasn't capable enough for Elio.

Nonetheless, it didn't affect their relationship, as no one cared about Michaela's opinion.

On the other hand, Tristan was delighted. He raised his glass enthusiastically, showering them with blessings and well-wishes, especially emphasizing, "May you soon be blessed with children!"

Candice blushed and smiled shyly, nodding as she sipped her juice.

Elio, barely able to contain his laughter, looked at Candice lovingly.

Keeping the secret was tough, but Candice insisted they tell no one until after the first trimester when the pregnancy was stable.

Remarkably, Candice's body showed no signs of pregnancy. She could eat, sleep, and work with no fatigue or morning sickness.

Nearby stood Nathan, Mila, and Jasper. At first glance, they seemed like peers, not because Jasper looked mature, but because his parents appeared youthful and well-maintained.

Nathan was a dashing defense general, and Mila was a beautiful chemist. As for Jasper, he worked at Elio’s company while learning business management. Six months ago, he founded his own company and began his entrepreneurial journey.

These past six months had been tough for him.

Suspected of being gay, Mila initially set him up on blind dates. After meeting several women without success, he dismissed countless more with the excuse of being too busy with his startup and not interested in women.

Eventually, his family became convinced he was gay, leading to the most outrageous setup of all: Mila arranged a date for Jasper with a man. Her forward-thinking approach left Jasper utterly bewildered.

Seeing Elio’s joyful smile, Mila couldn’t help but remark, “How did Elio become mature so early? He started crushing on Candice before he was even an adult. Yet some men show no interest in women at all.”

Jasper's brow furrowed, and his handsome face fell in exasperation.

Nathan replied, "There might be an issue."

Mila queried, "Darling, do you think it's psychological or physical?"

"Could it be a physical issue?"

Jasper's frustration finally surfaced. "Dad, Mom, you're practically spelling it out for me. Is this necessary? Discussing this right in front of me?" Mila, surprised, asked, "So, it really is a physical problem?"

Jasper rubbed his forehead, feeling exasperated. "You really know how to miss the point!"

Nathan placed a comforting hand on Jasper's shoulder. "Jasper, take a break from the company and come train with me at the frontier for a few months. I guarantee you'll feel physically stronger."

Jasper grabbed Nathan's hand and pressed it against his chest. "Feel that? That's muscle, rock hard. I've kept up my workout routine for years. There's no need to go all the way to the frontier."

Mila and Nathan exchanged a glance, uncertain of their next steps.

Jasper had recently turned 27. He was remarkably handsome with a fit physique and came from a distinguished family background, yet he had never dated or shown interest in any woman.\

Chapter 974

Chapter 974

It was unusual.

Just then, Candice and Elio approached. Setting aside their family affairs, the three raised their glasses in a toast with Candice and Elio.

They began with heartfelt wishes, laughing and conversing freely. Unexpectedly, the conversation veered toward Jasper.

"Now, all the kids at home are married. Even Candice is married. It's just him left, a bachelor without a girlfriend," Mila said.

Jasper countered, "Mom, my cousins are all in their 30s. Isn't that normal for them to be married?"

Mila persisted, "But Candice is younger than you and already married!"

Nathan interjected, "Let's give him some time. No rush. Let's see when he's 30, or maybe 40. Who knows, perhaps he'll get married in his 50s. There's still plenty of time ahead."

Jasper was speechless, offering a faint smile. "Dad, you're really good at comforting people."

Observing the concern from Mila and Nathan, Elio reassured them. "Don't worry. Jasper definitely likes women. In the past, he—"

Before Elio could finish, Jasper abruptly rushed forward, his hand covering Elio’s mouth as he pulled him aside by the shoulder, his voice tinged with irritation. “Uncle Elio, I need to talk to you.”

Mila, nervously intrigued, hurried over. “What happened in the past? Hey, don’t go! Come back here and explain!”

Jasper held Elio firmly, turning back, and shouted, “Mom, it’s nothing! Don’t listen to his nonsense!”

“There’s definitely something,” Nathan chuckled lightly.

“Yes, he has a secret.” Mila agreed.

Lowering her voice mischievously, Candice whispered, “Uncle Nathan, Aunt Chubs, I’ll ask Elio about Jasper’s secret when we get home.”

Mila smiled knowingly and nodded eagerly. “Sure, Candice. Ask him when you get back.”

Candice nodded with a wide smile.

The grand wedding spanned two days, with the first day dedicated to the solemn ceremony and the second day to indulgent leisure activities.

The island itself, where they held their wedding was bought by Elio as a gift for Candice and christened Enchanted Cove.

Yet amidst the joy, there were moments of sorrow.

In the prison in Phoenicia, Josie visited Fenna with her parents.

Seated in the prison, Fenna appeared weary, as if she had aged ten years in an instant.

Josie couldn’t help but shed tears at the sight of Fenna.

Fenna’s first question was, “Has Elio gotten married?”

Josie’s sorrow deepened, and she nodded quietly, struggling to hold back her tears.

“You are useless! You can’t even hold onto a man!” Fenna spat out with anger.

Unable to bear any longer, Cameron seized the phone and shouted at Fenna through the glass, “You’re already in jail now! Don’t you realize your mistakes? Why are you so stubborn?

"Are you genuinely concerned about Josie's happiness? Or are you just trying to project your regrets onto her?"

Fenna looked at Cameron through tear-filled eyes. "Cam, Josie loves Elio. What's wrong with that?"

Cameron retorted, "If Elio doesn't love Josie and chooses to marry someone he loves instead, what's wrong with that then?"

Fenna fell silent.

Cameron continued, "Nathan didn't love you. He and Chubs did nothing wrong. They even showed you mercy back then. Don't you have any gratitude?"

In frustration, Fenna gritted her teeth.

"Reflect on your life in prison for the rest of your days." With that, Cameron hung up the phone, took his wife and daughter's hands, and strode out of the prison.

Josie didn't look back at Fenna either.

Once outside the prison, Josie sat in contemplative silence in the car. Finally, she murmured, "Dad, I want to go abroad."

Cameron responded calmly, "Go ahead. As long as it's the right thing for you, I'll support you."

"Thank you, Dad."

Chapter 975

Chapter 975

The summer heat in Phoenicia was scorching, leaving the streets almost deserted. A figure dressed in a giant frog costume hurried to the café entrance.

She set down her pile of little frogs in a corner and removed her heavy frog head, revealing her sweat-drenched but beautiful features.

Glazing up at the signboard, she blinked and anxiously muttered, "This must be the place."

Hugging the frog's head, she walked in and looked around.

There was only one young man in the entire café. From a distance, he appeared strikingly handsome with an air of elegance and sophistication.

"The quality of this setup was high," she thought. No wonder her mother warned her not to come back home if she still couldn't get married this time.

Breathless, she walked over, sat down in front of the man, and apologized politely, "I'm sorry, I was chased by the city officials because of my job. I got lost and ended up being half an hour late. I'm so sorry."

At the sound of her voice, Jasper looked up and was momentarily stunned to see a half-human, half-frog figure before him. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

Jasper, dressed in a suit, exuded an elegant and noble demeanor. He looked at her quietly, his handsome face was devoid of any emotion.

She nervously swallowed and forced a smile, explaining, "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is—"

Jasper interrupted in a calm tone. "Imogen Kingsley."

Imogen was taken aback but quickly recovered, "Yes, I'm Imogen. It seems Aunt Eloise has already told you about me, but out of respect, I should introduce myself properly."

Jasper nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Imogen began confidently, "I'm the blind date Aunt Eloise introduced to you. I have a degree and I'm 26 years old. I'm a freelance entrepreneur with zero dating history, zero savings, no bad habits, and no hobbies. But I have dreams."

Jasper raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. "So what are your dreams?"

Imogen clenched her frog fist and declared passionately. "My dream is to become an astronaut and travel to the moon."

Jasper was momentarily at a loss for words. "A lady with big dreams," he pondered.

At that moment, a waiter brought a glass of iced water.

Imogen, thinking it was for her, quickly reached out. "Thanks."

But as her frog hand reached for the glass, she realized she was still in costume and felt a bit embarrassed. She awkwardly smiled, stood up, and turned her back to Jasper. "I'm sorry, but can you help me with my zipper?"

Jasper hesitated for a moment, then stood up to assist her.

Suddenly, Imogen saw an elderly lady at the door, swiftly running off with her group of little frogs.

"What are you doing? Put down my little frogs! Those are mine!"

Just as Jasper raised his hand, the woman in front of him disappeared in a flash.

"Hey, your frog head!" Jasper called out, watching her in her cumbersome outfit darting out, leaving the frog head behind. He quickly picked it up and chased after her.

The scene on the street was comical.

An old lady in her 60s was sprinting with a bunch of little frogs, followed by a disheveled, pretty girl in a frog costume, and trailing behind was a handsome man in a suit, carrying the frog head.

The spectacle made people stop and watch.

The old lady darted into an alley. When Imogen followed suit, she could no longer see her.

Leaning against a wall with one hand, Imogen rested the other on her waist, drenched in sweat.

Gasping for breath, she muttered angrily, "Bad people do get old. What a bad day! Not only did I sell nothing, but I also got chased by city officials and then had my little frogs stolen by an old lady. How unlucky can I get?"

Looking back at the alley, she sighed, "My blind date probably thinks I’m crazy. Oh gosh, another one blown."

Thinking about Jasper's handsome features, Imogen couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. He was the most attractive guy she had ever met on a blind date.

With a long sigh, she dragged her weary steps out of the alley.

Chapter 976

Chapter 976

When Imogen stepped out of the alley, she saw Jasper holding her frog head, looking around as if earnestly searching for her.

As soon as he turned and their eyes met, he walked over briskly. With a furrowed brow, Jasper asked, "How much did those little frogs cost?"

"About 50 dollars," Imogen replied.

He seemed incredulous and shocked. "You chased an old lady down two streets over 50 dollars?"

Imogen's face darkened in annoyance. "Is it just about the money?"

"If it's not about the money, then what's the problem?" he countered.

Imogen huffed, realizing that good looks didn't necessarily mean good sense. This small disagreement already revealed their clashing values.

Forcing a polite smile, she explained, "Yes, it's about the money. Those 50 dollars are worth a two-day meal for me. I woke up early in the morning, ran to the wholesale market, and hauled back those little frogs.

"I inflated each one myself, hoping they'd sell well. I protected them while running away from the city officials for an hour. Now, a thief disguised as an old lady stole them, and I went to get them back. Is that wrong?"

Jasper set down the frog head, took out his wallet, and handed Imogen all the cash inside. "This should compensate for your loss today. Is it enough?"

He didn't want her to feel bad and waste her time on these trivial matters. He still hoped the date could continue.

Imogen's lips curled into a smile at the sight of the thick wad of cash. There must have been at least ten thousand dollars.

She couldn't help but like Jasper more. Seeing his generosity, their clashed values didn't seem to matter.

Without hesitation, she grabbed the money and stuffed it into her costume's belly pocket.

Beaming, Imogen thought, "This guy is good at pretending to be rich. He's probably given me all he's got and might have to scrape by next month."

Still, she couldn't help but admire a man with such generosity. Even if he was broke, he exuded chivalry and warmth.

"Are you giving me this money voluntarily?" she asked, curious.

"Yes," Jasper replied, his expression serious as he walked to her back. "Now, take off that costume before you get heatstroke."

"Thanks," Imogen said. Prompted by Jasper's reminder, she was suddenly aware of the sweat covering her body, making the heat almost unbearable.

As Jasper helped her out of the frog costume, Imogen couldn't help but ask, "Asher, did you just give me all the money you had?"

Jasper paused slightly. "What did you call me?"

"Asher. Aunt Eloise said your name is Asher, you're 37, a tech school graduate now working as a car salesman."

"She mentioned you lost all your savings in a telecom scam six months ago, with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, but you've managed to pay it off through hard work selling cars. Your story is both pitiful and inspiring."

Jasper chuckled, helping Imogen out of the costume before walking to face her. Gazing at her, he queried, "Didn't she show you my photo?"

Imogen, folding the costume, replied casually, "She did, but photos these days are unreliable with all the filters. You're much better looking in person."

"Thanks," Jasper uttered with a soft laugh.

Holding onto the money in her costume, Imogen asked again, "So, you're really giving me this money?"

"Yes."

"No takebacks?"

"No takebacks," Jasper said, amused.

Imogen mused to herself. No matter how handsome or generous a man seemed, infidelity and betrayal were always possibilities. If marriage was going to be a trial, why not choose a man who was both handsome and generous?

Blushing slightly, she questioned, "What do you think of me?"

Jasper smiled gently. "You're great and I'm very satisfied."

Chapter 977

Chapter 977

Imogen couldn't help but smile, her eyes twinkling with happiness.

After so many blind dates with countless men, they always found something to criticize about Imogen-her family's poverty, her education level, or her personality. It seemed they could always find a flaw.

This was the first time Imogen met someone who genuinely appreciated her, and it didn't hurt that he was handsome too.

Although Asher's family wasn't wealthy either, they were well-matched. Neither could look down on the other.

Moreover, Aunt Eloise, who had married into his hometown, vouched for him, praising his honesty, capability, and good character. He seemed like perfect husband material.

Blushing slightly, Imogen's voice softened. I'm quite satisfied with you too. How about we get our marriage license?"

Jasper was taken aback. "A marriage license? We've just met. Shouldn't we get to know each other first?

Imogen shrugged. "It's all about living together. We can make do, and the days will pass." Jasper was at a loss for words.

After pausing a moment, Imogen explained, "If you want to build a relationship first, that's fine. But Aunt Eloise mentioned your father had cancer.

"Even though he's recovering well, you are eager to get married to fulfill his wish. I thought you'd be more anxious than me."

Jasper hesitated for a few seconds, then smiled gently and said, "Alright, let's get married then."

Imogen didn't get excited. But instead, she felt a sense of relief wash over her as if she had completed a significant task. She wouldn't have to endure her parents' relentless nagging about marriage anymore.

*Bring your documents tomorrow morning and we'll meet at the city hall."

'Let's exchange numbers, Jasper suggested, taking out his phone.

Imogen pulled out her phone as well, showing him her number. After he added her, she couldn't help but ask, "After we're married, can I manage your salary?"

Jasper looked up in puzzlement.

Imogen quickly clarified, "Don't get me wrong, I don't want to take your money. We can put both our salaries into your bank account, but I'd like to keep the card. You've been scammed before, and you're too kind-hearted. It's easy for you to get cheated."

But of course, it was also because of greed and innocence-two of the most dangerous traits. Imogen didn't want to risk their future finances.

Jasper smiled warmly. "Alright, after we get married, you can handle the household matters."

After exchanging their numbers, Imogen inquired, "Will you continue renting an apartment once we're married?"

He was renting an apartment? Jasper was taken aback by her question.

Imogen noticed his hesitation and added, "Let's save money. Instead of renting, why don't we stay with my parents? It's cramped, but we'll save on rent. We can move out once we've saved enough for a down payment."

"Okay, whatever you say," Jasper agreed softly.

His gentle and magnetic voice melted Imogen's heart. Did all salesmen have such charming voices? With his good looks and pleasant tone, it's no wonder female customers found it hard to resist buying cars from him.

Imogen picked up her frog head, her smile brimming. "I should go now. I'll see you tomorrow, dear future husband."

Jasper stood momentarily stunned, his heart racing and cheeks flushing. He watched her stride toward the subway entrance until she vanished from sight. Shaking himself out of his reverie, he hurried after her.

He took her hand and cleared his slightly husky throat. "Imogen, I'll send you home. I came here by car."

Imogen was surprised. "You have a car?"

After seconds of hesitation, Jasper replied, "It's a client's car. I'm sending it for maintenance and drove it here."

"Great!' Imogen turned and walked back, delighted.

She was determined to save as much money as possible to support her dream of advancing the nation's space exploration efforts. Every penny saved was a penny earned.

Chapter 978

Chapter 978

Chapter 978

When Imogen saw Jasper's approaching car, she froze in shock and hesitated, uncertain about getting in.

Jasper courteously opened the door for her, a puzzled expression on his face. "What's wrong?"

"This car must be worth a fortune, right? If something happens to it, we can't afford the repairs," Imogen fretted anxiously.

Jasper was about to reassure her, but after some consideration, he replied, "It's fine. Just be careful."

Imogen nodded earnestly and settled into the car. During the drive, she provided Jasper with the address.

An hour later, they parked in front of a dilapidated building in the old city quarter. Imogen stepped out and waved at Jasper. "You should head back now. I'll see you at the city hall tomorrow."

Jasper leaned out of the car, returning her wave as he watched Imogen walk away. His gaze lingered on the dilapidated building ahead, a sense of melancholy settling within him.

Imogen climbed up to the eighth floor, her breath heavy and labored. Exhaustion consumed her. Living on the top floor without an elevator meant scaling eight flights of stairs daily, a task that drained her energy each time.

She tossed her frog costume into a corner and slumped onto the sofa, feeling as though her spirit might depart her body at any moment. Today's flurry of activities had taken a toll far beyond her expectations.

Just then, a middle-aged man with a limp descended from the rooftop, a basket of freshly laundered clothes in his hands.

"Imogen, you're back?" he called out.

Imogen sprang to her feet at the sound of his voice and hurried over to take the clothes from him. "Dad, let me help you."

Gregory Kingsley handed her the clothes, and together they slowly made their way down to the living room. Imogen took out the clothes and began folding them with care. Gregory approached to help.

"Dad, I'm getting married," Imogen said.

Gregory was momentarily taken aback, though he was not entirely surprised. Marriage was a natural milestone as daughters grew up. It was about time for Imogen to settle down.

"Where's he from?" Gregory inquired.

"He lives next door to Uncle Brandon. Aunt Eloise introduced us. His name is Asher."

Gregory spoke calmly. "If Eloise introduced him, he must be decent. What's his family background? Will they look down on us for being poor?" "Similar to ours, I think. He seems like a good match."

Gregory pursed his lips and replied thoughtfully, "In that case, both of you should work hard together. The future will surely get better." Imogen hummed in response.

"We don't have money for a dowry, so don't accept anything from his family. Gregory folded the clothes neatly, carrying them into the foom as he continued, "Invite him over for dinner sometime."

Imogen mustered her courage and inquired, "Dad, we wish to save money. Can we stay here?"

Gregory placed the folded clothes in the room and limped back out. In a warm tone, he replied, "If you don't mind the cramped and old house, you can definitely live here."

Imogen was overjoyed. "Thanks, Dad."

Gregory smiled in response. "We're family. There's no need for thanks."

"Where's Mom?"

"She went to clean someone else's house after work," Gregory replied.

Imogen felt a pang of concern for her mother. Ever since Gregory got injured and lost his job, her mother had been the sole breadwinner, supporting her education and holding the family together, while Gregory managed the household chores.

This warm sanctuary they now had was purchased with the compensation from Gregory's accident.

"I'll go cook dinner," Imogen said, standing up and heading toward the kitchen.

However, Gregory stopped her, saying, "Get on with your work, I'll handle dinner."

Imogen smiled gently. "I'm not busy, Dad."

Gregory looked at her tenderly and uttered, "I know you're always busy with work."

Imogen's heart warmed, and she followed his suggestion, heading back into the room. Her already small room was packed with various items, from aerospace models to piles of goods.

Chapter 979

Imogen logged into her laptop, accessing the backend of her online store to review the completed orders. There were none.

However, there were numerous unanswered inquiries. She diligently responded to each one and after waiting for a moment, there were no new customers, no orders rolled in, and the inquiries dried up.

Switching to another interface, Imogen confronted lines of densely packed code and data structures for unmanned rockets. Troubled, she rested her head on her hand, lost in thought for a while before finally starting to type, coding away.

Two hours passed in intense concentration on her coding, followed by three more after dinner. Later that night, she completed her work and sent it out. After five hours of relentless effort, she earned three thousand dollars.

Imogen, who did not have a formal education, was often undervalued by others despite her talent. Sometimes, it brought her close to tears. Closing her laptop, Imogen stretched as she headed to the bathroom.

She believed in the transformative power of hard work and study to change lives. Yet, her fate seemed mired in hardship due to her excellent performance in her studies.

Her acceptance letter from Norvania Aerospace Academy was intercepted by the child of a high-ranking official, altering her life's course and thwarting her future ambitions. Powerless even now, she had no choice but to accept her fate.

Early the next morning, as planned, Imogen got her marriage license with the man she had met only for the second time. She found him handsome but surprisingly calm, with few expectations.

To her, marrying anyone felt the same. It was about finding a teammate, reassuring her parents, and ending their relentless pressure to marry. Leaving the city hall, Imogen glanced at the marriage certificate in puzzlement. "Your name is Jasper Morrison? Aren't you Asher?"

Jasper looked nervous. "My ID says Jasper Morrison, but my family has always called me Asher, so everyone else just assumed Asher was my name. But it's actually just my nickname."

Imogen hummed a response and nodded thoughtfully before looking back at the certificate. "Jasper... this name sounds familiar." "You..." Jasper's expression darkened slightly.

Imogen paused before asking, "When will you move into my place?"

"Today, if that's okay," Jasper replied.

"Of course," Imogen said, handing him the keys. "Here's a set of keys. Do you need help with your luggage?"

Jasper smiled. "No need. It's right behind the car."

Surprised, Imogen exclaimed, "So soon?"

She followed Jasper to the parking lot, where she saw his plain domestic car, priced around 100 thousand dollars. "Is this your car?" "It's a used one. It was quite affordable," Jasper explained hastily.

Imogen felt relieved. Having a car was reassuring. If her parents ever felt unwell in the future, they could drive to the hospital themselves without worrying about transport during emergencies.

"It's nice," Imogen said softly.

Jasper opened the passenger door and said courteously, "Let's get in and head home."

Imogen smiled. "Okay."

She clicked her seatbelt into place as she settled into the car. Once Jasper pulled away, he prompted a conversation about Imogen's parents on their personalities and interests.

"They're very down-to-earth and easy to get along with. Don't worry."

Soon, Jasper's car entered the

chaotic East Street in the old city quarter Each side of the street was crowded with tiny stalls, bustling with pedestrians who ignored traffic rules, crossing the road at will.

The area was marked by poor environmental conditions, inadequate sanitation, and an overall atmosphere of chaos and disorder.

Chapter 980

Having finally parked the car, Jasper and Imogen immediately noticed a crowd gathered ahead, drawn by the spectacle of two women in a heated argument. Upon hearing the commotion, Imogen hurriedly rushed over.

"Imogen..." Jasper was bewildered, following quickly behind.

Pushing through the crowd, Imogen spotted her mother, Carol Pembroke, engaged in a fierce dispute with her aunt, Thelma McCoy.

Carol's eyes were brimming with tears, a mix of grievance and anger evident as she pointed and accused, "You shameless thing! Give the family homestead back!"

Thelma, whose features were contorted in malice, retorted sharply, "You're the shameless one! Your whole family is!

"You deserve Gregory's disability, Imogen's failure to enter college, your poverty, your destitution, and your finger being chopped off! You're just too shameless, and even heaven doesn't want your family to live well."

"You're so cruel! Karma will catch up with you," Carol cried, her anger palpable and resolute. "You shameless thing! We agreed from the start that the family homestead would serve as a bridal house for Maxwell to live in for two years and that he should move out after that.

"But by exploiting a loophole in the land survey, you registered it under his name and usurped our home."

Thelma stood with her hands on her hips, exuding a fierce demeanor akin to a demoness. "It was left to Maxwell by his grandfather, and we allowed you to stay there temporarily for a few years."

"Stop spouting nonsense!"

"You're the one spouting nonsense! Your entire family is! You, pauper, are so destitute that you can't even put food on the table. Now, you're planning to covet Maxwell's house?"

Carol was no match for Thelma. She was insulted to the point of tears, struggling to catch her breath.

Imogen hurried over, nervously taking Carol's arm. "Mom, let's not argue with her. Let's go home."

Upon seeing Imogen, Carol finally let her emotions show, breaking down. "Imogen, she's gone too far..."

Imogen hugged Carol and shot a fierce glare at Thelma. Leading Carol out of the crowd, she comforted her in a soft voice.

"I know, Mom. Let's not argue with people like her. Don't let her ruin your health. There must be another way to reclaim the family homestead. We'll find it."

Jasper stood outside the crowd,

observing silently. This intense confrontation was unlike anything he had ever witnessed before.

Qu

Despite having heard only part of the heated exchange, he grasped the underlying reasons behind it.

As Imogen helped Carol upstairs, Jasper followed with the luggage. He was aware the apartment was compact and that it was a walk-up, but he hadn't anticipated it being on the eighth floor. Luckily, he was fit from regular exercise, so the few pounds of luggage wasn't too heavy for him.

On the eighth floor, Gregory heard footsteps and hurriedly opened the door. Upon seeing Carol in tears, supported by Imogen, he anxiously asked, "What's going on? What happened?"

"Mom got into another argument with Aunt Thelma," Imogen replied.

Gregory's surprise and helplessness were evident. "No wonder it's so noisy outside. Judging by your state, you must have lost the argument, right?"

Imogen frowned at him. "Dad, please stop."

Gregory sighed deeply. He was just about to reach for the door to close it when he noticed someone tall, handsome, and muscular standing behind them.

He was holding some luggage and greeted Gregory immediately. "Hello, Dad."

Gregory was dumbfounded, standing motionless. Carol, who had just walked in, couldn't help but turn her head in surprise to look at the man behind her.

Jasper respectfully greeted Carol too. "Hello, Mom."

It was only then that Imogen reacted, her voice tinged with a hint of nervousness. "Oh, I almost forgot to introduce him. We've recently married. This is my husband, Asher."