My Wealthy Husband

Chapter 32 The Proposal of Marriage II

"How long have you been in love?"

Being stricken, Nova pulled away Jason's hands and stammered, "It’s a mistake. We have no intimate relationship.."

Asher kept frowning, shook his head and said,

"You might tell the truth but I know my grandson. He must already have sex with you."

His comment was so straight forward that it embarrassed both Jason and Nova.

Proudly, Asher gave a shrug and said officially, "Well, I know that we're in a new era. And don’t get me wrong, I am not an old fogy, but just quite uncomfortable to let the newspaper tell me that my grandson was having a love affair."

Recalling the news, Nova realized that she could not clear her name in a short time. And Jason, was showing no inclination to explain anything, but instead, actually expecting a terrible mess so that Nova was forced to accompany him.

Eric served Asher the tea, reminding him about the proposal in a low voice.

Asher then told them, "I've had someone go to Graham’s family to propose marriage for you. You two should also follow me there."

Then he murmured, “I also have planned to go there with you. Well, it turns out you already have your wife by your side.”

Jason and Nova were speechless again.

***

In Graham’s family, watching trains of valuables were sent to his house, Toby was pretty confused. This scene was as spectacular as that an ancient emperor granted him quantities of rewards, each of which was priceless.

Lucie had been around with him and savvy to a lot of things these years, and thus she realized that these objects were all worthy of a fortune. At the beginning, she considered them given by Ewan because after Ewan and Ella got married, the couple usually brought the family gifts. But this time, it's different -- though Ewan was willing to do that, his parents would not agree on it. Who sent these?

While she was pondering, a Hummer in military style parked at the gate. As soon as catching sight of the car, she felt a sense of unlucky premonition.

The car gradually came to a halt but Nova didn't move but kicked slightly at Jason's leg, suggesting what to do next. Jason, however, intentionally misinterpreted her meaning and touched her hands softly to reassure her, "Don't worry. It's also my first time to propose in the flesh."

Now Nova was not in mood to talk with him.

Asher made a noise and said, "I can provide the evident."

Nova kept silent.

Toby and Lucie remained standing there for a few minutes, watching the car stop and open.

Jason was the first one out of the car, who attended the completion ceremony two days ago. He was smiling in a leisure way like a gentleman and then walked to the other side of the car to open the door for a lady. When Toby figured out whom the lady was, his brows were knitted. In his view, since Nova had been away from the house, it's impossible for her to move back as long as he refused to apologize. But now, what happened?

After they got out of the car, the man sitting up front appeared in front of Toby and Lucie slowly. At the moment they realized who he was, they were frozen. Back in those days he sent Ella's photos to Chapman’s family for marriage in order to mitigate the corporate crisis, he once met the dignified image of the old man. And he now felt rather guilty for Chapman’s family's repentance of marriage.

Always with gray short hair, standing upright in a uniform, Asher still looked like a soldier. He walked directly towards Toby and Lucie seriously like a leader. After he stood still, he said, "Mr. Graham, I am Asher Chapman. Today I come here for my grandson's marriage with your daughter."

Toby was astonished and Lucie was much more nervous because of Asher's intimidating face which reminded them of Ella.

“So those gifts are from you?”

Asher nodded, “Those little gifts are just a token of our regard, not including the marriage dowry. I want to negotiate with you the marriage. Have you set the date of wedding?”

Toby was kind of frightened; to him, the uninvited guests were here to put pressure onto them about the marriage. But Ella had already been married to Ewan, where could he find another Ella?

On the contrary, Lucie was quite calm; noticing Jason and Nova behind Asher, she asked carefully, "Who is the bride?"

Asher devoted almost the whole life to military, and he was attuned to the national affairs not the business circle. Besides, it’s his wife that chose his grandson’s future wife, whose name he was not informed of. Therefore, when asked by Lucie, he was confused and turned to Nova, "Girl, what’s your name?"

Completely shocked, Toby then managed to become rational. But Lucie failed to keep her fake smile.

"She's Nova, the eldest daughter."

Jason answered for Nova. Holding Nova’s hands, he said like a gentleman, "We meet for the first time, Mr. Graham."

***

In the hall of Graham’s family, when the maids served tea, Toby was recalled to himself. Staring at Nova who was cool towards him, as well as Asher and Jason, he was calculating with knitted brows. In his opinion, Nova was deemed to inherit the control of the family company sooner or later, whose marriage, however, was always his burden. Nova was too excellent for him to find her a husband that could assist her in career. Actually, he had launched inquiries into many outstanding young men, none of whom he was satisfied. After all, although Jason was indeed gorgeous, he had been in a date with Ella, which was the reason why Toby hesitated to make the final decision.

On the contrary, Asher fixed his eyes on a tea set angrily. He now realized that Jason had been in love with the girl for a long time because the set of porcelain appeared here which was said by Jason to be sent out as a gift for a banquet before. Jason lied to him.

Asher loved the tea set so much that he gazed it steadily.

"Mr. Chapman, is there something wrong with the tea?" asked Lucie in a careful way, which helped Asher gained his composure. Asher pretended to sip the tea seriously, "Well, it tastes good. I guess it must be West Lake Longjing."

"It's Tieguanyin in fact." Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

Then Asher was embarrassed; in order to look like chill, he said, "I mean it tastes better than West Lake Longjing."

Jason smiled, not revealing anything to make Asher lose face.

"Mr. Graham, to be honest, my grandson has lots of bad habits. He might not be worthy of your daughter."

Jason’s smile was gone. This statement didn’t satisfy him.

"But the girl has already been in love with Jason, and we will surely take the whole responsibility. Besides, I am quite happy with her. So let's talk about the wedding."

Asher said smoothly, and sipped the tea naturally, waiting for Toby's answer.

Toby was silent for a while because he was filling his mind with a mirror of thoughts. Beside him, Lucie was anxious. For her, once Nova became the daughter-in-law of the Chapman’s family, surely it would boost their family’s prosperity. However, she had made much effort to suspend Nova's position but now Nova managed to gain support from Jason's family before she could start her next plan. If the marriage was not avoided, what she had done for Ella these years would be wasted. She would not allow this happen in any case.