?Chapter 1455:


    Rnd froze. His smug expression faltered. “I mean…”


    “She finally got what she wanted. Our little girl will get married soon.” Lena let out a small sigh. It was hard to exin, but something about this made her chest feel tight.


    They used to nag Jessica to settle down. Now that it was happening, the feeling was bittersweet.


    Rnd said firmly, “We’ve only got one daughter. Melvin should be the one marrying into our family.”


    Lena calmly took a sip of coffee. “You really think you’ve got the guts to say that to his face?”


    “Why wouldn’t—” Rnd stopped midsentence. Melvin’s usual cold expression shed through his mind, making his throat go dry.


    For a second, he hesitated. Melvin’s whole vibe could make a boardroom go silent, and warmth wasn’t exactly his strength.


    “Mom! Dad!” Jessica called out cheerfully as they stepped through the door. “Melvin’s here with me.”


    Lena’s smile bloomed naturally as she weed them. Pleasantries and small talk followed, polite but careful.


    Both Rnd and Lena gave Jessica that unmistakable look. They wanted to know if she had sealed the deal.


    One nce at Jessica’s radiant expression was all the answer they needed.


    “Let me introduce you,” Jessica said, pride swelling in her voice. “This is Melvin Swain, my boyfriend.”


    Melvin gave a respectful nod. “Nice to meet you.”


    “Likewise,” Rnd muttered awkwardly, gesturing toward the fruit tray. “Have some fruit.”


    “Thank you, Mr. Prescott.”


    Rnd flinched slightly. “No need to be that formal.”


    ???? ??????? ?? ?????????.???


    Lena and Jessica were both caught off guard by Rnd’s sudden nervousness.


    Both Jessica and Lena lookedpletely baffled, neither able to figure out where all this strange tension wasing from.


    “This isn’t your first time meeting, right?” Jessica said, trying to smooth over the awkwardness as her eyes moved between them. “No need to be so stiff with each other.”


    Rnd shot her a look. This clearly wasn’t the same atmosphere as before.


    “Mr. and Mrs. Prescott, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about—just the two of you,” Melvin finally said after a moment of thought. “Would now be a good time?”


    “Of course,” Rnd replied without hesitation. “Why wouldn’t it be?”


    “What about me?” Jessica asked.


    “You stay here,” Rnd said, genuinely curious to hear what Melvin had to say without interruptions.


    Jessica lookedpletely confused. What on earth was happening?


    While she stood there trying to make sense of it all, Rnd and Lena led Melvin upstairs to the study.


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    .<fn3569> Fresh chapters posted on find{n}ovel</fn3569>