"Grandma, this is my girlfriend, Gloria," Gary said, leading her to the head of the table.


    "Grandma, I brought you a box of those viral, gold-dusted artisanal fruit skewers," Gloria said, offering a small, elegant gift box.


    "This ce is the hottest spot in the city right now. I had to wait in line for three hours this afternoon to get them." She smiled sweetly.


    "I know it''s not much, but it''s a small token of my affection. I hope you''ll ept it."


    Grandma Temple nced down at the ridiculously overwrought box of candied fruit, gave a slight nod, and said nothing.


    A servant standing beside her took the gift and set it aside, then signaled for the kitchen to begin serving dinner.


    Samuel looked at the gift with open disdain and leaned over to whisper to


    Hannah, “Seriously? Who gives an old woman trendy candied fruit? She might as well have brought her a brick."


    Hannah found the gift choice bizarre as well, but she maintained a cid expression.


    However, when Samuel mentioned the brick, she couldn''t help but let out a smallugh.


    The sound drew everyone''s attention.


    "Hannah, what is it?" Grandma asked with concern.


    Hannah waved her hand dismissively. "It''s nothing, Grandma. Samuel just told me a funny joke."


    Seeing that she was fine, Grandma nodded. "Tonight, I had the kitchen prepare all of your favorite dishes."


    "Thank you, Grandma."


    When Hannah hadughed, a flicker of annoyance had crossed Gloria''s face, though she quickly concealed it.


    She recognized Hannah from the news and, after getting her assignment from Sandra today, had done some digging. She was just as detestable as Sandra had described.


    Samuel, realizing his breach of etiquette, immediately sat up straight. But his eyes were drawn to the ne around Gloria''s neck.


    He wasn''t a jewelry expert, but he could tell quality when he saw it. That ne was far beyond anything Gary could afford.


    "That ne she''s wearing... if I''m not mistaken, that must be worth a small fortune, right?” he whispered, leaning in again.


    Hannah nodded. "I picked that one out myself. Lionel said he was going to buy it for me, but he ended up giving it to Sandra."


    The moment Gloria had walked in, Hannah had recognized the ne.


    It confirmed the theory she had formed that afternoon.


    Samuel understood instantly. He gave Hannah a subtle thumbs-up under the table. Hannah was truly brilliant.


    Throughout dinner, Gloria tried repeatedly to engage Grandma in conversation, but she was met with polite indifference.


    After the meal, Grandma retired to her room, leaving the younger generation in the living room.


    Gloria immediately pouted. "Does your grandmother not like me? dressed up so carefully today and even paid a scalper to get that gift. I put so much thought into it


    Gary swirled the wine in his ss and downed it in one go. "Why on earth would you give my grandmother that gift? You could have brought vitamins, anything! But trendy fruit skewers?"


    When he picked Gloria up, he had


    seen the exquisite gift box and


    assumed it was something valuable.


    She had been mysterious about its


    contents, calling it a "precious,


    heartfelt surprise, so he hadn''t


    pressed the issue. Content Belongs


    If he had known it was a glorified fruit skewer, he never would have let her bring it


    in.