The current head of the Everett family, Zhane’s grandfather, and the reigning Patriarch sat at the head of the ancestral hall. The room was filled with heated discussions about Zhane’s potential marriage partner, but the Patriarch brought the chaos to an abrupt halt by mming his cane on the ground. "Silence!" hemanded. Despite nearing 80 years old, his voice still carried immense authority and power, enough to silence the entire crowd gathered before him.


    Zhane’s father, seated beside the Patriarch, calmly took a sip of his tea before speaking. "Dad, please go ahead." Although it was his wife who initiated the investigation into Hera’s background, the gathered information was shared with both the Patriarch and Zhane’s father beforehand. Thus, they were already aware of the details before she could say anything. Zhane’s father remainedposed and unworried.


    Zhane’s mother, however, was anxious. There had already been discussions of a marriage alliance between the Everett and Lennon families, and she was the one negotiating with the other family’s matriarch.


    Yet, she had seen Hera once before at the mall with her son. She noticed Zhane initiating a conversation with Hera, which was unusual for him. Normally indifferent and stern, her son would rarely engage in conversation with anyone in public, even his patients, unless they approached him first—and even then, his responses would be curt and brief.


    This encounter made her realize there might be more to Hera than she initially thought.


    That’s why Hera left asting impression on her. She saw Hera again on a variety show and grew to admire her character: straightforward, and kind, yet firm enough not to let anyone bully or take advantage of her. This increased her fondness for Hera.


    However, the talks with the Lennon family had been ongoing for years and couldn’t be easily dissolved. The Lennons were a prominent medical family with significant influence in the country just a few notches lower than their own family.


    Seeing that the Patriarch and his immediate family were silent, a branch family rtive decided to speak up. He had a square face, nted eyes, a slightly straight nose, and thin lips.


    "Patriarch, we can’t allow the only heir of the Everett family to get too close to any Tom, Dick, and Harry out there," he said, his voiceced with disdain. "Many of these women are just gold diggers. Take that woman, for example. Isn’t she the one rumored to have many sugar daddies? A filthy woman like her is not suitable for Zhane at all."


    His words dripped with contempt and disgust for Hera, though it was unclear whether it stemmed from her alleged poverty or the usations of gold-digging.


    The Patriarch rebuked the man calmly. "You’re old enough to know better than to believe every rumor you hear," he said, taking a sip of his tea. He pondered his options before continuing. "Besides, Zhane is more than capable of making his own choices. As the sole heir of the Everett family and a medical genius respected worldwide, he has formed his own opinions. If I tried to force him into something, he might very well rebel against the entire family. I’m not willing to take that risk."


    The Patriarch’s words highlighted his trust in Zhane’s maturity and independence. Even as a young boy, Zhane had always been wise beyond his years and detested others making decisions for him.


    "Patriarch! That’s irresponsible! What about the engagement with the Lennon family?" the man with the square face eximed, rallying the other branch members. "The alliance has been an ongoing discussion for years. If they find out that we are letting our only heir, their supposed son-inw, associate with a wild girl, they will surely fight us. Think about our reputation too!"


    He appealed to their sense of advantage, emphasizing the potential fallout. "If we be estranged from the Lennons, who excel in traditional medicine and are thergest procurers of medicinal herbs in the country, we would lose a great ally."