At the Lafond residence.


    After eating and drinking her fill, Romina leaned against the back of the sofa, her mind reying River''s behavior from earlier that day.


    Something felt off.


    Her parents had gone out for a walk after dinner, as usual. That was their routine —after every meal, they''d sit for about ten minutes, then head out hand-in-hand for a stroll around the vimunity. They''d walk at least half an hour before returning.


    Her grandfather, being older and still active in thepany, usually spent his weekends either resting or ying chess with friends. While his son had retired early, thankfully the grandchildren had stepped up and shared the family burden. So when it came to weekends, the old man either rxed at home or hosted card games and chess matches with his friends. If there were no ns like that, he''d start harping on marriage-nagging and pestering relentlessly.


    All the grandkids hoped he''d stay busy with his games because that was the only time their ears got a break.


    Right now, Old Mr. Lafond was sitting in a single sofa chair, eyes closed, resting. But Romina''s intense stare made him open his eyes.


    "Do you have something to say to Grandpa?" he asked. After all these years, he could read Romina like a book-one nce or gesture, and he knew what she was thinking.


    Romina hesitated, then said, "Grandpa, don''t you think River was acting a little strange today?"


    Old Mr. Lafond chuckled. "Strange or not, you already signed apensation agreement with him. So now you have to y by the rules. Romina, why''d you call River ''husband'' in public and then p him? That p kicked off everything. You''re at a disadvantage now."


    Romina muttered, "I didn''t think he''d be so shameless. He dredged up every little thing. That project-we spent months negotiating it. The contract was practically signed, and he swooped in and snatched it. I was furious. Then I saw him with some strange woman, assumed the worst, and lost it. So I pped him. Grandpa, I didn''t hold back either-it felt really good."


    Old Mr. Lafond chuckled again. "Sure, it felt good at the time. But look what you''ve gotten yourself into now."


    Romina grumbled, "What can he do to me? I''ve arranged blind dates for him— gorgeous, flirty women. I want to see if he can stay calm when they start throwing themselves at him. But it''s strange... he agreed to the whole thing way too easily. Two blind dates a day, no hesitation. That''s what worries me. I feel like I''ve walked right into another one of his traps.”


    Old Mr. Lafond asked, "So what''s the catch? Can you tell?"


    "He''s never been into women. I haven''t heard a single rumor about him in all


    these years. He treats every woman the same... except for me. It''s like he can''t stand not fighting with me. He''s polite to everyone else, but with me? He pushes all my buttons."


    She sighed. "Sister Seren said River and I bring out the worst in each other." "That sounds about right," Old Mr. Lafond said. "And isn''t Serenity River''s cousin''s wife? You two are supposed to be enemies, but you act like best friends. You''ve only known her a few days, and you''re already calling her ''sister.""