Perhaps having waited a bit too long without Maxwell Thornton extending his hand to shake hers, Lily Bennett quickly realized she had made another pointless gesture. Just as she was about to awkwardly withdraw her hand, embarrassed, Maxwell suddenly reached out and clasped it, speaking warmly.
"You don’t need to worry about the rules in this house. Since you're my son’s girlfriend, you can consider this your home too."
Lily looked at Maxwell in surprise, then nodded as Lida Yang smiled and said, "Everyone must be hungry by now. Let's go have dinner."
Maxwell wrapped his arm around Lily’s waist, guiding her toward the dining room, pulling out a chair for her to sit.
The evening meal became livelier, until suddenly, Maxwell’s father asked, "When do you plan to get engaged?"
Lily, who had been eating, almost choked on her food. She didn’t dare cough, her face turning red. Sitting nearby, Lorne Thornton, who had remained indifferent since entering the house, calmly pushed a glass of water toward her. Startled, she looked up at him. Until now, he had been silently eating as if this family matter had nothing to do with him, yet this simple gesture revealed his attentiveness, similar to his father.
Businessmen like them, she thought, always have intricate minds and keen observations. Their quick reactions stem from the fact that their decisions often influence not only their own fates but those of many others. Managing a large corporation requires both scientific and delicate precision—truly an art form in communication and strategy.
On the other side of the table, Kaytlyn's expression changed the moment she heard the word "engagement." Restless and unable to remain seated, she disregarded the household etiquette and anxiously interjected, "Uncle, Maxwell and her have only been dating for a short time. Isn't it too soon to talk about engagement?!"
Caliy Thornton glanced at Kaytlyn, knowing her sister-in-law had feelings for Mr. Bennett. Sitting next to Lily, Caliy spoke up, "How could it be too soon? Bernie and I met for less than a month before we married! And now, aren’t we living happily ever after?" She smiled, leaning her head on her husband's shoulder.
Bernie Arnold, with his usual gentle smile, nodded in agreement, then lovingly scooped some chicken soup into Caliy's bowl, clearly showing their harmonious relationship.
Sensing this conversation escalating, Lily quickly sought a way to defuse the situation. Taking a deep breath, she smiled and said, "Kaytlyn has a point. Maxwell and I haven’t been dating long. Talking about engagement now really isn’t suitable."
Under the table, Lily gave Maxwell a sharp kick. But unexpectedly, Angus Thornton, who was sitting beside Maxwell, suddenly stood up. All eyes turned to him as he awkwardly smiled and explained, "It’s nothing, just a leg cramp."
He sat down again, exchanging a glance with Maxwell. As usual, Maxwell remained composed, "Lily’s right. It's too early to talk about an engagement. Instead, let's just get married and save everyone the trouble."
Lily, mid-sip of her tea, nearly spat it out in surprise. Struggling to swallow, she kicked Maxwell again under the table, signaling him to stop.
Angus, unable to hold back any longer, blurted, "Lily, stop kicking me. Maxwell’s sitting with his legs crossed."
Embarrassed, Lily’s face flushed as she pulled her napkin up to cover her red cheeks. Glancing under the table, sure enough, Maxwell was sitting with his legs crossed. She felt mortified, wondering why on earth he couldn’t sit properly during a meal. Did he know she would kick him and position himself deliberately?
Lorne chuckled at Angus, "You always fidget, and now Mr. Bennett is reminding you."
It wasn’t even his issue, yet he’d ended up getting kicked twice… Angus shook his head, frustrated by the antics of his younger brother. He sat back down silently, while Lily’s face turned red like a boiled shrimp. Lida Yang laughed, ladling more soup into Angus’s bowl, "It seems my son doesn’t quite understand subtlety, which is why he’s still struggling to win over his girlfriend."
Maxwell's father nodded, addressing him, "If you don’t want an engagement, that's fine. But you should resolve everything sooner rather than later to avoid being hounded by the press every time you go out. Last time’s scandal wasn’t without consequences."
Lily couldn’t help but find Maxwell’s father’s words, though gentle, to be intimidating. Perhaps it was just her nerves, being part of this dinner for the first time among people with such significant status.
At that moment, Lida turned to Lily and asked, "Your mother’s name is Serena Adela, right?"
It had been a long time since that name had resurfaced in Lily's memory, so long that she barely had any impression of it. She wasn’t sure how long she had been in a daze upon hearing it, before she finally nodded. Though it was just a simple question, Lida Yang, ever the observant woman, caught the faraway look in Lily’s eyes and refrained from asking anything further.
Feeling uneasy, Lily stood up and bowed politely to everyone, "I'm sorry, but I’m full."
Maxwell tried to grab her hand to pull her back into her seat, but she whispered to him, "Let go."
Lily’s sudden change in demeanor caught Maxwell off guard. He wanted her to stay and finish the meal with his family, but Lily couldn’t. It wasn’t just the mention of Serena Adela that disturbed her—it was the talk of engagement that she really didn’t want to think about. She didn’t want her life to be dictated by the decisions of the Thornton family. Her life was her own to control; even her father had no right to make decisions for her, let alone anyone from the Thornton family.
At one point, Lily had thought her relationship with Maxwell was simply to settle a debt. But after spending time together, she gradually realized that this relationship had become more complicated in her eyes. She had never imagined herself marrying into a wealthy family, much less one as influential as the Thorntons.
Maxwell must have a reason for pursuing her, Lily was sure of it. From the very first time she had set foot in his home, she sensed that. How could someone like him, with so many options, truly be in love with a single mother like her? She firmly believed that there was another reason behind Maxwell’s interest in her, and the man’s emotions seemed even more complex and unpredictable than she had imagined.
Lily wasn't naive. Despite this incredible opportunity to ascend into a life of luxury, one that so many girls dreamt of, she was unwilling to involve herself. However, she knew that Maxwell wouldn’t let her go easily—otherwise, he wouldn’t have introduced her to his family.