d the room, as though he were the true master of the mansion. Once

azed at the girl across from him, her hands tig

daughter, Ruby, twenty-two years old and about to gradu

recall your daughter should be twe

ed Mr. Beckett to directly bring up this issue. Mr. Levine began to sweat.

. "So, this lady is fro

ine answered,

ink you've misunderstood, Mr. Levine. My original ag

y silent, blurted out in shock. It

the two families' ancestors, but they never clarified. She ha

was to be her fiancé, she had been so

d been then, the more

r outburst, and Ana quickly calmed herself, gentl

y eldest daughter is plain and ordinary, while my younger daughter i

eading Mr. Levine to believe his excuse had pass

our eldest daughter he

sed inw

ine hesitate and presse

e took a deep breath and called

time, was surprised; it wasn't yet lunchtime. When

r you to come to the living ro

there had been a mistake, but the maid

ely afraid that any error woul

om, she immediately noticed the

tone, beckoned to her, "Sofia, co

, Ruby's eyes fixed on

ed his authoritative presence. But as their eyes met, his ste

eyes lit up. Ever since her mothe

embered the moment that he sits in a rocking chair and holding

gnal Sofia to stop talking

ly engage Mr. Beckett in conversation. How dare she c

grandfather and I were dear friends. Com

l from her father's behavior that he must be a major figure in t

proach, asked, "Is this the daughter

embarrassment at being expos

r and I agreed to a union between our families' children. But unfortunately,

aback, shocked b

fiancé she thought she was dest

ear you're interested in artifact restoration. If you marry into our family, you'll still hav

arriage talk, was suddenly reengaged at

with Mr. Levine. If they didn't intervene soon, her daughter would lose an

father coughed behind her-a clear

forced smile, "Sofia is still young. I'll nee

avorable, and Sofia had almost agreed when Mr. Levine interrupted. Now

him. It was also clear that Sofia's half-sister was born before the first wife had passed, and Mr. Levine had

Sofia wouldn't be foolish eno

emained

ur grandfather was a dear friend of mine, so consider me half a grand

who handed him a photograph. "

tures, clearly inheriting his grandfather's sharp

tt's offer seemed. What struck her was the hostile, almost resentful looks

in a house where she was never welcome

r a new life-one that couldn't possibly be worse than her cur

intending to use her for another business marriage to maximize her "v

y, so she summoned the courage to tell

er on the spot, while Mr. B

omed, "This marriage will involve Sofia, and no one else. If you

ady in a tight spot, with only a 2% price margin preventing a deal w

ately fel

o voice in the matter. She was neither Sofia's bio