Chapter 876
“Lena, you’re back! Aaron…” Mrs. Lane immediately waved at Lena, signaling her to come over quickly. Lena had a sinking feeling and didn’t step forward. Just then, Aaron walked over and stood beside her, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the room. As his sleeve brushed against Lena’s hand, the accidental touch gave her a sudden boost of courage. What was there to be afraid of? With Aaron here, her mother wouldn’t dare go overboard.
It was a confidence she had grown up with—so long as Aaron was around, her mother was nothing more than a paper tiger. To this day, Lena couldn’t quite figure it out. Aaron wasn’t even biologically related to the family, yet everyone seemed to hold him in unusually high regard. Whatever he said, no one would dare contradict.
It was precisely because of this unique favoritism that Lena often rode on his coattails, benefiting from his influence. “Chairman Goodwick, Mrs. Goodwick,” Aaron greeted the unfamiliar guests first, acknowledging the family of three.
Lena followed behind him, still looking like a young girl who hadn’t quite grown up. Her mother sighed helplessly and shook her head. “Your uncle has already greeted them. Don’t you know how to say hello? This is Chairman Goodwick’s family, and this here is Arthur. He even carried you on his back when you were little.”
Though quietly annoyed, Lena still greeted them politely out of courtesy. Aaron sat down and then called to her, “Lil’ Lena, come here.” Lena quickly walked over, afraid that if she hesitated even a moment, her mother would drag her there herself.
“Lena has grown even more beautiful. If we met outside, I might not have recognized her,” Mrs. Goodwick said as she sized Lena up from head to toe, not even sparing a strand of hair. Her gaze was filled with satisfaction. Not only that, but she subtly nudged her son, urging him to take a good look too. Although she hadn’t said anything outright, Lena already understood the purpose of their visit.
No wonder Aaron’s mother had practically dragged her home—it was to arrange a matchmaking session.
Chapter 876
Mrs. Goodwick had probably promised to set her son up with a potential match. “She’s not familiar with you, so it doesn’t matter whether she recognizes you or not,” Aaron said bluntly, his tone cold and unyielding. Grandma Ace gave him a glance and tried to mediate. “How can it not matter? What kind of future mother-in-law doesn’t recognize her own daughter-in-law?”
“Grandma, what are you talking about?” Lena was stunned by the implication, unable to match their straightforwardness. Her mother immediately chimed in, “Lena, your grandmother means that she hopes you and Arthur can get to know each other. You’re not young anymore, and it just so happens that Arthur isn’t married either. Our families are close, and we know each other well.”
“You may know each other well, but I don’t even know who he is. How are we supposed to ‘get to know each other’?” Lena replied bluntly, showing no intention of cooperating. Mrs. Goodwick didn’t seem embarrassed. She simply smiled and said, “Well, now you know him! You two can exchange contact information, chat often, go out for coffee or a movie, and spend time getting familiar with each other.”
“She doesn’t have the time,” Aaron interjected, refusing on Lena’s behalf. “Aaron, what nonsense are you talking about? This is Lena’s decision,” Grandma Ace reprimanded him. Aaron’s expression remained calm. “Her business is my business. Isn’t that what you’ve told me since we were kids?”
“That was back when she was young and needed your protection. But she’s a grown woman now,” Lena’s mother explained. “She may have grown up, but wasn’t it you who decided she should continue living with me?” Aaron’s retort made the Goodwick family’s expressions turn awkward. Arthur, in particular, asked directly, “Miss Lane is living with Mr. Ace?”